Apparently, LSAC has included chronographs as one of the other devices that are banned in the testing center. Does this mean that LSAT specific watches that indicate the time from 0 to 35 minutes are banned as well?
Thread title edited for clarity by admin
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Well, I spent $50 winning an auction on Ebay over a 180 watch a while back thinking I'll need it one day when I'm finally ready, and now it seems like it was a complete waste of money and I can't even sell it cuz who is gonna buy it when it's banned?? And i can't sell it to normal ppl either cuz it only reads 35 mins..lol The only good thing came out of that bidding is that i accidently found out the person who was selling the watch was a 7sager as well! He was using terms like "T14" in one of our messages, and I was like, wait a minute, you kinda sound like a 7sager when you say "T14" and he goes: "are you a 7sager as well?? Man, I owe J.Y. that guy my acceptance letter....." just thought would be a funny story to share if nothing else. :)
I used a cheap Casio watch with a rotating bezel, and I liked it better than watches with a "reset" timer button anyway.
Also, let's appreciate the absurdity of this rule for a second. A group of people at the LSAC decided to meet for a day and update the watch policy...how bizarre. God forbid a test taker trying to keep track of how much time he or she has left in a section...
I looked into this, and this is the reply I got from LSAC:
"The change went into effect starting with the June 2017 LSAT, and the reasoning is simply that the official time is kept by the room supervisor. Timers of any kind are not permitted. As stated, non-digital, analog watches are permitted in the test center. This would be the traditional kind with an hour & a minute hand (seconds hand is fine as well) whose purpose is to tell time & not to time something with a dedicated start/stop functionality. With this in mind, the 180watch would no longer be allowed, however the Casio, Top Tier, and Perfect Score watches would be permitted."
I thought this would be helpful for everyone to know!
Hey guys, I added the following update to the lesson on How to Keep Time.
Update: As of July 2017, the LSAC has banned chronographs. Chronographs are watches where you can click a button to start a timer and another click will stop / reset the watch so you can easily start another timer. Many LSAT watches and timers are chronographs - in fact, that's their major selling point - and are therefore banned.
Also I edited the thread title so the message is clear.
I just spoke with an LSAC rep. For anyone specifically wanting to know if the LSAT Mastermind watch is banned, it is. The LSAC rep reiterated that watches must function to tell time, not a start/stop function only. I inquired as to whether a list of "approved" and "banned" watches will be compiled, to which the representative spoke with a supervisor who said that they are working on such a list currently. I subsequently asked if this list would be published prior to the Sept. 17' LSAT, and they were intending to do so. Whether that happens or not.... only time will tell, no pun intended. Seems to me if you have a question about a specific watch, you are best to call LSAC yourself. Btw, I asked what the cause was for the policy change.... the rep said that it was due to LSAT test takers challenging the time given by the proctors. Abuse a privilege and LSAC taketh away that privilege.
@samanthaashley92715
Yeah, you sure could. Whatever you feel works for you is great. It's all about increased confidence walking into the exam. For me 19.99 for the perfect score watch is well worth it. I like that it has colored sections to help me keep track of my pace.
My center didn't have a clock in the room (and the proctor accidentally called an LR section 10 mins early lol) but I did have a very graphic depiction of Jesus' crucifixion directly to my left. I was unsure if that was a good or bad omen at the time (ended up being a good one).
@bncgjr159 It is common for alot of testing centers to not have clocks on display, as was the case with my center
Why can't they have a proctor display the time digitally in a spot where all the test takers can see?
Splitting hairs on watches is ridiculous.
@jy-ping said:
Hey guys, I added the following update to the lesson on How to Keep Time.
Update: As of July 2017, the LSAC has banned chronographs. Chronographs are watches where you can click a button to start a timer and another click will stop / reset the watch so you can easily start another timer. Many LSAT watches and timers are chronographs - in fact, that's their major selling point - and are therefore banned.
Also I edited the thread title so the message is clear.
Wow. So it IS confirmed. I now kind of feel sorry for those who are making LSAT watches.
@samanthaashley92715 said:
Ok but you can reset a regular wrist watch to 12:00 and have it count up to 35 minutes for each section. I don't see how this would be any different. It seems kind of crazy.
That's what I did.... $7 at walmart. Got one with the big numbers. Worked mighty fine in Sept.
@leo555
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=6c25020642&view=fimg&th=15fbbd262323ce69&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=15fbbd24a2f9fb9e72c2&attbid=ANGjdJ800ZuWRsWarvTSIbvZLKYxAyDIEN92ZGKx-BWwqOtu7hevA_d6cWjY0AZwz9Yr76EwcWAwFr4q1Rn0TqoMVxGJX_VJe9sdG5IcPct2xDrjC7wmZ6i8TGwtuKM&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1510684658691&rm=15fbbd262323ce69&zw&atsh=1
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=6c25020642&view=fimg&th=15fbbda002c9d676&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ_uwaaE4um82CRSZFgmgswQzIkF-gCTlDlHQkDrn-gASa-5qHPcJxMsY46u44zI0STPZghoE6wy0zw3C6Rrc0vwpM0p9OxJ94OvIRz8219KXouj0p7fpkwyrUM&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1510685154471&rm=15fbbda002c9d676&zw&atsh=1
I'm not sure how to post actual pictures but these links are screen shots of my email conversation with them about the lsatmax watch.
I guess if we all have these screenshots saved or printed the proctor couldn't go against it.
@jy-ping said:
@danbiddulph4562 said:
I purchased the Master Mind Watch a few weeks back and then found out that it might not be approved anymore. I called into LSAC to find out exactly what the policy is. The representative I spoke with gave me a list of LSAT specific watches that are on the approved list of watches. Unfortunately, the Master Mind Watch is not one of them due to its start/stop/reset capabilities. However, she did tell me that the perfect score watch is approved as well as the Top Tier watch. She also told me the Casio LSAT watch is approved although I haven't found that one. Here are the links to two of the watches that she did say are approved.
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Score-Watch-Version-LSAT/dp/B073Z8GG32
https://www.amazon.com/Toptier-Custom-LSAT-Watch-Exam/dp/B00OGW9N92
this makes me wonder why they're still in production??
Agreed, I think it's kinda awful that they are still selling the Mastermind Watch.
FWIW, I believe you that those are approved by LSAC, but I would personally still be a little cautious that proctors might turn you away at the door. It sounds like the test center folks aren't always consistent. So a safer (and much cheaper) bet would still be just getting the Casio style watch with a rotating bezel.
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Classic-Quartz-Resin-Watch/dp/B01BY7I1J4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510171012&sr=8-3&keywords=casio+rotating+bezel
@476 said:
@jamesdunniv792 said:
@476 said:
I used a cheap Casio watch with a rotating bezel, and I liked it better than watches with a "reset" timer button anyway.
Would you mind sharing/providing a link to the watch you used? Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-MRW200H-7EV-Sport-Resin-Watch/dp/B005JVP0FU/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1500916706&sr=8-23&keywords=casio+watch+bezel
I couldn't find the exact one, but this was the closest. It's a few dollars more expensive than the one I bought, too.
I used a similar watch on my test, it was more than sufficient.
@jamesdunniv792 said:
@476 said:
I used a cheap Casio watch with a rotating bezel, and I liked it better than watches with a "reset" timer button anyway.
Would you mind sharing/providing a link to the watch you used? Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-MRW200H-7EV-Sport-Resin-Watch/dp/B005JVP0FU/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1500916706&sr=8-23&keywords=casio+watch+bezel
I couldn't find the exact one, but this was the closest. It's a few dollars more expensive than the one I bought, too.
doublepost...
Just as an FYI it was not on the tickets for June, so they were allowed. We should wait to see what Sept tickets say.
@roystanator440 said:
@marine4life6798246 said:
I don't like how the perfect score watch counts backwards. So stupid that they don't allow the 180 watch. What is the reasoning? The reasoning has to be more than it has a start/stop function. Why is that a bad thing?
@roystanator440 said:
does anyone here not use a watch at all?
I definitely do. But I'd say the way you utilize a watch and the way you time manage both with and without looking at a watch evolves over the course of your prep. If you're in the beginning stages I wouldn't worry too much about it since you'll naturally become faster as your understanding improves.
No, I'm not in the beginning stages. It gives me anxiety looking at a watch I feel like I have a pretty good internal clock and know how much time I have left if that makes sense.
I do not use a watch. Especially during PT. I have one that I can use and have it with me, but I hardly look at it.
I am the same way, I'll start trying to calculate time in my head and not paying attention to the actual test.
The one area where I feel like I would look at the watch is during RC. Sometimes I get sucked into a passage and just do not know how much time I am using up. Other than that I avoid it completely.
@alexmedley502 said:
I feel like it's still risky business to use the PS watch though because some proctors are misinformed about certain rules, and may pull some BS saying that it's banned.
Yeah, that's not at all an unreasonable fear. And honestly, a cheap $10 watch with a bezel is hard to beat. Everything else is for gear-heads.
@marine4life6798246 said:
I don't like how the perfect score watch counts backwards. So stupid that they don't allow the 180 watch. What is the reasoning? The reasoning has to be more than it has a start/stop function. Why is that a bad thing?
@roystanator440 said:
does anyone here not use a watch at all?
I definitely do. But I'd say the way you utilize a watch and the way you time manage both with and without looking at a watch evolves over the course of your prep. If you're in the beginning stages I wouldn't worry too much about it since you'll naturally become faster as your understanding improves.
No, I'm not in the beginning stages. It gives me anxiety looking at a watch I feel like I have a pretty good internal clock and know how much time I have left if that makes sense.
I don't like how the perfect score watch counts backwards. So stupid that they don't allow the 180 watch. What is the reasoning? The reasoning has to be more than it has a start/stop function. Why is that a bad thing?
@roystanator440 said:
does anyone here not use a watch at all?
I definitely do. But I'd say the way you utilize a watch and the way you time manage both with and without looking at a watch evolves over the course of your prep. If you're in the beginning stages I wouldn't worry too much about it since you'll naturally become faster as your understanding improves.
does anyone here not use a watch at all?
The Perfect Score Watch is cheaper/still allowed because it doesn't function any differently from a regular wrist watch. It has no start/stop/reset feature other than the dial on the side that every regular wrist watch has. The only difference is the clock face, not any of the actual functions/features/moving parts.
@jy-ping said:
@danbiddulph4562 said:
I purchased the Master Mind Watch a few weeks back and then found out that it might not be approved anymore. I called into LSAC to find out exactly what the policy is. The representative I spoke with gave me a list of LSAT specific watches that are on the approved list of watches. Unfortunately, the Master Mind Watch is not one of them due to its start/stop/reset capabilities. However, she did tell me that the perfect score watch is approved as well as the Top Tier watch. She also told me the Casio LSAT watch is approved although I haven't found that one. Here are the links to two of the watches that she did say are approved.
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Score-Watch-Version-LSAT/dp/B073Z8GG32
https://www.amazon.com/Toptier-Custom-LSAT-Watch-Exam/dp/B00OGW9N92
this makes me wonder why they're still in production??
So they can sucker in those people that don't know any better.
Ok but you can reset a regular wrist watch to 12:00 and have it count up to 35 minutes for each section. I don't see how this would be any different. It seems kind of crazy.