LSAT Analytical Reasoning

LSAT Analytical Reasoning Section: The Analytical Reasoning Section on the LSAT is often referred to as "Logic Games". Students are given a set of rules with which they are required to draw conclusions, make deductions or make predictions. The section is composed of about 25 questions and lasts 35 minutes. Analytical Reasoning tests the following skills:

• Determining relationships between multiple concepts
• Applying logic to complicated circumstances
• Analyzing and drawing conclusions from situations
• Comprehending the relationship between rules and the outcomes of those rules

The questions in the Analytical Reasoning Section are based on the types of complex analyses of relationships that law students will be expected to perform in law school. Students are asked to draw conclusions from various structures of relationships. The section is the most difficult section of the LSAT, and thus the most feared. Part of the reason for this is that the skills measured in this section can seem very unfamiliar to students, making it difficult to grasp the essential information. Much of the apprehension around this section is unwarranted because once students gain the correct strategies, they often show vast improvements. Because of the potential for score improvement, it is advisable for students to make this section their first priority in test preparation.

The Analytical Reasoning Section is divided into 4 "games", with each game having 5 to 8 questions. Each game is presented to the test-taker on two opposite pages that face each other so that the test-taker can complete all the questions for one game without having to turn a page. Students are also given space on the pages to draw diagrams that help them organize the information into a usable format.

The first part of a solid strategy for scoring well on this section is learning how to quickly identify the different types of games. There are about 7 different types, and knowing right away which type of game is being presented will give students a significant advantage. Once the game type is identified, a diagram must be drawn using the information given. Once the diagram is drawn accurately, the results must be analyzed in order to come up with the correct answer.

Drawing diagrams is the key to the whole process. Whether it is a seating arrangement around a table or tea cups on a shelf, draw it. Then abbreviate each clue to keep track of the information (for example, use A,B,C,D,E,F,G to signify the seven different people). Write down every single clue that is presented in the game. This is a complicated process, requiring test-takers to keep track of multiple pieces of information simultaneously.

The Analytical Reasoning Section is tough, plain and simple. The trick is not so much figuring out all the answers, but rather figuring out all the answers in the short amount of time given. This section requires a lot of practice to speed up the time it takes to correctly answer the questions. At the beginning of the section, students can look through the whole section quickly and may want to start with the easiest looking section first. This will ensure that they get the easier ones before getting stuck on the harder ones. And remember, there is not penalty for wrong answers, so always eliminate as many incorrect answers as possible and guess if it comes to that. Usually there is at least one answer that is obviously wrong.