Looking for some basic tips for answering LSAT Logical Reasoning question types? Want to know how you can become faster and more confident at pinpointing the correct answer choice and eliminating the wrong answers?
This article will help you along your journey to LSAT Logical Reasoning mastery. We will explain how to distinguish between arguments and sets of facts, assess the strength of an argument, and manage your time effectively while answering questions.
You'll also learn about common mistakes to avoid and how practicing with sample questions can help in your preparation. At the end, we'll highlight some useful resources to support your learning.
Let’s start with the fundamentals. To master Logical Reasoning, you will need to recognize when the LSAT gives you an argument and when it gives you a set of facts. All Logical Reasoning passages will be one or the other.
When you read a passage, you need to determine whether it is an argument or a set of facts. An argument will include a conclusion that the author is trying to prove and at least one piece of evidence to support the conclusion, while a set of facts will simply present information without any conclusion.
Once you've identified this, your task is clear. If it’s an argument, evaluate whether the evidence provided guarantees the validity of the conclusion. In most cases, it won’t. Your job is to figure out why. If it’s just a set of facts, the question will typically ask what must be true based on those facts.
When you're assessing an argument, look at the evidence used to support the conclusion. The argument will act as though there’s enough evidence to prove the conclusion’s truth, but there’s almost always something missing. Determine what the author is trying to prove, then ask yourself whether the evidence does the work to prove it. If the evidence isn’t strong enough, the flaw lies in the gap between the evidence and the conclusion.
If you’re presented with a set of facts, try to combine related facts to create new inferences. Your goal is to determine what is supported or proven by those facts.
To tackle Logical Reasoning questions effectively, carefully read each sentence and decide whether you're dealing with an argument or a set of facts:
The key to LSAT time management is maintaining high accuracy. When you're working through the questions, focus on solving each question fully before moving on to the next.
Avoid rushing through untimed practice, as this won’t build the deep understanding you need to succeed. Instead, "lock in" your answer to each question, ensuring you understand why it's correct before you move on. This process helps prevent you from making careless mistakes and strengthens your problem-solving skills.
Even when the test is timed, aim for accuracy over speed. Slow down to ensure you're fully engaging with the question, and if necessary, guess on questions towards the end rather than rushing through the entire section. As you get better at understanding passages, recognizing logical flaws, and making inferences, you’ll naturally speed up. If you rush through questions, you won’t build up these core skills, and you’ll wind up taking more time to be less accurate. Remember: Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.
If you find yourself missing questions throughout the section, this is a sign that you're not fully engaging with each question. Take your time with each one and aim for 100% accuracy on the questions you attempt. When you focus on getting every question you attempt correct instead of trying to rush through questions, you can boost your score, improve your overall performance, and get better at the LSAT faster.
There are several common mistakes that you should avoid making in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section. These include:
All of these mistakes come from valuing speed over accuracy. If you skim the questions in the test, there's a good chance that you'll miss out on important details. Focusing on speed will kill your accuracy, hurt your scores, and hamper your progress.
All of these mistakes can be resolved over time with practice under timed conditions. Commit to using practice tests and timed sections as part of your study schedule, this will help prevent issues with time management during the actual exam.
