I finished the curriculum a while back, but I've returned to this section because my analytics show that MSS questions are a weak point for me. Something that has really helped during my review is to recall that you cannot treat MSS questions like Must Be True questions---you can't just ask "Okay, so what makes this answer choice wrong?" You can do that in MBT, but assumptions are allowed in MSS, and so the question you have to ask is "What assumptions do I have to make in order for the answer choice to be correct?" The way to come to the right answer is by weighing which choice requires the fewest and most reasonable assumptions---not by looking for a perfect fit. To ask the wrong question can lead to square pegs and round holes.
@oliviaweekskristie539 Only double? ;-D That's pretty good. I'm going to take the W too! I was at least +1:19 on every one of them, and +7:01 on the worst. But I got them all correct. Anyone know how to get faster?
For people struggling with MSS questions, please do not give up. I realized that language in LR is super complicated since it adds many unnecessary filler descriptive words. MSS is all about understanding the stimulus, so SLOW down. When you slow down, take the 'highlight' or 'underline' tool, and only take the subject, noun, verb etc... Please review the grammar section of this course.
For example, if the sentence said "The dirty and lazy dog named Clark, having spent the entire afternoon rolling in the mud and ignoring his owner's repeated calls, caused them to cancel their evening walk and spend hours cleaning the carpets instead." translate the key words, which would be "Dog (Clark) Caused Cancellation". This method allows you to get the main point of each sentence and helps you find what the stimulus is talking about.
If you are looking at answer choices, you should also simplify them. The LSAT has four 110% WRONG choices and only one that is 110% right. I used to get questions wrong simply because the answer choice I would pick would not be directly proven by the stimulus, or be an assumption. Sometimes we fall for the wrong answer because we add our own assumptions.
If I were to take the sentence: "The dirty and lazy dog named Clark, having spent the entire afternoon rolling in the mud and ignoring his owner's repeated calls, caused them to cancel their evening walk and spend hours cleaning the carpets instead."
The MSS would be "The owner planned to take Clark for an evening walk" because the sentence states the owner had a plan to take Clark (the dog) on a walk, but it was cancelled. An assumption would be "Clark is typically well-behaved but had an unusual outburst." We do not KNOW this from the sentence; we just know he was rolling in mud, and we can't determine if he is well-behaved. It is out of scope and not provable to the stimulus.
I hope this sort of helps and makes sense, as someone who struggled with MSS, my studying has been focused on dissecting the stimulus and even the answer choices. Please feel free to share your thoughts, I am not in any means calling myself an expert but this is the only thing that helped my scrambled brain BAHAHA <3
thank you for such a goated response. although i was able to get 4/5 here i also do struggle with this. i have times i do 4/5 and times i do 2/5 like the rest of us and it really comes down to what youre saying. trap answers that make us make assumptions are so hard to avoid. im guessing its why many people say that taking the lsat is literally a new way of thinking. we are learning to avoid something we've done all our lives, (make assumptions based on our knowledge of certain things, me saying this is me making one lmao) and are learning to just stick strictly to what we read. another reason someone like myself gets some wrong is i dont take the time to fully grasp what the stim is saying. id like to think i am pretty smart but always with words ive been behind. more complex words (to me, id assume to most of you they arent complex) throw me off soooo hard. well i had fun typing this as a little break. now back to it. best of luck to you all!
In all honesty, I know you’ve prob heard it a million times about those crazy stories of people shooting from a 140 to a 170. Prob not realistic, but I started at a 138 and I’m now at a 152 after just 3 months. Trust the process man 🙏
Thank you for your feedback! I have shared your feedback with our product team. If you have other suggestions or feedback, please feel free to let us know!
Is there any advice for getting better at those 4/5 difficulty questions? I have a tough time with them, and no matter how long I spend reading and re reading these questions it is hard for me to decipher between the answer choices, and what makes the right one right, and wrong ones wrong.
389 comments
I finished the curriculum a while back, but I've returned to this section because my analytics show that MSS questions are a weak point for me. Something that has really helped during my review is to recall that you cannot treat MSS questions like Must Be True questions---you can't just ask "Okay, so what makes this answer choice wrong?" You can do that in MBT, but assumptions are allowed in MSS, and so the question you have to ask is "What assumptions do I have to make in order for the answer choice to be correct?" The way to come to the right answer is by weighing which choice requires the fewest and most reasonable assumptions---not by looking for a perfect fit. To ask the wrong question can lead to square pegs and round holes.
thank u big help!
It took me double the amount of recommended time but I got the most difficult question right! I'm taking the w I don't care.
@oliviaweekskristie539 Only double? ;-D That's pretty good. I'm going to take the W too! I was at least +1:19 on every one of them, and +7:01 on the worst. But I got them all correct. Anyone know how to get faster?
For people struggling with MSS questions, please do not give up. I realized that language in LR is super complicated since it adds many unnecessary filler descriptive words. MSS is all about understanding the stimulus, so SLOW down. When you slow down, take the 'highlight' or 'underline' tool, and only take the subject, noun, verb etc... Please review the grammar section of this course.
For example, if the sentence said "The dirty and lazy dog named Clark, having spent the entire afternoon rolling in the mud and ignoring his owner's repeated calls, caused them to cancel their evening walk and spend hours cleaning the carpets instead." translate the key words, which would be "Dog (Clark) Caused Cancellation". This method allows you to get the main point of each sentence and helps you find what the stimulus is talking about.
If you are looking at answer choices, you should also simplify them. The LSAT has four 110% WRONG choices and only one that is 110% right. I used to get questions wrong simply because the answer choice I would pick would not be directly proven by the stimulus, or be an assumption. Sometimes we fall for the wrong answer because we add our own assumptions.
If I were to take the sentence: "The dirty and lazy dog named Clark, having spent the entire afternoon rolling in the mud and ignoring his owner's repeated calls, caused them to cancel their evening walk and spend hours cleaning the carpets instead."
The MSS would be "The owner planned to take Clark for an evening walk" because the sentence states the owner had a plan to take Clark (the dog) on a walk, but it was cancelled. An assumption would be "Clark is typically well-behaved but had an unusual outburst." We do not KNOW this from the sentence; we just know he was rolling in mud, and we can't determine if he is well-behaved. It is out of scope and not provable to the stimulus.
I hope this sort of helps and makes sense, as someone who struggled with MSS, my studying has been focused on dissecting the stimulus and even the answer choices. Please feel free to share your thoughts, I am not in any means calling myself an expert but this is the only thing that helped my scrambled brain BAHAHA <3
thank you for such a goated response. although i was able to get 4/5 here i also do struggle with this. i have times i do 4/5 and times i do 2/5 like the rest of us and it really comes down to what youre saying. trap answers that make us make assumptions are so hard to avoid. im guessing its why many people say that taking the lsat is literally a new way of thinking. we are learning to avoid something we've done all our lives, (make assumptions based on our knowledge of certain things, me saying this is me making one lmao) and are learning to just stick strictly to what we read. another reason someone like myself gets some wrong is i dont take the time to fully grasp what the stim is saying. id like to think i am pretty smart but always with words ive been behind. more complex words (to me, id assume to most of you they arent complex) throw me off soooo hard. well i had fun typing this as a little break. now back to it. best of luck to you all!
lol today is one of those days where I have to log off, reset, and try again tomorrow
@CecileJudy Just retook this, 4/5 as apposed to 2/5. I'm tearing up
I was doing so well in the previous drills but now i'm doing terrible on these, so frustrating:(
@hola10024 they are adaptive so will get progressively harder as you improve!
First got 1/5, then 2/5.. took a day break.. 5/5. Don’t give up guys! Sometimes a break is all you need.
I did terrible 😭
0/5 kill me now
Time to consider trade school!
In all honesty, I know you’ve prob heard it a million times about those crazy stories of people shooting from a 140 to a 170. Prob not realistic, but I started at a 138 and I’m now at a 152 after just 3 months. Trust the process man 🙏
:|
I'm gonna need to redo this lesson.MSS is a hard concept.
I'm getting called out as "crazy" way too many times for the options that I pick, which actually is making me crazy.
happened to me too. dont take it too seriously. you got this!
I do not understand why this is the hardest concept for me by far. It is extremely irritating. I will have to come back to this later.
it is very hard being honest. It makes no sense sometimes.
literally. it makes me sad
2/5, 3/5 after br. MSS questions are incredibly difficult for me
ugh these ones are killing me
UI Suggestions:
A confirmation prompt before you submit an incomplete drill.
End test button after the next question butto
Thank you for your feedback! I have shared your feedback with our product team. If you have other suggestions or feedback, please feel free to let us know!
please! i've done this on accident a few times already
I agree. I have done this also.
Gosh this was a tough one
I'm in tears! I got them all right!! Although not very good with timing on some of them.
2/5 on my first attempt. 5/5 on my blind review in less time. This may have been mentioned- this is what got me to a 5/5:
Most Strongly (i.e. Easily) Supported Questions Types
Does not require an assumption.
Does not improve the stimulus
Has the lowest threshold of proof.
Does not have strong language. (Always, never, all, none)
#feedback is there any guide to what difficulty we should choose (i.e. the percentage of expected incorrect is under 50%, 40%, etc.)?
4/5, I merge now. Good luck to everybody else
That was my full intention Calciferjkn.
this made me LOL
@antonioandolino haha
I hate that there is no trick to this and you just gotta process of elimination it
got 1/5 then 2/5 second time I'm not understanding these types of questions :(
@LayalBazzi4 I understand. I got 1/5 then 3/5 on BR. We can do it!
@LayalBazzi4 Same so we are not alone, we got this, we will learn and keep going!
teehee don't forget to hit the next button instead of the checkmark on question one ;)
Is there any advice for getting better at those 4/5 difficulty questions? I have a tough time with them, and no matter how long I spend reading and re reading these questions it is hard for me to decipher between the answer choices, and what makes the right one right, and wrong ones wrong.
my first 5/5 :')
I took my time and even tho I was way over 5/5!!!