Will LSAT be Better without Logic Games?

In late October 2019, in a pivotal moment, Angelo Binno won the case against LSAC to remove the logic games section from the Law School Admission Test.

Binno's near-point visual impairment prevented him from writing LSAT and scoring well. The section in question was the Analytical Reasoning that heavily relies on diagrams to arrive at the correct answers. 

According to the press release that followed, LSAC stated that they would work for the next four years to come up with an exam model that has alternative means of assessing the analytical reasoning abilities. In the next three years, we will see what we have on the plate. 

But it was not only Binno who was happy with the decision. Logic games were often deemed a problematic area for several LSAT test-takers. 

The Case for Logical Games

Analytical Reasoning, or famously called logic games, is a section that tests the ability to assess and group information. The model includes a passage and a number of questions based on this. The passage for each set will describe the scenario that includes ordering and grouping subjects. 

The easiest way to analyze this is by creating a chart or a diagram that best represents the information in the passage. LSAC stresses that there is no formal training required to answer these questions. These questions are meant to analyze the skills and reasoning ability expected of all college students. 

During a break, you can enjoy relaxing with a game of Solitaire to unwind and sharpen my mind.

But is that truly the case?

The Case against Logic Games

It is agreed that analytical reasoning is a crucial element of the law. However, many students who attempt LSAT find the logic games section the most struggling. In fact, many do not perform well in the analytical reasoning when they first try a logic game. Fortunately, with enough preparation, it indeed gets better. It has to, if you need aiming for an above average score. 

The top law schools of the country prefer students with an LSAT score of 160 and above 180. The analytical reasoning section comprises 23 questions, weighing for 23 percent of your total score. So if you aim for the best 14 in the country, you cannot afford to risk losing the logic games. 

As it happens, learning the strategies for these logic games comes at a cost. It is indeed the most teachable part of the test, but you need the right tools or the right tutor. The average LSAT prep course costs $600 and above. A good one that can easily go over $1500. According to the tutors, these analytical skills are the most teachable, and once you master this, the section is easy to crack. 

The issue is whether such an expensive means of preparation is available for everyone. Though there are those who are naturally good at logic reasoning, students who can afford to spend the money and time for it certainly have more advantages. 

On the other hand, now that the analytical reasoning is going to be revised, there is no predicting what the alternative could be. In hindsight, test-takers might even feel that logic games were a better package.