[blindlaw] LSAT Logic Games

Thu May 14 14:41:51 UTC 2015

Hello,
I do not believe it's the case that a person who is totally blind since birth cannot do these games. I have been totally blind since birth and I actually did quite well on the logic games section. I'm not very much help to others in the situation though because I just happen to be one of those very fortunate people who can keep track of the stuff in my head.  I don't know how or why, but I've always been very good at stuff like this. I'm also very good at doing even particularly complicated math problems in my head. Most people I know who are totally blind and have done well on this section either did it with an XL spreadsheet or by using some sort of tactile system but not actual braille.  One person I know used a tactile drawing kit with the rubber mat and the tool for drawling raised  line pictures.  I do know somebody who used a Slayton stylus as well to make marks on paper that would give them enough help to figure it out. The majority of people I know who have taken this test used an Excel spreadsheet though.  I actually thought the logic games were the best part of the test, I found them fun because I enjoy that sort of thing. Although among the group of blind people I know who have taken this test it seems like those who already enjoyed it had a knack for the sort of thing found the section not too difficult and those who did not have a natural knack for doing this sort of thing could never find a way to make it easy for themselves. Although I will say all of those people still did alright and got into law school.  Most people I know practiced the logic games on a daily basis leading up to the test, and they tried various methods of how to approach the logic games before requesting their accommodations so they knew exactly what they felt was going to work best for them.  It's hard to give somebody step-by-step instructions on how best to do it because what works for one person is not necessarily going to work for another person, and perhaps you need to try something completely different but nobody else is done.  Just based on the conversations I've had with various people my recommendation would be to use an XL spreadsheet and less you are the type of person who really needs a visual tactile reference in which case the raised  line drawing kids combined with a slate  and stylus seem to be the best option.  My two friends who did the best on the LSAT and we're not particularly good at logic games used an XL spreadsheet, however they are both the type of person who learns best with auditory methods. They both been blind since birth or very young and don't remember being able to see so maybe that is why they learn best auditorily.   Just try every possible method you can think of, and every method that anybody can suggest to you until you figure out which way is going to work best. Good luck I hope you do well. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 13, 2015, at 20:16, mike mcglashon via blindlaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Guys:
> 
> I have been following this thread and I too am taking the LSAT in June.  I took it in February and did 138.  I thought that was fabulous but I guess the law schools don't like that score.  As far as the logic games, I found that even though I tried to use excel, braille display, and also braille writers, etc, I found that II still was getting it all jumbled up in my mind; I've been practicing since last january and I haven't gotten any better at it.  I think what Nicole and I are looking for is very specific followable instructions to tackle such games.  Are there tutors out there who specialize in teaching blind persons these puzzles?  someone like a shrink who understands how the human brain works?  I am actually considering just guessing "d" for all the game questions; I'm bound to hit on a couple of them just by chance.  My theory is that the logic reasoning is two sections of the test; therefore between those two sections and the reading section that should get me at least 140 or slightly better and then let the chips fall where they may.
> 
> What do you guys think of this?  Is it possible that since totally blind persons from birth can only visualize in two dimensions, this is the detriment when it comes to these games?
> 
> Please advise.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Kelby Carlson via blindlaw
> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 6:51 PM
> To: Blind Law Mailing List
> Cc: Kelby Carlson
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Logic Games
> 
> Nicole,
> 
> Michal is right about this.  As much as you may hate to hear
> this, it's probably better to hold off on taking the test until
> September.  I would actually begin the accommodation process
> right now; it is literally never too early to start in this case.
> You'll need to request absolutely every single accommodation you
> think you might need, and in very specific detail.  I made this
> mistake and was not able to use the accommodations for the logic
> games that I had planned.  Fortunately I was still able to obtain
> a reasonable score, but in many ways I was lucky.
> 
> As for suggestions, I would echo Michal's.  I also had some luck
> using symbols on a braille display.  IT will take a good deal of
> experimentation and practice.  Use lots of practice tests with
> different problems and groupings.  See if things click, and don't
> be afraid to try different methods with different sorts of sets.
> 
> K.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Michal Nowicki via blindlaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 13 May 2015 18:10:54 -0500
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Logic Games
> 
> Hi Nicole,
> 
> When I took the LSAT last year, I used a Microsoft Excel
> spreadsheet to
> sketch out the games.  I chose Excel over tactile objects because
> I quickly
> discovered that it would be much easier to manipulate the various
> conditions
> that way.
> 
> For grouping games, I recommend you use columns for the groups,
> as those are
> the stable elements in the game, and that you place the members
> of each
> group in the cells below the appropriate group headings.  I also
> recommend a
> separate row for all the rules.  The key to success on logic
> games is
> working out a strategy that works for you, so feel free to
> experiment.
> 
> You can be certain that LSAC will not let you skip logic games,
> so don't
> even try taking the easy way out.  In fact, I was very fortunate
> to get all
> the accommodations I requested, as many blind test takers had
> major
> difficulties getting the accommodations they needed; LSAC does
> not like to
> work with test takers with disabilities to insure that their
> needs are met.
> With that in mind, I'm afraid you won't be able to take the LSAT
> in June,
> since you don't yet know how to tackle logic games and thus are
> not in a
> position to request specific accommodations.  You can't, for
> instance,
> decide that Excel works best for you a week before the test and
> show up on
> the day of the exam expecting to be allowed to use the program;
> each
> accommodation must be preapproved by LSAC well in advance, and
> the process
> for requesting accommodations can be very time-consuming.  As a
> matter of
> fact, the deadline for the June test may have already passed.
> 
> Please don't hesitate to contact me off-list at
> mnowicki4 at iCloud.com if you
> have further questions.  Good luck!
> 
> Michal
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Nicole
> Askins via blindlaw
> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 4:05 PM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Nicole Askins
> Subject: [blindlaw] LSAT Logic Games
> 
> Greetings all,
> 
> 
> I am new to this list serve and would like to thank valarie for
> giving me
> information about it.
> I have a question, I am scheduled to take the LSAT in June and
> can not seem
> to get a handle on the Grouping Games.  since some of you may
> have experience
> with this test, please advise.
> 1.  Did anyone have this section of the test omitted?
> 2.  how did you create the diagrams if not omitted?
> 
> Thank you for your time and attention to this matter Nicole
> Askins
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
> blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/mnowicki4%4
> 0icloud.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/kelbycarlso
> n%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/michael.mcglashon%40comcast.net 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/shelleyrichards9%40gmail.com