## **Learning Outcomes**

After reading this article, you will understand the purpose, structure, and demands of LSAT Logical Reasoning "point at issue" and "point of agreement" question types. You will be able to identify relevant areas of disagreement or agreement between speakers, quickly apply the correct criteria to spot valid answer choices, and avoid exam pitfalls. This knowledge will improve your accuracy and speed on commonly-tested LSAT argument comparison tasks.

## **LSAT Syllabus**

For LSAT, you are required to understand how to analyze arguments involving multiple speakers and to recognize specific areas of agreement or disagreement. In revising this topic, focus on:

- the function and format of point at issue and point of agreement questions in the Logical Reasoning section
- identifying what counts as a genuine point of disagreement or agreement based on what each speaker actually expresses
- applying the "agree/disagree" and "agree/agree" tests to answer choices efficiently
- common mistakes, including inferring opinions not directly stated by a speaker
- eliminating attractive but unsupported or out-of-scope options

## **Test Your Knowledge**

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. When answering a point at issue question, which test should you apply to each answer choice?  
   a) Only check if one speaker disagrees  
    b) Consider whether both speakers express an opinion on the statement  
    c) Accept any plausible disagreement implied by background facts  
    d) Automatically pick the answer most directly related to the stimulus topic
2. What is required for a statement to be the correct answer to a point of agreement question?  
   a) Only one speaker must agree  
   b) Both speakers must explicitly or implicitly agree  
   c) Agreement can be assumed from silence  
   d) The statement must cover all aspects of the discussion topic
3. True or false? You may use your outside knowledge of a general topic to infer a speaker’s attitude for these questions.
4. Which of the following is NOT a common exam trap in point at issue or agreement questions?  
   a) Statements about unrelated issues  
   b) Statements where only one speaker takes a stance  
   c) Statements that both would agree/disagree with  
   d) Statements covering only factual background

## **Introduction**

Point at issue and point of agreement questions test your ability to compare two speakers' stances in LSAT Logical Reasoning. These question types require not just understanding each argument, but also matching positions on precise statements. Success depends on systematic cross-checking and avoiding assumptions about opinions not actually stated.

> **Key Term: point at issue question**  
> A Logical Reasoning question type asking you to identify the specific statement over which two speakers hold directly opposing views; the credited answer must be an explicit area of expressed disagreement.
>
> **Key Term: point of agreement question**  
> A Logical Reasoning question type asking for a statement that both speakers would agree is correct, based specifically on what they have actually expressed or implied.

## How Point at Issue and Point of Agreement Questions Work

These questions present a dialogue or paired statements. The task is to find a proposition clearly affirmed by one speaker and rejected by the other (for point at issue), or one that both would support (for point of agreement).

The correct answer must satisfy these essential criteria:

- Both speakers must have an expressed or clearly implied opinion on the statement
- The opinions must be directly opposed (for point at issue) or aligned (for point of agreement)
- The statement should be restricted to the issue discussed

Most errors result from overlooking whether both speakers actually take a stance, or from projecting real-world background onto the stimulus.

> **Key Term: expressed opinion**  
> An explicit (or logically unavoidable) statement or clear implication about a topic, as given by the actual words of the stimulus. Answers hinge on stated or necessarily implied views only.

## Strategy for Answering Point at Issue Questions

1. Read both arguments carefully. Paraphrase what each speaker affirms or denies.
2. For every answer choice, ask:
   - Does Speaker 1 clearly agree or disagree with this statement?
   - Does Speaker 2 clearly agree or disagree with this statement?
3. If both take different sides, and both views are clear, the answer is valid.
4. If either speaker's opinion is unclear, or both would agree (or both would disagree), eliminate the answer choice.

### **Worked Example 1.1**

Two speakers discuss animal rights:

Raul: "Animals have moral worth and deserve basic legal protections."  
Shira: "Animal welfare laws restrict economic freedom and should be abolished."

**Which of the following is a point at issue between Raul and Shira?**  
A) Whether animals can feel pain  
B) Whether animal welfare laws interfere with economic freedom  
C) Whether animals should be protected by law

> **Answer:**  
> C is correct. Raul clearly supports "basic legal protections," while Shira wants existing laws abolished. They directly disagree about whether animals should be protected by law. For A and B, either only one speaker expresses an opinion, or the specific stance is not expressed by both.

### **Revision Tip**

> For each answer, try the "agree/disagree" test: Confirm that one speaker would say "yes," and the other "no." If not, eliminate it.

## Strategy for Answering Point of Agreement Questions

1. Summarize each speaker’s stated position using exact language from the stimulus.
2. For every answer choice, ask:
   - Can we confidently say both speakers would agree with this statement?
   - Does this statement go beyond what either has expressed?
3. The correct answer must be supportable as an "agree/agree."
4. Eliminate statements on which only one, or neither, has spoken.

### **Worked Example 1.2**

Jamil: "All citizens ought to vote in major elections."  
Sonia: "Mandatory voting laws ensure high turnout and strengthen democracy."

**Which of the following is a point of agreement between Jamil and Sonia?**  
A) High voter turnout is desirable  
B) All citizens ought to vote in major elections  
C) Mandatory voting laws are ideal

> **Answer:**  
> A is correct. Both speakers express approval of high turnout. Jamil explicitly says all should vote, and Sonia calls high turnout a democratic strength. Option B is only stated by Jamil; Sonia does not state all should vote, only that turnout laws are effective. C goes beyond both.

### **Exam Warning**

> Do not infer a speaker’s attitude from silence, general background, or real-world assumptions. Only their stated or logically necessary opinions count.

## Eliminating Common Wrong Answers

Distractors in these question types usually fall into one of the following:

- Statements about issues outside the stimulus (irrelevant scope)
- Propositions for which only one speaker expresses a view
- Statements where both would agree, disagree, or neither has clearly spoken (for point at issue)
- Answer choices so broad or narrow that partial overlap is possible without direct conflict or consensus

Apply the test methodically to every choice.

### **Worked Example 1.3**

Speaker 1: "All new parks should include playgrounds."  
Speaker 2: "Public funds should not be used to build playgrounds, but I support new parks in general."

**Which is a valid point at issue between the speakers?**  
A) Public funds should not be used for playgrounds  
B) All new parks should include playgrounds  
C) All new parks should be environmentally friendly

> **Answer:**  
> B is correct. First speaker supports playgrounds in all new parks; second does not support using public funds for them and does not support playground inclusion in principle. A is only expressed by one speaker. C is not addressed by either.

## Efficient Approach Checklist

1. Read the speakers’ statements with care; note every explicit claim and any necessary implications.
2. For each answer, ask:
   - Does each speaker have a clear position regarding this statement?
   - For point at issue: does one affirm and the other reject?
   - For point of agreement: do both affirm (clearly)? If not, eliminate.
3. Do not infer attitudes not present in the text.
4. Ignore tempting real-world logic or topic familiarity.
5. Select the answer that meets all criteria precisely.

## **Key Point Checklist**

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Point at issue and point of agreement questions require careful cross-checking of stated or logically necessary opinions for both speakers
- The correct answer in point at issue must be explicitly affirmed by one speaker and denied by the other
- Both speakers must have a clear stance in point of agreement questions
- Avoid inferring a stance where none is stated or strictly implied
- Use the agree/disagree and agree/agree tests to eliminate wrong answers quickly
- Watch for answer choices introducing new topics or referencing broader-than-discussed issues

## **Key Terms and Concepts**

- point at issue question
- point of agreement question
- expressed opinion

Logical reasoning question types - Point at issue and point of agreement questions