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Should I learn Formal Logic and Conditional Reasoning?

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Should I learn Formal Logic and Conditional Reasoning?

by sreak1089 » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:45 pm
Hi,

I am having my GMAT exam in another 25 days..I am currently going through PowerScore CR bible for Critical Reasoning. From this book, is it critical to learn Formal Logic and Critical Reasoning chapters or can I skip them and go over only the chapters relating to the Question types? The reason is that I dont have much time and PowerScore CR bible is quite exhaustive...Please advise..
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by DanaJ » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:49 am
Are you taking about the Logical Reasoning Bible or about the Critical Reasoning Bible? I don't remember there being a chapter about formal logic...

I suppose that if you're short on time go straight for the question types, with specific focus on the types that appear the most: strengthen, weaken, assumptions...
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by shadowsjc » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:44 am
if you have time, I would say go through everything. Going through everything gave me a different perspective when tackling the CR questions on the GMAT. I know that on the surface, many of the formal logic type questions on the LSAT might not seem to pertain directly to the GMAT, but they do help you out in the long term, even if only indirectly.
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by sreak1089 » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:44 am
Hi DanaJ,

I am talking about PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning bible.. It has two chapters on Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning.. I am little confused whether to go through these chapters because Weakening Questions chapter refers to aspects of conditional reasoning such as Necessary conditions and Sufficient Conditions which are explained in Conditional Reasoning chapter..
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by sreak1089 » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:52 am
Hi shadowsjc,

My original plan was indeed to go through everything possible. In fact, I have read through 50% of the Formal Logic chapter..

However, last 10 days, I have been down with viral fever so I have not been able to study most of what I had on my plan. Now, I am feeling a bit tensed that I have less time now, and hence this thought of skipping these two chapters....
shadowsjc wrote:if you have time, I would say go through everything. Going through everything gave me a different perspective when tackling the CR questions on the GMAT. I know that on the surface, many of the formal logic type questions on the LSAT might not seem to pertain directly to the GMAT, but they do help you out in the long term, even if only indirectly.
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by shadowsjc » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:02 am
Hi,

It depends how soon you need to take the GMAT. In my opinion, the main reason I recommend that people read through the LSAT version of the LR book is because of those extra sections. Otherwise, the book would be basically no different than any other CR preparation book.

If you've been sick for awhile, it might make more sense to reschedule your test. I believe since you still have about a month left, you should be able to do reschedule it without any penalty. Of course, if you need to take the test soon because of deadlines, etc. then I guess it would be OK to skip those sections.
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by sreak1089 » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:24 am
Hi shadowsjc,

Deadline for my target B-school is in 4th weeek of November, so I have time to post-pone.

But, the constraint that I have is that, my wife is carrying and we are expecting birth of our first child in last week of October and I want to be done with my GMAT exam before that.. :)

Currently I am at V31-35 levels in my practise tests, I need to take that to V40 levels in next 25 days or so.

I am confident about Quant, I had got Q48, in my previous GMAT attempt (570 (Q48, V21)).
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by theK » Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:16 am
shadowsjc wrote:...
In my opinion, the main reason I recommend that people read through the LSAT version of the LR book is because of those extra sections. Otherwise, the book would be basically no different than any other CR preparation book.
Hi shadowsjc,
Were you one of those people who did the above? If so, did you find those extra sections helpful for the GMAT?

I've read the CR Bible, but would like to know if there is any significant value in purchasing the LSAT LR book.
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by shadowsjc » Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:36 am
hi

i did read through the entire lsat book, and i think it helped significantly. alot of it probably depends on your starting point. if youre at v25 or v30, the lsat book probably wont help. its a good book to put you over the 40 mark if youre almost there.

if youve already read diligently through the gmat cr bible, id consider getting the lsat one if its not too cost prohibitive. if youve never read either of the 2 books then id recommend the lsat one
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A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you.
- Psalm 91: 5-7
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by beatthegmat » Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:31 am
I'm personally a little nervous by the idea of studying from LSAT books to prep for the GMAT. I certainly understand the rationale, since LSAT critical reasoning/verbal tends to be tougher than the GMAT, and may thus provide more intense prep. However, at the end of the day, LSAT is a different test.

Try exhausting all of your GMAT references first prior to studying from the LSAT CR Bible--I think this could be an interesting supplement, but not a primary study tool in my opinion.

Good luck!
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by sreak1089 » Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:53 pm
Hi Eric,

During my first prep, I have gone through the entire OG guide and my accuracy was arround 80%. When I started prep for my second attempt, I have seen a steady decline in CR scores during my MGMAT scores. Hence I decided to study from PowerScore LSAT CR. I am not going to study it completely cover to cover but only the relevant topics. After studying these topics, I will start practising on OG 12 and Verbal supplement as well..
beatthegmat wrote:I'm personally a little nervous by the idea of studying from LSAT books to prep for the GMAT. I certainly understand the rationale, since LSAT critical reasoning/verbal tends to be tougher than the GMAT, and may thus provide more intense prep. However, at the end of the day, LSAT is a different test.

Try exhausting all of your GMAT references first prior to studying from the LSAT CR Bible--I think this could be an interesting supplement, but not a primary study tool in my opinion.

Good luck!
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by beatthegmat » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:20 am
Thanks for that update! Please keep us updated on your progress, I think that there are many people in this community who would love to hear more about studying LSAT materials for the GMAT.

It's unconventional, but appears to happen quite a bit.

Good luck!

Eric
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