Why to Take the LSAT Before Logic Games are Retired

As a result of a lawsuit filed against the LSAT in 2019, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) agreed to retire the Logic Games section of the exam within five years. Taking full advantage of that timeframe, last October, LSAC announced that the section would be removed from the exam following the June 2024 administration of the test. Now, law school applicants targeting round 1 applications in 2024 are confronted with a unique option - take the exam with Logic Games or without.

Time to Prep for the Current LSAT Version

At the time of this post, there is still more than two months to prepare for the April LSAT and more than four months to prepare for the final administration with Logic Games June 6-8. At MyGuru, we fully believe that 2-4 months of regular daily prep should be enough time for most students to achieve their LSAT score goal, whatever it may be. For that reason, anyone considering the LSAT in February or March will have enough time to take a Logic Games exam. This option is extremely valuable for several reasons, so we recommend anyone beginning an LSAT journey before April strongly consider taking at least one of the final two LSAT administrations with the "Analytical Reasoning" section, better known as Logic Games.

Logic Games - Hard to Understand, Simpler to Master

For most students that MyGuru has worked with for over more than a decade, the most intimidating section of the LSAT to start is Logic Games. It possesses a mystique that neither the Logical Reasoning nor Reading Comprehension sections can match. It's just so strange, right!? The diagramming and conditional logic chains and contrapositives are such foreign concepts, whereas argumentation and reading are much more familiar parts of many college courses. However, with regular practice it can quickly become apparent that the Logic Games section has the least variation to master in terms of question tasks and diagramming conventions.

Once a student understands the basics of Logic Games, he or she should recognize that there are really only three types of games (linear, grouping, matching) and that even more obscure games can be forced into one of these conventions once those conventions have been mastered. A simple reordering of the question types can also help grow understanding of any game.

1. Acceptable List - The most common first question of a game, this task allows for immediate auditing of any primary diagram
2. Conditional "If" - Going out of order to seek this type uncovers more about the game through mini-diagrams incorporating additional rules that can also be used for reference in future questions
3. Universal - These questions can become immediate slam dunks using primary and miniature diagrams for reference
4. Rule Change / Substitution - The rarest question type that is best addressed by amending a primary diagram knowing it won't be needed again

More Time to Think than Other Sections

One of the hardest parts of the LSAT is meeting the pace it demands. The Logic Games section simply has more time to work the questions on average than do Reading Comprehension or Logical Reasoning.

• Logic Games | 22-23 questions in 35:00 or 1:31-1:35 per question and 8:45 per game
• Logical Reasoning | 25-26 questions in 35:00 or 1:20-1:24 per question
• Reading Comprehension | 27-28 questions in 35:00 or 1:15-1:18 per question and 8:45 per passage

While 10-15 seconds per section may not seem like a lot, it is significant on a strenuous, fast-paced exam like the LSAT. This is especially true, when recognizing that usually one of the first two games is "easier" and can be reasonably completed in 6-7:00 by someone who is adept at the basics of diagrams and deductions.

Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

Most law school applicants attempt the LSAT more than once for no other reason than the first official attempt is uncomfortable! Whether taking the test in person or at home, the mere process of signing in and executing the exam adds to already heavy nerves. The second attempt is simply more seamless once a test taker knows what to expect on test day. Furthermore, LSAT Score Preview allows a test taker to see their result and decide whether or not to keep the score. That said, in many cases showing improvement from a lower score can be appealing on a law school application. And of course, once you begin preparing post June 8 for an LSAT without Logic Games, it is reasonable to expect that all of the official practice materials on the LSAC Lawhub will be updated to focus solely on the new two Logical Reasoning section LSAT.