The LSAT Logical Reasoning Section

LSAT Logical Reasoning Outline

The LSAT Logical Reasoning (LR) section is a 35-minute assessment containing anywhere between 24-26 multiple-choice questions. All test administrations include two Logical Reasoning sections, and if the unscored experimental section is also Logical Reasoning, there will be a total of three LR sections. Test takers will therefore have to answer between roughly 48 and 78 Logical Reasoning questions, which will represent approximately half of the scored portion of the exam. LSAT score reports don't show scores on a section-by-section basis, but students who take a disclosed exam will be able to see their raw Logical Reasoning scores by viewing their test questions and answers. Students who sit for a nondisclosed LSAT will not be allowed to see test questions and answers. While test takers don't know ahead of time whether the LSAT they are taking will become a disclosed or nondisclosed exam, what matters is understanding how to quickly and correctly solve Logical Reasoning questions.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Texts

All LSAT Logical Reasoning questions are based on short passages of argumentative text, typically one brief paragraph long (50-70 words). Text subjects are general and do not require knowledge of the law or any other academic discipline. Each passage is associated with a single multiple-choice question, and all questions have five answer options. Some Logical Reasoning questions may be rather dry or even boring, but don't let the content of the question distract you from the task at hand of solving the problem and determining the correct answer. The LSAT is a lengthy exam that requires endurance to complete. Since at least two of the test's four sections will feature Logical Reasoning questions, it is imperative to understand the types of questions you will encounter and the best strategies for solving them.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Categories

All LSAT Logical Reasoning text passages are followed by a one-sentence question, which always concerns the argument presented in the passage. According to LSAC, Logical Reasoning questions are designed to evaluate a test taker's ability to examine, analyze, and critically evaluate arguments. While specialized knowledge is not required, students would do well to be familiar with concepts such as argument, premise, assumption, and conclusion. The most common LR question categories include:

Arguments
What Can Be Concluded from the Information Provided
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
Understanding the Impact of Additional Information
Assumptions
Principles
Flaws in Arguments
Explanations.

LSAC encourages test takers to read each question thoroughly and understand the meaning of each part of the question. If you simply skim over the answer choices and pick the first one you recognize as being a true statement, you may still answer the question incorrectly if the true statement does not relate to the question posed. Even if you don't personally agree with a statement or are an expert in a particular topic, answer each question only on the basis of the information you have been given.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Types within Each Category

Depending on which source you cite, there are anywhere between eight and 22 different question types in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section. But have no fear, because most of this discrepancy is due to semantics and how question types are collapsed or expanded. When it comes to preparing for these notoriously difficult sections, expose yourself to as many different types of LR questions as possible through practice exams, study guides, completing a prep course, or working with an LSAT tutor. Here are the most common question types you can expect to encounter:

The Arguments category includes questions on how the argument goes, identifying the main conclusion of an argument, and matching patterns of reasoning in an argument.
In the What Can Be Concluded from the Information Provided area, the question types are identifying a position that is conclusively established by information provided, identifying a position supported by information provided, and identifying points on which disputants hold conflicting views.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions questions are based on inferring information from the given texts.
Understanding the Impact of Additional Information questions evaluate your ability to assess the effect new statements (represented in answer options) have on the strength of an argument.
Assumptions questions may either ask about necessary assumptions or sufficient assumptions.
Principles questions ask test takers to either apply or identify a given concept.
In the Flaws in Arguments category, students must either identify or match argument weaknesses.
Explanations questions require test takers to choose answers that most plausibly explain a situation described in the argument text.

Important LSAT Logical Reasoning Skills

Familiarity with the parts of an argument is a prerequisite to success on the LSAT's Logical Reasoning section. Students must be able to identify premises (statements that are offered as true without the apparent need for supporting evidence) and conclusions (statements that the person making an argument aims to prove with his or her premises). Because time management is so important to success on the LSAT, test takers must also be able to read passages quickly and retain vital information. These skills should be practiced regularly during the preparation period.

Many mistakes that could easily have been avoided are made on LR questions because test takers either 1) do not read all the provided information, or 2) do not fully understand what the question is asking. So practice answering different types of LR questions to increase both your speed and accuracy.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Scoring Data

Although published validity studies show that LSAC tracks test taker performance by section, official statistics on average scores and scoring percentiles for the Logical Reasoning section are not publicly available.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Validity

LSAC has studied the validity of the LSAT's multiple-choice sections, specifically correlations between sectional scores and grades in test takers' first year of law school. These types of studies feature results known as a "correlation coefficient." This is a number between 0.0 and 1.0, with the latter representing perfect correlation and the former a complete lack of correlation.

According to LSAC research, the correlation coefficient between the LSAT's Logical Reasoning section and first-year law school grades (the "validity coefficient") is 0.511. This is considered a fairly strong validity correlation, and it is the highest of the LSAT's multiple-choice sections. Furthermore, test taker scores on the Logical Reasoning sections are highly correlated to scores on the other sections, with a correlation coefficient of 0.566 for Reading Comprehension. This means that students who do well on Logical Reasoning usually also do well on Reading Comprehension.