You have 35 minutes to complete four logic games—ideally around 8-9 minutes per game for most test-takers, though some games are easier than others. The key is learning to identify which games to do first (prioritize easier, more familiar setups) and which to skip or rush through strategically. Expert tutors help you develop a personalized pacing strategy based on your strengths, since spending 12 minutes perfecting a game you'll never master often costs you points that you could earn elsewhere.

Diagram efficiency is everything. Your diagram needs to be clear, fast to construct, and positioned so you can easily reference it for each question. Most students struggle initially because they either over-complicate their diagrams or create them too slowly. Learning to set up clean, standardized diagrams—and practicing the exact same game type repeatedly—is what separates students scoring in the 150s from those scoring in the 170s. This is where personalized instruction makes a measurable difference, since a tutor can immediately spot inefficiencies in your setup.

The three core game types are sequencing (ordering items in a line), grouping (dividing items into categories), and matching (connecting items across two sets). Circular sequencing and games with complex conditional rules tend to trip up students the most, especially under time pressure. Many Chicago students find that once they drill 20-30 games of the same type with a structured approach, the unfamiliar patterns become recognizable and manageable.

Most students see 5-10 point increases in their Analytical Reasoning subscore within 6-8 weeks of focused practice with a tutor, though some see larger gains depending on their baseline and consistency. The LSAT is scored on a 120-180 scale, and logic games typically represent about 25% of your overall score. The improvement trajectory depends on how much you practice between sessions and whether you're learning to apply strategies to new, unfamiliar games—not just memorizing solutions to ones you've seen before.

Test anxiety in logic games often stems from perfectionism—trying to solve every game instead of working strategically. Learning to quickly identify an unusually hard game, making an educated guess, and moving forward is a critical mindset shift. Tutors help you build confidence by showing you that even successful test-takers skip or guess on some games, and that your score is based on maximizing points overall, not perfecting every single question. Regular practice under timed conditions also reduces anxiety by making the format feel familiar.

Most students benefit from 4-5 focused practice sessions per week over 8-12 weeks, with each session lasting 45-90 minutes. A solid schedule might include: two sessions drilling a specific game type with a tutor or independently, two sessions doing full practice sections under timed conditions, and one session reviewing mistakes carefully. Consistency matters more than marathon cramming sessions—your brain needs time to internalize pattern recognition, which happens through spaced repetition and deliberate practice over weeks, not days.