LSAT Analytical Reasoning Basics
The LSAT Analytical Reasoning section, or LSAT Games, as some people call it, is one of the three multiple-choice question types you'll see on the LSAT Test (the other two are Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension). There is also an LSAT Writing sample, which doesn't affect your overall score. Here's what you need to know about LSAT Analytical Reasoning, a section that does affect your score!
LSAT Analytical Reasoning Stats:
- One section out of five on the LSAT
- 5 sets of approximately 4-5 questions. Each is related to one prompt.
- 35 minutes
Skills Tested
- Determining relationships between concepts
- Understanding a rule’s effect on an outcome
- Drawing conclusions based on set guidelines
Question Design
Basically, you’re going to be playing reasoning games like where to place guests at a table if Susie can’t sit next to Tom or Jack, and Jack must be placed by his third cousin who is also wearing yellow. You know, fun games like that. Here's a sample taken from the 2007 LSAT test:
LSAT Analytical Reasoning Sample Question
There are exactly three recycling centers in Rivertown: Center 1, Center 2, and Center 3. Exactly five kinds of material are recycled at these recycling centers: glass, newsprint, plastic, tin, and wood. Each recycling center recycles at least two but no more than three of these kinds of material. The following conditions must hold:
Any recycling center that recycles wood also recycles
newsprint.
Every kind of material that Center 2 recycles is also
recycled at Center 1.
Only one of the recycling centers recycles plastic, and that
recycling center does not recycle glass.
Which one of the following is a complete and accurate
list of the recycling centers in Rivertown any one of
which could recycle plastic?
(A) Center 1 only
(B) Center 3 only
(C) Center 1, Center 2
(D) Center 1, Center 3
(E) Center 1, Center 2, Center 3
