Comments on: February 2010 LSAT survey http://www.knewton.com/blog/lsat/2010/02/09/february-2010-lsat-survey/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chris b http://www.knewton.com/blog/lsat/2010/02/09/february-2010-lsat-survey/#comment-1165 chris b Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:58:08 +0000 http://www.knewtonblog.com/?p=2062#comment-1165 Hey Adam, Interesting point, and thanks for writing in. It's true that we generally spend more time on global questions than local ones -- if only because there are more types of global questions you're likely to encounter. Local questions only take one of a few forms (must be true, could be true, or must be false); global questions take more time to teach because there are so many varieties (complete and accurate list, acceptability, minimum/maximum, etc). That said, we definitely hear you. Formal logic is at the heart of the Logic Games section -- that's why we start covering it in lesson one -- and we could spend more time drilling students on how to use it effectively on local questions. We're always looking for ways to tweak and improve the course, so one thing we're planning to do is add more homework that is exclusively focused on making formal logic deductions quickly. As far as your observation about the trend in recent tests, it's something we're looking into. The LSAT usually uses a 50-50 split between global and local questions, but as Kristen has emphasized this seems to have shifted slightly on recent tests. Once the Feb. LSAT is officially released, we'll take a closer look. Thanks again for the feedback. Hey Adam,

Interesting point, and thanks for writing in. It’s true that we generally spend more time on global questions than local ones — if only because there are more types of global questions you’re likely to encounter. Local questions only take one of a few forms (must be true, could be true, or must be false); global questions take more time to teach because there are so many varieties (complete and accurate list, acceptability, minimum/maximum, etc).

That said, we definitely hear you. Formal logic is at the heart of the Logic Games section — that’s why we start covering it in lesson one — and we could spend more time drilling students on how to use it effectively on local questions. We’re always looking for ways to tweak and improve the course, so one thing we’re planning to do is add more homework that is exclusively focused on making formal logic deductions quickly.

As far as your observation about the trend in recent tests, it’s something we’re looking into. The LSAT usually uses a 50-50 split between global and local questions, but as Kristen has emphasized this seems to have shifted slightly on recent tests. Once the Feb. LSAT is officially released, we’ll take a closer look.

Thanks again for the feedback.

]]> By: Adam T http://www.knewton.com/blog/lsat/2010/02/09/february-2010-lsat-survey/#comment-1164 Adam T Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:31:26 +0000 http://www.knewtonblog.com/?p=2062#comment-1164 I thought the Games section on the FEB LSAT required several strategies that may not hae been well developed in the Knewton classes. First the games were almost all local rules questions. Second the games all required a significant amount of formal logic and deductions. While the Knewton classes did overview this it did not concentrate on it specifically. As evidenced by the poll numbers most felt that timing was an issue. Clearly this is a result of the LSAT's move towards local rules games and significant deduction requirements in both LR and the games section. It would seem prudent to tweak the Knewton course given the DEC and FEB exams. And I don't just mean cover them in class. Knewton should develop a series of strategies and methods to deal specifically with the LSAT's move towards formal logic deduction and timing. I thought the Games section on the FEB LSAT required several strategies that may not hae been well developed in the Knewton classes. First the games were almost all local rules questions. Second the games all required a significant amount of formal logic and deductions. While the Knewton classes did overview this it did not concentrate on it specifically. As evidenced by the poll numbers most felt that timing was an issue. Clearly this is a result of the LSAT’s move towards local rules games and significant deduction requirements in both LR and the games section. It would seem prudent to tweak the Knewton course given the DEC and FEB exams. And I don’t just mean cover them in class. Knewton should develop a series of strategies and methods to deal specifically with the LSAT’s move towards formal logic deduction and timing.

]]>