Confusing Rules If you’ve taken any test from the last couple of years, you may have stumbled upon strangely-worded or confusing rules. For example: Train A can arrive earlier than train B if and only if train B arrives earlier than train C. Either car A arrives immediately before car B, or it arrives immediately after car C, but not both. The Q meal is served at some time after either the M meal or the N meal, but not after both. It’s worth … [Read more...]
How to Treat a Low Score
When taking the LSAT, whether in practice or for the real deal, many students come away extremely discouraged with their results. This is completely understandable and common. Your LSAT score is the key to attending a great school, and a poor performance can hold you back more than any other factor. So how should you view low scores, and what can you do to get past them? A Prephase We're sorry that your score doesn't live up to your … [Read more...]
Accommodations for the LSAT Part I: An Overview of the Accommodations Granted
LSAT accommodations have, in the past, been shrouded in mystery and even controversy. In brief, taking the LSAT with accommodations means that individuals with certain disabilities can take the LSAT under altered circumstances. These changed circumstances level the playing field for the applicant.So, what are these altered circumstances? It depends on the nature of the disability, but the accommodations include the following: Taking the test … [Read more...]
When Does “Either/Or” Mean “Both” on the LSAT?
Understanding the proper conditional relationship represented by the “either/or” conjunction in LSAT questions is crucial in both Logic Games and Logical Reasoning questions. While there are some solid rules you must follow, ultimately you should take into account the context in which the phrase is used. Learning the Rules Typically, a rule such as “either A or B must be selected” is inclusive. It allows for the possibility of selecting both A … [Read more...]
How to Attack Flaw in the Reasoning Questions on the LSAT
Flaw in the Reasoning questions require you to identify the underlying logical flaw in the argument. Over time, Flaw questions have become among the most common question types on the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT. In fact, they account for approximately 15% of all questions and 30% of all First Family questions. Your next test will likely contain as many Flaw questions as all Main Point, Method, Parallel, Parallel Flaw, and Cannot Be True … [Read more...]
Approaching Logic Games Sections Strategically
Approaching the LSAT Strategically Series: Part I, Part II, Part III There is a fundamental truth about test takers when it comes to the LSAT: everyone is different. That is, everyone who sits down with this exam will have unique strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and ultimately, ways they can optimize their performance in every section. While that certainly affects how it is that people prepare, I think it also dictates how test … [Read more...]
Conditional Diagramming Part II: “And” in the Necessary Condition
In my last post, I discussed conditional statements with "or" in the sufficient condition. Diagrams with multiple necessary conditions can, depending on the circumstances, then be used to create multiple single diagrams. Let's look at an example.If the rule reads: "If Operations is offered, then Accounting or Sales is also offered," then the diagram is solely: A O → or S Because the necessary condition is just at least … [Read more...]
The Best Places to Take Practice LSATs
There's less than a week to go before the LSAT, and students, I imagine yourself included, are in full-on practice test mode. This is a good thing: you need to get acclimated, and timed practice tests are the way to do it. With that in mind, many wonder where they can best replicate the test day experience. Let's explore some options.Let me start by saying that nothing exemplifies test day like test day, so we're really only aiming at … [Read more...]
Conditional Diagramming Part I: “Or” in the Sufficient Condition
Diagrams with multiple sufficient conditions can, depending on the circumstances, then be used to create multiple single diagrams. Let's look at an example.Consider a rule that reads: "If Operations or Sales is offered, then Accounting is also offered." Operations = O Sales = S Accounting = A As a single conditional statement, there are two parts to the sufficient condition (O and S), that are joined by an "or" operator. That sufficient … [Read more...]
Conditional Diagramming Part III: “If But Only If” in LR Questions
An interesting topic came up on our forum a short time back, about the meaning of “If but only if,” and the proper way to diagram a rule that includes this phrase. Students who are familiar with the LSAT have probably encountered a rule that says “if and only if,” but the use of the term “but” is a clever trick by the test makers. “If but only if” doesn’t look quite the same as “If and only if,” and to many students, the two phrases appear to … [Read more...]
Why Skimming Isn’t Advised on the Reading Comprehension Section
Should You Skim the Reading Comp Passage? In theory, it might seem that skimming could add some degree of efficiency. Unfortunately, in practice, this is not the case. In fact, this approach actually reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the Reading Comprehension section.Skimming might be sufficient to absorb lighter materials aimed for simplicity, such as newspapers or magazines. A newspaper editor wants readers to know … [Read more...]
Straw Man Arguments: Logical Reasoning Flaws
Of all the logical flaws you might encounter on test day, a "straw man" argument not only has the most interesting name (and "straw man" is actually the proper name used in logic for this flaw), it also provides some of the most entertaining examples. In the context of an LSAT question, however, the usage is fairly predictable.Typically, you'll see a stimulus with two speakers. The second speaker will reframe the first speaker's argument in a … [Read more...]
How to Avoid the 2 Most Common Mistakes in LSAT Conditional Reasoning
A student of ours who's working through the PowerScore Logical Reasoning Bible asked a common question the other day, and I want to share it, and my response, with you. Specifically she's been struggling with Mistaken Negations and Mistaken Reversals in conditional reasoning, and asked if I could help her better understand those two errors. Here's my reply: Common Roadblock Conditional reasoning is a tricky concept for a lot of people, so don’t … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in Pakistan
Are you taking the LSAT in Pakistan? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In Pakistan, only one location offers the LSAT: Karachi, World Educational Services. While there is just one location option, it occurs twice per year: September/October and December. You can find a complete list of test dates and … [Read more...]