Games

[UnfGirl]

I am struggling with the logic games big time. I definitely have a better grasp on the other two sections. I am taking a prep course come August, but have started familiarizing myself with the LSAT since about Dec. With the logic games, I am able to diagram and symbolize the clues properly, but am having trouble making any meaningful deductions, which I know are a somewhat essential piece to tackling the questions.

Any advice on deductions, or any knowledge of prep material that focuses solely on games would be so greatly appreciated!!

[Anne]

I am struggling with the logic games big time. I definitely have a better grasp on the other two sections. I am taking a prep course come August, but have started familiarizing myself with the LSAT since about Dec. With the logic games, I am able to diagram and symbolize the clues properly, but am having trouble making any meaningful deductions, which I know are a somewhat essential piece to tackling the questions.

Any advice on deductions, or any knowledge of prep material that focuses solely on games would be so greatly appreciated!!

Have you checked out PowerScore's Logic Games Bible?



It's pretty much the standard go-to book to kick the bejeesus out of logic games. Here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/PowerScore-LSAT-Logic-Games-Bible/dp/0980178207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276780841&sr=8-1

[Anne]

The only thing I would worry about, though, is that if you use PowerScore's methods now to get good at logic games, and then the class you take in August ISN'T PowerScore, that you may become confused with logic games methodology. Chances are pretty good that a different way of looking at the games will be presented in your class, and mixing methods (particularly when it comes to logic games) can be more bad than good. Just something to think about as you explore books out there to help you fine-tune your games skills.

[EarlCat]

Yeah, unless you're taking a PowerScore class, I'd hold off trying to learn new stuff until the class starts.  Ideally a class or tutoring should be at the beginning of your prep, not the end.

[UnfGirl]

Okay so I really shouldn't even be studying on my own until the class starts? I thought studying ahead of time would have been good, I will feel useless if I don't study all of July, haha. Maybe I'll work on personal statements or something...

[Jeffort]

Okay so I really shouldn't even be studying on my own until the class starts? I thought studying ahead of time would have been good, I will feel useless if I don't study all of July, haha. Maybe I'll work on personal statements or something...

You said that you are able to diagram things properly,  how and where did you learn your diagramming method from?  Which prep course are you signed up for?

As said, mixing methods from different sources is a bad idea.  However, if you are going to be taking a Powerscore class and have also been self studying with the Powerscore logic games bible beforehand, then it would not be bad to keep going through the LG bible in July before your class starts.

Since you are ready to really get going with study and practice now it would be silly to let July go by without doing anything to improve your score.  Is there another offering of the class that begins earlier than August?

[UnfGirl]

Yeah, the book I was studying from was different than the company I am taking. I am now going to get a book from the company I am taking since I have heard all of these things about mixing study methods. So, would going through that book before my class starts be a good idea, even if the book is slightly outdated??

Thanks!

[Jeffort]

Yeah, the book I was studying from was different than the company I am taking. I am now going to get a book from the company I am taking since I have heard all of these things about mixing study methods. So, would going through that book before my class starts be a good idea, even if the book is slightly outdated??

Thanks!

That depends on what company the book is from and which book it is.  It would be a lot easier to answer the question about your situation if you would just say which book(s) and class it is.  Myself and many of the other seasoned experts here are familiar with most of the commonly sold 'off the shelf' LSAT prep books.  

Since you said the book is slightly outdated but is from the company offering the live prep course, if I have to guess, two well known companies come to mind, Kaplan and The Princeton Review.  'Off the shelf' LSAT prep books from those companies are not very good and in many instances do not even follow the same approaches that are taught in the prep class from the same company.  For example, The Princeton Review has a book out that has been available for many years that uses fake LSAT questions and does not mirror their current classroom curriculum.  User Earlcat here on the board can vouch for that and offer his opinion.  Earlcat (before getting accepted to and starting LS) taught a lot of LSAT classes for TPR and has reviewed their bookstore books.  For the most part He hates them.

Kaplan off the shelf bookstore study guides, depending on which one (they have several) don't mirror their classroom course books/materials well either, with many of them using fake/non authentic 'simulated' LSAT questions (always a red flag).

The only major nationwide known LSAT prep provider I am aware of that offers good live classes as well as good comprehensive self study books that are a good companion to the class by consistently teaching/advocating the same strategies/techniques in the same ways as in their classes is Powerscore.

So, before you go buying another book, let us know which one and some of us can offer our perspective about its efficacy and your plan to mix before class self-study with a live class.

[FML]

Logic Games suck so bad! One minor slip-up and the entire game can spiral out of control. 

Why on earth do law schools care if you can do these stupid things?!

[LawSchoolGuy]

Logic Games suck so bad! One minor slip-up and the entire game can spiral out of control. 

Why on earth do law schools care if you can do these stupid things?!

Probably b/c they test the kind of critical thinking that you need to have in order to study and practice law. Think about it. Games test how well you can discern patterns and come to conclusions based on limited information and only a few clues. That's pretty much exactly what you'll do as an attorney.

[lwyrsguns$]

I used the Logic Games Bible...it was really helpful. I just got the other 2 bibles (for LR and RC)...hopefully they're just as good.

[NYCLSATTutor]

Yeah, the book I was studying from was different than the company I am taking. I am now going to get a book from the company I am taking since I have heard all of these things about mixing study methods. So, would going through that book before my class starts be a good idea, even if the book is slightly outdated??

Thanks!

If you are taking a Kaplan course, buy the powerscore logic games bible.  Mixing methods can be problematic, but Kaplan methods aren't generally sufficient on their own.