Identify the Conclusion: LSAT Logical Reasoning Mastery

Master the foundational skill of conclusion identification to excel in LSAT Logical Reasoning

Identifying the conclusion is one of the most fundamental skills tested in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), understanding argument structure—including recognizing conclusions and their relationships to premises—is essential for legal reasoning and success in law school.

This comprehensive guide will teach you proven strategies to quickly and accurately identify main conclusions, distinguish them from premises and intermediate conclusions, and apply these skills to maximize your LSAT Logical Reasoning score.

What is a Conclusion in Logical Reasoning?

A conclusion is the main claim, position, or point that an author is attempting to prove or establish in an argument. It represents the ultimate destination of the reasoning process—the statement that all other parts of the argument (premises, evidence, background information) are designed to support.

Key Characteristics of Conclusions

Primary claim: The conclusion is what the author wants you to believe or accept
Supported by premises: All evidence and reasoning points toward supporting this statement
Opinion-based: Typically expresses a judgment, prediction, or evaluative statement rather than a pure fact
Position independence: Can appear anywhere—beginning, middle, or end of the argument
Singular focus: Each argument has one main conclusion, though it may contain intermediate conclusions

The LSAC emphasizes that recognizing "the parts of an argument and their relationships" is a core skill tested in Logical Reasoning. Understanding what makes a statement a conclusion versus a premise is the foundation for virtually all other question types.

Understanding Argument Structure

Every LSAT argument follows a logical structure that connects evidence to a conclusion. Mastering this structure is essential for identifying conclusions quickly and accurately.

Standard Argument Formula

Evidence + Assumption = Conclusion

Evidence/Premises

Stated facts, observations, data, or examples that support the conclusion. These are the building blocks that make the argument.

Assumption

Unstated beliefs or gaps that connect the evidence to the conclusion. What the author takes for granted but doesn't explicitly state.

Conclusion

The main point or claim that the author is arguing for—what the evidence and assumptions are meant to establish.

Five Proven Strategies to Identify Conclusions

Strategy 1: Look for Conclusion Indicator Words

The LSAT often uses specific words and phrases to signal conclusions. While not foolproof (these words can also indicate intermediate conclusions), they provide valuable clues for locating the main claim.

Common Conclusion Indicators:

Therefore Thus Hence Consequently So It follows that Accordingly As a result This shows that Clearly Evidently We can conclude

⚠️ Important Warning:

Don't rely solely on indicator words! The LSAT frequently includes arguments without these keywords, or uses them to signal intermediate conclusions. Always verify using additional strategies.

Strategy 2: Apply the Therefore Test

The Therefore Test is one of the most powerful techniques for identifying conclusions. It helps you determine which statement is being proven by the others.

How to Use the Therefore Test:

Identify each separate statement or claim in the argument
Place the word "therefore" before each statement, one at a time
Ask: "Do the other statements support THIS one?"
The statement that makes the most sense with "therefore" and is supported by all others is the main conclusion

📝 Example Application:

Argument: "Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health. People with better cardiovascular health live longer. Everyone should exercise regularly."

Test: When you place "therefore" before "everyone should exercise regularly," the other statements clearly support it. This is the conclusion.

Strategy 3: Distinguish Facts from Opinions

Conclusions are typically opinions, judgments, or evaluative claims rather than pure factual statements. Learning to separate facts (premises) from opinions (potential conclusions) dramatically improves your accuracy.

✓ Facts (Premises)

✓ Verifiable data
✓ Observations
✓ Statistics
✓ Historical events
✓ Scientific findings

⊙ Opinions (Conclusions)

⊙ Judgments
⊙ Predictions
⊙ Recommendations
⊙ Evaluations
⊙ Interpretations

Pro Tip: Words like "should," "must," "probably," "likely," and "best" often signal conclusions because they express judgments rather than facts.

Strategy 4: Identify and Eliminate Premises

Sometimes the fastest way to find the conclusion is through elimination. Premises are statements that provide support or reasons—they answer the question "why?" If you can identify what's NOT the conclusion, what remains likely is.

Common Premise Indicators:

Because Since For Given that As shown by The reason is Due to As indicated by

⚡ Quick Technique:

Cross out all statements preceded by premise indicators and all background context. What remains that hasn't been eliminated is often the conclusion.

Strategy 5: Recognize Main vs. Intermediate Conclusions

One of the trickiest aspects of LSAT Logical Reasoning is distinguishing between main conclusions and intermediate conclusions. An intermediate conclusion is supported by premises but also serves as a premise for the main conclusion.

The Key Question:

"Is this statement used to support something else?"

If YES → It's an intermediate conclusion or premise
If NO → It's likely the main conclusion

📚 Complex Example:

"Studies show coffee increases alertness. (Premise) Therefore, coffee improves work performance. (Intermediate conclusion) Hence, offices should provide free coffee to employees. (Main conclusion)"

Notice: "Coffee improves work performance" is supported by evidence but also supports the final recommendation. The ultimate point—what the author truly wants to establish—is that offices should provide free coffee.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake #1: Assuming the Conclusion is Always at the End

Many test-takers automatically assume the last sentence is the conclusion. However, LSAT arguments deliberately place conclusions at the beginning, middle, or end to test your understanding.

Solution: Always analyze the entire argument structure before identifying the conclusion.

❌ Mistake #2: Confusing Background Information with the Conclusion

Background or context statements set the stage but aren't being argued for. They're neither premises nor conclusions—they're just scene-setting.

Solution: Look for what's being debated or claimed, not what's being described neutrally.

❌ Mistake #3: Selecting an Intermediate Conclusion as the Main Point

Intermediate conclusions can be tricky because they have conclusion indicators and are supported by evidence, but they're not the ultimate point.

Solution: Always ask, "Is this statement used to prove something else?" If yes, keep looking.

❌ Mistake #4: Over-Relying on Indicator Words

While helpful, indicator words aren't definitive. Some arguments lack them entirely, and they can mislead you toward intermediate conclusions.

Solution: Use indicator words as clues, not answers. Always verify with the Therefore Test.

Step-by-Step Process for Identifying Conclusions

Follow this systematic approach every time you encounter a conclusion identification question:

Read the Entire Argument Carefully

Don't rush. Read every word and understand what each sentence is saying. Pay attention to the relationships between statements.

Look for Conclusion and Premise Indicators

Scan for words like "therefore," "thus," "because," and "since." Mark them mentally or with highlighting tools if using digital practice.

Apply the Therefore Test

For each major statement, ask: "Would it make sense to say 'therefore' before this statement, with the other statements supporting it?"

Separate Facts from Opinions

Identify which statements are factual evidence (premises) and which are judgments or claims (potential conclusions).

Check for Intermediate Conclusions

If you've identified a potential conclusion, verify it's not being used to support another claim. The main conclusion supports nothing else—it's the final destination.

Verify Your Answer

Before selecting an answer choice, confirm that all other statements in the argument support your identified conclusion and that your conclusion doesn't support anything else.

Worked Example: Breaking Down an Argument

Sample LSAT-Style Argument

Philosopher: Behaviorists hold that we can recognize the purpose of an action simply by observation, without any psychological consideration. They identify the purpose of a behavior with the result it brings about. This is a mistake. Though the purpose of an action is the goal to which it is directed, this cannot be identified with the results it brings about. People often fail to achieve the results they expect or desire, or bring about unforeseen results.

🔍 Analysis:

Background/Context:

"Behaviorists hold that we can recognize the purpose of an action simply by observation... They identify the purpose of a behavior with the result it brings about."

→ This describes the behaviorist position but doesn't argue for anything yet.

Main Conclusion:

"This is a mistake." / "This cannot be identified with the results it brings about."

→ The philosopher's primary claim: equating purpose with results is wrong. Notice the evaluative language ("mistake").

Premises (Evidence):

"People often fail to achieve the results they expect or desire, or bring about unforeseen results."

→ This factual observation supports why the behaviorist view is mistaken.

✅ Correct Answer:

"It is wrong to equate the intent of an action with its outcome."

This answer choice accurately captures the main conclusion: the philosopher's central claim that behaviorists are mistaken in identifying purpose (intent) with results (outcome).

Common Question Formats

Conclusion questions appear in various formats on the LSAT. Recognizing these question stems helps you know what to look for:

Main Conclusion Questions

"Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion..."
"The main point of the argument is..."
"The conclusion of the argument is that..."

Complete the Argument Questions

"Which one of the following most logically completes the argument?"
"The argument is structured to lead to which conclusion?"
"Hence, _______." (fill in the blank)

Role of Statement Questions

"The claim that [X] plays which of the following roles in the argument?"
"In the argument, the statement [X] functions as..." (may be the conclusion)

Practice Tips and Resources

How to Practice Effectively

📖 Use Official LSAC Materials

The most reliable practice comes from official sources. Use PrepTests and practice materials from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Official Resources:

🎯 Focused Practice Strategy

Start with untimed practice focusing solely on conclusion identification
Practice the Therefore Test on 10-15 arguments daily
Review every mistake: understand why your answer was wrong and why the correct answer was right
Gradually add time pressure as accuracy improves
Track patterns in arguments where you make mistakes

💡 Advanced Practice Techniques

Diagramming: Physically map out argument structures with arrows showing premise-to-conclusion relationships
Highlighting: Use digital tools on LawHub to highlight conclusions in one color and premises in another
Paraphrasing: After identifying the conclusion, restate it in your own words to ensure understanding
Peer Review: Explain your reasoning to others or study groups to solidify understanding

⏱️ Time Management

Aim to identify conclusions within 30-45 seconds once you've mastered the techniques. Conclusion identification should become automatic, allowing you to spend more time on complex question types like Strengthen, Weaken, and Flaw questions.

Why Conclusion Identification Matters

Mastering conclusion identification isn't just about answering 1-2 questions correctly per section—it's foundational to your entire Logical Reasoning performance.

🎯 Foundation Skill

Nearly every Logical Reasoning question requires you to identify the conclusion first. Strengthen, Weaken, Assumption, and Flaw questions all depend on correctly recognizing what's being argued.

⚖️ Legal Reasoning

According to LSAC, the ability to "recognize the parts of an argument and their relationships" directly mirrors skills you'll use in law school and legal practice.

📈 Score Impact

With approximately 50 Logical Reasoning questions on the LSAT, correctly identifying conclusions impacts your performance on potentially 40+ questions across both sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a conclusion in LSAT Logical Reasoning? +

A conclusion is the main claim or position that the author is trying to prove or establish in an argument. It is the statement that all the premises (evidence) are designed to support. On the LSAT, conclusions can appear anywhere in the argument—beginning, middle, or end—not just at the conclusion.

How do I differentiate between main and intermediate conclusions? +

A main conclusion is the ultimate point of the argument—what the author is primarily trying to prove. An intermediate conclusion is a claim that serves as both a conclusion (supported by some premises) and a premise (supporting the main conclusion). Ask yourself: "Is this statement used to support something else?" If yes, it's likely an intermediate conclusion. Use the Therefore Test to determine which statement represents the final destination of the argument.

What are common conclusion indicator words on the LSAT? +

Common conclusion indicators include: therefore, thus, hence, consequently, so, it follows that, accordingly, as a result, this shows that, this proves that, clearly, evidently, and we can conclude that. However, these words can also signal intermediate conclusions or appear in arguments without clear main conclusions, so context is crucial. Never rely solely on indicator words—always verify using the Therefore Test and argument structure analysis.

How many conclusion questions appear on the LSAT? +

The LSAT typically includes one to two "identify-the-conclusion" questions in each Logical Reasoning section. While not the most common question type, mastering conclusion identification is fundamental for success across all Logical Reasoning question types, as nearly every question requires you to first identify what's being argued before you can strengthen, weaken, or evaluate it.

What is the Therefore Test? +

The Therefore Test is a technique where you place the word "therefore" before each statement in the argument to determine which one is the conclusion. The statement that makes the most sense when preceded by "therefore" and is logically supported by the other statements is typically the main conclusion. This test helps you identify the claim that the author is ultimately trying to prove, rather than the evidence being used to support it.

Can the conclusion appear at the beginning of an argument? +

Absolutely! One of the most common mistakes test-takers make is assuming the conclusion always appears at the end of the argument. LSAT arguments intentionally place conclusions at the beginning, middle, or end to test your understanding of argument structure. Always analyze the entire argument and use multiple strategies (indicator words, Therefore Test, fact vs. opinion) to identify the conclusion, regardless of its position.

Ready to Master LSAT Logical Reasoning?

Start practicing conclusion identification today with official LSAC materials and watch your Logical Reasoning score improve across all question types.