Logical Reasoning Strain

[CristinaG]

I have trouble focusing on Logical Reasoning sections with my PTs over time. Unlike the Reading Comprehension and Logic Games sections where I know what I'm looking for, having an understanding of the premise and coming up with the necessary prephrases becomes more difficult as time wears on and, by the end of the third section, I start making careless mistakes by not reading the questions/answer choices carefully enough.

Is there anything I can do to build up endurance in these particular sections that I feel require a little more brainpower?

[Steve Stein]

Hi ChristinaG,

First, you're in good company; Logical Reasoning sections can be taxing, because unlike the other sections, in which you must deal with either four logic games or four passage sets, each logical reasoning section presents dozens of distinct arguments for assessment.

I would make a couple of recommendations to start: first, practice! You pointed out that at the end of the third section you start to make careless errors; mental endurance works just like other types of physical endurance, and as you take more practice tests you will find that you can focus through more and more of each test, until you have reached the point at which you feel you're still bringing your best, even to the last section.

I would also strongly recommend that if you tend to do the questions in order, dispense with this tendency immediately. Skip over any question that looks even slightly annoying or inaccessible. Go through and select only your favorite questions from each page--the ones that look the friendliest and most accessible. And what if you start on such a question and it turns out to be much tougher than you thought? Skip it!

The more liberally you allow yourself to skip around in the questions, the greater control you will rightfully feel that you have over the test, and the less exhausting the whole experience is likely to be.

Others might offer advice as well, but let me know whether this is clear, and keep us posted on your progress!

~Steve

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Cristina,

One additional thought would be to take practice tests with six sections instead of five (I've mentioned this idea elsewhere on the forum, most recently in my second post at http://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewto ... f=2&t=3988).

By "overdriving" your practice tests you get used to a longer, more grueling format, and then when you take a "regular" LSAT, it doesn't seem so bad. Kind of like running a half-marathon when training for a 5k--once you run the 5k, it seems a lot easier in comparison.

Just a thought. Thanks!

[CristinaG]

Thank you Dave! I've been drilling my most difficult sections back to back to get used to the mental strain and build up stamina. I hope that it will pay off when I take the test on Saturday.