Going for perfect on logic games section... Forum

[longdaysjourney]

Howdy,

I am seeking advice on how to better my LG section score. This is where I’m at:

I'll be taking the Oct. test and I am gunning for a score that is >175. I started preparing nearly four weeks ago and have been studying 3+ hours per day, six days per week. I have completed the linear games and advanced linear games section of the LG bible and the corresponding sets of problems in "Traceila's Grouped by Type: Analytical Reasoning", which contains all the logic games in PrepTests 1-20. (note: I used the grouping listed in the back of the LG Bible, not the grouping in the "Grouped by Type" book, which appears to be inaccurate). I completed these problems untimed because I will not be worrying about speed until the next phase of my studies.

While I worked through these games I took notes on my experience with each set of questions. After finishing all the games I review my notes and they indicated three things:

1) My overall accuracy was 91.25%

2) It is highly likely that I will answer all questions associated with a particular game correctly if I:
a. create a good, detailed setup
b. internalize the rules and realize the way that they interact

3) It is highly likely that I will answer 1 or more questions incorrectly if I:
a. work too quickly
b. skim questions, answer choices, or rules
c. fail to realize how multiple rules interrelate

Firstly: Has anyone who has already taken the test, or who is preparing for the June test, raised their accuracy from roughly 90% to 99.999%? Is 100% correct an unrealistic goal for this section given my self-assessment? Remember, I did not start with a 91.25% accuracy, that is what I have attained since beginning my preparation on April 1st.

Secondly: Does anyone have any tips on how I can capitalize on my second and third discoveries? Can anyone make a suggestions that could help me avoid working too quickly, skimming, and failing to see how rules interact? Any suggestions related to good setups, etc…

Thanks,

Longdaysjourney

[7ED]

If your going for 175+ u should practice to the point where you are using logic games as free marks. In no other section are there questions with answers nearly as obviously correct as in the LGs.

[Z3RO]

If your going for 175+ u should practice to the point where you are using logic games as free marks. In no other section are there questions with answers nearly as obviously correct as in the LGs.

This.

Just do games and games and games and games and and and-

Yeah, they are free points. Don't squander the few you can get wrong on games, which have clear answers every single time.

[DaveBear07]

I really identify with your 2nd and 3rd points/discoveries. And although I literally just finished going -0 in the games sections on PT 26, I feel as though the only way to ensure that I am ready to perform like this on Test Day is to do as many games section as possible so that I can be as familiar as possible with every game structure and what role each rule plays in the overall game scheme. And to know what to look for and how the rules interrelate.

So I guess my answer to this question personally is to just keep practicing!

[waxloaf]

-0 is totally achievable, just practice like the others said. The key for me was being able to visualize the setup and do it fast but correct. On the actual test I screwed a rule up on the first game and answered all the questions for the first game wrong (nightmare scenario) but still had time to redo my diagram and finish the section with a few minutes to spare, if you are efficient with your games you can get -0 with extra time left over.

[Mr. Smith]

If your going for 175+ u should practice to the point where you are using logic games as free marks. In no other section are there questions with answers nearly as obviously correct as in the LGs.

This.

Just do games and games and games and games and and and-

Yeah, they are free points. Don't squander the few you can get wrong on games, which have clear answers every single time.

+1,000,000

[inmans]

do games over and over and over again... do them until you are blue in the face...

eventually, inferences will be second nature... good set ups will be second nature...

do this, and you will consistently score -0.

logic games should be your strongest section

[suspicious android]

I got 99th percentile and still missed 3 on LGs. People have different skill sets, you can't say LG *should* be the easiest section anymore than you can say that for LR or RC.

[waxloaf]

not really true, LG is the only section where a good setup can get you correct answers for the whole game, and you can be sure they are 100% correct.

[swc65]

Howdy,

I am seeking advice on how to better my LG section score. This is where I’m at:

I'll be taking the Oct. test and I am gunning for a score that is >175. I started preparing nearly four weeks ago and have been studying 3+ hours per day, six days per week. I have completed the linear games and advanced linear games section of the LG bible and the corresponding sets of problems in "Traceila's Grouped by Type: Analytical Reasoning", which contains all the logic games in PrepTests 1-20. (note: I used the grouping listed in the back of the LG Bible, not the grouping in the "Grouped by Type" book, which appears to be inaccurate). I completed these problems untimed because I will not be worrying about speed until the next phase of my studies.

While I worked through these games I took notes on my experience with each set of questions. After finishing all the games I review my notes and they indicated three things:

1) My overall accuracy was 91.25%

2) It is highly likely that I will answer all questions associated with a particular game correctly if I:
a. create a good, detailed setup
b. internalize the rules and realize the way that they interact

3) It is highly likely that I will answer 1 or more questions incorrectly if I:
a. work too quickly
b. skim questions, answer choices, or rules
c. fail to realize how multiple rules interrelate

Firstly: Has anyone who has already taken the test, or who is preparing for the June test, raised their accuracy from roughly 90% to 99.999%? Is 100% correct an unrealistic goal for this section given my self-assessment? Remember, I did not start with a 91.25% accuracy, that is what I have attained since beginning my preparation on April 1st.

Secondly: Does anyone have any tips on how I can capitalize on my second and third discoveries? Can anyone make a suggestions that could help me avoid working too quickly, skimming, and failing to see how rules interact? Any suggestions related to good setups, etc…

Thanks,

Longdaysjourney

I had the same problem of working too quickly and missing logic games questions. I found that developing a process... step 1 ... 2 ... 3. Kept me from doing this.

I usually started off with identifying the type of game, I just wrote it down M for matching G for grouping, S for sequence or S/G or M/G, you get the idea. Then I made sure I had all of the info from the paragraph down and I put little tick marks beside each line in the left margin. That way I knew I had read that sentence. Then I moved to the rules and checked them off as I went (I often had the problem of missing on or two rules when I first started). This way I never had to go back and reread anything!


Having a step by step process with notations really helped to slow me down and I scored a perfect on the LG section.


edit: I also started off missing about 7-8 on LG and 12-14 total. LG was the section I most improved on. On test day, I still ended up missing 3 RC and 2 LR, which is pretty much where I started on my diagnostic.

[andreea7]

I started doing very poorly on games but improved a lot and on the actual test didn't make any errors on the games.

I followed the Powerscore LG Bible religiously as far as diagramming, writing down rules, etc. And then I believe I may have done every single game that exists in practice tests. When I would feel more confident about it, I would go back to old games I was not able to do well on the first try. And if second try was not that great, I would go back to them later on again. I didn't study that much. An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening then some in the weekend, coupled with or two practice tests.

My strategy was to identify which games were my strength. I don't remember right now but I think grouping games may have been the easiest for me. So when I practiced and on the test day the first thing I did was identify the ones which would be easy for me and do those first. This way, I didn't speed through the ones which required more care with the diagramming and the rules, etc. as speed was the prime reason why I would make mistakes on those.


Should also add that I had two kinds of "study time" for the games: one in which I would take it slowly with the games, focusing on how I reacted to various types of games, various questions in order to figure out what might make me anxious on the day of the test; and one in which I would time myself.

[suspicious android]

not really true, LG is the only section where a good setup can get you correct answers for the whole game, and you can be sure they are 100% correct.

The answers are right there for LR too, and you can be 100% sure the an answer is correct or not if you understand the stimulus and the question stem.

[noelleF]

not really true, LG is the only section where a good setup can get you correct answers for the whole game, and you can be sure they are 100% correct.

The answers are right there for LR too, and you can be 100% sure the an answer is correct or not if you understand the stimulus and the question stem.

how did you get to that point on LR?!

[suspicious android]

[how did you get to that point on LR?!

LR fits my natural abilities. The first time I ever did a timed LR section I got every question right. Now, I averaged anywhere from 1-4 wrong until I practiced, but the point is, different people have different natural abilities. I got a 175 on a practice test while missing 5 LG questions when I was prepping last June. I've put in a huge a mount of prep, it's just a skill set I don't have. It seems like on this site that the LG skills set is more common, a pretty high percentage of people seem to be able to consistently do them perfectly. That's cool for them, and everyone should aim for that. I just get annoyed (and admittedly jealous) when people say "there's no excuse to miss any questions on the games". The LSAT is written consistently according to strict rules of logic using the conventions of English grammar. There's proof for every correct answer and every incorrect answer.