LSAT 80, Logic Game 3, Question 12, LSATHacks

For acceptable order questions, go through the rules and use them to eliminate answers one by one.

Note that I use the rules themselves. I don’t use my diagrams for these questions. Reading the rules again for this question will help you memorize them, and it’s also more efficient.

This question is a bit different, however. Usually, for most questions of this type, each rule will eliminate one answer. 

But on this question, no single rule eliminate B or E. Instead, you have to use the combined setup diagram to eliminate them. See the setup section for how to construct these deductions, but basically you can deduce this:

So B and E are wrong because H’s watercolor needs to be in the upper position on wall 4, and yet those answers place it elsewhere.

I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen this happen on a logic game. Usually, if an upfront deduction is required for the first question, then that question won’t be an acceptable order question. On newer LSATs the test makers seem prepared to slightly break longstanding rules. I think this is part of an effort to throw off people who are only getting questions right due to rote memory rather than underlying skill. 

Further, if a first question on a game seems unusually hard, it’s a strong sign to go back to your diagram and see if there’s a missing deduction.

Rule 4 eliminates D. Franz’s oil must be displayed on the lower position of one of the walls.

Rule 5 eliminates C. Issac’s oil must be displayed on the lower position of wall 4. 

A is CORRECT. It violates no rules.

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