Lol hey Jason, me and you are on the exact same boat. I've been studying since last year summer and I don't really want to take the Oct. one. I actually asked J.Y. about this earlier and he said the reason why people do worst on their actual LSAT is because they freak out during test day.
@wu12345991 Um, coffee or cocaine? Sorry, that's a lame joke. Please don't take cocaine unless you're a badass rockstar.
We are error prone. I think Blind Review helps to uncover errors we're prone to and by bringing those errors up to the level of conscious awareness, minimize them. Meditation helps too. But at the end of the day, I think we have to accept that we are going to make errors. I still make errors. "People" who get 180s are actually robots.
@jackmf419475 Yes, please look at Games from the late 50's and 60's. There's no point to emphasize or deemphasize any particular Game. The recent ones are all equally important.
Definitely want to hear others' thoughts so I'll keep my comment short: if you usually finish all games on time with near perfect accuracy, I would modestly suggest that you approach the "killer" game figuring out as many inferences first then hit up the questions. I know it's all different under intense pressure. For example, when I PTed 68, I didn't follow my own advice. I brute forced my way through one of the games.
I've said this to Mark a couple times already, but Jason, read this lesson/blog post on "why you must practice skipping questions on timed LSATs". I explain in there why people freak out during the real test.
I have a question about nerves. A month out, I am scoring where I want to score, but I have heard many horror stories of test takers scoring 5-10 points worse than their PT average. What are some tips in overcoming test day jitters/ being fixated on questions because "this is the one that counts". How did you and other high scorers deal with this? I have spent a year preparing for the LSAT full time and I reaaaally don't want to go to October!
I think the first step is recognizing they happen. "Knowing is half the battle" and all that. After you realize an error has been made, try and figure out why it happened. A lot of people chalk it up to a "stupid mistake" and then just ignore it. But for 95% of errors, there's an underlying reason why you made the mistake, and if you don't realize it and try to correct for it, you'll likely make it again.
The best time to do this kind of analytical work is during the BR, or the post-BR (where you check your answers and see what, if anything, went wrong). The more time you spend thinking about the error in review, the more likely you'll be to recognize the trap you're about to fall into during the test itself.
Are analog --so one that shows the minute and hour hand-- (vs. digital) and non-beeping the only requirements for the watch we can bring into the test? I'm pretty sure that's all I found on LSAC's "Day of the Test" page...
My watch shows the date, similar to this watch (although this watch is NOT the one I have): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWPR22C?psc=1
And it is quartz-run, which means it has batteries, I believe... is that okay too?
Haha sorry, I'm just really paranoid about the situation as I rely heavily on my watch.
@wu12345991, yes, save some! Like 3 from the 60's just in case.
@wu12345991 I haven't come up with any, but maybe there are. There are way too many ways to split the master game board up into sub-game boards. Consider an In/Out game with a "not both" rule b/t A and B. You could split into 3 subs, (1) A in, B out; (2) B in, A out; (3) A and B both out. Do you do it? That depends on the other rules. If you can't push more inferences then maybe it doesn't make sense. But if splitting triggers a cascade of inferences, then you definitely split.
That's why it's so important to write out the sub-game boards as much as you can during review.
I don't think you need the parenthesis. From my understanding, it is just an "and" statement in the necessary condition. I actually diagrammed the first sentence differently than you.
Students eligible--->course AND interest
contrapositive would be
/course OR /interest---> /students eligible
This is covered in http://classic.7sage.com/lesson/advanced-andor-in-sufficient-conditions/ and
I think you have a very good understanding of it. It's written, so cross outs and other editorial marks are to be expected.
I "studied" for it the day before the LSAT. Just make sure you make an argument for the position you choose (from the two given to you to choose from). Acknowledge possible counter arguments, assumptions made, etc. and stay within the bounds the question sets out. Basically use the skills you've learned to analysis LR arguments and apply them to your own arguments.
I know admissions officers say they read them, but they kind of have to say that.
@jy-ping.Y. Yeah, afterwards I do the whole print out ten and keep doing it. I used to look at the video explanations but have not been looking at the video expl. anymore for the recent PT since they've been a repeat lately. Usually, I'll just look at the intro to see if there could have been a better layout.
For the sub-game boards, I'm wary when it comes to those because of that one PT (can't remember which). It looked really easy to draw all the game boards and I thought there would be like 4 max but ended up drawing way more than that and I knew it was a trap to get people to put a lot of time into that.
I have been taking a practice test almost every other day for a month, but I don't really see a significant improvement. With less than one month left, what do you suggest is the best way I can use my time? My weak points are LG and LR. Should I slow down on the PTs and practice a bunch of LG problems? Any advice would be really helpful.
You still practice/Fool Proof Method by solving for all sub-game boards (if reasonable) and making as many inferences as possible right? Like the way I do it in the videos?
I brute force my way through all the games also. If for some reason I know that a certain game is ridiculously hard, I diagram it as best as I can and then just answer the questions by forcing each answer against the rules.
For the June LSAT, say that we come across a killer game (mauve dinos for example). We quickly realize that this is going to be a time suck and the questions are going to be hard. At this point, I would skip this game and try and solve some of the more easier games first. However, now that I am back to the killer game, how should I approach it? Should I try and cut my losses and solve for 3 questions until certainty, or should I attempt all of them as to not put my eggs in one basket. I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this!
What's the best strategy for timing/notations on the RC and LG sections? In the past I've written the start time + end time at the top of the first page (e.g. 8:30 - 9:05). But maybe its better to do that and have a set number of minutes per game/passage (and write on each game/passage, e.g. 9:05 - 9:13)? I know that I only have approx. 8 min per game/passage but it's just noting on the test/PT's that I'm struggling with. Being forced to use only an analog watch certainly doesn't help matters.
Hey Corina, there isn't a set date for that. The most extreme example being my very first student ever who score higher on their actual LSAT than on any of their practice LSATs. Crazy right?
Anyway, personally I'd feel comfortable if within 2-3 weeks of the test, the average of the 3 PTs that are recent (in the late 60s as of this posting) is the score that I want.
56 comments
I love how this eight year old chat got revived lol
Lol hey Jason, me and you are on the exact same boat. I've been studying since last year summer and I don't really want to take the Oct. one. I actually asked J.Y. about this earlier and he said the reason why people do worst on their actual LSAT is because they freak out during test day.
How far in advance should we be hitting our target score before we take the official LSAT? (e.g. weekend before, month before...?)
@wu12345991 Um, coffee or cocaine? Sorry, that's a lame joke. Please don't take cocaine unless you're a badass rockstar.
We are error prone. I think Blind Review helps to uncover errors we're prone to and by bringing those errors up to the level of conscious awareness, minimize them. Meditation helps too. But at the end of the day, I think we have to accept that we are going to make errors. I still make errors. "People" who get 180s are actually robots.
@jackmf419475 Yes, please look at Games from the late 50's and 60's. There's no point to emphasize or deemphasize any particular Game. The recent ones are all equally important.
Definitely want to hear others' thoughts so I'll keep my comment short: if you usually finish all games on time with near perfect accuracy, I would modestly suggest that you approach the "killer" game figuring out as many inferences first then hit up the questions. I know it's all different under intense pressure. For example, when I PTed 68, I didn't follow my own advice. I brute forced my way through one of the games.
Also this one: http://classic.7sage.com/five-strategies-for-combating-lsat-anxiety/
Also, this blog post: http://classic.7sage.com/how-avoid-panicking-on-lsat/
I've said this to Mark a couple times already, but Jason, read this lesson/blog post on "why you must practice skipping questions on timed LSATs". I explain in there why people freak out during the real test.
I have a question about nerves. A month out, I am scoring where I want to score, but I have heard many horror stories of test takers scoring 5-10 points worse than their PT average. What are some tips in overcoming test day jitters/ being fixated on questions because "this is the one that counts". How did you and other high scorers deal with this? I have spent a year preparing for the LSAT full time and I reaaaally don't want to go to October!
What to do until 12:00? The June LSAT's don't start in the morning like the others right?
I think the first step is recognizing they happen. "Knowing is half the battle" and all that. After you realize an error has been made, try and figure out why it happened. A lot of people chalk it up to a "stupid mistake" and then just ignore it. But for 95% of errors, there's an underlying reason why you made the mistake, and if you don't realize it and try to correct for it, you'll likely make it again.
The best time to do this kind of analytical work is during the BR, or the post-BR (where you check your answers and see what, if anything, went wrong). The more time you spend thinking about the error in review, the more likely you'll be to recognize the trap you're about to fall into during the test itself.
Another question about test logistics:
Are analog --so one that shows the minute and hour hand-- (vs. digital) and non-beeping the only requirements for the watch we can bring into the test? I'm pretty sure that's all I found on LSAC's "Day of the Test" page...
My watch shows the date, similar to this watch (although this watch is NOT the one I have): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWPR22C?psc=1
And it is quartz-run, which means it has batteries, I believe... is that okay too?
Haha sorry, I'm just really paranoid about the situation as I rely heavily on my watch.
@wu12345991 :)
@wu12345991, yes, save some! Like 3 from the 60's just in case.
@wu12345991 I haven't come up with any, but maybe there are. There are way too many ways to split the master game board up into sub-game boards. Consider an In/Out game with a "not both" rule b/t A and B. You could split into 3 subs, (1) A in, B out; (2) B in, A out; (3) A and B both out. Do you do it? That depends on the other rules. If you can't push more inferences then maybe it doesn't make sense. But if splitting triggers a cascade of inferences, then you definitely split.
That's why it's so important to write out the sub-game boards as much as you can during review.
Hey Sunyuchencn,
I don't think you need the parenthesis. From my understanding, it is just an "and" statement in the necessary condition. I actually diagrammed the first sentence differently than you.
Students eligible--->course AND interest
contrapositive would be
/course OR /interest---> /students eligible
This is covered in http://classic.7sage.com/lesson/advanced-andor-in-sufficient-conditions/ and
http://classic.7sage.com/lesson/advanced-andor-in-necessary-conditions/
I think you have a very good understanding of it. It's written, so cross outs and other editorial marks are to be expected.
I "studied" for it the day before the LSAT. Just make sure you make an argument for the position you choose (from the two given to you to choose from). Acknowledge possible counter arguments, assumptions made, etc. and stay within the bounds the question sets out. Basically use the skills you've learned to analysis LR arguments and apply them to your own arguments.
I know admissions officers say they read them, but they kind of have to say that.
@jy-ping.Y. Yeah, afterwards I do the whole print out ten and keep doing it. I used to look at the video explanations but have not been looking at the video expl. anymore for the recent PT since they've been a repeat lately. Usually, I'll just look at the intro to see if there could have been a better layout.
For the sub-game boards, I'm wary when it comes to those because of that one PT (can't remember which). It looked really easy to draw all the game boards and I thought there would be like 4 max but ended up drawing way more than that and I knew it was a trap to get people to put a lot of time into that.
I have been taking a practice test almost every other day for a month, but I don't really see a significant improvement. With less than one month left, what do you suggest is the best way I can use my time? My weak points are LG and LR. Should I slow down on the PTs and practice a bunch of LG problems? Any advice would be really helpful.
You still practice/Fool Proof Method by solving for all sub-game boards (if reasonable) and making as many inferences as possible right? Like the way I do it in the videos?
I brute force my way through all the games also. If for some reason I know that a certain game is ridiculously hard, I diagram it as best as I can and then just answer the questions by forcing each answer against the rules.
For the June LSAT, say that we come across a killer game (mauve dinos for example). We quickly realize that this is going to be a time suck and the questions are going to be hard. At this point, I would skip this game and try and solve some of the more easier games first. However, now that I am back to the killer game, how should I approach it? Should I try and cut my losses and solve for 3 questions until certainty, or should I attempt all of them as to not put my eggs in one basket. I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this!
What's the best strategy for timing/notations on the RC and LG sections? In the past I've written the start time + end time at the top of the first page (e.g. 8:30 - 9:05). But maybe its better to do that and have a set number of minutes per game/passage (and write on each game/passage, e.g. 9:05 - 9:13)? I know that I only have approx. 8 min per game/passage but it's just noting on the test/PT's that I'm struggling with. Being forced to use only an analog watch certainly doesn't help matters.
Hey Corina, there isn't a set date for that. The most extreme example being my very first student ever who score higher on their actual LSAT than on any of their practice LSATs. Crazy right?
Anyway, personally I'd feel comfortable if within 2-3 weeks of the test, the average of the 3 PTs that are recent (in the late 60s as of this posting) is the score that I want.
Hey Mark, you should get "warmed" up. Do an easy game, do a couple of easy LR questions. Old ones are okay.
> @jy-ping said:
> I love how this eight year old chat got revived lol
lol "time is flat circle"