Self-paced
Hello,
I’ve taken 3 PTs in the last 3 weeks in preparation for the June test, and I have got a 158 each time. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind this score. I think it’s ok and it’s absolutely better than previous scores I’ve got (including my 156 for the April test), but I am trying to figure out how to improve on it before next weekend. I know that’s not much time but I ran into timing issues with the last PT and just felt so fatigued that I knew I didn’t do well on the rest. I truly think I can get my score up to a 165, but what I’m wondering is if there are any tips or tricks out there that people have to suggest either preparation wise or test taking wise. I can put the time in, I’ve taken multiple PTs, I’ve done the core curriculum (or most of it), I just want to know what else I can do to push past the high 150s. I might retake in August but if I can do well enough this weekend to avoid that, that would be ideal. Thanks!
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4 comments
Hello!
I know this is a slightly older post, but I am writing this anyway hoping it can still help as you look toward a potential August retake!
On top of the great advice from other users in the comments. there are three things I want to add.
First, whenever you take a full test, you might finish a section feeling like you completely ruined it. It is okay to acknowledge that feeling, but you have to move on from it instantly. For instance, after finishing Section 1, you might feel "That was crazy; I think I missed more than 10 questions." Don't let that ruin the other three sections; you can still get the score you want if you do well enough on the rest. Tell yourself, "Okay I might have done terribly on my first section, but here we go."
Second, if you have run out of fresh PTs, look for PTs that you took several weeks or months ago and retry them. Retrying a PT is incredibly valuable; if you get a question wrong a second time, it proves that there is a fundamental flaw in your method or logical reasoning that you need to fix.
Lastly, regarding timing, I found flag-and-move-on helpful, especially with RC. If there is a question that's tripping you off, try not to waste too much time on this single question. Just flag it and move on. While you work on next questions, you will often pick up on something relevant for the flagged one. Then you can go back and solve it.
I hope this helps!
Great question! If you're not already doing so, being consistent with blind review is the biggest change you can make to move past a score plateau. Blind review is where you can recognize mistakes and actively rewire your brain to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Then, if there are still questions you're not fully understanding, you can move on to the video and written explanations. Keeping a wrong answer journal is also a great habit!
If there are certain question types that are giving you trouble, it's helpful to have a step-by-step strategy to go through those question types so you can keep moving through the test with forward momentum. Finally, don't be afraid to flag questions and come back later.
I was stuck in 158 for months! I got to 160+ by going through the curriculum and seeing where I had any content gaps. I memorized indicators, valid/invalid conditionals, diagrammed obsessively, etc. I also started paying closer attention to when the question stem says "except," "not," or "disagree/agree," which is a couple extra questions that I was getting wrong. Wishing you luck!
Wrong answer journal!!!! This is one of the best ways to improve in a short amount of time. When you catch your bad patterns or habits, you can eliminate them. Good luck! I am taking mine this week. I hope your exam goes exceptionally well :)