Ok! RC is the bane of my existence (I think I've posted that before. But seriously).

I have been drilling Humanities and Social Sciences passages like NO ONES business because they are my weaker passages. I think someone posted what I'm about to say before, but reading it and experiencing that "A HA!" moment for myself are completely different.

I have found that Humanities passages do the same things over and over again (obviously, I guess, because the LSAT does repeat things over and over again).

The passage will read:

Mike is a novelist. He writes novels in a way that can be read as poetry. He uses literary techniques that are uncommon to the novelistic style.

Critics say that he should stick to the conventions common of novels.

But Mike does not. Instead he persists with using poetry type conventions and that adds something to his novel that traditional conventional novelistic style cannot.

They'll introduce some famous person who writes/sings/paints. Then they'll say that, traditionally, singing/painting/writing is done one way, but that this person does it a different way. And then the passage Is... basically critics saying he should do it the traditional way, and then the rest of the passage explains how his "breaking from tradition" adds something to his writing that cannot be done using traditional.

Something to that end, anyways.

I hope this helps someone else with their A HA!!

Good luck all :)

I just moved up to Northern Virginia not that long ago, and am studying for the June LSAT. If anyone in the DC or Northern Virginia area wants to study, just let me know. It'd be awesome to have someone to bounce ideas off and share the pain of this preparation with!

Hi Admins,

I've purchased many LSAT preptests from 7sage, but I noticed that the pdf file sizes are actually larger than 8.5x11. Thus, when I try to print them out, the exam prints in super tiny font that is difficult to read because my printer (and even the printers at FedEx Kinko's) are trying to fit the entire image onto the page. Would it be possible for future preptests (and perhaps even previous ones...) to be adjusted so that they can be printed onto 8.5x11 paper in a larger, more readable font size?

If I'm the only one with this issue, perhaps someone can offer a solution?

I would like to buy the most recent tests, I saw it advertised somewhere that you could buy 72 for around $6. Please let me know ASAP. Thanks.

Clearly reading comprehension is my weakest section. But after close to 6 months of intensive prep, I've gotten to a point where I feel unmotivated in terms of practicing RC passages, or even blind reviewing them.

I think this is due to two reasons. First, I don't like reading about topics that I don't enjoy, or have very little familiarity (geology, biology, history of 19th century painting etc.). I tried the tactic of "convincing myself that it's the most wonderful thing I'm going to read"; but it doesn't really work on me.

Second, I lost my faith in believing that I can improve on RC. I don't think I've made substantial progress throughout these months. When I sit down and do a logic game or an LR section, at least I know that I'll make some sort of progress. The same can't be said with RC - I always get between -6 to -8 per section without knowing what my weaknesses are. I don't have a coherent strategy going into a section, and my mistakes are mostly due to not being able to fully comprehend the passages (or enough time to digest them). For example, when I read a passage that talks about geological processes and volcanic activities, I can't picture the descriptive sentences or string together a mental image, which contributes to less understanding of the passage as a whole.

What do you all think?

Thanks in advance

I am now taking PTS and my scores havent improved from my cold diagnostic. (Well, Logic Games has improved a little, but Reading Comprehension has gone down)... in fact, the scores are lower..

The thing is, when i do Blind Review, it goes incredibly fast, and I do very well, especially with Logical Reasoning. I clearly see what is the correct answer.

So, does anyone have this experience? is it test anxiety?

Would anyone be willing to read over my personal statement & add comments/suggestions? If so please comment with your email. Thanks!

Hey guys. Newbie here that just signed up on this site a few days ago. I'm confused as to why, when, and how JY is applying the following analogy. Can someone help me understand this?

All beings that are Jedi’s are entities that use the force.

Jedi = Force User

This seems different from:

If Jedi, then Force User.

IF a being IS a Jedi, then the being must be a force user. Isn’t later is a conditional??? And thus not a logical equivalent? Do you see what I’m asking?

If it is the case that:

Jedi = Force User

then it is necessarily the case that:

Force User = Jedi.

But this renders the premise completely not true. Force User also = Sith and Sith (do not equal) Jedi.

I don’t care to pick a debate over about Jedi vs Sith, or Disney vs Lucasfilm. What I’m trying to understand is how equals can be construed as the logical equivalent of a conditional on the LSAT?

Isn't "=" traditionally used as follows?:

Anakin = Darth Vader

Darth Vader = Anakin

Thus "=" functions differently in the form than "->". It is entirely different than saying:

IF Anakin THEN Vader.

Thanks again to anyone who can simplify and clarify! Much appreciated.

I so wish I'd found this website a few months ago! I've been studying since September, taking practice tests and going through the exercises in the LSAT Trainer. My score fluctuates a lot more than I'd like due to timing issues, 179 one day and 166 the next. I've signed up for the December LSAT (less than two weeks to go!) and have started panicking. I feel I'd benefit from pushing the test back to February and going through all the lessons on this site and following the recommended exercise/coffee/steady bedtime schedule. It's too late to change the date but I could withdraw and sign up again. Or, I could do my best on the December test, see how it goes and cancel score or retake if necessary in February. I don't want multiple tests to look bad on my record or to underperform for the real test, but there is also the chance of getting my desired score or just having a another full length test under my belt before February. Any advice much appreciated!

Is it a good idea to avoid answer choices with the word "Some" for Strengthen/Weaken questions? Are these answer choices ever correct?

For SOME reason.

I thought I was getting better at Reading Comprehension. I felt myself connecting with the passage, interested in the material, I was reading the Economist and a history magazine to increase my familiarity with that type of writing... it was going great.

About two weeks ago I scored my highest (-3).

Today. And every prep test after that, I have scored my WORST (-13).

I don't connect with the passages. I don't care about the material. And quite frankly, it scares the shit out of me every time I open RC.

Has this happened to anyone? it's a major stumbling block because I feel as if I've made vast improvements on my LR, my LG is consistently 0, but this is truly holding me back now :(

Hey guys hope everyone is doing well. I have a quick question about test day. On the actual test do they give you the Lsat scantron answer sheet separately or do we have to tear it out from the book ourselves? I'm only asking because I never tear it out the right away and always mess up the answer sheet. Thank you all!

http://www.ted.com/talks/kimberley_motley_how_i_defend_the_rule_of_law

JY suggests giving up alcohol about 2 months prior to the test.

I've given it up for about that time for the Dec exam coming up.

But I've got to holiday events where alcohol will be served.

Will a drinks a week before the exam hurt?

The proctor app asks me whether I am taking a four or five section practice test, and I know the real test has five with one being an experimental, but every practice test I have taken has only had four sections. Is there a way to add a fifth section to the practice tests that I don't know about? Also, have all of my PT scores been skewed due to always having one less section?

http://spiveyconsulting.com/blog/timeline-and-tips-for-the-best-possible-law-school-application/

These guys are awesome! They answer a lot of question for free here as well:

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=197451

(Great insider comments from former admissions officers)

Best of luck to those applying this cycle!

Does anyone know how long they give you to complete bubbling in the name etc section on the answer sheet? Do you guys practice doing that so its fast enough or is there plenty of time?

Finally took Preptest 73 today -- had been nervous about what would be the 'closest link' to the December LSAT,

But why was I expecting something enormously different from any other preptest? I was surprised to find that Preptest 73 is really like any other preptest....But you know what? I shouldn't have been surprised!

There truly are patterns inherent to the LSAT & Preptest 73 isn't particularly special, and there is no reason to think Preptest 74 (or the December LSAT) should be particularly special either.

Our weaknesses are laid out in similar ways on each test -- and we just need to keep tackling them.

Throughout preptest reviews, we may notice specific connections amongst questions' content in various tests (like the repeated discussion of the QWERTY keyboard). And Preptest 73 is no different -- Section 2, Q14 repeats the same idea of space exploration linked to unexpected technology benefits as Preptest 59, Section 3, Q18 while Section 4, Q3 repeats the same idea of sunblock vs. incidences of skin cancer repeated in other tests, including Preptest 62, Section 2, Q5.

The LG section is just as non-special as the other sections. And I had psych-ed myself out into thinking maybe a game was very unusual. I was wrong.

I'm not saying Preptest 73 wasn't difficult... every Preptest is difficult! But none of them is particularly special.

Things may *feel* different because we *expect* them to be different. But we should NOT psych ourselves out too much. Yes, there may be a few unusual bits in each preptest, but the December test should be seen for what it is: just another ol' preptest!

Hey,

I was happy earlier this week. I scored my highest scores of 165, a 165 again, and then a 168. My Blind review was also great, somewhere in the 170's. I only missed questions that JY was claiming were curve breaker on the LR. I just don't perform well on Reading Comprehension in general, but I did do slightly better on these tests. Basically, I was happy with my score and feeling confident for the Dec. 6th test.

Now I've taken two tests the past 2 days and scored a 159 and 160. I didn't get perfect logic game on either and my I am just missing more LR than I have been. My RC doesn't do me any favors either, but it never does. I'm glad that I still have time to make corrections, but still my confidence is slightly shaken after 2 disappointing tests. I really want to score that 167+ on test day.

Am I just taking too many tests close together? That wasn't a problem with those 165/168 tests... but did it just catch up to me finally? The thing I fear is that the later tests are harder. I feel like the LG section in particular is harder starting with #53.

My game plan now is to review today and tomorrow any patterns of the last two tests and go for another simulated test Saturday.

Any comments would be appreciated.

180!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. This question may seem kind of odd, but I was wondering on the actual test day do they provide you with the answer sheet scantron separately or do we have to tear if off the test booklet ourselves? I'm asking because for some stupid reason every-time I tear off the answer sheet scantron from the test booklet when I do practice tests, I always mess it up somehow. Thank you!

Hi.

I took the LSAT a year ago, and to study for that I took almost all of the recent prep tests. Now with only a few weeks left I am deciding whether I should take fresh tests that are much older (like 2003) or should I retake the tests that I already took last year, since they are more recent?

With the older tests, since I've never taken them I realize I can maybe get a better idea the accuracy of my score. But they also have a disadvantage because the test has changed over the years. Since it has been a year since I've taken the more recent tests, maybe I will have forgotten most of the material and it will just be vaguely familiar to me. But still, I don't know which is better! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!

As we near the 2 weeks mark from the December LSAT, I, as sure as others, are wondering really how much can one expect to improve in this time? My last 4 PTs are 166, 161, 159, and 160. I really want to score 165+ consistently. Some people say you can improve immensely and others say maybe a couple points. What does everyone think?

Hi everyone! If you are like me, you are probably trying very hard to study for the LSAT. Perhaps sometimes you feel like your efforts aren't enough. Or you get frustrated when you feel stuck in area or section. I am a self-declared cheesy person and I love listening to motivational speeches. So if you need any motivation whatsoever, regardless of whether or not it's for the LSAT, below are some motivational youtube videos. If you can, download it into MP3 form and listen to it anytime you need some inspiration. The videos are like mixes of inspirational speeches from films and speakers along with amazing inspirational film scores, which I'm a sucker for. (Who doesn't love a film score from The Dark Knight?!) So if you need that extra push, take some time to watch one of these videos, I promise you will feel refreshed afterwards! Enjoy!!

Why Do We Fail:

Dream:

Desire:

Unbroken:

Idea: