Understanding the different LSAT question types and exploiting the recurring patterns that appear across test administrations is at the heart of focused LSAT preparation. Although different prep companies have various systems for classifying test content, they tend to share many commonalities. On this page, we outline the Cambridge LSAT question types as they are presented in our materials. Our LSAT problem sets make it very convenient for you to target individual problem types before shifting your focus to timed work. The Test Tracking Spreadsheet and LSAT Logic Games Tracker are both excellent tools for determining which question types tend to give you the most trouble. You can use our LSAT Problem-Type Drilling Companion to get a sense for the frequency of the different types in regards to particular ranges of tests.
Logical Reasoning
Inference
- Must Be True: ask for a statement that is conclusively proven by the stimulus
- Most Strongly Supported: ask for a statement that is supported by the stimulus
- Complete the Passage: ask you to choose the statement which best completes the passage
- Cannot Be True: ask for a statement that is incompatible with the stimulus
Main Conclusion
- Identify: ask you to paraphrase the main conclusion in the stimulus
- Supply: ask you to supply the main conclusion for the stimulus
Principle
- Identify: ask you to extract a general rule from the stimulus
- Apply: ask you to apply a general rule provided by the stimulus
Assumption
- Necessary: ask for an unstated premise that must be true if the conclusion is valid
- Sufficient: ask for a premise that, when added to the stimulus, proves the conclusion
Method
- Argument: ask for a description of the argumentative technique used in the stimulus
- Statement: ask for the function of a particular statement in the stimulus
Impact
- Strengthen: ask you to select information that supports the argument
- Weaken: ask you to select information that undermines the argument
- Evaluate: ask you to select a question which best tests the argument’s validity
Parallel
- Reasoning: ask for the answer choice that matches the reasoning of the stimulus
- Flaw: ask for the answer choice which matches a flaw in the stimulus
Point
- Agree: ask for a point on which two speakers would agree
- Disagree: ask for a point on which two speakers would disagree
Flaw: ask you to identify a flaw in the reasoning of the stimulus
Paradox: ask you to resolve or reconcile an apparent discrepancy
Except: ask for the statement that doesn’t meet the stated criteria
The following four designations are not question types in the sense that they are triggered by a particular kind of question stem. Rather, stimuli (the paragraph or paragraphs which precede each question stem) which have certain characteristics are assigned these secondary traits.
- Formal Logic (Quantitative Reasoning): frequently tied to Must Be True question stems and presented as fact sets, these stimuli are set up in such a way that a syllogistic conclusion can be reached by connecting sufficient/necessary conditions with quantifiers like “all,” “most,” “some,” “none,” etc.
- Conditional Reasoning (Conditional Logic): the stimulus contains one or more sufficient/necessary relationship (often phrased in if/then form) central to correctly answering the question
- Cause and Effect: these arguments use causal reasoning (typically conflating mere correlation with causation) to arrive at their conclusions
- Data and Statistics: the argument in the stimulus uses numbers and percentages (usually incorrectly) to support its conclusion
If you’re using either the Manhattan Prep Logical Reasoning Strategy Guide or the PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible, you may need to convert between the classification systems. For your convenience, we’ve put together the following chart. You can also download the pdf version of this chart.
| Cambridge LSAT | Manhattan Prep (MLR) | PowerScore (LRB) |
|---|---|---|
| Must Be True | Inference | Must Be True/Most Supported |
| Most Strongly Supported | ||
| Complete the Passage | Main Point—Fill in the Blank | |
| Cannot Be True | Cannot Be True | |
| Main Conclusion | Identify the Conclusion | Main Point |
| Principle (Identify) | Principle Support | Principle* |
| Principle (Apply) | Principle Example | |
| Necessary Assumption | Necessary Assumptions | Assumption |
| Sufficient Assumption | Sufficient Assumptions | Justify the Conclusion |
| Method (Argument) | Procedure | Method of Reasoning |
| Method (Statement) | Determine the Function | Method of Reasoning—Argument Part |
| Strengthen | Strengthen and Weaken | Strengthen/Support |
| Weaken | Weaken | |
| Evaluate | Evaluate the Argument | |
| Parallel (Reasoning) | Match the Reasoning | Parallel Reasoning |
| Parallel (Flaw) | Match the Flaw | Parallel Flaw |
| Point | Identify the Disagreement | Point at Issue |
| Flaw | Identify a Flaw | Flaw in the Reasoning |
| Paradox | Explain a Result | Resolve the Paradox |
* Note that PowerScore considers Principle to be an overlay of other question types as opposed to a distinct question type.
Logic Games
| Type | SubType |
|---|---|
| Ordering | Relative |
| Simple | |
| Complex | |
| Grouping | In/Out |
| Distribution | |
| Assignment | Determined |
| Undetermined | |
| Miscellaneous |
Ordering
- Relative: ordering a set of variables relative to each other
- Simple: ordering a set of variables relative to fixed positions
- Complex: ordering two or more sets of variables relative to fixed positions
Grouping
- In/Out: assigning each entity to exactly one of two groups primarily through the application of conditional statements
- Distribution: assigning each entity to exactly one of a given number of groups
Assignment: assigning variables to positions in a structure
- Determined: the exact number of each variable to be placed in the diagram can be deduced from the setup and conditions
- Undetermined: the exact number of each variable to be placed in the diagram is left open by the setup and conditions and can vary from question to question
Limited
- Allocations: limited slot structures or limited variable allocations can be deduced from the setup and conditions
- Scenarios: limited partially-completed diagrams can be deduced from the setup and conditions
- Solutions: limited completed diagrams can be deduced from the setup and conditions
Active Variables: the variables which are to be placed into a particular structure
If you’re using either the Manhattan Prep Logic Games Strategy Guide or the PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, you may need to convert between the classification systems. For your convenience, we’ve put together the following chart. You can also download the pdf version of this chart. Keep in mind that these are rough approximations, as the types don’t always line up perfectly.
| Cambridge LSAT | Manhattan Prep (MLG) | PowerScore (LGB) |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Ordering | Relative Ordering | Pure Sequencing |
| Simple Ordering | Basic Ordering | Basic Linear: Balanced |
| Mismatch Ordering | Basic Linear: Unbalanced | |
| Complex Ordering | 3D Ordering | Advanced Linear |
| In/Out Grouping | Open Conditional Grouping | Grouping: Partially Defined |
| Grouping: Undefined | ||
| Closed Conditional Grouping | Grouping: Defined | |
| Grouping (Distribution) | Basic Grouping | Grouping: Defined-Fixed |
| 3D Grouping | ||
| Determined Assignment | Hybrid | Grouping/Linear Combination |
| Undetermined Assignment | Open Grouping | Grouping: Partially Defined-Moving |
| Miscellaneous | Other | Pattern |
| Circular Linearity | ||
| Mapping |