Hi all! Seeing that the LSAT will be using the flex system for the future with 3 sections instead of the normal 4 and one unscored, should we be changing how we study? What I mean is should I be going through the 7sage curriculum as normal? Or should I be skipping sections that will not be on the LSAT flex in order to save time. Thanks!

hey folks, does anyone "warm-up" before taking PTs and/or the real test? If so, how? This is an important question for me because one of my biggest challenges is staying focused and feeling clear.

I've found that sometimes doing a small set of questions from each section type can help my brain get in the groove, but sometimes it messes me up. Would love to hear how people get in the right mindspace before taking a test.

New to 7Sage, so apologies in advance if this has already been discussed!

I see that on the top column of every problem set and prep test, there's a new feature called "theme." It has 7 Sage, 7 Sage Dark, Standard, Standard Dark. I was wondering whether the standard themes are the ones that we see on a real test?

Has anyone gotten "Get Acquainted with Writing" to work? I am nervous to try to open the actual writing test, since I am unable to get anything but an error message when I try to open the practice section.

Does anyone have any perspective on which recent (i.e. 70s-80s) were comparatively easier? This is of course super subjective, but I'm interested in people's thoughts regardless. I want to take one more PT to BR before the August administration, but I don't want to tank my confidence. Alternatively, are there any particularly gnarly recent tests to avoid so close to test day for mindset purposes?

So, I just did the LSAT writing. I used up all of the time just for review of what I wrote. I did not click submit or anything. However, it took me to another page that lets me see what I wrote with some extra information at the top that says I've submitted. But, no confirmation email yet. Am I slowly floating up poop creek or am I safe? I would like to think that the program is not that inept, but I would not be surprised because it is LSAC that we are all dealing with. Lots of horror stories.

As I begin law school at Cornell next week, I have felt increasingly compelled to reflect on my LSAT journey. I spent 2 years tirelessly grinding, putting my entire being into the test. To say that there were highs and lows would not do the feelings of each justice -- the lows made the world feel like it had ended and the high (getting my goal score) is a moment that I will never forget. Anyways, my experience was likely somewhat unique and I would like to share what I learned in hopes of streamlining your success.

1. Find an LSAT Buddy

Your family and friends will never understand this test. You need someone to be able to vent to and commiserate with. You need someone who you can text when you get wrecked by a timed section and you feel like the world is ending and you should re consider your entire future. You need someone to call you out when you are being lazy about your reasoning for eliminating or picking an answer choice. Blind reviewing with someone forces you to articulate your beliefs which makes them vulnerable and you will be more likely to challenge or change them. A study buddy will help you see questions and ideas in ways which were not possible by your life experiences and biases. Find someone you click with and you will lift each other to new heights. I ended up spending 100s of hours talking to and ultimately became close friends with my 7sage study buddy!

2. Growth= Stress + Rest

We get better by pushing really hard, letting ourselves recover from that stress, and ultimately growing from it. The secret is that the growth requires a resting period. If you only push, you simply just burn out, and risk losing your gains because your neurosis will create a loss of confidence and all kinds of negative feedback loops. So.... the key is to push really hard, take some time off, and then jump back in. If you plan the time off, you have control. Otherwise, burn out will force you to take time off and that is not fun. Go hard for a few days (or study sessions), forget the LSAT exists for a day or 2, and then jump right back in. This will keep you fresh and motivated. The rest period gives you a chance to cease the stories and biases you tell yourself. Burn out is simply when those stories and ideas seem so real that they weigh us down to the point where we cannot think rationally.

3. A Journal will keep you Sane

The biggest determiner of your growth will be what changes you make from day to day. A journal helps you to reflect on your current state and brainstorm ways to evolve. Don't try to hold it all in your head; when you write it down, it becomes real!

After you finish any section (timed or untimed) immediately record what went well, what did not go well, how you felt, and how you can improve next time out. Before taking the next section, look back on your prescriptions and go into the new section with the intention to implement what you learned. You will begin to notice recurring themes and you will be able to see and remedy them. Don't rush through your reflection-- LSAT success is a function of who can evolve best!

4. Meditation

Meditation shows you what your mind is like without thoughts or typical programs of consciousness running. Knowing what this is like allows you to recognize when thoughts and moods arise. This is relevant to the LSAT because sensing stress or fear at its onset is super important. If you catch it early, you can nip it in the bud before it snowballs. We are all prone to not understanding say #8 on an LR section, thinking we are out of our league or not good enough, reading #9 in that stressed out state, and getting even more stressed. This generally builds on itself until it comes to a head and you are left doubting everything and not able to think rationally at all. So meditation will help you to better understand and deal with life and stress as it happens to you. This will allow you to build a better inner dialogue. and perform better under timed conditions.

I am big fan of Sam Harris' Waking Up app. It is philosophical yet practical and accessible, and it avoids the corny feeling of Headspace or Calm.

5. Do not Underestimate Novelty

Ever heard the expression "Just Sleep on it" ? This is so oft used because it works! Our thought processes and conscious experience are determined by our inputs. If you keep your inputs the same and are stuck in routine, your results will not change. I cannot tell you how many times I was completely stuck and feeling hopeless on an LR question, did something else (like run, go on a drive, listen to music etc. ), and returned to see the question with perfect clarity. Under timed conditions this is why we skip. It gives us a chance to let our neurons slightly re arrange themselves and approach the question with new eyes. Novelty destroys the stories we tell ourselves which hold us back. Change your routines often, step out of your comfort zone, and try new stuff! If nothing changes, nothing will change.

6. LG is a Muscle

Unlike the other sections, the more LG you do the better you become at it. Practice trains you to make inferences sub consciously and quickly. I found that even taking a few days off would make me slower and clunkier. Get your reps in and stay fresh!

7. Untrained Intuition is Very Dangerous

Some of the worst atrocities ever committed were done so because people truly believed things for very bad reasons. Trusting your intuition is essential on this test, but you first must make sure it is warranted. The work you do in BR and untimed sessions are what trains your intuition. You are training your machinery under the hood to be able to fire efficiently and effectively when called upon. Challenge yourself to always write out why you think what you think. Lots of times ideas "feel" right in our head until we are really forced to write or articulate them. Your BR score is a decent indication of how much you can trust your intuition. When you are satisfied with it, see how you do with timed work. Find where your intuition fails you and fix it during BR--- rinse and repeat until you improve! Here is an example of my written explanations: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NEb2hPezf10STZByj0fHHeWwuCGNFEQ5/view

8. Being Well- Read Matters..... A Lot

Having a basic understanding of terms in Science, Philosophy, and Art is massive. Being able to visualize and understand such topics means you can spend more time analyzing arguments and structure and less time confusedly parsing grammar. The people who do well on this test without much prep are the ones who are already familiar and versed with such topics. For example, JY triple majored in Economics, Political Science, and Philosophy-- He was pretty much bred for this test! The good news is that you have plenty of time and resources to catch up. I saw big returns on my efficiency and performance from doing more outside leg work. Below is a list of my favorite resources:

https://aldaily.com/ -- Articles on Art, Philosophy, and Literature which are written in a very similar way to RC passages. Reading a few of these a day will make you an RC god.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Kurzgesagt --- A Youtube channel which does visual explanations regarding questions on philosophy and science. They do a great job of simplifying complex ideas and making them digestable.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKNX4SfKpzX_bhh4LOEWEGy3pkLmFDmk-- Youtube playlist on improving critical thinking. They do a nice job of explaining logic and the science of argumentation in a non LSAT related light.

Philosophize This Podcast-- Accessible way to learn about famous philosophers and ideas. Nearly every episode covers a topic that has been brought up on the LSAT.

Informal Logic Textbook -- https://www.amazon.com/Informal-Logic-Possible-Worlds-Imagination/dp/0070468613

This book gave me my greatest LR gains. It discusses the science behind why we reason, discusses the underpinnings behind informal logic, and provides many many examples. This is far beyond the concepts tested by the LSAT, but it will challenge you and sharpen your conscious thought and logical reasoning. An old LSAT test writer said on the LSAT Unplugged Podcast that he used this book as inspiration to write LR questions.

9. Speed Reading is a Myth... but Mastery of Grammar is NOT

Trying to read faster will make you worse. Be wary of anyone purveying this advice. The key is to understand what you read more effectively and efficiently. Especially in RC, what you are reading is something that author spent a lot of time working on and perfecting. It is like a prized musical piece to them. Being a master of Grammar helps you read the notes just as they were intended to be hit and get into the rhythm of the writing, as if you had direct access to the author's thoughts. I became a much smoother and confident reader after learning the "why" behind grammatical markings and use.

To do so, it is important to truly understand the function and usage of commas, colons, dashes, semi-colons, and other markings of writing. Some resources to get you started:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/index.html

https://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Leaves-Tolerance-Punctuation/dp/1592402038

https://www.grammar-monster.com/punctuation/using_commas.htm

https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk/dp/020530902X

Note: I also found it useful to check out some basic concepts from linguistics. Check out some tree diagramming videos on Youtube and learn to see the elements of a sentence. This will help you to break down abstract, difficult language when the LSAT throws it at you.

10. You know the importance of sleep + nutrition + exercise... Stop ignoring it.

These things are all inter connected. If one is lacking, the others will begin to lack and eventually you will lose your ability to think clearly. You cannot expect to score at an elite level on the LSAT and not take care of other facets of your life at an elite level.

This should convince you:

11. Tune out Dogma

You will find all kinds of people with "secrets" to the LSAT and supposed necessary conditions to success-- Be skeptical! Think about success in undergrad: Everyone had their own approach; some were much more effective than others, but the only right way was the one which worked for you. So stop listening to Webinars, Podcasts, Reddit, and other resources looking for the magic solution. Just keep grinding, trying things, and seeing what works for you. I do understand the irony of me giving advice yet also telling you not to take advice from those who offer it (Lol!)

My favorite dogmatic myths:

-Later PTs are harder

-You should take a PT a week

-You aren't ready until you have PT'd your goal score 19 times and waited 6 years

-RC is not easy to improve on

If you believe these things ... they will be true!

Happy LSAT'ing and enjoy + embrace all parts of the journey :)

If the November test is Flex, can people who are not in the US or Canada take it?

Hi! Does anyone know if we’re able to pick a specific date for the LSAT flex? I’m signed up for the October one and the email made it seem like we can pick a start time, but no mention of a date. I’m asking because I’m traveling on the 5th and have to take it either on the 3rd or the 4th. Please help!

Hi everyone! I am taking my test on the 29th, and unfortunately did not plan out my CC well enough to spend much time PTing. I have taken PT 37 (June 2002) and scored a 142, PT 38 (Oct 2002) and scored a 146, and PT 39 (Dec 2002) and scored a 157. I plan to take at least 2 or 3 more tests before the 29th to ensure having enough time to BR and relax before test day. Is there any specific PT order that I should follow for my upcoming PTs? Should I take newer PTs, rather than going in order? Are the older PTs that I have already taken "easier", and that is why I am increasing my score so much, or can I expect these scores to be a good baseline for my August test? Any thoughts, suggestions, tips, etc. are welcome! Thanks in advance :)

I took what I thought would be my last PT before the august exam today, but bombed it. I usually go -2/-3 MAX on LG and kinda rely on my LG section to get score I want because it makes up for bad RC score, but I went -8 on such stupid mistakes today and whole score dropped like -6 of what I usually average. Definitely a confidence killer and I am not sure what to do. Should I take another PT Tuesday to boost confidence (hopefully) or do I just drill the rest of the week and go into test day with this being my last PT?

I'm confused! Pls help (:

While creating a problem set, is there a way to filter for specific questions I have already missed in PTs and create a problem set exclusively out of those?

I have a laptop, but I want to use a wireless mouse, rather than the touchpad. I looked up the LSAT requirements and there was no mention of this, so has anyone that has taken the Flex used a wireless mouse?

I am registered for the August 29 LSAT-Flex as a first-time test taker. I just got an email from LSAC saying I need to complete my LSAT Writing as soon as possible online, and my score won't be released unless I complete the writing on time. I looked through the LSAC site and am still a bit confused. What is the deadline for online LSAC Writing? Do I have to complete it before my multiple choice test? And are there sample LSAT questions, guidelines, sample essays, etc. at 7sage? I just have no idea what LSAT Writing is and what I am supposed to do... #help

Probably something odd to be concerned about...but can we go to the bathroom during LSAT flex? I have a GI condition and I need to go when I need to go. So since we don’t get any breaks, Does anyone know how that is going to work?

Hi everyone,

I'm taking the August Flex and don't exactly have a private/quiet place to study in my house due to COVID. (I'd have to ask my roommates to leave for a few hours and we're on a busy street with frequent sirens and dirt bikes.) Has anyone taken the Flex exam from a hotel or Airbnb? If so, was it worth it? It seems like a great option for privacy, but I'm a bit worried about WiFi services being out of my control in case I encounter any technological issues during the test. I'd love any insight/affirmation anyone may offer!

Thanks in advance,

S

Hello!!! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone on 7sage! I got a 168 on my LSAT back in May and I just got accepted into Sandra Day O'Conner School of Law in their Honors program! Thank you so much everyone for your help, keep the grind going. Eventually you'll reach your goal with enough time!

I'm registered to take the October Flex and will probably also sign up for the November test as well. I really want to get in to Boston College, whose 75th percentile for GPA is 3.73 and 25th percentile LSAT is 161. My undergraduate GPA is 3.82 but I am worried about my LSAT score. I have gone through most of the Powerscore Bibles and have only taken 4 PTs but they have all scored in the 150s. Do I have enough time to get my score up to the 160s by October/November? I'm thinking I should review the PS bibles and take a lot more PTs and maybe I could improve? Or should I wait until next year to make sure I get a good score so I have a better chance of getting in? I really don't want to wait 2 years to start law school, but BC is the only school in Massachusetts with the JD/MSW program I want to do so I really need to get in. In the PTs I did do I lost the most points on Reading Comp and Logical Reasoning. Any advice would be very appreciated

Hey guys, i'm sure this is something simple that i'm just missing, but i can't seem to find where to submit my request to change my lsat date from august to october. the deadline is tonight so i know i still have time, albeit not much. if anyone can point me in the right direction, i would really appreciate it!!

Sincerely,

a scrambled 7sager

I've created lots of notes using the note column on every question during BR. But I cannot seem to copy and paste those notes to a word document, or share it with anyone. Was wondering how I could save them to my computer.

When I took the LSAT writing section, I was happy with my response of about 275 words. However, I have since seen several posts on the internet stating the writing section would be 600-800 words, while only one post said it was okay to have 380 words. Is my 270 word count okay, or should I redo the writing section when I retake the test later this month? Thanks.

Hey everyone, has there been any word as to whether the November 14th LSAT will be "Flex" or the traditional format of in-person proctoring? The registration deadline for the October 3rd LSAT-Flex is tomorrow so I was trying to weigh out my options and decide whether to sign-up or not.

Thanks in advance to those that respond.

Announcement from LSAC:

More information about the score preview option can be found here.

More information about LSAT-Flex

Has anyone tried to change the test date for the August FLEX? I don't have the option on my LSA account.