Figure out exactly what the discrepancy is

Usually the passage content is somewhat easy to understand, and the discrepancy is somewhat easy to see. However, by taking about 15 seconds to write out a summary of exactly what the discrepancy is before going to the choices, you will gain a better understanding of what must be resolved. One way to do this is to summarize a simple chart:

 

	X	YET	Y

 

And then fill in the discrepancy so that you have an easy visual reference. For example, a chart for LSAT PrepTest 48, Section 4, Question 19 would look like this:

 

	X	YET	Y
	80% of both improve first two weeks.		90% of improved recur third week.
	New drug for insomnia.		Same effects as placebo.

 

This will help you see what the discrepancy, or in this case two discrepancies, consists of.

 

Be wary of partial explanations

With resolve conflicting facts questions, be wary of choices that only solve half the discrepancy and thus do not adequately answer the question. See (A) for LSAT PrepTest 48, Section 4, Question 19, and note that the question stem requires that all data be explained. The flip side of this appears in EXCEPT questions, which often ask for a choice that does not "help" or "contribute". So, the four incorrect choices will help or contribute to an explanation, but may not entirely resolve the discrepancy. See LSAT PrepTest 50, Section 2, Question 5.

 

Be wary of the word "explain"

Read "explain" as "resolve conflicting facts". Some incorrect choices will explain something, but do not explain (resolve) the discrepancy. See (A) on LSAT PrepTest 48, Section 1, Question 22, or (B) for LSAT PrepTest 48, Section 4, Question 24.