LSAT Logic Games Practice Questions

Overview

LSAT Logic Games test your ability to understand logical constraints, map out question set-ups, and make deductions based on a system of rules. While Logic Games makes up just one section of the LSAT, it's the most daunting part of the test for many test takers. The good news is that the Analytical Reasoning section is also where students improve the most with practice. Over time, you'll learn to quickly identify different game types, work through your sketch, and choose the right answers without breaking a sweat.

Wondering what you need to work on? Try one of our sample LSAT Logic Games and see how you do.

Online LSAT Logic Games Practice: Getting Started

For many students, LSAT logic games are the most dreaded section of the test. And that's no casual proclamation when you're talking about the LSAT!

Logic games (which make up the Analytical Reasoning section of the test) are in large part intimidating because they're unfamiliar. We've all tackled Reading Comprehension- and Logical Reasoning-like questions before, on the SAT and other tests, but logic games are beasts unto themselves. They're intended to assess your ability to make deductions in real-life situations—a skill that, while crucial to law-school success, is one that you probably haven't been tested on much before.

So, if you're reading this because you bombed the Analytical Reasoning section on an LSAT practice test—good! Yes, you read that right. Good! The Analytical Reasoning may be the trickiest section of the test, but it is also the one where students improve the most with practice. With a bit of strategy and hard work, you can make your LSAT score skyrocket!

Logic games usually fall into one of two predictable categories:

  • Ordering games ask you to put entities in the correct order (go figure), depending on a certain set of conditions.
  • Grouping games ask you to distribute entities into certain groups.

There are also "combination" games, and occasionally the test-makers will throw you a curve-ball of a game that doesn't fit into any of the categories—but don't worry too much about either of those right now!

If you've taken any practice tests, you know that the Analytical Reasoning section consists of four logic games, with somewhere from five to eight questions to answer for each game. While the strategy for every type of game is different, one thing remains the same: You should do most of the work before you even read the questions. After you read the introductory scenario:

  • Identify the game type
  • Draw an appropriate diagram
  • Make your deductions

Now let's go through the process of setting up a diagram and making deductions for a typical logic game:

At a concert, exactly eight compositions—F, H, L, O, P, R, S, and T—are to be performed exactly once each, consecutively and one composition at a time. The order of their performances must satisfy the following conditions:

Go no further. Before reading the conditions, think about what kind of game this is. Are we being asked to place entities into groups? No. Instead, we are being asked to order the compositions for a performance. You guessed it—we have an ordering game on our hands. (Games like this one, concerning entities of the same type—in this case, all compositions—often appear at the beginning of the Analytical Reasoning section, since they tend to be easier than ordering games that involve several different kinds of entities.)

Now that we've figured out the kind of game, let's think about our sketch. Since there are eight compositions and each needs to be performed exactly once (no more, no less!), we'll need an ordered list with slots numbered 1-8, into which we'll place our entities—F, H, L, O, P, R, S, and T.

Now that we've figured that much out, it's time to read the conditions.

T is performed either immediately before F or immediately after R.
At least two compositions are performed either after F and before R, or after R and before F.
O is performed either first or fifth.
The eighth composition performed is either L or H.
P is performed at some time before S.
At least one composition is performed either after O and before S, or after S and before O.

It's always a good idea to put the written rules down into some sort of shorthand that will be easier to refer back to when it comes time to answer the questions. Everyone's shorthand might look a little different, but the basic idea is the same.

Let's look at how these rules might be translated into shorthand.

  1. T is performed either immediately before F or immediately after R.
    Shorthand: TF or RT
  2. At least two compositions are performed either after F and before R, or after R and before F.
    Shorthand: RÉ _ _ or FÉ _ _ R(Note: We must use the É because we don't know whether R and F are separated by exactly two slots or more than two slots.)
  3. O is performed either first or fifth.
    Shorthand: See diagram below. You'll draw a line from O to slots 1 and 5, indicating that the only place O could possibly go is one of these two spots.
  4. The eighth composition performed is either L or H.
    Shorthand: See diagram below. Place L/H in Slot 8.
  5. P is performed at some time before S.
    Shorthand: PÉS
  6. At least one composition is performed either after O and before S, or after S and before O
    Shorthand: OÉ_S or SÉ_O(Note: again, we must use the "É" because we don't know for sure the number of slots between O and S, just that there is at least one.)

Now that you've written out your rules, it's time for deductions! Look for places where rules can be combined in order to give you more information about the game.

In this case, we can make one deduction. We know from Rule 5 that P must precede S, so we can add this info to the ordered pairs in Rule 6. OÉPÉS, PÉOÉ_S, or PÉSÉ_O. (We don't need the "_" in the first case since we know P will be between S and O).

Here's our final diagram:

Absolute Ordering Sample Setup

This might seem like a lot of work to do upfront, but remember—now the hard part is done! You'll use your diagram, deductions, and short-hand rules to answer the questions contained within the game. Take your time to make sure you've set up an appropriate diagram and made all necessary deductions before moving on to the questions. Sure, you don't have all day to complete the test—but you won't be able to answer of the questions (or at least, won't be able to answer them correctly) if you don't allocate enough time for these first, crucial steps.

Like what you see? Follow our test prep blog for tips on tackling logic games and other stumpers.

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Question 1

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

Which one of the following could be the order, from first to sixth, in which the items are arranged on the shelf?

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

Though this appears to be an acceptability question, it only asks about an acceptable ordering of the items, and not the type of power for each item. Thus, this is a partial acceptability question in which only some of the rules will help to eliminate answer choices, and the rest of the answers will have to be eliminated by deductions.

  • Rule 1: eliminates C (U cannot be second)
  • Rule 2: does not eliminate any answer choices
  • Rule 3: does not eliminate any answer choices
  • Rule 4: does not eliminate any answer choices
  • Rule 5: eliminates D (S must precede R) and A (R must precede W)

We are left with choices B and E, which we can cross-check with our final sketch. Since we were able to deduce that W must be in slot 6, it cannot be in slot 5, eliminating choice E.

Thus, B, the remaining answer choice, is correct.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

Question 2

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

Which of the following could be true?

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

Choices A, B, and C directly violate our sketch, which tells us that U is first, R is fourth, and the fifth item is powered by an adapter.

If, as in choice D, S is powered by batteries, it must be in slot 2, since the item in slot 3 is powered by an adapter. This, means V must be in slot 3, and U must be powered by an adapter, since two consecutive items cannot be powered by batteries. Our sketch is:

Setup Sketch 2

This is an acceptable sketch, so choice D is correct.

As for choice E, if both U and V are powered by batteries, V must be in slot 2, since the item in slot 3 is powered by an adapter. Since we cannot have items in consecutive slots powered by batteries, choice E can also be eliminated.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

Question 3

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

Which of the following must be true?

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

Since this question asks what must be true, we can cross-check the answer choices with our sketch to see if one of the answer choices matches one of our deductions. Since we have T and a in slot 5 in our sketch, choice A is correct.

Choices B and D could be true, but do not have to be.

Choices C and E must be false.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

Question 4

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

At most, how many of the items are powered by batteries?

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

We know for sure that R and W in slots 4 and 6, respectively, are powered by batteries, thus the answer must be at least two. Eliminate choice A.

We also know that V/S and T in slots 3 and 5 are powered by adapters, thus the answer is at most four. Eliminate E.

It cannot be true that the items in both slots 1 and 2 are powered by batteries, since items in consecutive slots cannot both be powered by batteries. However, as we saw in our sketch for the previous question...

Setup Sketch 2

...it can be true that one of the first two items is powered by batteries. Therefore, at most three of the items are powered by batteries. Choice C is correct.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

Question 5

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

If the UV lamp is powered by batteries, each of the following must be true EXCEPT:

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

If the UV lamp is powered by batteries, then we know the item in slot 2 must be powered by an adapter, since it cannot be true that items in consecutive slots are both powered by batteries. Thus, our sketch is:

Setup Sketch 5

Each of the first four answer choices must be true, so they can all be eliminated.

This leaves correct answer choice E. It does not have to be true that S is in slot 3 in the sketch above, since S could be in slot 2.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

Question 6

Hans is considering purchasing each of six items arranged from left to right on a shelf at the travelers' warehouse—a razor, a stereo, a television, a UV lamp, a video camera, and a watch. Each of these items is powered either by batteries or by an adapter, but not by both. The following conditions apply:

  1. The UV lamp is either the leftmost or the rightmost item on the shelf.
  2. No item powered by batteries is adjacent to any other item powered by batteries.
  3. The watch is powered by batteries.
  4. The fourth item on the shelf is not powered by an adapter.
  5. The razor, which is powered by batteries, is to the left of the watch, and to the right of the video camera and the stereo.

Suppose the condition that the fourth item is not powered by an adapter were replaced by the condition that the fifth item is not powered by an adapter. In that case, which of the following could be false?

Check your answerShow explanation

Explanation

If the fifth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the fourth and sixth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a, b, and a in slots 4, 5, and 6, respectively, of the power row.

From here we can try to place R in the sketch. Since it is preceded by S and V, R can be third at the earliest, and since it is followed by W, it can be fifth at the latest. However, if R were fifth, then W would have to be sixth, and we know the sixth item is powered by an adapter. Thus, R cannot be fifth. Likewise, it cannot be fourth, since the item in slot 4 is powered by an adapter. Therefore, R must be third, and W must be fifth. So far we have:

Setup Sketch 1

Since S and V must precede R, we can place S/V in slot 1 and V/S in slot 2. Since U can no longer be first, it must be sixth, pushing T to slot 4. Finally, we know the item in slot 2 cannot be powered by batteries, since the item in slot 3 is, so we can place a in slot 2 of the power row. Our sketch is:

Setup Sketch 2

Since it does not have to be true that V is powered by an adapter (it could be in slot 1, and powered by batteries), choice E is correct.

Game Setup:

This is an advanced absolute ordering game; we must determine the order in which six items are arranged on a shelf, and whether each is powered by batteries or by an adapter. Our sketch will be an ordered list with one row for the items (R, S, T, U, V, and W), and one row for the type of power (a or b).

Rules:

  1. U = 1 or 6
  2. ~bb
  3. (W,b)
  4. Place b in slot 4 of the power row.
  5. V...(R,b)...W and S...(R,b)...W

Deductions:

  1. If the fourth item is powered by batteries, and no two adjacent items can be powered by batteries, both the third and fifth items must be powered by an adapter. Place a in slot slots 3 and 5 of the power row.
  2. Since R is preceded by both S and V, it can be third at the earliest. But since the third item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be third. Thus, R can be fourth at the earliest.
  3. Since R is followed by W, it can be fifth at the earliest. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the razor is powered by batteries, R cannot be fifth. Thus, R can be fourth at the latest.
  4. If R can be fourth at the earliest and at the latest, it must be fourth. Place R in slot 4 of the item row.
  5. Since W must follow R, it must be either fifth or sixth. But since the fifth item is powered by an adapter, and the watch is powered by batteries W cannot be fifth. Thus, W must be sixth.
  6. If W is sixth, U cannot be. Thus, U must be first.
  7. Since S and V must both precede R in slot 4, and slot 1 is occupied by U, one of S and V must be in slot 2 and the other in slot 3.
  8. This leaves slot 5 for T.

Summary of Setup:

Setup Sketch

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