Self-study
Hi Everyone, I am desperate for advice, tips or tricks, or words of encouragement, for how to get QUICKER at the test. I have been studying for over 3 months now, and I feel like I understand the questions/question types. I am just slow. Sometimes I have to reread a stimulus a couple times to fully understand it. Or I am not 100% confident on an answer so I look through the other options a little longer. My biggest obstacle currently is my speed (or lack thereof). It is veryyyy rare for me to answer a question at target time and EVEN RARER to answer under target time.
Looking forward to responses! Thanks yall!
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2 comments
Very common problem, and there are certainly ways to improve speed on the LSAT. As was mentioned below, speed does (at it least in theory, it should) increase over time as your experience and expertise increases.
But there are also some more targeted approaches to take. For instance, is the speed problem more related to LR or RC or both? There are some similar speed factors between the different sections, but some of the factors are quite different. And the solutions to those problems either track or diverge, accordingly.
Typically, the LR stimuli that are tough to get the first time around are intentionlly made to be tough to get. And there are some specific micro techniques that can be applied in those cases in terms of unpacking the stimulus efficiently.
Also, the test-makers WANT you wavering over answer choices. But we just don't have the luxury to do that- as you are seeing. Prepare as best you can and then trust your prep. Reason your way to answer choice and then pick it and move on. You might see that the accuracy rate stays high and now you have more time for the last few questions.
So, overall I would say try to get more specific with where and why your timing issues are occuring. There likely will be specific solutions to target those issues.
I hope that helps!
I have a few tips, 1. as you practice more and more speed will become easier because you will recognize patterns. Three months feels like a lot, but some people study for much longer than that. 2. Make sure you are 100% understanding every question's argument structure and why correct answer choices are correct and why incorrect answers are incorrect, especially on questions you got wrong or took a long time on. This will greatly improve intuition over time and therefore make you faster. 3. On timed sections, work on a timing/rhythm strategy. For example, for me I try to do the first 10 questions in less than 12 minutes, i try to be done 15 in around 21 minutes, and then I have more time for harder questions at the end. Also, when you get a super easy question that you are very confident in, hit the right answer and move on quick, maybe do a quick glance at the other choices just to make sure you didnt completely miss anything, but dont waste time on an answer you already got correct just to take urself from 99% confidence to 100%