I am taking the LSAT on Saturday. I felt like I had a breakthrough on my LR where I started to score around -3 to -5. My most recent PT ended with me getting -4 and -5 on my LR. That was basically a week ago and was my last PT before my real test. I wanted to just do some light work this week to not lose my growth, but the last two LR sections I have done (yesterday and today) have given me scores of -8 and -9. What happened?!! I am now sad thinking that I will not perform my best on test day. I don't know what to do.
4
3 comments
You're going to do great!
The LSAT is all mental--take your fluctuations with a grain of salt! There are SO many factors that can affect your studying (sleep, question types, brain fog, external stress, etc). The best advice I've gotten on here is to study like a robot and try to take the emotions out of your day to day; looking at the overall trend of your studying (your breakthrough and increase in LR scores) is much more helpful than looking at one or two data points. If you think you won't perform your best on test day, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It's easier said than done, but trust your studying and your ability to score in the -3 to -5 range. You've done it consistently and can do it again. Good luck on Saturday!
I've struggled with anxiety for years. One little blip in my schedule throws off my whole day. <y brain tends to conjure up "anxiety monsters" that aren't even really there in the first place (ex. Recently, I've been depressed/anxious thinking that my life is over since I didn't get into any law school this year, and that I'll never amount to anything. I've spent many nights ruminating over this horrible thought. For context, I am 22. I also graduated magna cum laude recently. 1.) My life has barely started and 2.) I am far more accomplished than my anxiety wants me to believe.)
I, of course, have struggled with LSAT anxiety as well. Lots of it. I want to let you know that you are not alone, and that loads of other students on here feel the exact same way.
The best advice I can give you is to stop giving the LSAT so much power. I know it's hard, but in reality? It's just a damn exam. You've probably taken hella exams in your lifetime. Though it wouldn't be ideal, you can retake the LSAT up to 7 times anyway. There are more important things in this life than worrying over an exam. Your health is more important than this exam, for instance. You have the power over this exam, not the other way around. Even if the worst case scenario happens (which is what our anxious brains like to dwell on, I know), you'd still be completely fine! Yeah, you'd probably feel really sh*tty, and that you wasted $200+ (I'm assuming) , but guess what, you'd still be alive and well. You'd pick yourself back up and try again. You'll earn that money back. And that is what matters. It isn't, and won't ever be, game over for you. As long as you're breathing, you can crush the LSAT, even if it takes all 7 attempts.
Dwelling on this anxiety won't help, and I know it's easier said than done, but let it roll off you. Don't give these thoughts any power, just brush them off like you would brush off some dust. You have put in the hard work, and you are damn capable. Don't let anybody, even yourself, convince you otherwise. You are still human, and your scores will reflect that. Fluctuations are a part of the process, don't let it spook you. What matters is that you've done -3 to -5, and can do it again!
Sending love. We're all in this together.