For those of you with ADHD, how did you build your stamina and learn to perform consistently under timed conditions?
I’m doing pretty well when time isn’t a factor. My biggest ADHD challenge is executive function/attention regulation, and honestly just having a hard time sitting still and staying mentally engaged for that long. Under time pressure, I can get stuck rereading a stimulus or answer choices multiple times, not necessarily because I don’t understand them, but because I realize I read the words without fully processing them. Then I become aware of the clock, which makes me more anxious about time, and it turns into a cycle.
What’s frustrating is that when I’m not worried about time, I sometimes actually work faster. And during Blind Review, I’m performing close to the 170s, so I know the reasoning skills are there. Translating that into a timed section has been much harder.
For other ADHD test takers: what actually helped you close the gap between your untimed/BR performance and your timed performance? Did you gradually reduce your time? Do a lot of full timed sections? Focus more on accuracy first and let speed develop naturally? And how did you build the mental stamina to stay focused through the whole test?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who initially had a big gap between their BR score and timed score and was able to close it.
Thank you! ❤️
6 comments
I applied for 150% time accommodations for this very reason, and got them. It's helped a lot and I no longer need to re-read the question stem 3 times because I'm so stressed about the time. Something to consider, and why not try??
Omg I’m having the same issue. I have ADHD as well, I keep scoring in the high 150’s-low 160’s but my BR is in the 170s. My LSAT is this Friday, I’m looking for some advice
I don't have an answer for you but I did want to share that I am experiencing almost to the T what you said about re-reading for absolutely no freaking reason. Something else that I have caught myself doing is that when I see a really long question, I internally start telling myself WOW LOOK HOW LONG GURLLLLL YOU HAVE NO TIME TO READ ALL OF THIS NOR UNDERSTAND and then proceeds to panic and look at the clock. The only thing I can tell you as someone who has pretty severe high functioning ADHD is that my brain KNOWS I am practicing but when I am faced with the real deal, I THINK I can deliver knowing the stakes are much higher and that's when I lock in. The pressure of it all is what enhances my performance in almost every task lol what a masochist I know! I live for the chest pain but I guess it is the only way. I'd like to add that your BR score is very telling of your capabilities and you just need to siphon that on the day of the test. I believe in youuuuuuuuu!!
Hey, fellow ADHDer here and I totally relate to what you're talking about. I am happy to tell you what worked for me, but I just have to remind you what I like to remind myself - we all experience this differently, and if what worked for me or someone else doesn't work for you, that's totally okay and there is nothing wrong with you!
Aside from that, I personally chose to continue doing timed drills, but instead of doing unlimited (where I wasn't affected by pressure at all and couldn't really get my body accustomed to it), I would set a custom timer that was longer than the standard recommended time, starting with 200%, then 150%, then 125% as I got better. I found that to be the sweet spot where my brain doesn't just check out, but that also didn't muddle my scores with other factors.
Other than that, what I'm sure you've heard before but I'll repeat - whenever I catch myself re-reading more than, say, 4x, that's my sign that it's time to move on. Normally, when I come back to it, I'm in a different, clearer headspace to read the stimulus rather than waste time trying to process info that just isn't gonna clock for me. Best of luck! You got this!
Accommodations + adderall lol
Get the accomodations tbh