LSAT 71, Logic Game 4, Question 20, LSATHacks

This is where the questions start to get hard. I think question 20, in particular, has the potential to slow you down, unnecessarily.

I have a secret. I skip questions like this. Then I keep them in the back of my mind. As I draw scenarios for other questions, I eliminate answers. By doing this you can often eliminate all but two answers, and you only have to draw a couple of diagrams to prove which answer is right.

The correct answer to question 17 proves that Morisot can go third, so A is wrong. Unfortunately, none of the other questions produced scenarios that disproved answers here. Still, eliminating one answer is a good way to start.

I recommend making very rapid sketches to disprove the other answers. Do this before reading the rest of my explanation – this is a good review exercise. It shouldn’t take long, and you often don’t need to complete a sketch on the page to see that a scenario would work.

For instance, here’s B, in two steps:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Remember, these diagrams only have to prove that something could be true. In the diagram above, PS could be reversed, but who cares? Either way, the diagram proves the Renoir can be third.

Here’s C, in two steps:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Here’s D, in three steps.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Note that these don’t take long at all. I just try putting T third, then see what else has to be true, and then finally what can be true. Here are the steps to prove that T can be third:

• T third
• V must be fourth
• R_M must be 5 and 7
• PS must be 1 and 2 (or vice-versa)
• W must be 6

Since the diagram works, you can eliminate that answer. I’ll emphasize that if you practice doing this, and you know the rules, it should take 5-10 seconds to go through the steps above.

By process of elimination, E is CORRECT. Here’s why, there’s no space for PS:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Now, you’re probably saying to yourself “I don’t have time to make all those drawings!”. Actually, you do. There are three problems:

1. You overestimate how long it actually takes you to draw.
2. You haven’t practiced drawing quickly.
3. You don’t know the rules well enough.

I did those sequences of drawings on paper first. Each one took me about five seconds. Here’s the steps:

1. Place the variable in the answer choice third.
2. Place Vuillard fourth.
3. Place R_M, the next most restricted element.
4. Place PS.
5. Place W after T.

None of that should take long. It should be automatic. Step 1, step 2, step 3, step 4, step 5, bam!

Improving is simple. On review, practice making these drawings until you are blazing fast at it. This skill will transfer over to new games.

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