Self-study
Other than in keeping on?
I've been studying using 7sage for years (on and off but more recently, very much on) now. Completed the entire course curriculum (before the Website transfer) and have taken around 3 practice tests. The first two I took were at the end of last year and I got a 153 on both, which were taken a few weeks apart, with blind review scores ranging between 170-177. My most recent practice test, now, yielded a freaking 148(!!!!) and a 165 blind review score.
Between all these tests, I've also done tons of drills and always review the videos for the questions I got wrong, had trouble with, spent too much time on, etc. Same method on the practice tests.
At this point, I just feel like I'm crashing out of a sky I never really got up too high in.
It's bad enough to get a 153 after years of studying and even worse to now drop down somehow to a 148. I also can't really wrap my head around being able to get close to a near perfect score during blind review, which I would think demonstrates some level of comprehension, but getting a timed score that isn't uncommon for someone who has never even looked at lsat study materials to get.
I really need help, advice, etc. Kind of at my wits end here...
***I should mention that yes, timing is an issue for me. I can, on a good session, answer at least 14-17/25-26 questions under LR sections. On the other hand, on RC sections, I'm finding I can really only get to and complete 2/4 passages. In those rare instances I make it to the 3rd passage, I can't finish all the questions for said passage.***
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4 comments
Variation in PT score is very normal! I struggled with the same issue, and I could not surpass my diagnostic score for over a year. It wasn't because I wasn't improving or that I was regressing, but because the number of questions I was getting wrong happened to be the same when I was guessing and putting in random answers.
That being said, I had a tutor that told me that if I am struggling with timing, then I do not know the material well enough. If it takes me over 35 minutes to diagram everything, to double check my answers, to reread lines in passages -- then I do not know the material well enough. I have found that this is true for me, although I am sure that it won't be true for everyone. I still struggle with timing, especially on particularly hard sections; however in general, the more I know, the faster I can answer each question accurately.
You have excellent blind review scores, so you do understand the content to a certain extent. You should be very proud of the work you've put in, and it has not gone to waste at all. But now it's about learning to apply the skills you've learned within the parameters of the exam.
I do think that when you are ready, taking more full practice tests will help with endurance and timing. I think that three full PT sections should not define the years of work, nor should the next three or next twenty.
As to your note at the bottom, I would first focus on being able to get through all four passages. Even if it means guessing on the last two questions for each passage set. If you struggle with this, then I would time each passage separately and complete the set within 12 minutes, then 11 minutes, etc until around 7-8 minutes.
I will also say that a 148 and 153 are roughly within score bands of one another, so do not take this recent PT as a sign of regression. It's not as dramatic of a drop as it may feel!
I'm wishing you luck on your journey! I definitely feel your frustration, but there are wins just on the horizon! Just hold on a little longer!
@haena
Firstly, thanks for taking the time to not only read my post but also thoughtfully and substantively reply to it. I very much appreciate that! Thank you as well for the encouragement and tips.
Now, I read your first bit of advice regarding my taking practice tests for purposes of helping with endurance and timing to imply that perhaps I should be laying off those for now. Is that a correct reading? If so, would you recommend just doing drills in the interim before going back to the PT's? Reason I ask is because my current practice strategy, after doing the core curriculum and many, many question type drills, involves doing the PT's and reviewing those as practice instead of doing an untold number of drills. What's worked best for you?
Also, I like the idea of trying to get through all four passages and maybe guessing on the last two questions as this seems to free up some time. Have you totally weaned yourself off the memory method JY uses when it comes to RC? I've been trying to get off of it, although I'm not sure if it should be abandoned altogether, so as to also help with improving my timing.
I think a common problem for me with both RC and LR that contributes to timing issues is processing speed. It's not that I don't grasp what's being asked or read or that I don't know or remember how to approach certain question types but rather that I don't always grasp things within a frame of time that would enable me to work through the test at a faster rate than I am currently. Not sure how to get around that.
Anyways, thanks again.
@mhann007 Of course! To answer your questions:
I do drills, sections, and PTs in conjunction with one another. I'm currently taking a short pause on full PTs, but I do drills to warm up or to target certain question types. I do timed sections to simulate the conditions of a PT (without having to do the whole thing) and untimed sections to really isolate timing issues vs. reasoning issues. I think doing the full PTs right now can be a bit demoralizing, especially because you are not able to finish sections. I am not a tutor by any means, but as someone who has been in your shoes, I would recommend doing sections timed and untimed. For LR specifically, my tutor used to assign me sections where I attempt 15/25 questions within 35 minutes, focusing strictly on accuracy. He then told me to finish the remaining 10 in blind review, as to not 'waste' the questions. Once I was consistently getting the first fifteen questions correct within 35 minutes, he assigned me 16/25 questions within 35 minutes. The idea being that once you get to 25/25 within 35 minutes, it will become natural. RC luckily came a little bit easier to me (depending on the passage), but he said that the same strategy applied and that I should aim to 'unlock' the third and fourth passage within incremental time constraints. If you don't like the 35 minutes at first, then you can also extend the section duration to be longer, like 38 minutes.
I must admit I don't use the methods that JY uses for RC! I have approached RC to be longer and more contextual LR questions, rather than dense and boring reading material with difficult language. I try to identify tone first, then extrapolate the overall argument from the passage. I've also been reading more outside of studying to pick up speed and expand my vocabulary.
I have the same issue with processing speed too! I think it really comes down to practice, especially under isolated timed conditions. I also really forced myself to memorize indicator words, question types/stimulus types, flaws and valid arguments -- this really sped things up for me. It also really helped to force myself to diagram mentally (unless I really need to map it out, especially on math-heavy questions!).
Sorry to ramble again! But main takeaway is that it's a very good sign that you grasp the material, and it's evident from your blind review scores. I plan on just practicing over and over again until it's second nature to me! I'm always happy to help provide any advice, so feel free to ask any other questions :-)
@haena Thank you so much again! I will take everything you wrote above into consideration as I go on to practice/study. Really appreciate the insights from the tutoring as well.
Wish you the best!