Logic Games are holding me back Forum

[AndersonSilva]

Hello,


I had a very difficult time with the logic games section during my February 2016 LSAT preparation. For example, I scored a 160 on one of my PTs while missing 14 questions in the games section. This was a common theme; I plateaued in the 157-160 range but I would miss 10+ questions in the games each time. My actual score was a 157 and imagine that I missed many logic game questions. I used the Powerscore books and I enjoy the method but I feel like it never "clicked" for me.

I decided that I will need to retake this exam in June but I need some advice on how to approach this section. I can get into some pretty good schools if I figure this section out ( 3.65, Masters, 2+ years work experience, URM: AA male, hilarious) so I want to do it right. During my initial preparation I focused on playing each game over, and over, and over. But I realized that I often struggled when I saw new games. Has anyone had a similar experience? It was a frustrating experience to know that one section was holding me back so any advice will be helpful.

[zeglo]

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[RZ5646]

This was me too. (I think one time I pulled a 173 while missing half of the LG questions.) The solution is practice, followed by more practice, with some extra practice in between. Get the Cambridge packets (old LG grouped by type and arranged by difficulty), print out 3-5 copies so you have a nice ten pound stack of paper, and do all of them.

[dontsaywhatyoumean]

Hello,


I had a very difficult time with the logic games section during my February 2016 LSAT preparation. For example, I scored a 160 on one of my PTs while missing 14 questions in the games section. This was a common theme; I plateaued in the 157-160 range but I would miss 10+ questions in the games each time. My actual score was a 157 and imagine that I missed many logic game questions. I used the Powerscore books and I enjoy the method but I feel like it never "clicked" for me.

I decided that I will need to retake this exam in June but I need some advice on how to approach this section. I can get into some pretty good schools if I figure this section out ( 3.65, Masters, 2+ years work experience, URM: AA male, hilarious) so I want to do it right. During my initial preparation I focused on playing each game over, and over, and over. But I realized that I often struggled when I saw new games. Has anyone had a similar experience? It was a frustrating experience to know that one section was holding me back so any advice will be helpful.

Rofl, my story exactly (down to this Feb LSAT). But I was actually getting almost all of them right a couple of weeks prior to the LSAT, and then ignored them for the two weeks before the test.

What helped me was using the Cambridge Packets, AND watching 7Sage videos. PS seemed great when I was using the book, then seemed lacking after. Some of 7Sage's methods are better in my opinion.

[magicmagic]

Logic games absolutely murdered me before I got the PowerScore logic games bible. LG can be horrible, but if you do enough you start to get a feel for how to set up diagrams and breeze through them. Most fit into patterns that LSAC reuses over and over again (with some exceptions...Dec'15 Game 3 oh my god). And once you get comfortable, LG can easily become a consistently perfect section. Don't give up!

[Holodigm]

I swear by The LSAT Trainer's LG section. I went the last two weeks without missing a single Games question, and it went that way for the actual test as well.

[ih8makingscreennames]

As a person who never missed more than 2 game questions in a PT (and missed none on the Dec LSAT), I'd suggest doing regular logic puzzles (like the 3x4 squares). I think the reason why that was the case for me was I did these for fun. I think that you need to know what information you can get out of a clue. I don't know what is in the books as I didn't use one. However, that could be another way to practice. You can start with easy ones and progress to harder ones. I used to do like 5 or 6 before I went to bed (way before I even thought of taking the LSAT).

[pittsburghpirates]

I swear by The LSAT Trainer's LG section. I went the last two weeks without missing a single Games question, and it went that way for the actual test as well.

I also liked the Trainer for the games section, but Powerscore was also really helpful especially for learning to make advanced inferences and simpler diagramming techniques. The key to the games section for me was figuring out how to do the simple games (straight linear and easy grouping) very quickly so that I had extra time left over for that one inevitably very difficult game in the section.

RZ hit the nail on the head. Drilling is key. Do and redo until any game type is second nature!

[Blueprint Mithun]

Hello,


I had a very difficult time with the logic games section during my February 2016 LSAT preparation. For example, I scored a 160 on one of my PTs while missing 14 questions in the games section. This was a common theme; I plateaued in the 157-160 range but I would miss 10+ questions in the games each time. My actual score was a 157 and imagine that I missed many logic game questions. I used the Powerscore books and I enjoy the method but I feel like it never "clicked" for me.

I decided that I will need to retake this exam in June but I need some advice on how to approach this section. I can get into some pretty good schools if I figure this section out ( 3.65, Masters, 2+ years work experience, URM: AA male, hilarious) so I want to do it right. During my initial preparation I focused on playing each game over, and over, and over. But I realized that I often struggled when I saw new games. Has anyone had a similar experience? It was a frustrating experience to know that one section was holding me back so any advice will be helpful.

Get a little notebook (or use a spreadsheet, if you're one of those weird, spreadsheet loving people ) and start using it to log your progress in logic games. In particular, you want to keep track of any games where you missed even one question - write down the PT, section, game number, and game type (Ordering, Grouping, etc.). Also, time yourself on each individual game you do, and record that in your notebook. Your goal is to redo every game where you missed a question until you can ace them, within a reasonable span of time to boot.

Mastering logic games requires a lot of practice, but thankfully, redoing games is never a bad idea. You're going to see the same deductions and patterns in lots of different games, so redoing old games gives you a chance to methodically work them out, preparing yourself for future sections. You could also benefit from using a different prep resource, since the PS books didn't click for you. The methods might not change massively between different resources, but looking at it through a fresh perspective will probably help a lot. Another good idea is to work with a tutor, who could identify your particular strengths and weaknesses, and help you understand the specific aspects of LG that you're struggling with.

There will be days where you have breakthroughs, and days where a certain game will make you question if you know what you're doing at all. Keep your head up through them all and keep practicing!

[potus]

Hello,


I had a very difficult time with the logic games section during my February 2016 LSAT preparation. For example, I scored a 160 on one of my PTs while missing 14 questions in the games section. This was a common theme; I plateaued in the 157-160 range but I would miss 10+ questions in the games each time. My actual score was a 157 and imagine that I missed many logic game questions. I used the Powerscore books and I enjoy the method but I feel like it never "clicked" for me.

I decided that I will need to retake this exam in June but I need some advice on how to approach this section. I can get into some pretty good schools if I figure this section out ( 3.65, Masters, 2+ years work experience, URM: AA male, hilarious) so I want to do it right. During my initial preparation I focused on playing each game over, and over, and over. But I realized that I often struggled when I saw new games. Has anyone had a similar experience? It was a frustrating experience to know that one section was holding me back so any advice will be helpful.

I LOVE games!! Sadly, it is my best section. I don't have the time to read all the other comments, but I think what really made games easy for me was Blueprint's method of tackling games. I took the online course back in '12, but I know that they now have a book out for LG help. I wasn't a fan of Powerscore at all (so, at least, you're not the only one).

I think you have to try out other games, but learn the different methods of tackling different game types. I don't think it is healthy doing the same game over and over again, but, again, approach it by type. Take the time to draw out the board, make deductions, and CRITICALLY look at the relationships that all the pieces have with each other - as that'll most likely appear in the questions.