This is an explanation of the first logic game from Section III of LSAT Preptest 73, the September 2014 LSAT.
A record produce will feature five instrumental pieces on a CD. The pieces are Reciprocity, Salammbo, Trapezoid, Vancouver, and Wisteria (R, S, T, V, W). You must use the rules to determine the possible sequences of the instrumental pieces.
Game Setup
This is a pure sequencing game. Modern pure sequencing games are a bit different from traditional sequencing games, but not much. In the past, you could join all the rules together into one big diagram. But now, you usually have to draw the rules separately. Answering the questions quickly depends on your ability to retain these rules and apply them quickly.
You should aim to be very fast at these games, as they tend to be easy. I finished this one in five minutes on my first try. That leaves extra time for harder games.
Here are the three diagrams:
I didn’t have any deductions beyond just drawing the rules. To answer the questions, I just quickly applied the rules to whatever situation the question presented.
The key is noticing that questions usually place a variable somewhere in a way that affects one of the rules. So each new rule on the questions allows deductions. Deductions lead to more deductions.
This is a step by step process that can and should be practiced. If you hesitate to apply rules, then you’re not doing games as well as you can. Those who do best on games make deductions automatically, without thought.
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Adam Allouche says
Any reason not to add V to the diagram of the second rule? It is pretty helpful in visualizing the whole game.