I'm almost 3 months into my studies and my best PT is 159 untimed. Any tips on improving LR stamina and speed? I start disassociating after the first section and my focus just plummets. I can't even attempt timed PTs yet; I have never finished a section and attempted all questions. Any study tips or ways to improve focus and not experience cognitive overload? I'm trying to slowly build it up and focusing on fundamentals but wondering if there's ways to speed up the process.
For context, my diagnostic was 139 so I know I'm improving. My biggest issue isn't understanding every question but maintaining focus and processing information efficiently for multiple sections. Did anyone else struggle with this? What can help build endurance and transition from untimed accuracy to timed performance?
14 comments
I struggled with maintaining focus due to brain fog + ADHD and what helped me for practice tests was making a routine to really wake up my brain before:
Full night of sleep if possible (8-9 hours)
Morning exercise - I need to do something high intensity (run/spin class) to really get my heart rate up to wake up my brain, but a brisk walk may work, jumping jacks, run up and down the stairs, etc.
High protein meal with healthy fats and fibre - make sure you aren't eating meals that cause a big crash while you're studying, aka simple carbs and sugar
Warm up brain with short drill of easy questions
PT tips:
Close your eyes and take a couple deep breaths when you feel yourself losing focus/not processing the words you are reading.
Another trick is to read the stimulus/passage at talking pace, hover your mouse over the words, and/or highlighting the words
Move around during 10 minute break as well - quick set of jumping jacks/push ups, splash face with cold water
To be honest I would not do full untimed PTs. Untimed drills for sure, especially focusing on drills for your weaker areas, but always do PTs timed. Untimed PTs take way too much time. Try stacking 2 sections (1 LR 1 RC or 2 LR) back to back - untimed at first if you need to, but try doing this timed to build up stamina. It is better to try to get as many questions as you can in 35 minutes and then do the ones you don't get to in BR. This allows you to see what questions are taking you too long, where you can speed up, etc. The final goal is to get the first 10 questions in 10 minutes. Another strategy would be to do timed sections starting out at 45 min, then 40, then 35.
You have to learn to guess and move on when a question is taking too long, it is part of the strategy, even for 170+ scorers! A score for an untimed PT will not be an accurate assessment of where you are at, part of the challenge is the timing.
Another trick is to do timed speed drills of easier questions or certain question types - try setting it to 1 min/question or even less. This will build your confidence over time and force you to notice patterns (really good for PSA and SA types as you can spot the correct answer fast).
Everyone is different so what helped me may not help you, but I hope some of this helps! The main thing with getting faster and building stamina is practice! It takes less brain power and less focus for easier questions after you have spent a lot of time drilling, then this frees up your energy to tackle harder ones. It gets easier I promise!
@angantous thank you! Will definitely give this a try
You need accommodations, and it is ok. It has nothing to do with your intelligence. If you have anxiety or adhd- Pyshiatirist evaluation or previous diagnosis is required
Can you request accommodations?
@PrateekDevulpally would i be able to message you? i am planning on requesting for accommodation as i am diagnosed with adhd but i dont know where to start.
Try doing timed sections to build your stamina. Maybe one RC one LR then slowly do more. Your stamina will build up as your brain adapts to it. Give yourself grace to not get all questions timed. Aim for 15/25. Then 18/25. Then 20/25 and so on.
You might have to slowly build up the stamina. Do a 10 question drill in 18 minutes. Reduce time or increase difficulty as you see score improvement. Build up to more questions. Take the section but maybe give yourself 45 minutes instead of 35. I wouldn’t do it untimed for too long though. Slight time pressure might ease you into it. That’s what I’ve had to do as well. Good luck!! :)
As someone with chronic migraines and brain fog, this is definitely something I struggle with as well. I've found two things that help with it.
1) Going question by question. It's not about rushing and finishing every section but doing the most you can as accurately as possible. When I was scoring in the 150s changing my focus to be solely on the accuracy of the question I was doing vs. the section/PT as a whole I was taking is what helped bump me into the 160s.
2) Whenever I feel myself struggling to process what I'm reading, I stop, close my eyes and breathe to recenter. Try to reconnect to the specific question you're on with a clear brain. I have found that taking the extra time is worth it if it saves me from re-reading the same thing over and over without it fully clicking.
Also, maybe try taking it step by step. Get comfortable at doing one timed section, then two, then three, then a full PT.
@Hannah2026 I appreciate this, thanks!
I don't have advice, but wanted to say that I'm positive the time aspect is what is going to be my downfall of getting a great score. I am still at the beginnings of my foundational learning but my cold diagnostic score was 136. I feel I am beginning to grasp these a little more but am concerned I won't be fast enough. I wanted to let you know that you're not alone. Congratulations on such a wonderful score jump!