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Course: LSAT > Unit 1
Lesson 3: Analytical Reasoning – Articles- Getting started with Analytical Reasoning
- How to approach ordering setups
- How to approach grouping setups
- How to approach mixed setups
- Given info: basic orientation | Quick guide
- Given info: could be true/false | Quick guide
- Given info: must/cannot be true/false | Quick guide
- New info: could be true/false | Quick guide
- New info: must/cannot be true/false | Quick guide
- Equivalent rule, min-max and completely determines | Quick guide
- Equivalent rule | Learn more
- Study plan for analytical reasoning | Getting more than 10 right
- How to use multiple scenarios in analytical reasoning setups
- Deductions in analytical reasoning | Introduction
- Deductions in analytical reasoning | Practice
- Diagram notation conventions for analytical reasoning setups
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Given info: could be true/false | Quick guide
"Could be true" questions
Could be true means that the statement is possible without breaking any of the rules—even once!
The wrong choices must be false—they break a rule in some way.
"Could be false" questions
Could be false means that it's possible for the statement to be false (untrue), even if it’s only once, without breaking any of the rules.
For these, the wrong choices must be true—they are always true, no matter what.
Checklist
Since you aren’t given any new information on these questions, the answer is obtainable from your initial diagram and rules.
Check your diagram and deductions
It’s possible that the answer is almost immediately evident from the deductions you’ve already made.
Check your earlier work
- For a could be true question, if you see that one of the choices did happen in an earlier, acceptable sketch, then that’s the answer!
- For a could be false question, if you see that one of the choices didn’t happen in an earlier, acceptable sketch, then that’s the answer!
Note: You cannot eliminate any choices from this step—but if you find the answer, you're done!
Check for rule violations
Look at the rules to see if any of the choices clearly violates the rule (for a could be true) or clearly must be true (for a could be false question). If so—eliminate it!
Test whatever choices remain
If only two choices remain, and you feel confident in your work so far, you can just test one of them—if it accomplishes what you need (whether it’s a could be true or could be false) then it’s the answer! If it doesn’t accomplish what you need, then the other remaining choice is the answer.
Want to join the conversation?
"Note: You cannot eliminate any choices from this step—but if you find the answer, you're done!"
Why can you not eliminate any choices?(3 votes)
Because this section is asking to check the options from your earlier sketches. So there are chances you didn't draw a possible sketch while working on previous questions. Eliminating choices wouldn't be the right thing in that case(8 votes)
- "Could be false means that it's possible for the statement to be false (untrue), even if it’s only once, without breaking any of the rules."
Wouldn't a statement that is false break the rules? How could you possibly have a false statement that does not break any of the rules?(3 votes)