Welcome to the Logic Games section. We know there is one graded Logic Games section on the LSAT and, if you’re lucky, there could be one more section that is ungraded. So Logic Games make up one quarter of the LSAT. Truthfully, Logic Games has always been my favorite section of the exam. It’s actually the section easiest to improve your score on. How could you not love that?
Okay so we have broken down the Logic Games section by type: Sequencing Games, Linear Games, Group Games, Multi-Linear Games, Hybrid Games, GURU Games, and the Lost Boys.
Let’s get better acquainted with each:
Sequencing Games
Sequencing games are the most straightforward type of Linear Game you will encounter. The rules in these games will all deal with sequencing relationships (e.g., A comes before B). This section is unlocked for free inside of LSATMax so make sure you take advantage of it!
Linear Games
Linear games are one of the most common types of Logic Game. You are pretty much guaranteed to see one of these on your exam. Ultimately you are placing certain variables in a linear order (e.g., runners in a race).
Group Games
Group games are another very common type of game that you will most likely see on the LSAT. There are two types of Group Games: (1) different groups (e.g., classes, teams, etc.) and (2) in/out. These games deal mostly with sufficient and necessary conditions, so make sure you are very comfortable with the rules of sufficient and necessary.
Multi-Linear Games
Multi-linear games is an extra layer on top of the Linear Game. Multi-linear Games are basically Linear Games with additional variables (e.g., runners in a race with each runner sponsored by a charity).
Hybrid Games
Hybrid games combines Linear Games and Group Games, which makes these some of the most difficult games you will encounter on the LSAT.
GURU Games
GURU games are a specific type of game where you are able to come up with every possibility that exists. These are really important to master because LSAC knows that some students won’t put in the initial time to come up with all the possibilities, and therefore, places time trap questions to run out the clock on these students.
The Lost Boys
The lost boys are rare games that have previously appeared on real LSAT exams. In this lesson we will introduce you to some of these rare games in hopes that if you do encounter them in your real test, you will have seen them before.
Alright, so how should you prepare for the Logic Games section? Well, just like the rest of the exam, practice is key. Soon you will see that certain rules will bring about certain deductions. This is key in beating the clock on this section of the LSAT. Ideally, you should finish each game in 8 minutes and 45 seconds.
The Logic Games section is the only section where you want to time yourself right off the bat. Time yourself from start to finish and write how long it took you to do the game at the top of the page. That way you can gauge your progress as you study. After you finish each game, ask yourself: did I get everything right? And if yes, then did I finish the game in under 8 minutes and 45 seconds? If the answer to either of these questions is “no,” then put aside the game in a different pile to do again.
There’s nothing wrong with doing a game over and over again. There are only a finite amount of game patterns. If you know how to approach them, you will be able to execute any logic game. If you can correctly write out the set-up and deductions, you’re going to ace the section. Remember, there is a rhyme and a reason to why our video explanations are setup in the way they are.
NOTE: you can access video explanations by tapping the "play" icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen when viewing a game inside of LSATMax.
As you watch the videos note that we always write out our setup and take the time to find all the deductions. It is imperative to write out the setup and keep it unmarred throughout the different questions so that you can use it as your base or marker to always come back to. You want to utilize your setup as your reminder of all the deductions and reproduce it every time there is a new question with different constraints.
When you watch the explanation video for a game, really analyze the differences between what techniques and deductions are made in the video and what you did on your game. See if your setup is missing a specific deduction made in the video and ask yourself how we made that deduction? What rule or rules lead us to that deduction? Do that next time. Learn what you can do and can’t do with the rules.
Remember, however, that certain things might be slightly different in the video explanations from what you have done. For instance, the video explanation might have drawn a vertical setup while you made a horizontal one. That doesn’t mean you are wrong. You need to learn what the ideal set-up is. That is to say, it’s best to draw out the set-up in its most effective visual form. Think about what is easiest.
Now usually the third game is the hardest game. Some students like to skip around with the game and do the hardest game last because there is no penalty for wrong answer choices, so why not spend more of your time in the beginning doing the “easier” games? The order in which you execute your logic games is subjective. If you find that it helps your score to skip around, then feel free to do it. If you choose to do this, however, make sure you do not “mis-bubble.” Be diligent with which answer choice you are bubbling, so you aren’t dealing with a disaster at the end of the section.
Alright, I hope that was helpful. It is time to dive into the lessons!
Happy Logic Games!
