I just don't get it. I study so hard, do everything everyone says to do, and it is now my second test where I completely and utterly underperformed. I approach the LSAT PTs just as the actual exam. I don't take extra breaks, I don't do anything that I am not allowed to do when I walk into the test center on test day. But I have now underperformed from my avg PT for two times in a row - both by like the full 4 points of the score band.
It is so disheartening, because everyone else I see gets their PT average score or gets an even higher score on test day. Like am I just weak in certain question types that are more prevalent on the most recent exams? If that is so, shouldn't other people also be seeing this variance? Idk. It has been my dream for most of my life at this point to go to a top 14 school and really help people that need it through the law, and I feel like I may not even get top 50 now, it feels like my dream is just slipping further away each day.
2 comments
I understand why you’re feeling so discouraged, especially after putting in so much work and seeing your PT scores consistently higher. Don’t let these two test days make you feel like your T14 dream is slipping away. You’ve already shown through your PTs that you’re capable of scoring where you want to be.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Experiencing this twice, especially after you’ve worked so hard to recreate test conditions, would make anyone feel discouraged about their progress. Also, keep in mind that the forum can give a skewed impression, people who do better than usual are often the ones who post, so it’s not always a fair comparison.
Your theory about question types could be right, and the good news is you can check it! Try looking back at your five most recent fresh PTs and make a list of every question you missed or felt unsure about. Note both the question type and why you think you missed it. If you notice the same types coming up again and again, that’s a sign to drill those specifically. But if your mistakes are all over the place or tend to happen later in the section, it might be more about pacing or making decisions under pressure than about a particular content area.
At this point, a deeper review might help you more than just taking more PTs. Try to focus on things like spotting the conclusion, getting really comfortable with sufficient and necessary conditions, checking every answer choice, and making sure you fully understand each mistake. Remember, two tough test days don’t erase all your hard work or say anything about your future in law. You’ve got this!