Hey y'all, I have been studying for the LSAT since March and am registered for the August test. I am studying because I want to do a career switch, and my goal score is 170 or higher. I am between jobs currently so I am dedicating my time to test prep, which looks like 200 questions a day through drills and sections, and reviewing each question. My last two practice tests which I took two weeks apart from each other have been 165, and my drill last 14 day average is 86%. Basically, what are suggestions to get out of this rut into 170? I have found that I am able to predict answers for the majority of the test, but there are about 5-7 each section I struggle with and that's where my range or error is. Feedback is appreciated!
4
8 comments
Hey there!
The 160s plateau is a real thing, and one I can very much relate to! Here are some things that have helped me/students:
1. Targeted Review
200 questions is a lot! There's no reason to be taking sections every day. They're a finite resource, and they're not the optimal use of study time, especially when 20 of those 26 questions you're nailing. Use sections as diagnostic opportunities: what question types did you get wrong? What were the things that tricked you? Once you identify that, target those question types: do shorter drills focusing on one question type at a time. You can do sections a couple times a week for this purpose or to practice timing later on, but at this stage, your focus should be content, not timing strategies yet!
2. Eliminating Every Wrong Answer
When you get a question wrong on the LSAT, there are two points of improvement: understanding why you chose the wrong answer, and why you didn't choose the write answer. Give both of those equal wait. In your drilling, eliminate each answer but the one you chose, and highlight what you didn't like about them.
3. RC
Challenge yourself not to look back at the passage once you've finished reading. Try and answer all the questions using just your low-res summaries and your memory (obviously, if the question asks about a specific line or word, you can look back)
4. Identify Your Tools
Some question types are more pre-phrasable than others, but you can still have a game plan for every question type. Know your process for each type of question. When you're having trouble on an NA question for example, what are some tools you can use? Identifying the conclusion and premises? Making a timeline?
I hope that helps, and happy studying!
@PhoebeHopp Thank you for the feedback! I actually take all my drills and sections untimed, I do not have timing issues on the timed practice exams so I am mostly working on accuracy. Thank you for the other notes on drilling and and targeting question types :)
shii, how did you get to 165, asking for a friend
@inky 200 questions a day haha
@inkypractice, answering for a friend
Although the best I got is 167, I do a timed full PT every two days and blind review it next day. I am curious about if you do 200 questions per day, do you have enough time to contemplate? I just checked I did overall 197 questions drilled and my score improved from 161
@wan8218h300 Based on the comments here, I'm working on slowing down my review process. I usually have time for the 200 questions because I'm not working right now, but it is a full day of studying from about 8am-6pm with lunch and exercise breaks to finish everything.