Self-study
Hi everyone, I wanted to ask when should I do PTs? I generate practice blocks and it generates 1 PT per week which I usually skip to do more drilling. I've taken 2 PTs (the diagnostic 143, and 1 after core curriculum/study blocks which was 151.) My question is should I be doing PT every week, 2 weeks, month? I would like to take the Aug/Sept test.
The reason I'm asking as well is the last time I took a PT (151 score) I spent so much time in BR and review because I missed a bunch of questions. I'm wondering if drilling will be more efficient (as it's easier to review smaller amounts per day) until I up my accuracy to a certain extent or do I need to sprinkle in some PTs here and there.
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4 comments
If you are taking the Aug/Sept test, I would hold off on doing frequent PTs for now and wait until you get closer to the date. My advice would be to focus on drilling for now, taking practice tests maybe once every 2 or even 3 weeks. Then when you get into May and June you can do once every two weeks, and in July once per week. Make sure as you go to reserve a certain number of fresh tests and keep in mind how many you have left when you are scheduling.
I'm saying this because in my own experience the full prep tests were more useful for getting familiar with the grind of doing a full test as the date gets closer. Using them up early is a waste of resources in my opinion, because you're still learning the material and practicing a full test at that point isn't going to help as much for the real test if it's still months away. What you don't want is to use most of your prep tests two months in advance and then get to July without any fresh tests to work with (which would actually happen if you started taking a full test every week this early on).
@RedFish Noted. Thank you!
I believe in less being more regarding PTs. PTs are great for measuring what level you're at, but do not do much for you in terms of making progress. Keep hammering drills like you have been. If you want to train your brain to sit and focus on a lot of questions for long periods, doing a couple of full LR or RC sections back-to-back will do the trick.
My biggest reason for this is that there are just so few PTs released by LSAC. Only the last several PTs (I'd say 150+) give you a good simulation of the modern test. If you burn through these in training, you will not have a good baseline when test day actually comes.
I think it is safe if you want to do one per month, at the end of the month to see where your progress is. Take older tests for this (120-140). Just be mindful that these tests are different than the modern tests (some say they are easier, and I agree). As you get closer to your testing date, start taking more of the newer tests to prepare yourself for testing day.
To give you an idea, over the past year I've taken MAYBE 6 full PTs. I take my test this Friday, and have taken 2 this week, both newer. Even with so few PTs taken, I am comfortably in the 170's. Drilling weak points is the most important thing you can do to increase score.
Good luck studying!
@ChristopherTobin Noted. Thank you! Good luck on your test this Friday!