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Using the LSAT to Study for the GMAT Part 2: Critical Reasoning

If you missed part one of this article it is at: http://www.beatthegmat.com/using-the-lsat-to-study-for-the-gmat-part-1-t66548.html

Those who have taken both tests will tell you that mastering the Critical Reasoning on the LSAT is great preparation for the GMAT. What they do not mention is the months of studying this typically requires. If you have unlimited amounts of time, and/or you just really want to be good at all sorts of critical reasoning problems, the way some people are good at Sodoku, then study away! But assuming that your goal is to do well on the GMAT there are some rules you should follow if you choose to use LSAT Critical Reasoning questions.

Rules for using LSAT Critical Reasoning to study for the GMAT:

1) Understand the differences between the two tests and the limitations of using one to study for the other. The Critical Reasoning on the LSAT is far more varied than on the GMAT, is generally harder than on the GMAT, and relies more on formal logic. For this reason, studying certain kinds of LSAT problems can actually confuse you and cause you to focus on things that simply do not appear on the GMAT. (For example, you should probably avoid questions that rely too heavily on formal logic). There are no GMAT questions that absolutely require formal logic. In later posts I will examples of questions that might be confusing to study…

2) Focus on the types of questions that commonly appear on the GMAT - specifically focus on Strengthen, Weaken, Assumption, Inference, Resolve the Paradox Questions, and Questions that ask you what role a stated portion of the stimulus plays. Other types of questions on the LSAT can help you to work on your reasoning abilities in general and if you have lots of time are interesting to try, but are not necessarily applicable to the GMAT. (An example of a question directly applicable to the GMAT is given below).

3) The best question numbers to study are generally from 1 to 16 in any given LSAT test. The LSAT is arranged in order of increasing difficulty so that questions 1 - 10 are designed so that at least 75% of test-takers will get them right. Questions 11- 16 are more difficult but still closer to what one would expect on the GMAT. Questions 17 to 25 (or 26) are very challenging and should be treated accordingly.

4) Try to find “take-aways”, or points that you can apply to questions that you will see on test day. This is not only important when you are studying LSAT questions but anytime you are studying. Ask yourself, “What does this question ask me to do that is similar to something that I have seen before?” If you miss the question, find out what you did wrong not so that you could get this question right in the future but so that you can get this type of question right next time. And if you got the question right, figure out what you did right so that you can try to repeat that success.

5) Where to find LSAT questions: LSAT questions are most easily (and legally) available in the “10 Actual, Official LSAT” series from LSAC - the Law School Admissions Council. Each of these books contains 10 LSAT tests which adds up to about 500 critical reasoning questions (of which half or more will be appropriate for GMAT students). Each book also contains 40 reading comprehension passages (reading comprehension will be discussed in the third part of this article). The question below comes from the “10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests” book. This book contains tests from the late 1990s. It does not matter which edition of the “10 Official LSAT” books you buy as you are not looking for the latest LSAT questions, but just some good critical reasoning. If you buy one of the older books you can probably get it cheap. I saw new copies of the older editions for about $5 U.S.

EXAMPLE:

The following is an LSAT question that is similar to those you would see on the GMAT, same type of question, etc.
This question comes from the September 1998 LSAT Test. This is from section 2 question #10. I have taken it from the “10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests” book, page 260.


10. Commercial Passenger Airplanes can be equipped with a collision-avoidance radar system that provides pilots with information about the proximity of other airplanes. Because the system warns pilots to take evasive action when it indicates a possible collision, passengers are safer on airplanes with the system than on comparable airplanes not so equipped, even though the system frequently warns pilots to evade phantom airplanes.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) Passengers feel no safer on airplanes equipped with the radar system than on comparable airplanes not so equipped.

B) Warnings given by collision-avoidance system about phantom radar signals are not caused by distorted radar signals.

C) The frequency of invalid warnings will not cause pilots routinely to disregard the system’s warnings.

D) Commercial passenger airplanes are not the only planes that can be equipped with a collision-avoidance system.

E) The greatest safety risk for passengers traveling on commercial passenger airplanes is that of midair collision.

As you can see this is a question that would not seem out of place on the GMAT. It is an assumption question as is clear from the question which states that the “argument depends” on the assumption. Please give your answers to this question, OA and explanation to follow.

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David Newland, JD, MA, MAE
GMAT Instructor, Tutor, and Author
Veritas Prep