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hey all,

just wanted to share a bit of my experience... after completing the core curriculum i was eager to jump into prep-tests. at first i would focus well during my actual prep-test, but when it came time to blind review i was so excited to see my score that i quickly agreed with myself and did not spend enough time with each question. my score plateaued in the low 160's.

then, while reviewing the material in the curriculum and the webinars (shout out to the LSAT Prep for 170+ webinar) i learned three important things about the blind review:

focus on your blind review score. your actual score tends to be about 10 points lower than your blind review score. thus, if i could get my blind review close to 180, then i could get my actual score above 170. my entire focus shifted from the prep-test to the blind review. rather than getting discouraged by a low actual score i became excited by a high blind review score.

blind review on a blank copy of the test. thanks to allison for this suggestion in the LSAT Prep for 170+ webinar. without access to my answers from the timed prep-test i stopped arguing with my ego and was able to really dig into the material. my blind review score became a more accurate representation of my knowledge base.

review your blind review score thoroughly. this is discussed in the curriculum, but after finishing a prep-test and blind reviewing it i was usually eager to move on to the next test. i would check a couple of the harder questions, watch jy's explanation and be done. this was not educative. i began to dive into accumulated answers to discover the subjects i struggled with the most. 7Sage's analytics are great for this. i returned to the curriculum to review most strongly supported and parallel flaw questions. reviewing the material helped me re-learn it.

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shifting the focus of my emotional well being from the timed prep-test to the blind review helped me get over my frustration and my plateau. i just broke 170 for the first time and it feels great!

i still can't believe kaplan doesn't teach the blind review...

27

Hey Everyone,

Could anyone give me an example (whether on some test or just an example you could make up) of this valid form:

A --> C

B --> C

~A some ~B

I know it abstractly, but I struggled earlier to give someone a decent example and explanation earlier. So, I feel that means there's a hole in my knowledge.

0

I started 7sage back in September 2016, with the intention to take the September 2017 LSAT (which I pushed back to December). After doing the core, and doing five prep tests, I have yet to score above 150, which I've achieved twice. My average is 147.8.

After PT 39, I have felt defeated and crushed. It's not the worst I have ever done, but it's also a dip back down to my starting point. I feel like I'm doing something wrong, but I don't know what it is. As I can only dedicate 15 to 20 hours a week to studying for this test (which is mostly done at night when I'm burned out from work), my time is precious.

My process for the last five prep tests has been as follows - take the test, blind review the test, and then do a comprehensive review of each section of the test. Why the right answers are right. Why the wrong answers are wrong. Why I picked the wrong answers when I did. Drill the games. Drill the reading comp. This has been the advice of multiple people, and I don't feel like I've gotten the gains I'm supposed to. In fact, I feel as though I haven't gained anything.

Doing what I'm doing now isn't working, so there must be something I'm missing. I feel as though my worst section is logic games, but it's only edging out slightly compared to every other section. Should I just focus on drilling? Do I need to just dedicate my hours of studying to just logical reasoning until I'm answering 20 in 20 correctly? Alternatively, is this just a problem with the older tests being a lot harder than the newer ones?

0

Hi everyone,

I'm applying for accommodations for the June exam and was just wondering if someone who has applied before could provide some guidance. I have the "qualified professional" statement ready to go, but is it necessary to also send my own statement ("Candidate Statement of Need") as well? If so, any tips for how to write a decent candidate statement? Many thanks!

1

Note I am applying to Australian Law School meaning that my application is due in September 2017.

I originally took the LSAT in Feb 2017 and was quite disappointed with my score (it was 7 points below my average). Since then I purchased the 7sage course and have been aiming for a re-take for June 2017. I'm now thinking of pushing that retake back to September 2017.

The positives are:

  • more time to study
  • less to study each week
  • The drawbacks are:

  • more time juggling LSATs, study, my thesis and work
  • more time with it on the back of my mind
  • What would you guys recommend?

    0

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    Saturday, April 15, 11:00 AM EDT

    Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

    https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/912696957

    You can also dial in using your phone.

    United States: +1 (312) 757-3121

    Access Code: 912-696-957

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    4

    Today is pretty weird. I am usually quite positive and optimistic when studying the LSAT, but today I'm fraught with anxiety and sheer frustration. I think the reason is that when I was working on PTs in 20-30s range, I was doing very well and established all my strategies based on them. Now I started to solve PTs in 60s-70s, and I noticed a score drop and having to rearrange and rethink some of my strategies. Now I am redoing some problems in PTs in 20-30s (the ones I usually do well in) and I notice a time lag and anxiety as well. My mind is not focusing at all. LOL...

    Right now when I am reading, I have this urge / anxiety to comprehend every single thing I am reading, to be in control of everything. I don't think I've been this frustrated with the LSAT before. Usually, when I am frustrated, I don't mind much and I still keep a positive attitude. Today is just a disaster.

    Anyone know a way to get out of this slump?

    0

    When you take a re-take do you wipe your old data from the analytics section? That is what I've been doing after transposing my old answers on the backside of the bubble sheet. That way I can update my analytics to see my current weaknesses but still have the ability to compare my newer test to my old answers. But I just took a retake (PT 56) and think I did waaaay better so I'm not even sure it's worth it. I don't want my average to get too inflated.

    Thoughts?

    0

    Hi Everyone!

    So I just got 7sage and it's really wonderful, but I only got the starter pack that gives me limited access to the question bank. I do have PT 52-61 as a book that I could use as extra practice and I was wondering what my approach should be? For example, I just finished Main Conclusion videos and did the 5 problems at the end, but should I also do the MC problems in my book or wait until I've learned a few different question types and then do varied practice? Also, if I do them is there a way for me to mark whether I got the answers right or wrong in the Analytics section without completing an entire test?

    0

    Hi Everyone,

    I was hoping to get some insight from some of the members of this community. For a couple of weeks, I was hitting somewhere around my target score and averaging just 1 or 2 points below my target. However, I just took another 2 practice tests over the course of two weeks and my score dropped 6 points or so. I've been feeling a lot less confident with my answers and I can't tell if it's because of the way I've been studying, or if it's the types of concepts the tests are covering, etc. I was wondering if anyone here had this experience before and had any insight as to what I can do about this. I'm starting to get a little bit worried.

    Thanks so much!!

    0

    I've been wondering if it's advised to do all problem sets associated with a lesson before moving on to the next lesson, or if the problem sets are there for us to utilize later in the curriculum as a refresher. I understand that this could be entirely subjective and based on the individual, but was curious to see how others approach the problem sets. I've been completing at least half of the problem sets associated with the given lesson before moving on, while saving the rest for later after completing the course to drill and test my ability to remember how to attack the various question types.

    0

    So, I've been battling with the idea for the past two weeks to either take the LSAT in June or take it in September. I have not been feeling ready at all for the test and I want to get the best score possible. Today, I went to log into the LSAC page to see what testing centers are available... well looks like ALL of the Philadelphia locations were booked. A little blessing in disguise I'd say.... (although I know I can just take it somewhere else).

    To be honest I'm actually excited about this! I feel like I'm just starting to grasp things and was hating the pressure I was putting on myself. This way, come September I'll feel full on ready :)

    3

    This is me since Monday night about everything LSAT...and I only drink DECAF coffee and tea!

    No matter where you are in your studies: in, out, or back in CC again, get thee into "Oldies PT Mondays" study group! You won't regret it! It's working wonders for me already and I NEEDED a miracle!

    Watch for Can'tGetRight's thread posting soon! Can hardly wait to work with y'all! (3(/p)

    ...now where's my pom poms...

    0

    I noticed that the video interface has changed recently, and after the change I've been having serious lagging issues. This lagging problem especially prevalent when I put the video speed above the regular 1.0x. The video would run for ten seconds, lag for 3 seconds, run for another few seconds, then lag again....

    Am I the only one who is having this problem?

    1

    Hi All,

    I would love to get some feedback from you guys about how you approach the issue of "misreading" questions in any of the sections, but specifically LR. I heard once (probably from someone on here...can't remember) that you are doing yourself a great disservice if you realize you got a question wrong because you misread the question, but just chalk it up to a careless mistake and you do not take it seriously enough to address the issue properly.

    I'm wondering how to "address the issue properly." I have had this issue more times than I would like to admit. I will take a PT timed and end up really struggling with a question, only to return to it during BR and get it correct in 30 seconds because I realized I was misreading something crucial. Like for example, as I first read PT58.S4.Q15, I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on, mainly because I didn't know what types of "proofs" they were referring to. Film proofs? Printing proof? During my BR, I reread the question and recognized immediately that they were talking about math proofs and I was like "Man...how do I train myself to recognize that this quickly during the timed test?"

    Sometimes my misreadings are less content based and more structure based. For example, on the same test mentioned above, for question PT58.S1.Q21, I missed this question because I did not register the word "not" in the last segment of the argument. None of the ACs made sense to me due to the fact that I missed such an important part of the argument because of careless reading. I want to chalk it up to an endurance/attention span issue, but there has to be a way to train myself out of this carelessness. I don't want to be overly cautious at the expense of my confidence, but I would love to eliminate the avoidable mistakes. I have no intentions of getting questions wrong on the real test that are within my reasoning capabilities to answer.

    Thanks in advance!

    2

    I thought I had burned through nearly all tests last year during prep, but I just took inventory and I have 18 remaining!!!

    Wow, I've never been so happy to be so wrong.

    Side note: @"Dillon A. Wright" do we have access to the bundle for RC? I only see LR and LG. Thanks

    3

    I wrote my first diagnostic today and surprised myself with a 154. Definitely not the score I want on test day, but happy to start in the 60th percentile. I've signed up for the powerscore two month in-person class, and im currently working through the 7sage curriculum. Is it overly ambitious to want to write the test in June? And is there any benefit to writing in June vs September ?

    0

    I took the February LSAT and scored a few points above my average! But 7 points from my best score ever... I am planning to write again in September with the hope of being a little less nervous and having a much more solid grasp on the principles, rather than a sometimes-vague understanding that got me by but left some of the harder questions as a total guess. My goal is to increase my score by 5-7 points.

    My study plan is this:

  • start from the beginning of the core curriculum, taking notes and reviewing learned principles (whizzed through the videos last time and assumed I understood because I got the sample questions mostly right - not the case)
  • be diligent in my blind review (got really lazy with it last time around) and try out the technique of writing an explanation for every answer (this sounds painfully slow for me but I guess it's necessary)
  • 2.5 months to get through the core curriculum while working full time. then a month off for a busy time at work (necessary but can maybe do some timed sections a couple times a week to stay warm). then 2 months for prep tests and (painfully thorough) blind reviews while working a little less than full time.
  • Any advice of what else to consider to gain a rock solid understanding? I struggle with the harder RC (especially the science topics) and the hardest level of LR. I mastered LGs so just need to maintain there and practice hard miscellaneous questions to avoid panicking in the face of the unknown.

    Gosh, even if there isn't any advice, this was so helpful to write out!!

    1

    Most beers in are cans. Most cans contain beer.

    Conclusion: The number of beers is not greater than double nor fewer than half the number of cans.

    B (---most---) C

    Conclusion: 1/2C < B < 2C

    Most cans contain beer. Most beers are in cans. Most beers contain alcohol.

    Conclusion: Some cans contain alchohol.

    C (---most---) B ---Most---> A

    Conclusion: C some A

    Let me know if you think this makes sense. Thanks!

    1

    Hey everyone. I hope your studies are going well and ya'll find some time to enjoy the Summer weather between BRing and pencil debates.

    I am nearing the end of the CC -- I've Point at Issue, Miscellaneous, and the bundle remaining. However, I also have ALL of the RC remaining as well : ) because I wasn't able to print anything until recently. My plan is to finish out the CC in the next 10 days and then take a month to Fool Proof as much of the LG as I can, develop an RC approach (experimenting with the various methods that are out there), Fool Proof as many early RC as I can, and continue LR drilling to stay fresh. The end of that fool-proofing month will have me begin PTing by the end of May and I would like to take the test by Sept/Dec.

    If anyone has feedback, advice, cautionary commentary, or words of support I would love to hear them! Here are some particular questions I have:

  • Should I fool-proof all bundle games before PTing?
  • Should I Start PTing as soon as I finish the CC so that I can participate in things like BR calls and @"Cant Get Right" "Oldies But Goodies" or hold off on these things until I get some fool-proofing under my belt?
  • Thanks for your help,

    J

    1

    Sadly, my score has plateaued in the mid-high 150s range. I was in the 160s so I'm pretty discouraged. I've been studying for 7 months and take the exam in June. Any advice about how to get out of a score slump? I've worked through power score books, fox's prep, and used manhattan prep to pull up my logic games score.

    0

    Just curious. I would like to take the September LSAT, so I don't intend on needing it more than 4.5 - 5 months. However the two most expensive courses list extra levels of difficulty in the "problem sets." Do you all think the extra money is worth it for those problem sets, or will the fundamental teachings and practice tests be enough?

    0

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