Cracking the Code: An Overview of Matching Questions in the LSAT Logic Games Section

The Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) can be daunting, especially for test-takers who are not familiar with the different question types. One of the game types you might encounter in this section is the Matching game. In Matching games, you are asked to match elements from two sets based on specific rules or conditions. Mastering this game type requires careful analysis and the ability to make deductions based on the given information. Let’s delve into an overview of Matching games, along with two examples and a step-by-step walkthrough of how to solve them.

Overview of Matching Games on the LSAT’s Logic Games

Matching games in the LSAT Logic Games section involve matching elements from two sets, such as matching people to tasks, items to locations, or students to classes. You are provided with a set of rules or conditions that govern the relationships between the elements. Your task is to determine the correct matching for each element according to the given rules.

Example:

In a puzzle competition, five participants—Alex, Ben, Chloe, David, and Emma—are competing in five different games: Sudoku, Crossword, Chess, Jigsaw, and Memory. You have the following clues:

1. Alex does not play Chess.
2. Ben and Chloe are not competing in the same game.
3. David is playing either Jigsaw or Memory.
4. Emma plays Crossword.
5. Ben is not playing Memory.

Match each participant with the game they are competing in.

Diagramming the Example

Step 1: Understand the Rules Read the clues carefully and identify the rules or conditions that govern the relationships between the participants and the games.

In the example, we have clues about the games each participant plays and some restrictions regarding who cannot play certain games together.

Step 2: Create a Grid Create a grid with the participants’ names on one side and the games on the other. Use the information from the clues to start filling in the grid with any definite matches.

Participants | Games
---------------------
Alex         |
Ben          |
Chloe        |
David        |
Emma         |

Step 3: Apply the Rules Look for additional clues that allow you to make more matches or deduce information.

• From clue 1, we know Alex does not play Chess.
• From clue 4, Emma plays Crossword.

Participants | Games
---------------------
Alex         | 
Ben          | 
Chloe        | 
David        | 
Emma         | Crossword

Step 4: Make Deductions Use the clues to make deductions and fill in more matches.

• From clue 3, David plays either Jigsaw or Memory.
• From clue 5, Ben does not play Memory.

Participants | Games
---------------------
Alex         | 
Ben          | 
Chloe        | 
David        | Jigsaw/Memory
Emma         | Crossword

Step 5: Complete the Grid Continue applying the rules and making deductions until you have all the matches.

• From clue 2, Ben and Chloe are not competing in the same game.
• From clue 4, Emma and Frank are competing in the same game.
• From clue 5, Ben is not playing Memory, so David must play Memory.

Participants | Games
---------------------
Alex         | 
Ben          | Sudoku
Chloe        | 
David        | Memory
Emma         | Crossword

Step 6: Finalize the Matches Fill in the last match based on the remaining information.

• From clue 2, Chloe must play Chess.

Participants | Games
---------------------
Alex         | 
Ben          | Sudoku
Chloe        | Chess
David        | Memory
Emma         | Crossword

Try It On your Own

Example 2

At a school’s science fair, six students—Alice, Bob, Claire, David, Emma, and Frank—are presenting projects on six different topics: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, and Botany. The following conditions apply:

1. Claire’s project is on Astronomy.
2. David is presenting on Geology or Biology.
3. Bob’s project is not on Chemistry.
4. Emma and Frank are presenting on the same subject.
5. Alice’s project is not on Biology.

Match each student with the topic of their science fair project.

The Last Word

Matching games in the LSAT Logic Games section require careful deduction and analysis of the given information. By following a systematic approach and applying the provided rules, test-takers can confidently match the elements, quickly develop a concise diagram to refer to, and successfully tackle these types of games on the LSAT Analytical Reasoning Section.