After the February LSAT, some test takers reported seeing much more difficult Logical Reasoning questions than normal. So, are the rumors true? Is the LSAT Logical Reasoning Section becoming harder? Will we see a harder LR section after the June 2024 LSAT once Logic Games are removed?
The short answer is probably not. Let’s talk about why.
Complaints Are Normal
To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, the only things certain in life are death, taxes, and complaints about the LSAT. As a seasoned LSAT instructor, I am used to hearing students report back after their official exam, “People on the internet said this test was way harder than anything they’ve seen before!”
Although I am sure many test takers feel that way after taking the LSAT, what students may not realize is that people say this exact same thing online after every LSAT. Every. Single. LSAT.
The fact is, the LSAT is hard. It is completely normal to see others discuss their frustrations online. But since these complaints are par for the course in LSAT life, we should not use them to draw big conclusions about overall test trends.
Further Reading
No News Is Good News
So what should we use instead to help us track overall trends? Well, our most reliable source is always going to be LSAC itself. LSAC has said absolutely nothing about changes to Logical Reasoning content. That means there probably won’t be big changes to Logical Reasoning questions in the near future.
An LSAC representative, Kyle McEntee, also addressed the rumors in a Reddit comment, which is fitting since Reddit is the primary breeding ground for these kinds of unfounded claims. Using the username u/WTHeel, McEntee writes, “To be crystal clear, we are not changing the logical reasoning section. Anything could happen later but it is not planned and would come with an announcement if we ever did something that warranted a change in prep.”
Whenever there have been substantial changes to the LSAT, LSAC has always publicly announced those changes so test takers will be prepared. For example, LSAC just announced that there will be changes to the writing sample starting with the August 2024 exam. If equivalent changes were happening with Logical Reasoning questions, we would expect to see an official statement about it.
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No New Logical Reasoning Questions in New Prep
The recent announcement I mentioned above came alongside the release of 58 new practice tests using the new August 2024 format. And guess what? They aren’t really new! They’re the same practice tests that were previously available; LSAC just took out the Logic Games sections and reconfigured the scoring scales.
So if it wasn’t already clear enough that the Logical Reasoning Section remains the same, LSAC has told us to use the exact same prep materials, just without Logic Games! If you’re looking for a practice test, you can get a free one with performance analytics when you create a Blueprint LSAT account!
Hypothetically, if LSAC was going to substantially change to Logical Reasoning questions, we would expect them to release completely new practice tests featuring the new question styles and difficulty levels. But that didn’t happen, so we’re in the clear for now.
Moving forward
. Could the Logical Reasoning Section change once Logic Games goes away? Maybe. But for now, these are our major takeaways:
- The Logical Reasoning Section is almost certainly staying the same for the foreseeable future.
- Use reliable sources for information about the LSAT.
This whole ordeal is a great example of how test takers can be let down the wrong path and panic without substantial cause. So the next time a bespectacled speculator tells you a major change has arrived to the LSAT, make sure you check the receipts at LSAC or right here at the Blueprint LSAT Blog.
In the meantime, keep practicing and developing those fundamental skills. Regardless of whether you’re testing before the Logic Games Section goes away or not, Logical Reasoning still counts for at least 1/3 of your score. Master the basics and get advice on other tricky Logical Reasoning concepts.
If you need more help, we’ve got you covered! Blueprint LSAT students see 15-point score increases on average. Experience the Blueprint method by joining a free LSAT class or starting a free trial of our Self-Paced Course!
