Logic Games Help Area

Excerpt from the LSAT Logic Games Bible

October 1996 LSAT Game Setups

Profile Charting Game Discussion

Basic Game Types and Frequency of Appearance

Basic Game Types and Frequency of Appearance

While you prepare for the Logic Games section of the LSAT, you should be aware of the game types that appear most frequently on the exam. In our LSAT preparation courses and Logic Games publications we delineate the advanced and comprehensive game classification system used by PowerScore to attack the Logic Games section of the LSAT*. Below, we use some of the most basic classification levels of that system to provide an informative analysis of the game types that have appeared on all LSATs since June 1991.

Basic Game Types and Frequency of Appearance: 1991 to the Present

A brief analysis of the table reveals that Linear and Grouping games dominate the percentages, and fully 85% of games on past tests were Grouping, Linear, or Grouping/Linear Combination games (almost 90% if you consider that Pattern games are also Linear in nature). Other game types appeared relatively infrequently. A student with limited preparation time would obviously be well-served to tilt their preparation towards the Linear and Grouping games as these types appear on every LSAT.

Within certain game types, further analysis is helpful. Linear games can be divided into two types—Basic and Advanced—and as you might expect, Advanced Linear games appear somewhat more frequently than Basic Linear games:

For students tracking the basic complexity of Linear games, among both Basic and Advanced Linear games, Balanced games appear more frequently than Unbalanced games:

Thus, a test taker encountering a Linear game has a two in three chance of seeing a Balanced game.

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Grouping games, often considered the most challenging game type, can be divided into several subcategories:

One sub-type—Defined games—appears far more frequently that the other sub-types. This weighting is beneficial for test takers as Defined games are generally easier than Undefined or Partially Defined games.

Some of the more advanced game concepts and techniques specifically addressed in the PowerScore full-length course also appear quite frequently:

Almost 25% of games require an advanced approach such as Identify the Templates or Identify the Possibilities, and well over 15% of games feature a challenging element such as a Numerical Distribution. These high rates of appearance put an unprepared test taker at a severe disadvantage.

Students often ask how the LSAT has changed over the years. Consider the difference in the percentages when only the games from 2000 to the present are considered:

Basic Game Types and Frequency of Appearance: 2000 to the Present

Amazingly, the focus on Linear and Grouping games has become even greater. What about the use of more advanced features in games? The table below reveals that on recent tests the makers of the LSAT have begun to attack the students with ever more challenging games:

Over 20% of all games since 2000 have required an advanced “Numerical Distribution” approach, a significant increase from previous years.

The discussion above shows clearly that the LSAT is not a collection of random ideas. The protocols of the test dictate that certain concepts must be tested with frequency, and as a test taker, arming yourself with the most advanced knowledge is crucial. A solid course of preparation is necessary for performing well, and your preparation must have focus and direction. Students who are unprepared for the most frequently appearing games and concepts are at a serious disadvantage when taking the LSAT.

* The Logic Games classification system used by PowerScore helps students specifically identify the dominant features of each game. By understanding how each game presents problems, students can then better attack that game. The discussion presented above uses only a few, very basic classification terms. For a detailed discussion of the entire Unified Games Theory™ classification system, please refer to a PowerScore LSAT Course textbook or the Logic Games Bible.

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