I was at a 173~ average for the 50s and 60s, and PT 71 and 69 were 169, PT 70 was 170. I am wondering at what point I should be concerned if my scores don't go back up to 170+. I am mostly concerned because I am only about 5 weeks out and am hoping thats enough time to feel confident for a 170 again...

Not looking for a pity party, just some advice from others who have shared similar experiences. I was doing well, scoring in the low160's for the majority of PT's in the 50's... But as I got to PT 58, 59 and 60 I noticed a considerable drop... especially in LR. With 5 weeks left, I'm starting to panic a little.. Should I go back and review some weaknesses or should I just keep trucking through with practice tests/ BR ? My logic games and RC seem to be OK, but now I'm second guessing myself left and right with LR -- I get the answer down to two possible choices and, what it seems like, that I always manage to choose the wrong one. I know I need to tweak the skills of my weak question types, but I feel like nerves are starting to play a factor... I'm much quicker to get flustered and throw my hands up in there ready to say fuck the whole thing. It's been three tests in a row now where I haven't been able to crack 160.. and now I'm about to take another (161). Ugh, the psychological mind fucks on this exam are unparalleled to anything I've ever come across in my life. Any advice is appreciated, cheers!

TL;DR : Looking for some insights with issues I apparently have with test day performance - PT'ing much higher than my score.

First, a little background. I self-studied with both Manhattan/Powerscore/7Sage Spring-Fall 2014, with most PT's between 168-175. I probably took about 20 tests under exact conditions. A few weeks before the Dec. 2014 exam, I was PT'ing high 170's, when I started to notice some severe burnout. On my last three PT's before the December test, I was suddenly dropping 15-20 questions, so I took a break for a week and hoped for the best.

I was super nervous -- almost manic -- on test day, and I ended up with a 163, with most of the damage from LG. This was upsetting at the time, but I figured that with practice, my nerves wouldn't be so bad the second time around. So I took a break for three months and started back studying in March for the June 2015 exam.

This time, I drilled game sections during the week and took two tests every weekend. My scores were much more consistent, clustered tightly around 176/177, and I was making strides in LG. I simulated test conditions exactly in terms of timing and sections, and would sometimes take tests in crowded coffee shops or book stores for practice with distractions. I made it a point to do every released PT LG section multiple times, and I stopped practicing a week or two before the test to prevent burnout.

I was incredibly calm and relaxed on test day, and walked out of the center thinking I had it in the bag. I was shocked to find out I had only increased my score by 3 points, to a 166. Admittedly, the June curve (-10) was rough compared to December, but I never expected to do any less than 3-4 points below my average. My LG section was fine, but I ended up dropping 5 or 6 on each LR section, where I've never had trouble before.

So, here I am again prepping for my third test, worrying that no matter how much I practice or how high I PT, I might just end up well below my average for the third time. The only thing I think I did wrong in prepping the second time around was not reviewing the LR questions I missed. Most of the time, I would see my score, think "good enough" and walk away. I'm being careful not to do that this time around.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Can you suffer from test anxiety without knowing it? Am I prepping wrong?

I really hope I can get some answers, and I appreciate any advice you guys can offer.

Thanks,

Hello!

I am having some trouble making a schedule for the coming months. I am shooting for the Feb exam but I am still struggling with timing and certain question types. Since there isn’t much time left, do you recommend drilling entire sections, specific question types, or both?

If I should drill sections, should I be utilizing PTs 17 – 34? If so, how should I Incorporate the question bank? Wondering what use that is if I decide to drill sections.

Also, what is the significance of the question bank? How should PTs 1 - 16 be used? I know there was a post somewhere giving details but I can't find it.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

So I just finally reviewed PT 76 and discovered I missbubbled 4 answers in LR1 and had 2 other questions I didn't erase well enough. My score was well below my median, so I am not worring about hand scoring but if you can tell ever so slightly which one was suppose to be the answer vs the one erased is that something you would use handscoring for?

I know it would not impact the 4 misbubbles, but the 2 that weren't registered by the scantron. Would that be something hand scoring would correct?

If I scored high enough (or heck even not had the missbubbles) those 2 points could have made some serious impact on scholarship opportunities.

I guess I am mainly looking for answers as to if a hand score would be a good move in that case, If I were to make such a disasterous error again.

.

What's more important? The LSAT raw score or percentile?

So. I told my boss yesterday that I would be sitting out this application cycle as my LSAT mark was a 159. My cGPA is a 3.34, L2 is a 3.66.

But… he told me not to. He said I could likely get into a school.

To be specific, I live in Canada. I was going to sit out this cycle, but I’m been perusing some threads and I see people with similar stats who have gotten into USask, Lakehead, Western, Queens, Windsor, and Thompson Rivers. Sometimes with even lower stats.

I am both a competitive bodybuilder and soccer player, I have quite a bit of volunteer experience, I am sponsored by two different companies, and I have worked for a criminal/employment law firm for over 2 years now. My boss is the managing partner and would likely agree to submit a reference on my behalf for Thompson Rivers.

I guess my question is…. should I apply?

I was originally going to retake in June and give myself a lot of cushion room for improvement because my PT scores ranged from low 160s to as high as a 170. I know I have potential to increase my LSAT mark, so I’m also wondering… should I re-write in December?

The worst case scenario, I get the same mark or worse (all schools I’m applying take only your best mark).

The best case scenario, I am able to raise my LSAT by a few points and make myself even more competitive. The drawback of that is not getting accepted and having to wait to re-write the LSAT until December 2015 instead of in June because it would be my third take.

I have been working with @nicole.hopkins on RC and there is still slightly over a month until the December LSAT.

SORRY. So long winded. I’m just on the fence.

Mapping Out Logic In Stimulus

It is taking me too long to map out logic presented in the stimulus. This is very important for MBT, MBF, Principle, Parallel and SA, etc.

Can someone please guide me to where I can practice doing this because I have not seen any quizzes that has long English passages that need to be mapped out into logic.

I need to practice this immediately!!!!!

I did not have a good sense of how much time I was spending on individual LR questions until I started completing some of the silent videos on here. I understand this may just have been a tool 7sage came up with in response to the recent ban of PDF files. This exercise has actually helped me up my speed on individual LR questions and better gauge when I am spending too much time on any given question.

Would it be useful to have a timer on the 7Sage Up which can be set up for 1-2min geared toward LR questions only? A timer that will send a beep signal at the end of the alloyed time e.g.1:20s and automatically restart? I understand some questions take longer to solve than others but the silent timer was very helpful, unfortunately cumbersome to replicate with iphone or watch.

Any input?

I've taken about 10 PTs + intense BRs (made an imaginary friend and explained my reasoning to that guy for all of my circled questions out loud) and I've analyzed that I am performing horribly on MSS and MBT, well below other 7sagers' average. When I review my wrong answers, I realize why I got the question wrong, but I end up making the same mistakes over and over again... Common mistakes being: not closely reading the stimulus, falsely equating words, and choosing out of scope answers.

It's rather perplexing because I seem to be performing confidently and proficiently on questions like Para and PF, questions which most 7sagers find relatively difficult.

Needless to say, I've finished the MSS, MBT + Validity lessons. However, I think that finding the "conclusion" on the answer choices is something that I am having major difficulty with at a fundamental level. With MBT, I find relativity extremely difficult to understand, such as Magic Shoes -> Faster also means /Magic Shoes -> /Faster. I feel like that interpretation directly goes against everything I learned in JY's logic lessons and invalid statements. So having that idea, the possibility that negated relativity answers can be correct, really throws me off when I see similar answer choices when I'm PTing.

Could you guys please help me master MSS and MBT? If you guys can guide me to the lessons that could improve my understanding of above topics, it would me really helpful.

Thank you very much... You guys are tremendously helpful...

P.S. Thanks again to those who helped me fight the urge to pick up smoking.

If anyone has Practice exam 1 and can help me with a question that I am having trouble grasping I would greatly appreciate it. Its from Section 4 number 21 and its a must be true question. I can't wrap my mind around D being the correct answer because to me it is logically equivalent to answer choice E so I automatically eliminated both. How is "some" different from "many"?

I had some questions in regards to mental exhaustion and loss of focus.

During the test, I sometimes experience mind wandering off, especially during the difficult LR questions and Law and Science reading passages. The loss of focus forces me to read again and re-evaluate the argument, which has a detrimental snowball effect on my time management.

What are some of the methods that I can utilize to improve my concentration and reduce mental fatigue?

I have read some posts on 7Sage in regards to caffeine. So before taking a PT, I usually take 2-3 shots of espresso and eat some dark chocolate. I do some meditation as well. During the 15 minute break, I snack on almonds and walnuts (and other common brain foods).

I’ve also read that nicotine aids in memory retention and focus, so I may consider applying nicotine patches or start smoking, haha. (I wish I was joking…)

Most of my friends, who attend Law School now, tells me that my mental exhaustion during the test will get better as I get used to taking more full PTs.

In the case that I am not completely acclimated to the intensity of the test within couple of weeks, what are some methods that I can impose during my PT sessions which can improve my mental strength?

Best,

Today is the day. I am going to sit down and .... start..... my personal statements. I've applied to a program before, but I'm just not sure what to write or if I'm on track.

I know this may be weird, but does anyone have a PS they'd be okay with letting me read? I just want a general sense of one, to make sure I'm even kind of on track. Or... does anyone know of a place I could go for a reference/help?

Thanks a bunch :D

Hi I was hoping someone could answer a question that i have been struggling with. In the question stem what is the difference between "reasoning" and "argument"? Such as Flaw questions 1. "A major flaw in the argument is that the argument".... 2. "The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument"...

Im having trouble finding definitive definitions for the following aspects of the LSAT

1. Reasoning

2. Structure

3. Logical- such as "logically follows" or "logical features"

I took a few PT tests prior to starting the 7Sage course videos. I am not all but done with the course videos and ready to hit the PT tests heavily. After the first test I did not see my score go up. My question is... after watching the videos, is it typical to see one's score increase only after BR of the PTs? I guess I am just worried that the videos didnt have a redounding affect, and am looking to confirm my thought that it will take many reviews of tests to implement what I have learned...

Thanks for anyone's thoughts ;-)

*

Plan on re-taking in December. At this point the only relevant fresh PT's I have left are PT's 50-54 and 67-69.

I have about 5 weeks left before the December LSAT and can't decide if it would be better to take these fresh PT's or just re-take 70-75 while using the fresh PT's for drilling? I can really only manage to take one full timed PT with a thorough BR per week right now since I'm taking a full semester and graduating in December. I've never re-taken any PT's yet and don't know if it's at all useful or not. Any advice is much appreciated.

Hi, this is the first time writing anything on the board, so I'm a bit nervous, so bear with me.

I am preparing for December LSAT.

Last week, I have finished going through PTs until 70. And I would say I was averaging some bumps up and down occasionally from 163 to 166. I planned to go through from 51-73 twice until December LSAT ( a bit more than a month left).

I am taking two PTs every two days (of course BR afterward), and for the last 10 days, I am planning on taking two PTs everyday.

Yesterday, I've taken 59 and 60. So far, I am averaging about 170-ish, a couple 167+ and a couple 173+.

I am planning on taking fresh set of 71, 72, and 73 at the end of each cycle.

My question is:

How important is it to repeatedly practice already-taken-PTs?

I know that taking already-taken-PTs is useful in general and it's pretty much the only thing I can do right now, but when I get a good score on my second round, instead of being happy about it, I'm more skeptical of the score (but of course, I am happy). And when I get a poorer score, I'm just really distressed. From reading lots of posts, I know my schedule is probably something nobody would recommend, but since I am not attacking any new PTs, I get constantly nervous on whether my logic foundation is improving or not through these second round PTs. Although I do try going through every single question as thoroughly as possible as if I'm doing the new test, I constantly doubt if I was solving it out of my logic ability or from a bit of memory left in me. Consequently, I just decided to keep myself busy by keep doing PTs non-stop, so that at least I wouldn't have any regret afterward as to "I could have done A and B and blah blah~"

I know about the burn-out as well. I recently got out of it about a month ago, but I still feel like I would have some regret if I don't really try my 200%. If you ask me whether this plan has been exhausting for me or not, I would say there is exhaustion after going through 8 sections every two days, but it's pretty manageable until now. Add to that, I would say mental exhaustion from doing 8 sections every two days would feel more manageable than anxiety from not studying (although I haven't experienced it yet).

So, I just need a bit of advice on how effective it would be for me to keep following this plan. Or, any advice.

I am preparing my application (to start LS next year). My question is concerning the addendum: Should I write one? In Peru, I did two years of medical school (1997-1998). Didn't graduate. Students, in Peru, enter medical school directly after high school graduation. Those two years had the equivalent of 22.50 credits of pre-med. My university, here, accepted my credits so I didn't have to take all the credits required for my bachelor degree.

Here comes my issue: First, should I write an addendum about why I chose medical school 18 years ago: I was young and stupid; didn't know what I wanted. Second, during those two years I got most Cs, one A, and one B (GPA 2.5 according my school in the US). I graduated from a FL university with a GPA 4. Do I need to write about why those grades differ so much even though it happened 18 years ago.

My school in FL has the grades and courses from Peru in its transcripts. LSAC also has the transcripts from my Peruvian university (LSAC wanted to do their own evaluation).

Thank you so much for your help

Hey LSAT Team,

I am aiming to take the February test. I'm almost done with the curriculum, have about 5 full sections left and some problem sets (I have Ultimate + though so there are a LOT of problem per curriculum set). I plan to finish up the curriculum this week (expect for the entire problem sets).

I wanted to confirm to myself I will not be ready for the Dec test, so I just took PT 52 (it's the lowest test I have in my possession at the moment) and got a 162. The break down is:

-11 LR: Almost exclusively in the "harder parts" between Q's 17-25

-4 LG: missed 2 from silly mistakes

-8 RC: I'd say I got lucky here because I guessed correctly on 2 of 4 Q's

BRed a 168 without even trying to BR the games (I don't know why, I don't find it very useful compared to full re-drilling them after a bit of time but I know I should).

With a full time job, what do ya'll think should I do from here to February? Obviously finish the lessons in at the top of my priority but should I actually go back and do ALL the problem sets by question type?

I have about 3 full month left to the test which means I can get anywhere from 15-25 PT's in between I would say. Depending on how I decide to spend this up coming prep time. SO the question boils down to 25 PT's with thoroughly BRed and basically nothing else or 15 PT's with drills in between to work on my weakest areas? Particularly focusing on RC which I feel complete inadequate at, at the expense or LG which slowly appears to be clicking for me.

Any and all advice is highly appreciated.

Note: I know a lot of people will tell me: wait for June! But no thank you. I honestly feel I work better when under more pressure and closer deadlines. The idea that I am 8 months away from the test I don't think will work well for me. And if anything, June can be my second chance.

What kind of jobs are out there for lower ranked law schools? I'm talking 70+ up to the 90s but no unranked schools. Michigan State University is one example.

I originally planned to knock out each section one at a time. However, the 7sage course syllabus mixes them. I know the 3 sections are all connected (logic reasoning, analysis, etc.), but any good reason for following the 7sage method as opposed to just knocking out all LR, then all LG, then all RC?

Thanks.

I found some pratice tests waaaay back from 1993 and up.

Should I bother taking those or are they too old?

So I took the October LSAT and came in at a 169. My dream school is Stanford, which puts me on the 25th percentile in terms of LSAT score. My undergrad LSDAS GPA was calculated to be 3.68 which is a little below 25th percentile. The real GPA was a tenth of a point higher, but I suppose that is irrelevant for my purpose. I would call myself something of a non-traditional law student. I have a Master's in Music, as well as some post grad studies, and was a professional classical guitarist/instructor for five or so years and have traveled much of the world. I only list these last things out of hope that they might somehow set me apart on my application, though that may be wishful thinking. I'm looking for a little advice here. Should I apply? or would that be tantamount to lighting a $100 bill on fire?