Those of you who took the June 2012 LSAT (PrepTest 66) got quite a surprise when you saw that LSAT Logic Games were presented in a 2-page layout rather than being confined to a single page.
Of course, the previous layout in every exam prior featured the game's initial paragraph, rules, and questions all crammed onto a single page. This has been the case since the dawn of time.
For those of you new to the LSAT, you can see what this looks like in any LSAT PrepTest, including the free June 2007 LSAT on LSAC's website (PDF - p3-6).
Here's the first page of Logic Games from that exam, using the old one-page layout:
Here's what the two-page layout looked like on the June LSAT:
This led to a big guessing game about whether the 2-page Logic Games layout would continue. I hypothesized that it would - LSAC tends to introduce major changes in June of a testing year (which runs from June - February), then continues those changes on future exams.
Reading Comprehension dual passages were introduced in June 2007, and Logic Games rule equivalency questions were introduced in June 2009, etc. The former was announced in advance, but the latter was not. Both have been featured in LSAT exams following their introduction.
Of course, the 2-page Logic Games layout in June 2012 was not announced in advance.
Given the significance of this 2-page layout change, I emailed LSAC to ask whether it would continue.
LSAC's Director of Communications, Wendy Margolis, was kind enough to respond via email:
I can confirm that the 2-page layout for each set of questions in the Analytical Reasoning section of the LSAT will continue.
I'm a big fan of the 2-page layout, of course - more space to draw lots of diagrams. Good for those with big handwriting.
However, some of you will probably be annoyed at only being able to study a handful of exams with the 2-page layout, while all the other PrepTests have the 1-page layout.
Which layout do you prefer? 1 page or two?
Whichever you like, be ready for the 2-page layout.
2-pages is far better, and it solves the longstanding problem of some games that left almost no space at all (eg: PT57 Game #4). I always thought that this was ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think it also has an effect on games strategy. Some games techniques emphasize re-drawing mini diagrams whereas others have a single diagram with multiple rows. I prefer the latter, and this new layout makes that easier. It also makes it possible to do more hypotheticals.
So, +1 to this approach, but I wish that LSAC had given us a heads-up because it did cause a moment of confusion on the actual test.
That being said, it makes printing/copying games for practice a bit more of a pain in the ass.
I like the two pages...
ReplyDeleteBut it messed me up a tiny bit on the June tests. And I think it's more important now than ever to visit your test center beforehand to make sure your desks are of an adequate size - you don't want to have to be flipping your testbook over to look at your diagram again!
I definitely would have loved a two-page lay-out. More space to work.
ReplyDeleteGood to know, be ready for anyhing. I write big, so it's a plus!
ReplyDeleteDoes this signify a trend of more plugs n chugs, more hypotheticals to be drawn to eliminate answers and less critical inferences that solve the whole thing? I would hate that.
ReplyDeleteSo Steve, for those of us studying for the October test would you recommend using a scrap page to simulate the extra page? A half page for scrap? I'm delighted about the extra space and want to prep accordingly, but without giving myself any advantage that I won't have on test day.
ReplyDeleteThoughts?
I hated the abrupt switch, since I had gotten used to practicing diagrams on tiny post it notes... :/
ReplyDelete