I got a 155 on my diagnostic in Khan Academy and was going to start out with a PT at 7sage so I could study according to the analytics. The resources I have right now are Khan Academy and 7sage (Ultimate subscription + LSAC Prep Plus).

However I read a few past posts and everyone was saying to go through the curriculum first then start with the PTs, because the PTs are precious. I agree with them and also think it'd be a good idea to go through the comprehensive curriculum because basing off my studies on the errors I had in 1 PT sounds a bit myopic.

Would it be a good plan to go through the entire curriculum, make/do problem sets of parts I found difficult, foolproof certain parts then start with the PTs? For other tests I usually learn the most by full PTing but I understand that resources for the LSAT are limited.

Just curious how everyone else reached their dream scores using 7sage. Thank you.

I have been listening to the podcasts and some of them suggest recording the PTs and re-watching them later. How do people do this (if they do). Like logistically, how do you record yourself taking a practice PT in the most effective manner?

It's not exactly expensive ($40), but I'm just wondering if the info is even worth absorbing.

Hi all, I was wondering where and how we schedule our time for the August test? Do we just receive an email from LSAC this afternoon and we’ll be guided from there? Thanks.

Full disclosure, this isn't a post to vent. I'm genuinely looking for advice and hoping that people scoring better than I will be able to provide me with some tips, encouragement, advice, etc.

I graduated in 2020 with a bachelors and a 4.00 GPA (4.07 CAS). I then grabbed a master's degree because the job market was shit in my area and I was fortunate to go to a MUCH better known institution. I graduated in May of this year with a 3.59 GPA in the Master's program and received numerous scholarly awards. My softs are T-3 (Eagle Scout, Masters, President of school organizations, etc). I hope this isn't coming across as bragging. I just want to provide a little info about myself for assessment.

My problem, like many others, is the LSAT. I used a tutor for the beginning of my studies but we never PT'd. Expensive mistake. I registered for 7sage in December, took a diagnostic, and got a 149. For reference, the tutor was summer of last year, and the Diagnostic (2007 June) was in December. I stopped studying bc of the Master's and started again in June.

Now, after starting in June, my scores have been all over the place. I initially PT'd on Feb. 97' with a 161. Followed by a 160 on PT 36. "Amazing!" I thought. I was studying about a 2-3hrs a day. This was roughly a month ago.

Fast forward to the past two weeks. I went to a 153 (PT 60) to a 154 (PT70) to a 156 today (PT M2020). This is a drop in about 8-9 questions. I've been told that the tests have gotten harder overtime - I get it. I can't help but feel flabbergasted, frustrated, stupid, probably burned out, but most of all, disappointed. I have no one to blame but myself and I own that.

I originally was planning to take the test for August. My goal score is a 165-166. I haven't canceled but I probably will. Don't know what to do. I absolutely refuse to quit on this because being a lawyer and going to law school is what I want to do. Some might say, "okay, so just keep studying and take in October?" My problem is I'm starting a BITCH of a job in Early October that'll probably drive me into the ground (easy 80-90 hour weeks for 6 months out of the year / 50 for the rest). This is a job that I need because I'm trying to financially help my parents who are ill.

As the title says, any assessment/help/encouragement/thoughts are appreciated. I think I'll probably cancel and take a week off. I'm hoping I'm not too stupid for a 165.

Hey all. I'm writing to ask for some advice about the upcoming August test for which I'm registered. I've been studying for about 9 months and for most of that time, I saw a significant increase in my score. I was testing consistently twice per week with PT60s and PT70s and getting a few points above my target score. Now that I'm testing in the 80s, I'm scoring well below where I was in the PT70s. Logic Games have stayed consistent (-3/-4) but my LR and RC went from around (-3/-4) each to (-9/-10). How is that even possible?

I've read lots of posts about how the tests don't change much and they're scaled accordingly, but I am honestly convinced that the PT80s LR and RC sections are significantly harder than the PT60s and PT70s. The questions are more challenging, and the wrong answers seem way more tempting and way more difficult to parse out. Is anyone else finding this to be the case?

I'm seriously considering cancelling my registration, because if I'm testing this poorly 2.5 weeks out, I know it'll only be worse come actual test day. sigh

Where are PTs past May 2020? Are they not released by the LSAC? or Is there something to do with FLEX?

Hello all,

I work in the General Counsel's office of a large area hospital and I had planned to take my LSAT in one of our conference rooms or offices. The issue is, while it does not bother me, will the emergency helicopter landing right outside my window (or close enough), set-off any sort of trigger to the proctor or possibly disqualify my exam? As I said, I work through this sound every single day and it doesn't affect me, but I just realized that might pose a problem with the Proctor. Any advice or experiences with very loud external noises during the exam that are out of your control? TIA

Last week I took two practice tests and scored a 157 and a 156. A couple weeks prior to those, I scored a 161.

Fast forward to today, I just scored a 163. Are these types of fluctuations normal?? Im taking the August test and obviously would like to score in the 160's but I don't understand why my scores aren't consistent.

I love taking PT's on 7Sage. It's easy and intuitive. I especially love the multi-colored highlighting features for singling out context, premises and conclusion. What I want to know is if I will be thrown for a loop when I take the official LSAT in October? How much different, if at all, will it be? Will features like highlighting still be available?

I've been studying pretty regularly and do only a few hours a day to try and avoid burnout. But starting this past weekend, I feel... tired? Like not physically tired but just tired of the exam overall. I've been on the grind for so long that I've grown tired of studying for it as well as dealing with all the highs and lows that come with the exam.

Took a LR section today and shockingly got -9 when I usually get -3/-4. I definitely felt that my attention was scattered and my desire to study and review after was pretty low.

Is this LSAT fatigue? Anybody else feel this or know how to counter it? I thought limiting my studying and sleeping well was helping so I'm not sure what is going on..

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Hello all,

Going to spill a lot of feelings here so please refrain from any judgmental comments. I last took my LSAT in Feb and got a 145, I took about two months off after that, and started studying 3-4 nights a week, 1-2 hours at a time until mid June, it is the end of July now and I just took about 1 week off because I was honestly getting burnt tf out. I decided to study by section, so I’m just finishing up my Logical Reasoning but my most recent and best so far is -10 which is still bad. I have yet to fully study games and RC since I plan to take my exam again in October and want it to be my last. I need a 150 to get into my school so it can’t be too hard right?

Well it’s tough, I am drained by the time I come home at 5 PM, I go train in the gym for an hour or two, still have to cook, study, and I want to be in bed by 10 every night. I’m using 7Sage alone and have tried bibles, LSAT trainer and not really fond of them. I’ve been on here before seeing how I can improve my comprehension and understanding but I’m still getting -10 on LR by itself, and it is super, super discouraging. I’ve also contemplated on if this career is right for me, as I am scared to get into something that will put me into a lot of debt, possibly a lot of stress, and something that I could regret. I have a reason to get into law, as I have a personal connection with knowing how hard it can be for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and that is where I want to help, plus the idea of law just really fascinates me. So I’m curious, what do you all do when you’re in this state of mind of “Can I do this?” “Is this career going to be the one for me?” I am 22 years old and done with my undergrad already so I’m just trying to get on with the next step of my life. I know it is truly possible to get an increase in score but I’m not sure if it’s something to do with me since I have tried multiple study programs and still not making that much improvement, like I’m un-teachable or something. To end this rant, I was wondering if any of you had any true, raw advice for someone like me who is questioning everything and feeing doubtful about improving my score. I’m prepared to hear some honest truth here.

Thanks!

Hi! does anyone have any idea about how 7sage scores 3 sections and if that's reliable?

For example I took PT85 now and have -1(RC), 0 (LG), -6 (LR 1st section), -6 (LR 2nd section), missed questions is 4 sections which gets me a score of 168 (4 sections calculated), but if I get rid of one of the LR sections from being scored (switching to flex mode/only 3 sections for scoring) it shows up as 172.

Does anyone have any recommendations for scoring 3 sections while practicing with 4 sections?

Hi everyone!

So i’m sure everyone knows that the August LSAT is now 4 sections, one of which is experimental, therefore it’s not being scored. Since 7Sage doesn’t have the option to take a 4 section exam with one un-scored section, do you guys think taking a PT test will provide an accurate measure of what score we will get? Also, if we get a high score on the PT does that mean there’s a good chance we won’t score as high on the actual test? All thoughts/responses are appreciated ! :)

I'm looking at the Flaw-Descriptive Weaking questions and Necessary Assumption questions on the CC. Each of them has about 20 example questions and 20 PSETs. Is it recommended to do all of them? If not, how many are recommended?

The guys at Powerscore put on sessions predicting what's going to be on upcoming LSATs, and the session for the August 2021 sitting happened yesterday.

I missed the session and don't think I can access a recording at this point but was wondering:

Thanks!

I am getting ready for the August LSAT, which brings back the fourth experimental section. Whenever I have taken practice tests on 7Sage, I notice I usually get two LR sections. Was it just more common with past tests that there would be two LR sections?

The LSAC said in their recent communications that there could be a double of LG, RC, or LR. As I prepare for August, I want to take practice tests with TWO RC sections because that is my most dreaded section and that way I won't feel so disheartened if I end up getting two RC sections come test day. Are there any practice tests that have two RC sections? If so, please let me know!

Took a one weak break from testing and my score dropped 6 points. What happened ? How do i maintain my score until test day ?

Hi everyone

I am trying to study for the upcoming August test and have been doing problem sets throughout the week. Last week I would complete a LR problem set and average 2-3 wrong out of 25-26 questions. This past week, it's dropped to 5-7 wrong seemingly out of nowhere. Habits and eating schedule have stayed the same, and I just took a practice test and got the most amount of questions wrong since 4-5 months ago. Upon review I understand my mistake and will answer the question right, but in the moment I don't know where that line of thinking goes. Feeling super defeated. Any advice?

These types of posts were really helpful for me while studying, so I felt like I owed this post to the forum. I’ve tried to boil it down to 8 things that I wish I could tell an earlier version of myself that was studying for the LSAT.

Timelines are Man-Made

At one point, I was so convinced that I needed to be a KJD. After an unsuccessful first LSAT take, a few awesome people challenged my thinking and I’m glad they did. It afforded me more time to study for this test and get some great work experience before school. This has been said 1,000x, but don’t take the LSAT before you’re really ready. Like PTing-above-your-target-range ready - based on my experience, the test day penalty is real. Please learn from my mistakes :)

If you want to hit your full potential, take JY’s post about how studying can take over a year seriously. Unless you’re an LSAT unicorn, that’s just how it is. This isn’t another college exam where you’re being tested on knowledge, instead the LSAT tests skills. Skills take time to develop and finetune. Accept that the timeline will likely be long, exhausting, and even slightly annoying. It’ll make your life easier.

And btw, when people say things like “you’ve been studying for HOW long?” or other snide bs, just don’t listen to them. If you want to perform at your best, it may take a while. I started studying in the spring of ‘19 and received my 170 in June ‘21. I didn’t study that entire time, but collectively it took over a year.

“The difference between a 165 and 170 is strategy”

I received a 166 on the January exam. Based on my last 5 PTs, this was a fat underperformance. I knew why my score dipped: I panicked during LR and RC. The harder question to answer -- why did I panic?

Then I heard this quote about strategy. I think @Sami or @canihazJD said it (thanks!) on the podcast. Unlike LG, I didn’t have any real strategy for LR and RC. Once I started implementing skipping rules in LR and started standardizing my approach to RC, I became far less likely to panic and saw less volatility in my scores.

Strategy builds confidence and you’ll need confidence when shit hits the fan on test day.

Logic games can be slain

I was NOT good at LGs ( -10 or so a section) and it took me a long time to get to -0/-1. I would get frustrated when I’d read about how “learnable” they are -- really, just a bruised ego on my end. Here’s a quick overview of what worked for me.

I did games over and over and over again. I foolproofed games 1-35 and would foolproof games after each full PT I took. Eventually, I’d dedicate full study days just to foolproofing a gametype. Sequencing. Grouping. In/Out. Etc. By the end of these days, my brain was mush. That being said, I started to see inferences far more quickly. It also helped me anticipate splits/SGBs and the right ACs.

Also I adopted a section strategy - here’s a high level overview: during timed sections I would read the first two games before deciding which game I’d tackle first. I’d do the same for the third and fourth games. This approach helped me build confidence under timed conditions. Having a strategy can really help you feel under control and forget about nerves.

I’d also put my finger on the screen to make sure I didn’t misread a rule - weird, I know. But I found that at a certain point, if I was struggling with a game it was because I misread a rule. Back when the LSAT was made of paper, JY recommended touching every word with your pencil. This is kinda my adaptation to the times. Everyone functions differently, but I had a tendency to jump the gun while reading rules. Touching each word forced me to slow down and understand the game.

If possible, use your most productive hours on study

Try to study for the LSAT before other activities burn you out. Work and classes, for example, can eat up a lot of mental energy. Personally, this meant studying before work. I didn’t enjoy waking up at 5 but it was well worth it. ALSO - don’t compensate for a lack of sleep by drinking a ton of caffeine. Coffee is great...but in moderation.

Meditate

Do it. I would usually do a mix of guided and unguided. I used the Waking Up app for guided meditation. In general, mindfulness is the best - not only for your studies but in your personal life as well. If the LSAT is a real source of anxiety for you, I’d recommend trying out worry scripting. A Google search will point you in the right direction!

Your PT Scores Don’t Matter! Focus on Improvement

Sorry if that comes off as blunt, but it’s true. I used to care a LOT about my PT scores, but they’re just practice. If you hit 100 free throws in practice, it doesn’t really matter, does it? But if you actually work on your mechanics, that can really pay off come game 6. (sorry for the metaphor, I love Giannis)

PTs are a tool for learning, so don’t focus on scores. Leave that for the Reddit users. All that matters: you learn from your mistakes, you maintain your strengths, and you execute on the real thing.

Unplugging is essential

For a while, I tried studying 7 days a week. This was a terrible, terrible idea. It led to constant burn out and, frankly, poor mental health. You can’t replace rest. You can’t replace socialization. You should view these elements of your life as necessary conditions for getting your best score. (they’re also important in their own right, obviously)

A few things that worked for me:

Finally, be kind to yourself

Seriously. If you’re reading this post, you’re likely highly motivated - I know this because you’re reading some dude with a weird username’s LSAT ramblings. I’m willing to bet you put plenty of pressure on yourself. Remember that this is a learning process. Like I’ve said, the LSAT is a skills test. So work your ass off but remember that patience is a virtue. Trust that good things take time.

Best of luck on the test and beyond!

Dear 7Sagers,

I had the Ultimate+ membership and I applied to law school during the 2020-2021 cycle. Like many of you, I lived and breathed 7Sage, and I devoted so much of my free time to mastering the LSAT. I read the message boards, took the practice tests, and interacted with the community. I remember reading posts from people who complained that they couldn't get past the 165 or the 171 marks, and I always rolled my eyes but secretly, I was worried. These posts made me feel stupid. I felt as if I was doing something wrong because I was struggling to break the 150 mark. Also, I felt at a disadvantage being first-generation because everything was new to me. No one in my family was familiar with the law school process but thankfully, I knew some attorneys, through work, who gave me phenomenal advice.

Eventually, I realized I had to do what was best for me and not worry about other’s success, which was easier said than done. At the end of the day, as long as I knew I did everything in my power to excel, then I could not be truly upset with myself. From November 2020 until now, I’ve learned so much about the admissions process and I want to share it with others but, I know no one either law school-bound or contemplating it.

Given this, I decided to document my experiences and advice (see the link below) to those who may benefit from it. In all, it’s a decent read but it’s amazing. I’m biased towards myself so take it with a grain of salt.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Considering I no longer use or check my 7Sage account, I’ll do to the best of my abilities to respond.

Happy reading and I wish you the best of luck on this journey! Also, thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Sincerely,

LSAT Learner-1

Link to My Advice: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YlAzPCkWon7wPKgUK7Dcwcm12nWNZ6bA/view?usp=sharing

TL/DR version: should I keep going with the study material I presently have and start the 7Sage course at a later time or do I switch over completely and just follow the 7Sage course plans. Also, recommendation as to when to take the first PT? Lastly, given the vast quantity of materials of the 7Sage course, suggestions on efficient note taking?

I believe I fall into the category of a "non-traditional" student, as I am middle-aged and possess graduate degrees (in the sciences). I work full-time but have rather flexible hours and have planned 9-12 months (and perhaps more) for when to take the test for the first time. Currently planning on doing 15-20 hours of studying/week, which would be ~750-1,000 hours.

I actually contemplated taking the LSAT about a decade ago. As a nearly-broke grad student who had a good grasp of propositional logic (did very well on the final exam of that class), I thought I could probably rely only on the books from PowerScore and get it done on my own; how wrong I was! A lack of studying time pretty much exposed that foray as the pipe dream it was. A decade plus of lived experience later, I'm a bit more reserved about my abilities but can actually afford to shell out for a class without batting an eye.

Alas, here I am, wondering if I should continue to self-study (without a concrete schedule) from PowerScore and switch over to the full-hog 7Sage program after I've reviewed all the PowerScore books, or if I should just switch to 7Sage tout de suite. In favor of the former approach is that this has been mentioned elsewhere (using PowerScore to gain initial familiarity and 7Sage to hone in on the details). In favor of the latter is that it would free me up from planning my own syllabus. I guess one thing I want to know if what are some strengths of the PowerScore material not found in the 7Sage material?

Lastly, three things. One as mentioned above is on when I should take my first PT. Back in my last foray a decade ago, I could actually get through two LGs (and the entire section would take me ~55-60 minutes to complete). At the present, some LGs might take me 25 minutes to complete, and I thought it was a waste to go through a PT and it would be better to wait until I'm more familiar with the content. But perhaps I really ought to attempt one first in the next few weeks?

Next, with the vast quantity of instruction material, what is the recommendation on how much notes to take? For instance, some of the topics in the free preview section seem pretty self-explanatory, and I'm inclined not to take special amount of notes. Am I short changing myself here?

Finally, speed on the LGs. After how many hours of studying and reviewing could I reasonably expect to do a particular game in ~11 minutes? Am I looking at 100 hours or perhaps something more?

Hello Everyone! I am aiming to take the LSAT in June of 2022 and I am struggling to figure out a study schedule. My goal right now is to take it easy but I am anxious about whether I should go straight through the CC as it is presented in the syllabus or mix and match (such as one day do some LR then jump to LG then back to LR). I would love to hear how people approached the CC and if they did decided to jump around how they decided what lessons to pick and do without getting confused. Thanks!

Well it’s taken about 3 weeks for me to finally sit down and type this post. Now that the time has come I’d like to share my experience with the test and what I’ve learned along the way with the hope that it will help others.

My first thought: It’s weird being done the LSAT. I’m sure an abrupt stop to just about anything would garner this sort of feeling, but yeah, it’s a strange feeling.

I started studying for the LSAT around August/September of 2019 and I really did not anticipate it taking me this long to achieve a score I’d be content with. I remember seeing the lesson in the CC where J.Y says you should give yourself at least one year to maximize your LSAT score. This really blew my mind as at the time all I was acquainted with was the typical “3 month fallacy”. In any case, when I made the decision to fully immerse myself in this test, I made it knowing full well that I could invest all this time and still not end up with the score I sought. In other words, sunk costs would be sunk. I bring this up solely because it’s easy to get caught up with all the success stories we see of people studying for long periods of time and getting their dream score. What you don’t see is those who invest their time and then fall short. This is in no way meant to be discouraging but rather to shine a light on a perhaps overlooked reality. Personally, I was okay with that possibility as I knew I’d regret it even more if I didn’t try.

Side note: even if you don’t ultimately land on the exact score you want, odds are you’ll still make solid improvements if you’re putting in the effort and studying correctly.

As many people have said before me, this test is definitely learnable and you can make significant improvements. So try to find solace in that whenever you’re feeling discouraged, frustrated, or straight up fed up with the test. Something I kept telling myself along the way is that if I can’t endure the process of studying for the LSAT, riding the highs and lows, well then maybe i’m picking the wrong profession. I’m sure there will be mixed opinions about that, and yes, it’s not literal but i’m assuming it holds true to some extent (or so i tell myself). Regardless, I treated the LSAT as something that I had to systematically chip away at, much like learning a new language or instrument. Treating the test like a job and trying to approach my process as an objective observer was a skill I had to acquire.

Approach to studying

I think one of the most beneficial things i did for myself early on was go through the CC slowly and thoroughly. It took me 4-5 months, but I came out with very strong fundamentals, and fundamentals are everything; you can’t build a sturdy house without a good foundation. Once I finished the CC I started working on untimed sections. If you can’t score what you want untimed, I would wager its close to impossible to score it timed. Once I was scoring where I wanted untimed, I began to introduce time and incrementally reduce it.

LG: I foolproofed games non-stop and still could not get to -0 to -1 consistently until I changed my strategy- you don’t know what you don’t know (this is where a fresh set of eyes can be very valuable). LG is in my opinion the most learnable section of the test and is a section that everyone should try to capitalize on.

LR: I think for most people, this section requires rethinking the framework of an argument. most of us are so used to our bad, everyday colloquial arguments that we don’t know how to truly criticize or pick apart an argument. Don’t worry, this test will teach you. Put on your skeptic lens and begin questioning the arguments being thrown at you, 90% if not more of the arguments on the LSAT are BAD ARGUMENTS, they’re just dressed up. Meaning the premises do not support the conclusion, often times its not even close but it just appears that way because the questions are playing on your preconceived notions and/or biases.

RC: This sections was the hardest to improve. once again i’m going to echo what many have said before me: focus on the structure. you don’t have time to look for every detail or reference the passage for every question. The key to avoiding this is looking at the big picture. try your best to construct a cohesive narrative or framework from which to view the passage while you read: what does the author think, what is the point he/she is trying to convey, their attitude/tone? how does he/she go about constructing their argument? how many perspectives are there? you’d be surprised how far a general outline/structure of a passage can guide you.

Study groups/partners

Study groups and partners can be a complete game changer. Others will find holes in your reasoning and help you pinpoint your weaknesses. Don’t be scared to verbalize your reasoning. Everyone is learning and working towards their goal, if someone belittles you or makes you feel dumb... well I feel sorry for them. Leave and keep going until you find the right group/study partner. Personally I found big groups to be less productive. I think 1-3 people is the sweet spot for maximum productivity.

Focus on the process not the results

Instead of focusing on your PT scores (which can become irrelevant to a certain extent come test day) focus on your test taking/studying process. Don’t look for instant gratification by skipping your BR, I cannot stress how important BR is. Make notes of the questions you miss, be relentless. Find your strategy and ingrain it in your mind. Your process and strategy are some of the few things you can control on the LSAT, so take advantage of that and make them a priority.

Find a reprieve from studying

For me this was spending time with my girlfriend, playing music or watching a movie/show. Again, I can’t stress how important this part is. This test will chew you up and spit you back out, so do not let it consume you, ITS A TEST FOR CHRIST SAKE (sorry to any religious people reading). Take AT LEAST one day off per week where you don’t even think about the LSAT. Often times overcoming a plateau can be the result of Rest and Rehab. Again, you don’t know what you don’t know - this sometimes includes being burnt out.

Don’t listen to anyones negative bull**, it’s your life.**

Throughout my studies I had various people, friends and family members, hit me with the “YOU’RE STILL STUDYING??” or the “JUST TAKE IT AND APPLY ALREADY” - Tune it out. This is your journey and everyone’s will be different. don’t worry about the road you take, just focus on your destination. it may take some people 1 month, some 3, some 8, some 15, some 30. fight the urge to compare yourself to others- it will only hurt you in the end.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who helped me along the way, and to J.Y for hating the lawyer life and creating the amazing resource and community that is 7sage.

Now go get yours. Happy studying everyone and good luck!

P.S. if anyone has any questions or wants more specific information, don’t be afraid to ask.