Logical Reasoning Question Types-Overview

The logical reasoning (arguments) sections of the LSAT comprise the largest percentage of the LSAT relative to any other type of questions. It is important however, to distinguish the many types of questions that exist within the logical reasoning (arguments) sections. The benefit of identifying the various types of questions will assist the examinee in knowing which strategy to utilize to come to the correct answer. For example, some questions may be approached in such a way that calls for the examinee to find the correct answer, while others may be better approached by eliminating incorrect answer choices. This is an important point and prospective examinees should fully understand that a great deal of work must go into first learning the different types of logical reasoning (arguments) problems, and then learning the best methods of answering each type of problem. Once this process becomes well engrained, the examinee will be able to expeditiously approach any type of problem thrown at them in the logical reasoning (arguments) sections of the LSAT.

In all cases, it is important to remember to always read the question stem first and to actively read the passage. This latter point is important because too many examinees simply read the passage without taking any notes or diagramming the structure of the passage. This keeps the examinee from getting all that they can out of the passage and may necessitate expending precious time re-reading the passage or, worse, may cause them to misinterpret the passage altogether.

The various types of questions in the logical reasoning (arguments) sections of the LSAT can be categorized into four broad groups. Without further ado, here are the various broad groups, and the specific types of questions examinees can expect to see in the logical reasoning (arguments) sections of the LSAT with brief descriptions:

Appraisal

1. Supposition: These questions require the examinee to make an assumption about a missing portion of the argument presented.
2. Argument Enhancement/Reduction: These problems require the examinee to make a selection that will either enhance or reduce the validity of a stated argument.
3. Error Identification: These problems require the examinee to identify the logical error contained in the argument or scenario given.
4. Error Correction: These problems require the examinee to choose the selection that best corrects the problems in a reasoning statement or argument.

   Conclusion Determination

5. Inference: These problems require the examinee to follow the facts provided to a reasonable conclusion.

   Harmonizing

6. Divergence: These problems require the examinee to follow two points of view on a particular topic and identify where the two points of view diverge.
7. Process: These problems require the examinee to recognize the process(es) used by the exam writer to produce the problem.
8. Standard: These problems require the examinee to correlate facts given to specific standards or provided standards to their necessary facts.
9. Parallel Reasoning: Examinee must identify identical reasoning used in different circumstances.

   Construction

10. Underlying issue: These problems require the examinee to identify the underlying issue and separate it from the facts. Function: These problems require the examinee to identify the purpose of various statements given in a passage.