Logical reasoning strategies and techniques - Identifying co...

Learning Outcomes

After reviewing this article, you will be able to recognize and avoid common distractor patterns in LSAT Logical Reasoning questions. You will learn to identify extreme or unsupported answer choices, detect irrelevant or partially correct responses, and understand how test writers construct tempting but incorrect options. This will help you eliminate wrong answers more efficiently and improve your accuracy in selecting the best response.

LSAT Syllabus

For LSAT Logical Reasoning, you are required to detect and avoid common wrong answer patterns (distractors). This article highlights areas that are frequently tested and are critical for revision:

• Identifying distractor patterns in Logical Reasoning answer choices
• Recognizing irrelevant or partially correct answers
• Distinguishing answers with extreme or absolute wording
• Avoiding choices that confuse sufficient and necessary conditions
• Detecting answer choices that reverse relationships or contain unsupported inferences
• Applying these skills to strengthen, weaken, main point, inference, and flaw questions

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. Which distractor pattern most commonly appears in main point questions?
   1. Contradicts the argument
   2. Restates a premise
   3. Introduces new concepts
   4. Is too narrow or too broad
2. A Logical Reasoning answer choice says, "All experts always follow this practice." What distractor type is likely present?
   1. Reversal
   2. Extreme language
   3. Irrelevant comparison
   4. Negation error

3. True or false? In flaw questions, a distractor may describe a flaw not found in the stimulus argument.

4. What is usually wrong with an answer that matches the topic of the passage but not the reasoning structure in a parallel reasoning question?

Introduction

Wrong answer (distractor) patterns are deliberately used on the LSAT Logical Reasoning section to mislead test takers. Recognizing these traps is essential if you want to increase your speed and accuracy. Most distractors are designed to look superficially tempting: by echoing the stimulus, using strong or familiar language, or subtly reversing logical relationships. This article shows you how to spot and avoid the most common distractor types on the exam.

Key Term: distractor
An incorrect answer choice crafted to attract test-takers by mimicking features of the correct answer, but containing logical or factual flaws.

Common Distractor Types and How to Identify Them

Irrelevant Answers

Some distractors introduce information that is not connected to the stimulus or question stem. They might reference background details or related topics, but do not affect the argument’s reasoning.

Key Term: irrelevant answer
An option that does not logically relate to the argument or question, even if it is factually accurate or contextually similar.

Partially Correct or Half-Right, Half-Wrong Answers

These distractors start with accurate information but end with an incorrect detail. Sometimes only part of the answer is supported by the stimulus; the rest contradicts, goes beyond, or fails to answer the question.

Key Term: partially correct answer
An answer choice that includes some correct elements but contains at least one incorrect or unsupported statement, rendering it wrong overall.

Extreme or Absolute Wording

Answers using words like "always," "never," "must," "all," or "none" are often wrong because they overstate what the passage supports. LSAT arguments rarely support conclusions of such breadth.

Key Term: extreme wording
Language in an answer choice that uses absolute terms, making the statement too strong to be justified by the stimulus.

Answers That Restate a Premise

This common distractor pattern simply repeats information from the argument as if it were a conclusion or assumption, especially on main point or inference questions.

Key Term: premise restatement
An answer choice that merely restates a supporting fact from the passage rather than addressing the question task, such as identifying the conclusion.

Answers Too Narrow or Too Broad

Some choices will focus on a specific detail, missing the main idea or oversimplifying. Others generalize the conclusion beyond the evidence provided.

Key Term: scope error
An answer choice that is either overly limited (too narrow) or sweeping (too broad) in relation to what the stimulus supports.

Reversal and Negation Errors

In questions involving conditional logic, an answer may reverse or wrongly negate the sufficient and necessary conditions.

Key Term: reversal error
A flaw where the answer switches the order of sufficient and necessary elements, misrepresenting the original logic.

Key Term: negation error
An error where the answer incorrectly denies a condition, rather than recognizing its true logical implication.

Answers Describing the Wrong Flaw or Structure

On flaw and parallel reasoning questions, a distractor may accurately describe a logical flaw or reasoning pattern, but not the one actually present in the stimulus.

Key Term: wrong flaw
An answer that names a reasoning error not found in the passage, often using impressive-sounding but irrelevant terminology.

Out of Scope or Unsupported Answers

Some distractors rely on outside knowledge, introduce speculation, or require assumptions that go beyond the passage.

Key Term: out of scope
An answer choice introducing elements not discussed or implied in the stimulus or question.

Worked Example 1.1

A stimulus states: "Most city parks lack benches. All parks with benches are maintained daily."

Question: Which of the following can be inferred?
A) No park is maintained daily.
B) Most maintained parks are in cities.
C) Some city parks are maintained daily.
D) All city parks lack maintenance.

Answer:
C is correct. A common distractor (A) uses extreme language ("no park"), while C draws the only valid inference given the relationships. Option D restates a premise with stronger language than is warranted.

Worked Example 1.2

Argument: "All certified accountants have passed the national exam. Some finance managers are certified accountants."

Question: Which choice accurately restates the logical relationship?
A) All finance managers have passed the exam.
B) Some who passed the exam are finance managers.
C) No finance managers are certified accountants.
D) Only certified accountants can be finance managers.

Answer:
B is correct. Option A makes a reversal error, Option C directly contradicts the premise, and D goes beyond the scope of the passage.

Revision Tip

Flag answer choices using strong absolute words ("all," "never," "must") unless the passage contains similar strength.

Worked Example 1.3

Stimulus: "The city hospital introduced longer opening hours and hired more staff. However, wait times remain unchanged."

Which answer choice below is a distractor for a 'resolve/explain' question?
A) Wait times depend mainly on patient volume, which also increased.
B) Hospitals with longer hours in other cities reduced wait times.
C) Staff quality is more important than quantity.
D) The hospital cafeteria improved its food.

Answer:
D is a classic distractor: it introduces irrelevant but seemingly related information (hospital context) that does not resolve the paradox. Option A, supported by the passage, directly explains the outcome.

Exam Warning

On parallel reasoning and flaw questions, never select an answer just because it uses similar wording or the same topic. Focus on the precise reasoning structure being tested.

Summary

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Recognizing irrelevant and out-of-scope answers is essential for efficient elimination on LSAT Logical Reasoning
• Extreme or absolute language in answers is rarely supported by LSAT arguments
• Answers that restate premises or are too narrow/broad misstate the task or go beyond the stimulus
• Conditional questions often include distractors with reversal or negation errors
• Flaw and parallel questions feature distractors describing flaws not present in the stimulus
• Always support your answer with direct evidence from the stimulus or a valid logical inference

Key Terms and Concepts

• distractor
• irrelevant answer
• partially correct answer
• extreme wording
• premise restatement
• scope error
• reversal error
• negation error
• wrong flaw
• out of scope