Pretend you were taken hostage while studying in the library and could only do 7 Logic Games before Test Day. You can squeeze in one each day while your captors watch their daytime soap operas.
Which 7 Logic Games would you pick? Which are the most important?
This blog post lists what I consider to be 7 foundational Logic Games (all are purposely drawn from The Next 10 Actual Official LSAT PrepTests).
If you did nothing but these 7 games, you'd be exposed to the pure (non-combination/non-hybrid) games of each common type of Logic Game. Even if you're not taken hostage, make sure you fully understand each of these 7 games before Test Day.
1. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 1 - Pure Sequencing - Circus car with clowns - page 330
2. PrepTest 30 (Dec 1999), Game 4 - Basic Linear - Toy-truck models - page 53
3.PrepTest 36 (Dec 2001), Game 2 - Advanced Linear - Radio talk show host - page 279
4.PrepTest 33 (Dec 2000), Game 2 - Grouping: In-and-Out - Birds in the forest - page 177
5. PrepTest 33 (Dec 2000), Game 3 - Grouping: In-and-Out (Numerical Distribution) - Rubies, sapphires, and topazes - page 178
6. PrepTest 29 (Oct 1999), Game 1 - Grouping: Splitting - Accountant and 7 bills - page 32
7. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 3 - Grouping: Matching (Templates) - Job applicants and management, production, sales - page 332
Definitions of Major Common Types of Logic Games:
Pure Sequencing = place variables in order with rules relating them to each other
Basic Linear = place variables in order with rules relating them to specific slots and (possibly) to each other
Advanced Linear = place variables in order with rules relating them to specifics slots (and possibly to each other) and relate variables of one type to variables of another type
Grouping: In-and-Out = choose some variables but not others.
Grouping: Splitting = divide variables into two different groups.
Grouping: Matching = associate variables of one type with variables of another type or with more than two groups.
Techniques:
Numerical Distribution = Create various combinations of *numbers* of variables to select from each category. Benefit - gives you a birds-eye view of the game without requiring you to draw every specific scenario. Useful in games with subcategories. More on this in Logic Game | Grouping: Selection Defined Diagram | Explanation.
Templates = Draw a few main diagrams instead of only one. Each main diagram you draw represents a different potential placement of the variables. Benefit - gives you a birds-eye view of every possible scenario. Useful in games with only a few major possibilities. More on this in Logic Game | Grouping: Matching Templates Diagram | Explanation.
Also see LSAT Logic Games Categorized by Type and 7 LSAT Logic Games Repeated on Future PrepTests.
Photo by poppalina / CC BY-NC 2.0
Which 7 Logic Games would you pick? Which are the most important?
This blog post lists what I consider to be 7 foundational Logic Games (all are purposely drawn from The Next 10 Actual Official LSAT PrepTests).
If you did nothing but these 7 games, you'd be exposed to the pure (non-combination/non-hybrid) games of each common type of Logic Game. Even if you're not taken hostage, make sure you fully understand each of these 7 games before Test Day.
1. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 1 - Pure Sequencing - Circus car with clowns - page 330
2. PrepTest 30 (Dec 1999), Game 4 - Basic Linear - Toy-truck models - page 53
3.PrepTest 36 (Dec 2001), Game 2 - Advanced Linear - Radio talk show host - page 279
4.PrepTest 33 (Dec 2000), Game 2 - Grouping: In-and-Out - Birds in the forest - page 177
5. PrepTest 33 (Dec 2000), Game 3 - Grouping: In-and-Out (Numerical Distribution) - Rubies, sapphires, and topazes - page 178
6. PrepTest 29 (Oct 1999), Game 1 - Grouping: Splitting - Accountant and 7 bills - page 32
7. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 3 - Grouping: Matching (Templates) - Job applicants and management, production, sales - page 332
Definitions of Major Common Types of Logic Games:
Pure Sequencing = place variables in order with rules relating them to each other
Basic Linear = place variables in order with rules relating them to specific slots and (possibly) to each other
Advanced Linear = place variables in order with rules relating them to specifics slots (and possibly to each other) and relate variables of one type to variables of another type
Grouping: In-and-Out = choose some variables but not others.
Grouping: Splitting = divide variables into two different groups.
Grouping: Matching = associate variables of one type with variables of another type or with more than two groups.
Techniques:
Numerical Distribution = Create various combinations of *numbers* of variables to select from each category. Benefit - gives you a birds-eye view of the game without requiring you to draw every specific scenario. Useful in games with subcategories. More on this in Logic Game | Grouping: Selection Defined Diagram | Explanation.
Templates = Draw a few main diagrams instead of only one. Each main diagram you draw represents a different potential placement of the variables. Benefit - gives you a birds-eye view of every possible scenario. Useful in games with only a few major possibilities. More on this in Logic Game | Grouping: Matching Templates Diagram | Explanation.
Also see LSAT Logic Games Categorized by Type and 7 LSAT Logic Games Repeated on Future PrepTests.
Photo by poppalina / CC BY-NC 2.0
I think your list is solid, but here's a (slightly) different take. I'm ordering in terms of "must teach" games to cover the basic skills. I tried to classify with your categories, but the ones I use are a little different so I apologize for any mislabeling.
ReplyDelete1. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 1 - Pure Sequencing - Circus car with clowns - page 330
Comment: I agree, great linear ordering game with one-to-one assignment and relative clues. A great place to start.
2. PrepTest 34 (Jun 2001), Game 3 - Basic Linear - Trains at the station - page 212
Comment: No big difference from your selection, but this one is a little more complex. I could see teaching the trucks before the clowns, but if it's clowns first, then let's move on to trains.
3. PrepTest 29 (Oct 1999), Game 4 - Advanced Linear - Piano classes - page 35
Comment: This game requires some big deductions and develops useful skills. It's a good transition to the two-dimensional ordering games.
4. PrepTest 30 (Dec 1999), Game 3 - Advanced Linear (2-d) - Car Wash - page 52
Comment: There've recently been so many similar 2-d games that require one big deduction and then everything falls into place. The last question is brutal.
5. PrepTest 38 (Oct 2002), Game 3 - Grouping: Matching - Job applicants and management, production, sales - page 332
Comment: Good traditional grouping game. These still occasionally show up and the skills are useful for the newer models. Doing this first lays the groundwork for the more common matching and in/out games.
6. PrepTest 35 (Oct 2001), Game 2 - Grouping: Matching - Cars and options - page 237
Comment: This is the best example in Next 10 of matching games as they've appeared on recent LSATs. Exercise in "must be false".
7. PrepTest 33 (Dec 2000), Game 2 - Grouping: In-and-Out - Birds in the forest - page 177
Comment: Completely agree, this is a great example of a basic in/out game. Good place to master conditional clues. I hate to drop it to seven but feel like the skills required build on the skills developed by the other games.
Thanks for the stimulus.
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI bought your one month study guide, and it's been really helpful. My only suggestion is that you add these definitions at the beginning of the study guide. I only had the basic books necessary to follow the study guide, and the different types were really confusing to me just following your blog links. It's become a little more clear but now as I am finishing up the logic games, I wish I had seen these definitions at the beginning.Thanks for everything you do.
I'm going to have to second this. I find your guides incredibly useful, although I think they would be even more so if the definitions for each game type were listed as in an introduction to the LG section
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
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