Hi- I'm curious how everyone organizes their LSAT material. Binder etc? I end up with papers everywhere. I have a stack of random passages that I did and corrected etc then some practice tests but I end up doing so many questions it's a challenge to keep everything organized.

Hi all!

I just found this forum thanks to TLS forums. After much consideration and my 2016-2017 application cycle not turning out how I wanted, I have officially decided on a third retake. Previous scores: 150 (very little self-study) and 155 (Testmasters online course -didn't have time to finish and a tragic family death a week before my test date). My goal is to get into the 170's with the realistic reservation that high 160's would be great as well. With the extenuating circumstances around my previous test date and the way my cycle went, I felt I would be selling myself short without another retake.

In terms of my current study plan, I have been going back and forth on signing up for another course. While I did improve 5 points with Testmasters, I am not signing up for them again. I have been looking into 7sage (obviously) and into Blueprint. I also just purchased the LSAT Trainer and the 10 Actual Practice Tests 62-71 I already have. (I may still have the power score bibles as well, have to check...)

Overall, I am looking for guidance on if ANOTHER course is something everyone thinks is worth it? I just quit my job, so I can devote myself to full-time study, I am looking at a Sept/Oct test date and to re-apply this fall. Presently, my plan is to work through the LSAT Trainer and supplement with the free videos on 7sage... any guidance is appreciated.

Thoughts, ideas, am I missing something?

Hi everyone,

I am feeling deflated after getting a score MUCH lower than my PTs. Throughout May, I was getting in the 170s with a high of 176 (about 8 tests in a row total) but then yesterday I got my score back and it was 166, which is the lowest score I've gotten since December :(

I did have some extenuating circumstances which may have affected things (or it may be me making excuses, I just don't know): the last week of May I came down with the flu and was out for the count for a week. When I came back (and still wasn't feeling great) I was PTing in the high 160s (168/169). I tried to chalk it up to being sick. But to make things worse, 9 days before my LSAT i ended up in the ER with a really horrible eye infection and spent a good two days in bed with my eyes closed. I took another PT once i regained my sight and I got a 168.

That being said, I took some time off work and took two practice tests right before the exam and both were 172 so I was feeling confident going in.

Suffice it to say that I feel pretty deflated right now. I know my health was an issue in the month leading up to the test but because I did do well on the two tests right before and because I felt fairly good physically the day of, I thought I would be okay. I signed up for September, but my confidence has really taken a hit. I was wondering if anybody else has had this happen and if you have any words of wisdom for moving forward.

My first take was June 2016. I got a 170, although I ended up guessing on 7 questions (timing) and got 4 of those correct. I had never scored above a 168 on my PTs (mostly in PTs 40-50). I thought I could improve on the 170, and decided to buckle down and study hard and then retake in June 2017. I didn't end up really studying hard until March/April, but felt I made some strong improvements, though I was still reliably testing in the high 160s, albeit on the most recent preptests, which seem a good deal more difficult than PTs 40-50.

I was tired of putting the test off, even though my PT scores had plateaued around 169, and decided to take the test anyway. I ended up getting a 169. This is especially frustrating because I let the pressure of timing get to me on LG and gave up 2 easy points. Also frustrating because my goals are to get into HYS or a Ruby, and with a 3.83 GPA I feel I need a score in the mid 170s. Further score improvement still seems achievable, but I'm wondering how I can improve from the high 160's to my target range, especially given I spent a year self-studying (not as devoted as I should've been), feel like I wasted a lot of PT's, and seem to really lose my shit when the clock is on.

Have any of you found yourselves in a similar situation? Any advice?

So I re-wrote the LSAT and my second time I got 162 in June... and my first test I got 157 in Sept 2016. My top preptest through my prep was 163, so I'm quite sure that I did a good job considering my prep average. However, that only puts me at the bottom of the waitlist in terms of stats/etc. for my goal school. There is a small chance I could get in, but likely not, and that worries me. If I got a 165 or a 166 I believe I would be in a way better position.

So I'm considering re-writing again, but I'm not sure what I should do differently this time to improve. I've been using some 7sage and Powerscore bibles and doing things completely on my own for about a year. After the first time I wrote, I realized places I could improve and focused on them for the re-write but I'm not sure what to do to get better at this point. Should I get a tutor? Should I try a different program? Should I keep working through it and realizing my mistakes even further?

To be honest though.... I'm not sure I can mentally/emotionally take another re-write right now, but I also feel like I don't have momentum to re-start later on (in life/in a year). I took a lot of time off of everything else to focus on studying this time around, and I honestly felt kind of depressed about my prep for a lot of it. I had ups and downs, but I'm not sure if at this point I should just let it be and maybe go to a lower quality school with the score I have. I just felt like I couldn't get the motivation up to actually battle the prep and do things almost everyday... like I often just felt like 'what is the point.. i'm never going to get the score I need' (even though I know that the lack of studying manifested that probably... ugh)

I'm not sure if anyone else faces this type of dilemma.... the only people in my life who can give me advice have no idea how brutal the LSAT really is and the competitive nature of law school apps... they just tell me 'you're really smart! I'm sure you'll get in! Great job!' and while that's really nice it hasn't helped... it quite honestly has made me feel more defeated that I can't get the score they're sure I'm capable of...

Any advice?

Hello, all.

I have recently started my LSAT endeavor. I scored a 145 on my diagnostic back in mid-June and am decided on hitting the high 160's or 170's for the upcoming September exam. Until discovering 7Sage, I have been studying the Powerscore LG bible (just about finished with it) and while I have grasped a better understanding of some types of games, I find it a bit lacking and want to implement 7Sage.

This said, my questions are as follows:

Which 7Sage course would be the best? I am torn between the Starter and the Ult.+. The Starter is less expensive and only about 3 months (which is just about when the test is), yet, the Ult.+ provides a wider breadth of question types and difficulties from which to choose from -- needless to mention the complete set of LSAT exams. Essentially, is the Ult.+ worth the extra cost considering the limited amount of time I will have to go through it all?

Should I finish the Powerscore bibles (or at the very least, the LG bible which I'm just about finished with?) before moving onto 7Sage? Or, should I just dive right into 7Sage and put the bibles to the side?

Thank you all in advance!

How?

I have been going non-stop since May. I keep reading different suggestions about taking breaks and it helping your score but I just can not let myself do it. I don't want to look back come September and think I didn't do enough. I also really want to prove to myself that I am capable of achieving my goal. So any time I try to give myself a break I simply cannot let myself do it.

Does taking a break really help that much?

Should I apply as early as possible for early consideration to my top school (or all my target schools) before I have the LSAT score I want? Should I retake sooner (Sept) rather than later (Dec)? Can I mention in my application/addendum that I am retaking the LSAT? Will I be able to submit an updated score once I retake?

Or should I wait to retake and then apply?

I took the June LSAT and while I underperformed compared to my PTs I know for sure that I hit the numbers for some law schools I'll be applying to! So yeah I am one step closer to going to law school. :) I was scoring 160 consistently for 5 PTs between April and May (PT68-73) , but the week before the test I wrote three consecutive 157s on more recent PTs (still had a lot of 'aha moments), and scored 154 officially in June. My first LSAT, June '14 was a 150.

That said, my intent is to apply as early as possible this cycle. My target school is UC Hastings, which I don't quite have the numbers for yet (3.2/154). Perhaps my diversity statement, work experience and volunteer experience at Hastings will bridge the gap. However, I don't want to barely get in on hardship sympathy, I want to earn my place and so I plan to retake and improve my LSAT score significantly. Other schools I'm targeting, USF, Santa Clara and Golden Gate U., I have the necessary numbers, but not sufficient numbers for significant scholarship money. I'm confident, based on my study habits that I can score higher by September, but I would prefer to take December in order to improve by 10+ points.

So I took the June LSAT and just received my score (164). I've been studying since December, and took the live online class through powerscore and finished the core curriculum here. In the month before the test, I hit up to 168 on practice tests, and had several other scores above 166. Two weeks before the test, I saw a dip in my scores and ended up averaging around a 164. So in terms of my performance directly preceding the test, my actual LSAT matched well my practice tests, but perhaps not my potential.

I have a gpa that is above the 75th percentile for every school, but I am aiming for the mid t-14(15), specifically UVA, UPenn, Michigan, etc. Because 164, while in the range for all of these schools, is low, I'm having a hard time determining whether I should retake the LSAT or not. With a gpa above the 75th for all of these schools and an LSAT within, albeit barely, their range, am I better off focusing on my personal statements, letters of rec, and getting my applications in early, or should I hit the ground running again and try to get to the high 160's?

As a side note, I want to mention that Logic Games have been my weakness, but I lucked out with this test's LG being so easy (I got a 20/23, well above my average in this section), which is worth considering in that the next test is unlikely to be as forgiving in LG.

Thanks for the advice!!

.

Hi guys,

Has anyone used Manhattan Prep vs. Testmasters for private tutoring?

Trying to see which is better. I'm not referring to the group courses, just the tutors.

Any prep courses that you guys would recommend? I live in Orange County CA if that matters.

June 2017 test I got -5 on each of the (2) LR and (2) RC sections, -12 on the 1 LG section. So shitty that I bombed such an easy LG, I was just checked out and exhausted by the time I got to that section and the simple games oddly threw me off since I only repeatedly practiced the really difficult ones.

I obviously just haven't studied well enough but waiting outside in line for like 2 hours outside in the heat and then waiting more inside for everyone to get seated and the test not being over until late evening really messed with my head.

I'm thinking maybe an in person prep course and taking prep tests in a classroom setting will be more similar to actual LSAT conditions and will help with my stamina. And maybe will help improve my logic games since it's just not clicking for me after self studying with 7sage.

Do whatever it is you need to do to get back on your feet. You have a little over two months until the September test. You haven't failed completely if you can just get back on your feet quickly and try again. You know where you messed up along the way..don't spend time thinking about what went wrong outside of the question types you messed up or your strategy. It's not going to be easy, but nothing worth having is! Get on your grind.

What exactly does it mean for the ultimate plus edition to have the hardest questions, while the basic has the easiest questions?

Will I not be prepared if I choose the basic edition instead of the ultimate plus due to the lack of the "hardest" questions.

Hey All,

72 days left for all of my fellow September LSAT takers! Definitely beginning to feel that tinge of pressure. The end is in sight :)

I'm seeking advice from any sages/top scorers who routinely score in the 170s. A few top scorers that I've had the pleasure of speaking to had an average PT score of 173, 174, 175, etc. I'm wondering how you all were able to overcome the "almost there but not quite in the 98/99th percentile" plateau. My last 5 scores were 168, 174 (yay), 169, 168, and 169, respectively, so I'm averaging at 169.6. I'm prepping the same way I have been for my entire LSAT career, but I feel as though I cannot get over this 169 phase. Any tips from those who have been here?

RC is definitely still the primary cause of this plateau. Averaging -7 for RC, -1 for LG, and -2 for LG.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! Happy Grey Day! Just received my score and didn't do so hot, not horrible but I want to improve by 10 points at least. I'm going to upgrade my account and purchase a course, but I was looking for help on which one to choose. I'm kind of broke at the moment and can afford the Ultimate package, or the premium package. I see little differences between the two, should I get the Ultimate at the $549 price point or would it be wiser to save some money for not much of a difference in resources with the premium package? Looking for some opinions from my fellow sagers.

Thanks everyone!

Jon

What do you guys feel are the implications of the self-perceived confidence of a test taker when they take a test? Have you ever been really confident in your performance on a PT only to find that you've bombed multiple sections? Have you ever felt bad about a PT and discovered afterwards that you over-performed?

Personally I've experienced a bit of both extremes throughout my preparation, but I find I've done my best work when I'm slightly pessimistic about my performance. I think this happens because my logical faculties are in overdrive on a PT when I'm not exactly certain on any given number of questions (i.e. when I've narrowed my options to two answer choices on an LR/RC question), and so I'm forced to give the proper justification before selecting my answer. This attitude seems to indicate more correct answers than when I'm overconfident and feel I've nailed a test.

I ask because I tend to think mindset, whether it's overconfidence or self-loathing, can be a major problem for some test takers, especially as they approach the end of their respective journeys. I also think the whole 'mindset' discussion is underrepresented when it comes to talk of LSAT preparation.

So, what do you all think? What are your experiences with your levels of confidence?

Hi everyone! So I am studying through some PTs now and using the blind review method, find that I can figure out exactly why an answer was correct in place of the answer I chose upon reviewing but haven't been able to translate that into behaviour or habits or pinpoint exactly why I chose the wrong one (I know but on the scale of that question) but there is no overarching pattern of me choosing the wrong answers for any one particular reason. Is anyone else having this problem and how did you delve into this? Is it just a matter of repetition?

Hey Everyone,

I signed up for the September LSAT about a month ago, but have yet to receive a package in the mail with all the info on what to bring, where to go etc.

I'm not sure if this is something that gets sent closer to test day? If anyone that has taken the test has any insight I'd appreciate it. I just want to make sure it didn't get lost in the mail.

Thanks

I just took my first timed PT after foolproofing and the CC so i got a 160 timed and a 171 on the BR. This is way below what i was expecting. Could it be that i scored much lower bc it was my first timed PT. Should i expect a jump in scores just based on adjusting to taking timed tests?

I feel like I'm in a sort of awkward spot during my studies. I saw an improvement and am now at a new plateau. However, where I use to be confident in my methods for fixing my weaknesses, now I can't figure out how to approach the test.

Admitiadly I haven't spent much time on RC, and it is a major impact on my score (up to -8) this section is a hit or miss. There are also times I go -2 but then my LR shoots up through the roof.

I still don't feel completely confident in my LR either.

I seem to be missing the "hardest" questions per LR section. These could be any question type, but they are the most difficult to solve. So whereas before I would attack the questions by type, now I feel lost.

When I review the questions I've missed though I almost always spot the correct answer, and don't know why I ever picked the answer I did. Very rarely do I go back to a question and continue to struggle.

I also can't seem to polish off LG. I'm always going -1 to -2. I finish with extra time fairly often, and feel confident in my answers. Some how they always manage to get me with one.

I feel like I'm trying to sweep a path at the beach. Every time I clear a spot the sand gets blown right back onto it!

Any suggestions?

Hi all,

I've posted about my RC struggles a few times now so I'm few several of you are familiar with my predicament. I have very strong scores in LG and LR, but my RC score is average at best. About -10 give or take on timed sections. I guess that's average because that down 4 sections would be about a 150...but I'm not sure of the actual average RC score.

I've tried all of the methods available to me. I've practiced, practiced, and practiced some more and with no progress. In fact, a few times I've thought that I've sort of figured it out with a -3/-4 section only to find out I was still in the -9/-11 range. That's the most frustrating thing of all.

Obviously, retaining every detail of the passage is impossible. I just seem to fall prey to trap answers left and right in RC. It demands a superb short term memory and I exercise that in games and LR...I just don't know why it doesn't translate to RC. Has anyone else faced this sort of problem? How did you 'figure it out'?

My two biggest problems are definitely falling prey to trap answers and having to look back at the passage when it shouldn't be necessary which slows me down. Because of this, I usually end up not reading the last two passages very well. Ironically, my scores on the last two passages are not any worse than on the first two when I put more time in...just another maddening piece of information.

I don't know if I need an entire RC makeover or what...but I'm just practicing and feel like I'm getting no where.

Any tricks or tips from people who were in my situation would be greatly appreciated. Again, 170+ range scores in LG and LR, 150 range score in RC.

Hey all!

Just wanted to see what others who are attempting to take the September test are studying right now..what's your study plan until the test date? I just went through the core curriculum,drilling Logic Games right now. Trying to figure out practice tests schedule right now. I'm studying full time until the test date so trying to figure out how to maximize my potential.

I'm thinking it is time to switch up the way I'm doing timed sections. Right now I have my phone stop watch run and pay 0 attention to it. I stop it when I get to the end of my section, record my time and move on.

I think it's time to go analog. I'm not sure if I'll even want a physical watch on test day, but it cannot hurt to train with one. That being said I'm looking for suggestions.

The 180 watch seems pricey but does seem to fit the LSAT very well.

There is also the Perfect Score watch but Amazon has mixed reviews on it.

What do you guys use to time yourself with. What are the pros/cons?

I've been taking practice tests starting with the earlier ones from the 1990s. I've been scoring pretty well on them (high 160s-low 170s). Are they easier than more current tests? Is my average score an accurate picture of where I would be if I took the LSAT right now?