Logic games--is there an order to testing answer choices? Forum

[primordialnoodle]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about logic games. When you're forced to test answer choices and create hypotheticals, is there an optimal order to test them? (e.g. should I test from E to A?)

Thanks!

[lakers180]

eliminate any you can based on past hypotheticals used and the first question

usually this leaves you with like three choices so then just pick the one that seems right to test first

[BPlaura]

You can (and should) look at the answer choices to see what seems most likely to be right. For instance, you might want to start by testing answer choices that include a player whose position is very restricted. But beyond that, no, it's not like going from E to A will make a difference over going from A to E.

[thevuch]

eliminate any you can based on past hypotheticals used and the first question

usually this leaves you with like three choices so then just pick the one that seems right to test first

this is true, most of the time games build on each other and by realizing what worked for previous problems you can look at answer choices and immediately say well i know this isnt it, this isnt it, and this isnt it

[LauraS]

You can (and should) look at the answer choices to see what seems most likely to be right. For instance, you might want to start by testing answer choices that include a player whose position is very restricted. But beyond that, no, it's not like going from E to A will make a difference over going from A to E.

I completely agree with this -- and not just because it's written by a fellow Laura S! You can save yourself significant time on some questions if you take a few seconds at first and think about what the answer is likely to be, what type of answer will likely work.

If you practice doing this while you drill, you'll get better and better at it. And you'll also deepen your understanding of games, which will benefit you overall. The more games you've seen/solved, the easier this becomes, too.

Does this work all the time? Not at all. Sometimes what seems like the most likely choice is totally wrong, or there's no good guess and you have to slog through every answer choice.