Hi all - I took a semi diagnostic PT (141 I think) and BR'd a 164 (actual was 157). I've been finishing up the core curriculum so I wanted to get a baseline. After my (halfway decent) PT score, the next day I took an LR section (pt 126 S3) and b o m b e d it. I mean - disheartening lol. I think I got more questions wrong than right - I was able to BR it back into single digits of wrongness, but holy cow was that demoralizing. (This was yesterday). Today, I took a RC section (pt 128 S1) and actual was 159, BR'd to 170. I'm not planning on applying until next cycle, and I don't have a test date scheduled yet (thinking maybe February or June/July, August at the latest) - however, is this normal? I am reviewing what types of questions I'm getting wrong, and I'm sure it'll become easier as I actually go through the study plan/take more sections and start to understand the explanations... but I'd like to hear y'alls experiences from when you first started studying?
Thank you all!
1 comments
Hey! Just want to say, ups and downs are totally normal, especially while you’re still in the middle of the core curriculum. One section is just a tiny snapshot, so things like question types, how tough it is, your energy, and timing can all make your score swing way more than your actual skill level has changed. Also, doing that LR section right after a full practice test could definitely explain the dip.
Your blind review gains are actually a really good sign. They show you know how to get to the right answer when you’re not rushed. Keep looking over both the questions you missed and the ones you got right but weren’t sure about. See if you can figure out if you missed something because you didn’t fully get the concept, misread the stimulus, ran out of time, or just got stuck between two choices.
Don’t stress about any single section, it doesn’t mean you’re getting better or worse. Just keep working through the curriculum, keep practicing, and look at your progress over a bunch of sections or tests, not just one. You’ve got lots of time before your test, so it’s totally normal to see some ups and downs right now.