Back to Basics
These four words are represented by the acronym “LSAT.”
What is the Law School Admission Test?
These are the two scored question types found on the current LSAT.
What are Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension?
In an argument, what is the statement being supported called?
What is the conclusion?
A question asking what the passage is primarily about is asking for this.
What is the main point?
“Everyone I know who went to law school became successful. Therefore, everyone who goes to law school will become successful.” What reasoning flaw does this argument make?
What is overgeneralization?
True or False: This exam tests your knowledge of specific laws and legal rules.
What is false?
This organization administers the LSAT.
What is the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)?
What are the statements used to support a conclusion called?
What are premises?
Words such as “however,” “although,” and “nevertheless” frequently signal this in an RC passage.
What is a contrast or shift?
“My favorite lawyer drives a BMW, so BMWs must be the best cars.” What flaw does this argument contain?
What is an unwarranted generalization / weak evidence?
This section of the exam asks you to analyze arguments, including identifying weaknesses and flaws in reasoning.
What is Logical Reasoning?
This is the highest possible LSAT score.
What is 180?
“If it rains, the ground gets wet. It is raining. Therefore, the ground is wet.” What type of reasoning is this?
What is modus ponens?
When answering a question about what the author would most likely agree with, your answer should be based primarily on this.
What is evidence from the passage?
“Either we increase law school tuition or the school will have to close.” What reasoning problem might this argument contain?
What is a false dilemma?
This type of question asks you to identify something that must be assumed for an argument’s reasoning to work.
What is a Necessary Assumption question?
An unscored section appears on the LSAT primarily for this purpose.
What is the experimental or variable section?
What is the logical indicator “therefore” usually signaling?
What is a conclusion?
An RC question asking why the author mentioned a particular study, example, or quotation is testing this.
What is its function/purpose in the passage?
“Nobody has proven that aliens don’t exist, so aliens must exist.” What flaw does this argument make?
What is an appeal to ignorance?
An argument has this property when, assuming its premises are true, its conclusion must also be true.
What is validity / being valid?
The LSAT score scale begins at this number.
What is 120?
“All lawyers are professionals. Brenda is a lawyer. Therefore, Brenda is a professional.” Is this argument logically valid?
What is yes?
In a comparative Reading Comprehension set, questions may require you to identify this between Passage A and Passage B.
What is a point of agreement or disagreement / relationship between the passages?
“After the school introduced a new study lounge, average student grades increased. Therefore, the new study lounge caused the increase in grades.” What reasoning flaw does this argument make?
What is confusing correlation with causation?