In the first part of this series, I address LSAT diagramming and how to better determine its usefulness for you. Essentially, I suggest that diagramming is an investment of your time and rhythm. In order for that investment to be worthwhile, it needs to pay dividends in terms of two things: Gaining you more time than it took as you continue on. Like a prephrase, where you can more aggressively/efficiently sort through the answers. Leading … [Read more...]
Search Results for: conditional reasoning
Using the PowerScore LSAT Bibles: 3 Month Self-Study Plan
Students often ask about combining the LSAT Bibles when they are self-studying. You can find a full list of guides for your LSAT timeline on our Self-Study site, but here's an overview of what to do if you have 3 months to study for the LSAT. This plan assumes you have our 3 LSAT Bibles, our first Training Type Series (which includes LSAT PrepTests 1-20), and a plethora of actual LSATs, including some recent exams. You can purchase full digital … [Read more...]
False Arguments Do Not Exist: Language Matters on the LSAT
At the beginning of each class we lay down the ground rules: raise your hand if you want to ask a question, turn off your smart phones, try to pay attention. In addition to that, students aren't allowed to call an argument "false," "wrong," or "stupid." Language matters. Here's why: In logic, we don't speak of arguments as being "true" or "false", nor do we speak of statements as being "valid" or "invalid." We assume that the premises upon … [Read more...]
Can You Prepare for Standardized Tests such as the LSAT, GRE, and SAT? Part II
In my last post, I talked about the myth that you can't prepare for standardized tests, how that myth was created, and why it has been perpetuated. In this post, we'll look at some explanations for why those beliefs are false. The Army Alpha Tests Let’s begin by looking at the original broad-based tests that started the whole thing: the Army Alpha tests, which were meant to reveal native ability. For example, they intended to “Supply a mental … [Read more...]
The Fundamentals of Prephrasing Part I
If you’ve spent much time with Logical Reasoning on the LSAT, you’ve recognized that the answer choices, right and wrong, are masterfully crafted. The test makers are unbelievably adept at disguising correct answers, and making the incorrect options look extremely attractive. Fortunately there’s a step in the question-attack process designed specifically to help you navigate through the answers: Prephrasing. Prephrasing is the intermediate … [Read more...]
Sterling Archer’s Many Flaws: Do You Want Ants?
Archer, an animated series on FX, is about a spy agency and its group of clever, often bitingly sarcastic secret agents, who provide some great examples of the same kinds of logical flaws that we see on the LSAT: Ad Hominem Argument This type of flawed logic, often called a “source argument” describes an attack directly on the speaker, or the source of the argument, rather than on the merits of the argument itself. A great example appears … [Read more...]
Unusual Rules in LSAT Logic Games: It’s the New Norm
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...]
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...]
The PowerScore 2023 LSAT Bibles: What Has Changed?
Do the Books Change Every Year? Yes! Each year I make revisions and updates to the LSAT Bibles, and there are several different reasons for that: First, new LSATs are released each year. I make changes to some of the content to account for new directions taken by the test makers. This includes adding new sections and changing others. Second, I regularly talk with LSAT students and also teach various sessions throughout the year. The feedback … [Read more...]
What to Do if You Run Out of LSAT Practice Materials
A common question pops up around LSAT crunch time. "How do I prepare for the test if I've burned through all of my practice material?" There are three key steps I'd take between now and test day so you can still maximize the remaining prep time that you have. Review Review, over and over, anything and everything that's given you the slightest bit of trouble the past several months. A lot of people underestimate or even entirely ignore the value … [Read more...]
Score Plateau? Focus on the Process
A few weeks before the LSAT, many people find themselves on a plateau. They just can't seem to improve their scores. People find themselves on plateaus for many different reasons, one of those causes is lack of organization. Over time, when you've done quite a bit of studying for the test, you can start to get lazy with your process. If you're stuck on a plateau, one of the best things you can do is organize your process! This can reduce your … [Read more...]
Logical Negation: Identifying What to Negate in a Sentence
When negating a sentence, how do you know what specific word you need to negate if it's a long and complicated sentence? Students often ask this question, and it’s one that entails a more in-depth response than you may be expecting. We cover this topic in the Logical Reasoning Bible, Chapter 11, in the discussion of the Assumption Negation Technique™. However, even in such a comprehensive discussion, it's impossible to formulate categorical … [Read more...]
LSAT Podcast Episode 33: Student Question Mailbag
Jon and Dave are back with another student mailbag episode, which means you’ll hear them tackle a whole host of commonly asked questions, from test diagramming advice to score fluctuations (and how to handle them). You’ll also get their take on everything from accommodated testing to how to best use the full spectrum of PowerScore’s publications. … [Read more...]
Killer LG: The Hardest LSAT Logic Games of All Time
Why Review the Hardest Games? The Logic Games section is inevitable. For many, it’s the toughest section of the test. If Logic Games are generally difficult, why then would we choose to write about the hardest games ever to appear? The short answer is that there are tremendous benefits to be gained by reviewing these games. If you understand how to recognize them and deal with them, you’ll perform better in this section. In our In Person, Live … [Read more...]
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