Identify the Conclusion | Logical Reasoning — Worked Examples | LSAT Prep
Master the critical skill of identifying conclusions in LSAT Logical Reasoning arguments with proven strategies, step-by-step techniques, and official worked examples from LSAC PrepTests.
Understanding Conclusion Questions on the LSAT
Conclusion questions are among the most fundamental question types in LSAT Logical Reasoning sections. These questions ask you to identify the main claim or assertion that an argument is trying to prove. The Law School Admission Council typically includes one to two conclusion questions per Logical Reasoning section.
The conclusion is not merely a summary of the argument—it is the specific statement that all the premises are designed to support. Your ability to distinguish the conclusion from supporting premises, background information, and intermediate conclusions is essential for success on the LSAT and in legal reasoning generally.
According to LSAC, analyzing arguments is a key element of legal analysis. As the official testing body states, law students must "draw on the skills of analyzing, evaluating, constructing, and refuting arguments"—all of which begin with accurately identifying what claim an argument is making.
Key Concepts: What Makes a Statement the Conclusion?
Definition of a Conclusion
The conclusion is the main assertion or claim that the argument seeks to establish. It represents the author's primary point—the statement that all other statements (premises) are meant to support. Think of the conclusion as the answer to: "What is the author trying to convince me of?"
Key Characteristic:
The conclusion is supported by other statements but does not itself support anything else (unless dealing with intermediate conclusions).
Premises vs. Conclusions
Premises are statements that provide evidence, reasons, or support for the conclusion. They are the "why" behind the claim.
The Conclusion is the claim being made. It is the "what" the argument is trying to prove.
Five Proven Strategies to Identify Conclusions
1 Look for Conclusion Indicators
Certain words and phrases commonly signal that a conclusion is being stated:
- ✓ Therefore
- ✓ Thus
- ✓ Hence
- ✓ So
- ✓ Consequently
- ✓ It follows that
- ✓ Accordingly
⚠️ Caution: These words can also introduce intermediate conclusions, so always verify using other methods.
2 Apply the Therefore Test
This powerful technique helps determine logical relationships between statements:
Test: "[Statement A], therefore [Statement B]"
If this makes sense: Statement A supports Statement B (B is the conclusion)
If the reverse makes more sense: Statement B supports Statement A (A is the conclusion)
3 Ask "What is Being Proven?"
The conclusion answers the question: "What is the author's main point?" or "What is this argument trying to establish?"
Key Questions:
• What claim is being defended?
• What statement do all others support?
• What is the author's ultimate goal?
4 Identify Premise Indicators
Recognizing premise indicators helps you identify what is NOT the conclusion:
- • Because
- • Since
- • For
- • Given that
- • As indicated by
- • After all
5 Watch for Intermediate Conclusions
Some arguments contain intermediate conclusions—statements that are both supported by premises AND support the main conclusion.
The Main Conclusion:
✓ Is supported by everything else
✓ Does not itself support anything
✓ Represents the argument's ultimate claim
Worked Examples from Official LSAC PrepTests
Argument:
Many people who simply enjoy listening to popular music do not realize that it has been used to express religious and political messages. After all, popular music has repeatedly been adopted by social movements to express their viewpoints, since it has the potential to contribute to the "conversion" of nonmembers to the movement's position, as well as to raise the morale and to express the solidarity of the movement's participants.
Question:
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?
A) Popular music accounts for the success of social movements.
B) Popular music's entertainment value has been overemphasized.
C) Popular music is the most effective way of converting people to social movements.
D) Popular music has purposes other than mere entertainment. ✓ CORRECT
E) Popular music has a profound emotional impact on its listeners.
Step-by-Step Analysis:
Step 1: Identify the Structure
Notice the phrase "After all" at the beginning of the second sentence. This is a premise indicator, signaling that what follows is evidence supporting something already stated.
Step 2: Apply the Therefore Test
Test A: "Popular music has been adopted by social movements, therefore many people don't realize it expresses political messages."
✓ This makes logical sense!
Test B: "Many people don't realize it expresses political messages, therefore popular music has been adopted by social movements."
✗ This doesn't follow logically.
Step 3: Identify What's Being Proven
The author's main point is that popular music serves purposes beyond entertainment—specifically, expressing religious and political messages. Everything else in the argument supports this claim.
Why D is Correct:
Answer choice D perfectly captures the main conclusion: Popular music has purposes (expressing religious and political messages) other than mere entertainment.
The evidence about social movements adopting popular music supports this broader claim about music's multiple purposes.
Argument:
Municipal legislator: The mayor proposes that the city accept a lighting company's gift of several high-tech streetlights. Surely there would be no problem in accepting these despite some people's fear that the company wants to influence the city's decision regarding park lighting contracts. The only ulterior motive I can find is the company's desire to have its products seen by mayors who will visit the city in an upcoming convention. In any case, favoritism in city contracts is prevented by our competitive-bidding procedure.
Question:
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the municipal legislator's argument?
A) Some people's fear that the company wants to influence the city's decision regarding park lighting contracts is unfounded.
B) The mayor's proposal to accept the gift of streetlights should not be considered problematic. ✓ CORRECT
C) It is not appropriate that any company should have the unique opportunity to display its products to mayors attending the upcoming convention.
D) The city's competitive-bidding procedure prevents favoritism in the dispensing of city contracts.
E) The lighting company's desire to display its products to visiting mayors is the real motivation behind the suggested gift of streetlights.
Step-by-Step Analysis:
Step 1: Locate Key Statements
The statement "Surely there would be no problem in accepting these" comes early and is emphatic. This is the legislator's main claim.
Words like "surely" often indicate the author's position or conclusion because they express confidence in a claim.
Step 2: Examine the Argument Flow
Argument Structure:
Main Claim: There would be no problem accepting the streetlights.
Support 1: The company just wants to display products to visiting mayors (harmless motive).
Support 2: Competitive-bidding prevents favoritism anyway.
Step 3: Apply the Therefore Test
"The company wants to display products AND competitive-bidding prevents favoritism, therefore there's no problem accepting the gift."
✓ Perfect logical flow!
Why B is Correct:
Answer B accurately paraphrases the main conclusion: accepting the mayor's proposal "should not be considered problematic" is equivalent to "there would be no problem in accepting."
Why A is Wrong: This is a supporting point, not the main conclusion.
Why D is Wrong: This is evidence supporting the conclusion.
Why E is Wrong: This is also a supporting observation, not the main claim.
Argument:
Several critics have claimed that any contemporary poet who writes formal poetry—poetry that is rhymed and metered—is performing a politically conservative act. This is plainly false. Consider Molly Peacock and Marilyn Hacker, two contemporary poets whose poetry is almost exclusively formal and yet who are themselves politically progressive feminists.
Question:
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion?
A) Not all contemporary poets who write formal poetry are politically conservative.
B) The claim that writing formal poetry is a politically conservative act is false. ✓ CORRECT
C) Molly Peacock and Marilyn Hacker are politically progressive feminists.
D) Writing formal poetry does not necessarily make one politically conservative.
E) Contemporary poetry is as diverse politically as it is stylistically.
Step-by-Step Analysis:
Step 1: Recognize Explicit Conclusion Markers
The phrase "This is plainly false" is an explicit statement of the author's position. The author is directly rejecting the critics' claim.
Strong declarative statements like "plainly false," "clearly incorrect," or "definitely true" often signal the conclusion.
Step 2: Understand the Structure
Argument Flow:
Critics' Claim: Writing formal poetry = politically conservative act
Author's Conclusion: This claim is plainly false
Evidence: Peacock and Hacker write formal poetry but are progressive feminists (counterexamples)
Step 3: Verify With the Therefore Test
"Peacock and Hacker write formal poetry and are politically progressive, therefore the critics' claim is false."
✓ This logical connection works perfectly!
Why B is Correct:
Answer B directly restates the explicitly stated conclusion: "This is plainly false" refers to the critics' claim that writing formal poetry is a politically conservative act.
Important Note: When an argument explicitly states its conclusion with phrases like "this is false," "this is incorrect," or "this is true," the conclusion identification becomes more straightforward.
Answer choice C is merely evidence (an example), not the conclusion. Answer D is close but doesn't capture the emphatic rejection expressed in "plainly false."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistaking Evidence for Conclusion
Many test-takers confuse supporting evidence or examples with the main conclusion.
Remember:
The conclusion is what the evidence proves, not the evidence itself.
❌ Over-Relying on Indicator Words
Words like "therefore" can indicate intermediate conclusions, not just main conclusions.
Best Practice:
Use indicator words as hints, but always verify with the Therefore Test.
❌ Selecting Background Information
Context or background statements set the stage but are not the argument's main point.
Key Distinction:
Background provides context; the conclusion makes a claim.
❌ Confusing Intermediate and Main Conclusions
Some arguments have multiple conclusions. The main conclusion is the ultimate claim.
Test:
If conclusion A supports conclusion B, then B is the main conclusion.
Practice Tips and Test-Taking Strategies
Systematic Approach for Test Day
1. Read for Structure First
Before focusing on details, read the entire argument to understand its overall structure. Identify where the author is going with the argument.
2. Mark Indicator Words
Circle or highlight conclusion indicators (therefore, thus, hence) and premise indicators (because, since, for). This creates a visual map of the argument.
3. Actively Identify the Main Claim
Before looking at answer choices, actively identify what you think is the main conclusion. Write it in your own words if time permits.
4. Eliminate and Compare
Eliminate answer choices that are clearly premises or background. Compare remaining choices against your pre-identified conclusion.
⚡ Time Management Tip
Conclusion questions are typically among the faster Logical Reasoning questions to solve once you master the technique. Aim to complete these in 45-60 seconds, allowing more time for complex question types like Sufficient Assumption or Parallel Reasoning questions.
Official LSAT Resources from LSAC
The Law School Admission Council provides comprehensive official resources for LSAT preparation. Using official materials ensures you are practicing with authentic LSAT questions and formats.
🎯 Primary Official Resources
LSAC Official Logical Reasoning Overview →
Comprehensive explanation of Logical Reasoning sections, question types, and the skills assessed on the LSAT.
Official LSAT Logical Reasoning Sample Questions →
Free sample questions directly from LSAC showcasing the types and difficulty levels of Logical Reasoning questions.
LawHub - Official LSAT Prep Platform →
LSAC's official digital platform offering free and premium access to authentic LSAT PrepTests, practice questions, and simulated test-taking environments.
The Law School Admission Council's main website with information about LSAT registration, test dates, preparation materials, and law school admissions.
📚 Recommended Official LSAC Books
- • The Official LSAT SuperPrep (includes explanations for all questions)
- • The Official LSAT SuperPrep II
- • The New Official LSAT TriplePrep Series (Vol. 1-20+)
- • Official LSAT PrepTests (numbered series with authentic retired exams)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Note: This guide uses official LSAT question formats and examples as provided by the Law School Admission Council. All referenced PrepTests and sample questions are authentic LSAT materials. For the most current information about the LSAT, test registration, and official preparation resources, always visit LSAC.org.