LSAT Logic Games After August 2024

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) currently features a challenging Analytical Reasoning section known as Logic Games, which has a reputation among test takers for its complexity and unique problem-solving demands. However, starting in August 2024, a second logical reasoning section will replace it in the exam.

This article explores what this change will mean for the difficulty of the LSAT as well as how to excel at LSAT Logic Games questions if you choose to take the exam before the change goes into effect.

Logic Games Overview and Update

The section below explains the current structure of the LSAT’s Logic Games section as well as the upcoming changes to the exam’s format in August 2024.

Current Section Structure

The Logic Games section spans 35 minutes and includes four games — all of which have five to seven related questions. Each “game” will establish a set of arbitrary rules you’ll need to use in order to determine the truthfulness of statements or scenarios presented in the related multiple-choice questions.

Because this style of question is so different to that of most standardized tests, many beginners find it overwhelming initially. However, with practice, it’s common for students to make significant improvements in this area by the time they enter the exam hall due to the highly formulaic nature of these questions.

August 2024 Changes

Starting in the 2024-2025 testing cycle, the LSAT’s structure will no longer include the Logic Games section. A second Logical Reasoning section will take its place instead. A lawsuit filed by two blind test takers motivated this change. Specifically, they complained that the ability to draw diagrams gave test takers with sight an unfair advantage in this section of the exam.

Is the LSAT Going to Be Harder Post August 2024?

In light of this impending change, many test takers may wonder about the implications for the difficulty of the exam. While the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) claims this change won’t affect the LSAT’s overall difficulty, that doesn’t mean the exam won’t seem more difficult to you specifically.

If you plan to take the LSAT around the deadline for this change in August 2024, you might wonder if you’d fare better sitting this exam at an earlier date in its current format or opting to take the updated version with two Logical Reasoning sections later on.

Your decision should depend on the section in which you personally feel you’ll perform better. If Logical Reasoning is your best section, for example, taking the exam after August likely will make the exam easier for you.

If you excel at Logic Games or find the Logical Reasoning section tricky, however, you may want to look for an earlier exam date in January, February, April, or June because you might struggle with the updated test.

If you decide an earlier exam date will suit you better, keep reading for comprehensive guidance on how to master this section of the LSAT.

How to Master Logic Games

You’ll need a methodical and strategic approach in order to excel in the LSAT’s Logic Games section. To help you with this, here’s a comprehensive, step-by-step approach you can follow when answering these types of questions.

Step 1: Read Each Question Twice

The first step involves reading each question carefully — not just once, but twice. This is crucial to ensure you grasp the situation’s rules without jumping to conclusions about the type of question. As you read, your understanding of how to set up the diagram for the game should naturally improve even before you start jotting anything down.

Step 2: Sketch a Diagram

After you thoroughly read through the question twice, it’s time to draw a diagram. A good diagram is fundamental to your ability to quickly and confidently understand a game’s set of rules by capturing it in a clear and simple way.

The way you structure your diagram is vital. We recommend structuring these diagrams horizontally from left to right for ordering questions and vertically up to down for grouping questions. Remember to leave spaces in which to record the more specific and detailed rules of the game.

The advantage of this approach is it simplifies the handling of hybrid situations involving both ordering and grouping games because you won’t need to alter the symbols you already established. This allows you to save time and answer these questions more accurately.

Step 3: Identify Floaters

Floaters are elements within the game that its rules don’t specifically mention (i.e., the rules don’t explicitly control them). Once you complete your diagram, identify and circle these variables so you can keep track of which elements you may freely place in various positions.

Make sure to place floaters near your diagram (but not in its empty spaces) in order to give yourself an even clearer view of the game’s landscape.

Step 4: Take Advantage of “Worlds”

An effective strategy to consider when dealing with questions with variables that could be in multiple positions involves creating “worlds.” These are the hypothetical scenarios possible under the game’s rules that you can create in order to gain additional inferences about the potential positions of other variables in the question.

Tip: When deciding whether or not to use this strategy, look for variables with constraints like an element that must be in either the second or third position. This usually indicates that creating worlds can help you make further inferences about the potential positions of other elements.

Step 5: Do “If” Questions First

The final key tactic involves addressing “If” questions first. By starting with this word, these questions add an extra rule. That makes your job easier because it adds more constraints and reduces the number of possibilities.

Tackling these easier questions first doesn’t just leave you with more time to spare for the harder “global” ones (i.e., the non-“If” questions), it also makes them simpler to answer. This is because the worlds you create for these “If” questions can often help you answer “global” questions later on.

If you saw a specific possibility happen in a previous diagram for an “If” question, for example, you’ll know it’s the correct answer in a “which one of the following could be true”-style question. If this possibility was true with the extra constraints of the “If” question, it would definitely be true in a “global” question without the constraint.

By integrating these steps into your preparation, you’ll develop a structured and efficient approach to tackling the LSAT’s Logic Games section. Remember, practice is key. The more you familiarize yourself with these strategies, the more adept you’ll become at swiftly and accurately solving these logic puzzles.

Practice Logic Games Questions

Below, you’ll find the questions from the first logic game that appeared in the official September 2014 LSAT exam.

Whether you’re a seasoned test taker or new to the LSAT, these practice questions provide a great way to hone your skills and get a feel for the type of puzzles you’ll encounter on the actual exam. Good luck!

Scenario and Rules

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Answers to Logic Game Questions

You can find the answers to the Logic Game questions in the table below. Keep in mind that while some questions may present two seemingly correct choices, the actual answer is the one that best addresses the question.

Question	Answer
1	B
2	C
3	B
4	E
5	E
6	D
7	A