In the answer key to this book, all questions are classified as one of these thirteen
types. There are also additional indicators designating reasoning type, etc.
Each question stem that appears in the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT
can be classified into one of thirteen different types:
1. Must Be True/Most Supported
2. Main Point
3. Point at Issue
4. Assumption
5. Justify the Conclusion
6. Strengthen/Support
7. Resolve the Paradox
8. Weaken
9. Method of Reasoning
10. Flaw in the Reasoning
11. Parallel Reasoning
12. Evaluate the Argument
13. Cannot Be True
Occasionally, students ask if we refer to the question types by number or by
name. We always refer to the questions by name as that is an easier and more
efficient approach. Numerical question type classification systems force you to
add two unnecessary levels of abstraction to your thinking process. For
example, consider a question that asks you to “weaken” the argument. In a
numerical question classification system, you must first recognize that the
question asks you to weaken the argument, then you must classify that
question into a numerical category (say, Type 10), and then you must translate
Type 10 to mean “Weaken.” Literally, numerical classification systems force
you to perform an abstract, circular translation of the meaning of the question,
and the translation process is both time-consuming and valueless.
In the following pages we will discuss each question type in brief. Later we
will examine each question type in its own chapter.
1. Must Be True/Most Supported
This category is simply known as “Must Be True.” Must Be True
questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by
the information in the stimulus. Question stem examples:
“If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also
be true?”
“Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the
passage?”
2. Main Point
Main Point questions are a variant of Must Be True questions. As you
might expect, a Main Point question asks you to find the primary
conclusion made by the author. Question stem example:
“The main point of the argument is that”
3. Point at Issue
types. There are also additional indicators designating reasoning type, etc.
Each question stem that appears in the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT
can be classified into one of thirteen different types:
1. Must Be True/Most Supported
2. Main Point
3. Point at Issue
4. Assumption
5. Justify the Conclusion
6. Strengthen/Support
7. Resolve the Paradox
8. Weaken
9. Method of Reasoning
10. Flaw in the Reasoning
11. Parallel Reasoning
12. Evaluate the Argument
13. Cannot Be True
Occasionally, students ask if we refer to the question types by number or by
name. We always refer to the questions by name as that is an easier and more
efficient approach. Numerical question type classification systems force you to
add two unnecessary levels of abstraction to your thinking process. For
example, consider a question that asks you to “weaken” the argument. In a
numerical question classification system, you must first recognize that the
question asks you to weaken the argument, then you must classify that
question into a numerical category (say, Type 10), and then you must translate
Type 10 to mean “Weaken.” Literally, numerical classification systems force
you to perform an abstract, circular translation of the meaning of the question,
and the translation process is both time-consuming and valueless.
In the following pages we will discuss each question type in brief. Later we
will examine each question type in its own chapter.
1. Must Be True/Most Supported
This category is simply known as “Must Be True.” Must Be True
questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by
the information in the stimulus. Question stem examples:
“If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also
be true?”
“Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the
passage?”
2. Main Point
Main Point questions are a variant of Must Be True questions. As you
might expect, a Main Point question asks you to find the primary
conclusion made by the author. Question stem example:
“The main point of the argument is that”
3. Point at Issue
