Identifying the question type before reading the answer choices is the single most important LSAT strategy. Each type has a predictable structure, common wrong answer patterns, and an optimal approach. Internalise these and your pacing improves automatically.
Two scored LR sections of 24–26 questions each. Frequency: High = 6–10 per sitting; Medium = 3–5; Low = 1–3.
MPMain Point / ConclusionLow frequency
Find the claim the argument is trying to establish. Often signalled by "therefore," "thus," "so," "hence." Wrong answers restate premises.
RoleRole of StatementLow frequency
Describe how a specific sentence functions in the argument (premise? conclusion? background?). Map the argument structure before reading choices.
MRMethod of ReasoningLow frequency
Describe the argument's reasoning strategy in abstract terms. Correct answers describe the structure, not specific content.
PAIPoint at Issue / DisagreeLow frequency
Both speakers must have an opinion on the answer for it to be correct. Test: would Speaker A say yes and Speaker B say no (or vice versa)?
NANecessary AssumptionHigh frequency
Find what must be true for the conclusion to follow. Negate the answer: if negation destroys the argument, it's necessary. Watch for scope shifts in the gap.
SASufficient AssumptionMedium frequency
Find what, if true, guarantees the conclusion. SA answers are often stronger and more absolute than NA answers. Common wrong answer: reverses conditional.
StrStrengthenHigh frequency
Pre-phrase the gap (assumption), then find an answer that supports it. Correct answer doesn't have to prove the conclusion — just make it more likely.
WknWeakenHigh frequency
Attack the assumption, not the conclusion directly. Find what makes the conclusion less likely given the premises. Watch for answers that are irrelevant to the gap.
FlawFlawHigh frequency
Name the logical error in abstract terms. Common flaws: ad hominem, correlation/causation, hasty generalisation, equivocation, appeal to authority, circular reasoning.
PRParallel ReasoningMedium frequency
Match the argument structure abstractly. Map: If A → B, C, therefore D. Find the answer with the same conditional form and conclusion validity.
InfInference / Must Be TrueMedium frequency
Correct answer must be provably true from the passage alone. Conservative answers (some, most, could) often better than absolute (all, never). No outside information.
EvalEvaluate the ArgumentLow frequency
Find the question that, if answered, most helps determine whether the conclusion follows. Answers should be "it depends on whether..." formulations.
One scored LG section: 4 games × 5–7 questions each (23–27 questions total). Identify the game type in the first 30 seconds.
Linear Ordering (Sequencing)
~60% of games
Arrange entities in a fixed sequence (1st through Nth position). Rules specify relative order or fixed positions.
Strategy
Build a master diagram with slots. Anchor fixed entities first. Derive "blocks" (entities that must be adjacent or in fixed relative order). Test hypotheticals for any open slot.
Common examples: Ordering students by test score; ranking runners by finish; scheduling events Monday–Friday
Grouping / Distribution
~25% of games
Assign entities to two or more groups. Groups may be fixed size or variable size.
Strategy
Determine group sizes first. Rules often create "if X is in group A, then Y cannot be in group A." Chain these conditional rules. Draw a grid: entities × groups.
Common examples: Assigning employees to teams; selecting members for committees; sorting items into categories
Assignment / In-Out
~10% of games
A special grouping where entities are either selected (In) or not selected (Out). Common for committee/team selection.
Strategy
Two groups only: In / Out. Draw two columns. Conditionals like "if X is In, then Y is Out" are central. Contrapositives are essential: "if Y is In, then X is Out."
Common examples: Selecting 4 of 7 candidates for a committee; choosing which exhibits to display
Hybrid (Ordering + Grouping)
~5% of games
Combines ordering and grouping constraints. Entities must be both assigned to a group AND ordered within or across groups.
Strategy
Treat as two diagrams: one for ordering, one for grouping, then link them. Rules apply to one or both dimensions. These games are usually the most complex and should be saved for last if needed.
Common examples: Scheduling presentations in two rooms across 5 time slots; assigning tasks to workers across 3 days
One RC section: 4 passages × 6–8 questions each (26–28 questions). One passage is a comparative reading set (two shorter passages).
Main Point / Primary Purpose
Identify the central claim or thesis of the passage. Correct answers must cover the whole passage, not just one part. Eliminate answers that are too narrow (just a detail) or too broad.
Detail / Stated Fact
Find information explicitly in the passage. Use key words from the question to locate the relevant paragraph. Wrong answers often are true but from a different part of the passage.
Inference / Must Be True
Find what can be concluded directly from the passage. Conservative inferences are safer. The answer must be provably true from passage content, not just plausible.
Author's Attitude / Tone
Track evaluative language (fortunately, unfortunately, claims without evidence, correctly observes). Correct answer often moderate — not "passionately advocates" unless tone is clearly strong.
Function of Paragraph / Sentence
Describe the structural role in context: introduces, supports, contrasts, qualifies, provides example. Read the surrounding context before and after the targeted section.
Analogy / Principle Application
Find the abstract principle at work in the passage, then find the answer that instantiates the same principle. Strip both the passage situation and the answer choices to their essential logical structure.
How many question types are on the LSAT?
Logical Reasoning has approximately 12 distinct question types. Logic Games has 4 game types, each with 5–7 sub-questions. Reading Comprehension has 6–7 question categories. Recognising the type before answering is a core speed strategy.
What is the most common LSAT question type?
Logical Reasoning Strengthen/Weaken questions are consistently the most frequent type, appearing 6–10 times across the two LR sections. Assumption questions (Necessary and Sufficient) are a close second and underpin many other question types.
What are the Logic Games types on the LSAT?
The four Logic Games types are: Ordering/Sequencing (most common, ~60%), Grouping/Distribution, Assignment/In-Out, and Hybrid (combining ordering and grouping). The LSAT removed pure spatial games in recent administrations.
How do I get better at LSAT Logical Reasoning?
Master the argument anatomy first: conclusion, premise, and gap/assumption. Most LR question types reduce to "find the assumption" or "use the assumption." After drilling 100+ questions per type, patterns in wrong answer choices become predictable.
