When we speak of
opposites on the
LSAT, we mean
logical opposites.
For example,
what is the opposite of “wet?” Most people would say “dry.” But, that is the polar
opposite, not the logical opposite. The logical opposite of “wet” is “not wet.” Logical opposites break the topic under discussion into two parts. In this case, everything in the
spectrum of moisture would be classified as either “wet” or “not wet.”
All LSAT questions have five lettered answer choices and each question has
only one correct, or “credited,” response. As with other sections, the correct
answer in a Logical Reasoning question must meet the Uniqueness Rule of
Answer ChoicesTM, which states that “Every correct answer has a unique
logical quality that meets the criteria in the question stem. Every incorrect
answer has the opposite logical quality.” The correctness of the answer choices
themselves conforms to this rule: there is one correct answer choice; the other
four answer choices are the opposite of correct, or incorrect. Consider the
following specific examples:
1. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Must Be True
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Must Be True = Not Necessarily True (could be
not necessarily the case or never the case)
2. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Strengthen
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Strengthen = not Strengthen (could be neutral or
weaken)
3. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Weaken
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Weaken = not Weaken (could be neutral or
strengthen)
Even though there is only one correct answer choice and this answer choice is
unique, you still are faced with a difficult task when attempting to determine
the correct answer. The test makers have the advantage of time and language
on their side. Because identifying the correct answer at first glance can be
quite hard, you must always read all five of the answer choices. Students who
fail to read all five answer choices open themselves up to missing questions
without ever having read the correct answer. There are many classic examples
of Law Services placing highly attractive wrong answer choices just before the
correct answer. If you are going to make the time investment of analyzing the
stimulus and the question stem, you should also make the wise investment of
considering each answer choice.
Primary Objective #7: Always read each of the five answer
choices.
There may be times when you would not read all five answer choices, For
example, if you only have two minutes left in the section and you determine
that answer choice (B) is clearly correct. In that case, you would choose
answer choice (B) and then move on to the next question.
As you read through each answer choice, sort them into contenders and losers.
If an answer choice appears somewhat attractive, interesting, or even
confusing, keep it as a contender and move on to the next answer choice. You
do not want to spend time debating the merits of an answer choice only to find
that the next answer choice is superior. However, if an answer choice
immediately strikes you as incorrect, classify it as a loser and move on. Once
you have evaluated all five answer choices, return to the answer choices that
strike you as most likely to be correct and decide which one is correct.
Primary Objective #8: Separate the answer choices into
Contenders and Losers. After completing this process, review
the contenders and decide which answer is the correct one.
The Contender/Loser separation process is exceedingly important, primarily
because it saves time. Consider two students—1 and 2—who each approach
the same question, one of whom uses the Contender/Loser approach and the
other who does not. Answer choice (D) is correct:
Student 1 (using Contender/Loser)
Answer choice A: considers this answer for 10 seconds, keeps it as a
Contender.
Answer choice B: considers this answer for 5 seconds, eliminates it as
a Loser.
Answer choice C: considers this answer for 10 seconds, eliminates it as
a Loser.
Answer choice D: considers this answer for 15 seconds, keeps it as a
Contender, mentally notes that this answer is preferable to (A).
Answer choice E: considers this answer for 10 seconds, would
normally keep as a contender, but determines answer choice
(D) is superior.
After a quick review, Student 1 selects answer choice (D) and moves to
the next question. Total time spent on the answer choices: 50 seconds
(irrespective of the time spent on the stimulus).
Student 2 (considering each answer choice in its entirety)
Answer choice A: considers this answer for 10 seconds, is not sure if
the answer is correct or incorrect. Returns to stimulus and
spends another 15 seconds proving the answer is wrong.
Answer choice B: considers this answer for 5 seconds, eliminates it.
Answer choice C: considers this answer for 10 seconds, eliminates it.
Answer choice D: considers this answer for 15 seconds, notes this is
the best answer without further consideration.
Answer choice E: considers this answer for 10 seconds, but determines
answer choice (D) is superior.
After a quick review, Student 2 selects answer choice (D) and moves to
the next question. Total time spent on the answer choices: 65 seconds.
Comparison: both students answer the problem correctly, but Student 2 takes
15 more seconds to answer the question than Student 1.
Some students, on reading this comparison, note that both students answered
the problem correctly and that the time difference was small, only 15 seconds
more for Student 2 to complete the problem. Doesn’t sound like that big a
difference, does it? But, the extra 15 seconds was for just one problem.
Imagine if that same thing occurred on every single Logical Reasoning
problem in the section: that extra 15 seconds per question would translate to a
loss of 6 minutes and 15 seconds when multiplied across 25 questions in a
section! And that lost time would mean that student 2 would get to four or five
fewer questions than Student 1, just in this one section. This example
underscores an essential LSAT truth: little things make a big difference, and
every single second counts. If you can save even five seconds by employing a
certain method, then do so!
Occasionally, students will read and eliminate all five of the answer choices. If
this occurs, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument. Remember—
the information needed to answer the question always resides in the stimulus,
either implicitly or explicitly. If none of the answers are attractive, then you
must have missed something key in the stimulus.
Primary Objective #9: If all five answer choices appear to be
Losers, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
opposites on the
LSAT, we mean
logical opposites.
For example,
what is the opposite of “wet?” Most people would say “dry.” But, that is the polar
opposite, not the logical opposite. The logical opposite of “wet” is “not wet.” Logical opposites break the topic under discussion into two parts. In this case, everything in the
spectrum of moisture would be classified as either “wet” or “not wet.”
All LSAT questions have five lettered answer choices and each question has
only one correct, or “credited,” response. As with other sections, the correct
answer in a Logical Reasoning question must meet the Uniqueness Rule of
Answer ChoicesTM, which states that “Every correct answer has a unique
logical quality that meets the criteria in the question stem. Every incorrect
answer has the opposite logical quality.” The correctness of the answer choices
themselves conforms to this rule: there is one correct answer choice; the other
four answer choices are the opposite of correct, or incorrect. Consider the
following specific examples:
1. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Must Be True
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Must Be True = Not Necessarily True (could be
not necessarily the case or never the case)
2. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Strengthen
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Strengthen = not Strengthen (could be neutral or
weaken)
3. Logical Quality of the Correct Answer: Weaken
Logical Quality of the Four Incorrect Answers:
the opposite of Weaken = not Weaken (could be neutral or
strengthen)
Even though there is only one correct answer choice and this answer choice is
unique, you still are faced with a difficult task when attempting to determine
the correct answer. The test makers have the advantage of time and language
on their side. Because identifying the correct answer at first glance can be
quite hard, you must always read all five of the answer choices. Students who
fail to read all five answer choices open themselves up to missing questions
without ever having read the correct answer. There are many classic examples
of Law Services placing highly attractive wrong answer choices just before the
correct answer. If you are going to make the time investment of analyzing the
stimulus and the question stem, you should also make the wise investment of
considering each answer choice.
Primary Objective #7: Always read each of the five answer
choices.
There may be times when you would not read all five answer choices, For
example, if you only have two minutes left in the section and you determine
that answer choice (B) is clearly correct. In that case, you would choose
answer choice (B) and then move on to the next question.
As you read through each answer choice, sort them into contenders and losers.
If an answer choice appears somewhat attractive, interesting, or even
confusing, keep it as a contender and move on to the next answer choice. You
do not want to spend time debating the merits of an answer choice only to find
that the next answer choice is superior. However, if an answer choice
immediately strikes you as incorrect, classify it as a loser and move on. Once
you have evaluated all five answer choices, return to the answer choices that
strike you as most likely to be correct and decide which one is correct.
Primary Objective #8: Separate the answer choices into
Contenders and Losers. After completing this process, review
the contenders and decide which answer is the correct one.
The Contender/Loser separation process is exceedingly important, primarily
because it saves time. Consider two students—1 and 2—who each approach
the same question, one of whom uses the Contender/Loser approach and the
other who does not. Answer choice (D) is correct:
Student 1 (using Contender/Loser)
Answer choice A: considers this answer for 10 seconds, keeps it as a
Contender.
Answer choice B: considers this answer for 5 seconds, eliminates it as
a Loser.
Answer choice C: considers this answer for 10 seconds, eliminates it as
a Loser.
Answer choice D: considers this answer for 15 seconds, keeps it as a
Contender, mentally notes that this answer is preferable to (A).
Answer choice E: considers this answer for 10 seconds, would
normally keep as a contender, but determines answer choice
(D) is superior.
After a quick review, Student 1 selects answer choice (D) and moves to
the next question. Total time spent on the answer choices: 50 seconds
(irrespective of the time spent on the stimulus).
Student 2 (considering each answer choice in its entirety)
Answer choice A: considers this answer for 10 seconds, is not sure if
the answer is correct or incorrect. Returns to stimulus and
spends another 15 seconds proving the answer is wrong.
Answer choice B: considers this answer for 5 seconds, eliminates it.
Answer choice C: considers this answer for 10 seconds, eliminates it.
Answer choice D: considers this answer for 15 seconds, notes this is
the best answer without further consideration.
Answer choice E: considers this answer for 10 seconds, but determines
answer choice (D) is superior.
After a quick review, Student 2 selects answer choice (D) and moves to
the next question. Total time spent on the answer choices: 65 seconds.
Comparison: both students answer the problem correctly, but Student 2 takes
15 more seconds to answer the question than Student 1.
Some students, on reading this comparison, note that both students answered
the problem correctly and that the time difference was small, only 15 seconds
more for Student 2 to complete the problem. Doesn’t sound like that big a
difference, does it? But, the extra 15 seconds was for just one problem.
Imagine if that same thing occurred on every single Logical Reasoning
problem in the section: that extra 15 seconds per question would translate to a
loss of 6 minutes and 15 seconds when multiplied across 25 questions in a
section! And that lost time would mean that student 2 would get to four or five
fewer questions than Student 1, just in this one section. This example
underscores an essential LSAT truth: little things make a big difference, and
every single second counts. If you can save even five seconds by employing a
certain method, then do so!
Occasionally, students will read and eliminate all five of the answer choices. If
this occurs, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument. Remember—
the information needed to answer the question always resides in the stimulus,
either implicitly or explicitly. If none of the answers are attractive, then you
must have missed something key in the stimulus.
Primary Objective #9: If all five answer choices appear to be
Losers, return to the stimulus and re-evaluate the argument.
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