Hi there,

I’d think about this as two separate issues as accuracy and timing. Since you’re missing 2–3 questions in the first 15 or 16, I’d recommend starting there. Those early questions are often more straightforward, so picking up those points can really help your score before you even start thinking about finishing the whole section.

When you review, don’t just look at the question type. Try to figure out why you missed each question. Was it because you misread the conclusion? Did you misunderstand what the question was asking? Maybe you picked an answer that was too strong, or missed a key word like “some,” “most,” “unless,” or “only.” Or maybe you got stuck between two answers and chose the one that seemed more tempting. Once you know the reason behind your mistakes, it gets a lot easier to know what to work on.

For timing, try practicing skipping questions a bit more aggressively. If a question feels confusing after your first read, or if you notice yourself rereading the same answer choices again and again, just mark it and move on. Remember, you don’t have to do the section in perfect order. Sometimes one tough question in the middle can eat up time that you could use to get two or three easier questions right later on.

Also, try not to assume that the last ten questions are all super hard. There are often some very doable questions near the end, but you might be getting to them when you’re low on time or energy. The goal is to grab the questions you can get with confidence, skip the ones that are taking up too much time, and circle back to them later if you have time.

One thing that can really help is to review not just the questions you got wrong, but also the ones that took you a long time or felt uncertain. Even if you got them right, slow answers can still hurt your timing if they’re costing you time on other questions.

So here’s what I’d suggest is that to first, focus on cleaning up those early-section misses. Then, work on building a stronger skipping strategy. After that, practice getting to more questions under timed conditions. You don’t need to be perfect at every hard question to improve from -9 or -10. A lot of your progress will come from better review, smarter triage, and making sure you’re not losing points on questions you could have gotten right.

Hi there,

It's awesome that you already have a way to track traps and fixes. That kind of organization is a huge asset! Since your official scores are 131 and 140 and you're aiming for a 165+, I recommend making sure your fundamentals are really solid before diving too deep into advanced tracking. Building a strong foundation first will make everything else easier.

At this point, I suggest using the study plan as a flexible guide to help you build or rebuild the basics, rather than following it as a strict schedule. Even if you have your own system, the lessons are great for making sure you don't have any gaps in things like conditional reasoning, argument structure, common flaw patterns, answer choice elimination, and reading strategy. Most of the improvement from the 140s comes from getting really consistent with those core skills, not just reviewing the questions you miss.

I also recommend focusing on accuracy before worrying about timing. For now, it can be really helpful to do smaller sets of questions, either untimed or with just a light time limit, and then review them very thoroughly.

Once your accuracy gets better, working on timing will feel a lot easier because you won't be rushing through questions you're unsure about.

I also suggest treating the study plan as a tool to support your own system, not something that has to replace it. Keep using your spreadsheet to track patterns, but also use the curriculum to make sure you're actually fixing the skill gaps that those patterns reveal.

Good luck! You're already off to a great start by being so organized and thoughtful about your review.

Hi!

There’s definitely value in printing out the drills if that helps you focus, especially when you’re still getting the hang of a new concept. At this stage, your main goal isn’t to perfectly copy test-day conditions. Instead, you want to really understand the reasoning and build your skills. If using paper helps you slow down, annotate, and think things through more carefully, that’s a great way to learn.

That said, I wouldn’t stick with paper forever. Since the real LSAT is digital, it’s a good idea to slowly shift more of your practice onto the computer once you feel confident with the basics. One approach I like is to print drills when you’re first learning something new, but then do your timed sections and practice tests digitally. That way, you’ll get comfortable with the real format before test day.

If you’re wondering whether to do the drill before or during the lesson, I’d suggest pausing the lesson, trying the question on your own, and then checking out the explanation right after. This way, you get to practice thinking through it yourself, and you also get feedback while your thought process is still fresh.

So don’t worry, printing isn’t “wrong” at all. Use whatever helps you learn best at the beginning, then transition toward digital practice as you get closer to test-day style work. I hope that helps!

Hi,

First off, I want to say that starting with a 168 diagnostic and now scoring in the mid-170s is already a huge accomplishment. At this stage, progress can look a little different than it does earlier on. You might not see big jumps from week to week, just because there aren’t many points left to gain, and the questions you’re missing now are often the toughest ones to get.

Given your work schedule, I really wouldn’t call this a motivation problem. Working 70 to 100 hours a week is exhausting, so it’s completely understandable if you don’t always have the same energy for LSAT study as someone with a lighter schedule. At a certain point, more studying isn’t always better. The quality of your review matters much more than the number of hours you put in.

If you’re already in the mid-170s, I’d suggest focusing less on doing tons of new questions and more on carefully reviewing the few spots where your reasoning slips. For each question you miss or feel unsure about, try asking yourself: What made the wrong answer tempting? Did I misread or overlook something? What did the credited answer do that I didn’t fully appreciate at first? At this level, improvement usually comes from fine-tuning those small judgment calls, not from learning a brand-new strategy.

It’s also totally okay if your reason for doing this is different from other people’s. Some people are motivated by law school or a career change, but for you, it sounds like part of it is proving something to yourself and enjoying the challenge. That’s a great reason! Since you’re balancing this with an already demanding life, I’d just encourage you to make sure the test stays something that adds to your life, not something that drains you.

On a practical note, you might try setting a small, sustainable schedule and maybe just a few high-quality review sessions each week instead of pushing for long study blocks. And remember, taking time off isn’t failing. Sometimes a break is exactly what helps you come back even sharper.

So I wouldn’t see this plateau as a sign that you can’t improve. Instead, I’d see it as proof that you’re already working at a really high level, and now any improvement will probably be slower, smaller, and more about rest and careful review than just working harder.

Hi! First off, I want to reassure you that this definitely doesn’t mean you’ve hit your limit. Jumping from a 156 diagnostic to consistently scoring in the 166–168 range is a huge accomplishment! The fact that your Blind Review is 175+ is a really positive sign. That usually tells us your understanding is solid, and it’s just something about timing, endurance, confidence, or making decisions under pressure that’s holding your timed score back from your true potential.

One thing I’d watch out for is leaning too much on isolated drills. Drills are helpful, but they don’t always feel the same as a full practice test. When you’re drilling, you usually know what kind of question is coming, you’re ready for that specific skill, and you’re less likely to get tired. But a full PT throws everything at you at once, so it really tests your ability to recognize question types, manage your pacing, keep up your endurance, and bounce back after tough questions. If you’re finding that drills are going well but your PT scores aren’t moving, I’d recommend shifting some of your study time to reviewing full timed sections instead of just drilling your weak spots.

Since you mentioned there isn’t an obvious pattern to what you’re missing, I’d suggest tracking your mistakes by the type of error, not just by LSAT question type. For example, ask yourself: Did I misread the conclusion? Did I pick an answer that was too strong? Did I miss the gap in the argument? Did I rush through the last few questions? Did I spend too long on a tough question and lose focus after? Sometimes the real pattern isn’t “I’m bad at flaw questions,” but something like “I’m picking answers that are too extreme” or “I’m not resetting after a hard question.”

I’d also recommend reviewing questions you got right but weren’t totally confident about. At the 166–168 level, most improvement comes not from learning brand-new concepts, but from tightening up on the questions where you were between two answers, guessed correctly, or lost time.

I’d treat this plateau as a sign that your foundation is strong, and now it’s just about refining your timed process. The goal at this stage isn’t just to do more questions, but to use your PT review to pinpoint the exact moment your reasoning went off track.

Hi! I noticed you mentioned feeling pretty confident after reading the passage, but then being surprised by your score. That’s actually a really helpful clue! If you are feeling confident and still miss questions, it often means the passage wasn’t understood in the way the LSAT wants.

Here’s a drill I’d recommend: after you finish reading a passage, write your own simple summary and a quick paragraph map before looking at any questions. Then, compare what you wrote to the 7Sage explanation. For now, don’t worry about the questions. Just check if you caught the author’s main point, their viewpoint, the structure, and the purpose of each paragraph. If your map doesn’t match the explanation, that’s a sign you’ve found a spot to work on, even before you get to the questions.

Another thing you might want to look at is which types of questions you’re missing. Are Main Point questions tricky for you? Or maybe Author Attitude or Inference questions? If you notice you’re missing a lot from one category, that usually points to a foundational skill to work on.

Your LR improvement from around -10 to -3 shows you have strong reasoning skills! That’s why I wouldn’t jump to thinking your RC issue is just about reading ability. More often, RC plateaus occur if you still treat RC as a regular reading test rather than focusing on structure and viewpoint. The details do matter, but the LSAT really wants to see if you understand why each piece of information is there and how it fits into the author’s bigger picture.

Something that really helped me was reviewing passages without looking at the questions first. After finishing a passage, I’d ask myself: What’s the author’s main point? What’s their opinion? Why did they include each paragraph? What viewpoints came up, and who holds them? If those answers aren’t super clear, the questions will usually reveal where things got fuzzy.

Hi!

What you're describing is super common, so you're definitely not alone! The LSAT isn't asking you to remember every single detail the first time through. Instead, it's all about getting the author's main point and understanding how the passage is organized.

Something that really helped me was changing my focus from what the passage was saying to why each paragraph was included. After you finish a paragraph, try pausing for a moment and asking yourself: What was the purpose of that paragraph? Was it introducing a theory? Giving evidence? Criticizing an idea? Suggesting a different explanation?

Also, be careful about trying to read faster before you really understand what you're reading. A lot of students think speed is the problem, but usually it's all the rereading that slows them down. If you notice yourself going back over sentences because you're worried you missed something, try to keep moving forward and focus on the big picture. You can always go back for the details when a question asks for them.

And if you find yourself running out of time, don't stress about finishing all four passages right away. Focus on getting accurate first. As you get better at spotting the structure and picking out what's important, your speed will improve on its own.

Hi there! STEM passages can definitely feel intimidating at first, but one thing that really helped me was realizing that the LSAT isn't actually testing your knowledge of the science. Instead, it's all about understanding the structure of the passage. Whenever I came across a technical term or a complicated process, I reminded myself not to get caught up in the details. Instead, I would ask, "Why is the author mentioning this?" and "How does this fit into the bigger picture?"

I also recommend treating unfamiliar scientific concepts like placeholders. For example, if you see a passage talking about a complicated biological process, you can just think of it as "Theory A" or "Process X." The key is to focus on how it connects to the other ideas in the passage, rather than worrying about the specifics.

Another tip is to pay close attention to transitions in the passage. Like Scott mentioned, a lot of STEM passages start with background information before they get to the main debate, discovery, or question. If you can spot where that shift happens, the passage will feel a lot more manageable.

Finally, try not to get discouraged if STEM passages seem tough at first. With some practice, you'll see that the same reading comprehension skills work whether the passage is about science, law, history, or art. You've got this!

Hi there! It's pretty common for your performance to vary depending on how comfortable you are with the testing platform. If you've practiced more on one platform, even little things like how the layout looks or how you move between questions can make a difference in how you feel and how you score.

I'd also recommend checking if this score difference shows up across several PTs, or if it just happened once or twice. It's totally normal for PT scores to go up and down a bit, so try to see if there's a real pattern before worrying about it.

If you do notice a consistent difference, try to pay attention to what feels different when you're taking the test. Are you pacing yourself differently? Do you feel more distracted? Are you spending extra time moving between questions? Figuring out what's causing the difference can help you decide if it's really the interface or just normal score changes.

Hi there! One of the biggest 'aha' moments I had with RC was realizing it's really more about structure than about memorizing every detail. Instead of trying to remember everything, try to pay attention to what each paragraph is doing and how the author's argument or perspective is building as you go.

Another thing that really helped me was thinking of RC less as a reading test and more as an exercise in analyzing arguments. Try to notice the author's viewpoint, any competing viewpoints, where people agree or disagree, and why the author includes certain examples. You'll find that a lot of questions can be answered just by having a good grasp of the structure and main point.

I also encourage you to stay actively engaged as you read. After each paragraph, just pause for a moment and ask yourself, 'What was the purpose of that paragraph?' Even a quick mental summary can make it so much easier to find your way around the passage when you get to the questions.

I hope that helps! Happy studying, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi there! This is actually a really common experience, so you're not alone. When we're working through questions quickly, it's easy to focus on the general idea and miss the details in each sentence. But on the LSAT, even a single word like "some," "most," "unless," or "only" can completely change what an argument means.

One strategy I recommend is to slow down just a bit and try to figure out what each sentence is doing as you read. For example, you can ask yourself questions like: "Is this evidence?" "Is this the conclusion?" or "How does this sentence connect to the one before it?" This approach helps you stay engaged and makes it less likely you'll miss those important details.

Also, try not to worry if this has only been happening for a short time. Active reading is a skill that gets better with practice, and just noticing the issue is already a great first step toward improving.

Hey! A 100% Blind Review score is actually a very encouraging sign. It suggests that your primary issue is not understanding the material but rather executing under time constraints.

The first thing I’d suggest is to figure out exactly where your time is going. Are you spending a lot of time on the toughest questions? Do you find yourself rereading the stimulus or passage more than once? Or maybe you’re getting stuck choosing between two answer choices? The more specific you can get about what’s slowing you down, the easier it will be to work on it.

Something that really helped me was giving myself permission to move on when I needed to. It is very easy to get stuck trying to be absolutely certain about every single question, but sometimes it’s better to eliminate the answers you know are wrong, pick the best one left, and keep going. That way, you don’t lose time.

I’d also recommend mixing in some timed sections instead of only practicing untimed. The idea is to slowly build up your speed while still keeping your accuracy. When you review, make sure to notice which questions took you a long time, even if you ended up getting them right. Those are great opportunities to find ways to get faster.

One last thing to keep in mind is that getting better with timing usually comes from being more efficient, not just thinking faster. As you get more familiar with common argument structures, question types, and the patterns of wrong answers, you’ll find yourself moving through questions more quickly without feeling rushed.

Your perfect Blind Review score shows that you already have the knowledge you need. Now it’s just about finding ways to access that knowledge more quickly when the clock is ticking. I hope this helps, and keep up the great work!

I agree with the great advice you've already received! One thing I'd add is that drills and PTs actually test different skills. Drills are all about whether you can solve a question, but PTs add in extra layers like stamina, pacing, focus, and how well you can perform under pressure for a longer stretch.

If you've been studying regularly but haven't taken a PT in a while, it's totally normal to see a gap between your drill performance and your PT score. PTs are a skill on their own! Taking them regularly can help you get more comfortable with the format and what the exam expects from you.

I also noticed you took the PT right after waking up. That alone could have made a big difference in your performance! For future PTs, try to match your expected testing conditions as closely as you can. That means thinking about the time of day, your warmup routine, and your environment.

Finally, I recommend looking beyond just your overall score and figuring out where you're losing points. Is it a timing issue? Are certain question types tripping you up? Does your accuracy drop in the later sections? Figuring out exactly where the gap is coming from can help you make a more targeted plan for next time.

Hi Ray!

Welcome to the community! My biggest piece of advice is to focus on really understanding the LSAT before you start stressing about your score. Take some time to get familiar with the structure of the test, the different question types, and the timing. The more comfortable you are with how the LSAT works, the less overwhelming it will feel on test day.

I also recommend figuring out early on which parts of the test give you the most trouble. Try to notice which question types or sections feel hardest, and then use targeted drills to work on those areas. Focused practice on your weak spots is usually way more helpful than just doing tons of random questions.

Another thing that really helped me was reviewing my mistakes carefully. I found that I improved the most when I took the time to figure out exactly why I missed a question and thought about how I could avoid making that mistake again.

Finally, try to be patient with yourself. Progress on the LSAT is almost never a straight line, and it's totally normal to hit plateaus sometimes. Just keep practicing consistently and thoughtfully, and you'll see improvement over time.

I hope this helps as you get started! If you ever want more support or have questions, feel free to reach out. Welcome again to 7Sage, and best of luck with your studies!

One thing that worked for me was quickly summarizing each paragraph in my head as I read. I didn’t write anything down, but I’d think things like: "Paragraph 1 introduces the debate," "Paragraph 2 presents one viewpoint," or "Paragraph 3 critiques that viewpoint." Doing this kept me focused and made it easier to find information later.

I also made sure to notice structural markers like contrast words such as "however," "but," or "although," as well as the author’s opinions and any changes in perspective. Even if you’re not highlighting, spotting these moments can help you see how the passage is organized and what the main point is.

Once you really understand how a passage is structured, you don’t need to highlight as much as you think you would.

I hope this helps, and good luck with your RC practice!

Hi there! First off, please don't worry. You're in a great spot. Starting at 140 and aiming for 155 by September is a totally reasonable goal, and you have plenty of time to make that progress.

Something you mentioned really stood out to me, that you understand the explanation videos, but then have trouble applying the lesson to new questions. That’s actually super common! Sometimes it means we’re following along with the explanation but haven't quite made the reasoning our own yet. Here’s a tip: before you watch the explanation, try to write out why you think the right answer is correct and why the wrong ones are wrong. Then, after you watch, see if you can explain the reasoning in your own words. This helps you actively process the logic rather than passively listening.

About your score dipping a bit: try not to stress about the estimated scores from small drill sets. Those numbers can bounce around a lot just based on which questions you get. What matters more is how you’re doing over time on full sections and practice tests, not just on a handful of questions.

As for whether you should start on RC, I’d say go for it! That doesn’t mean you have to stop working on LR. You can keep practicing and reviewing LR while you start learning RC. The LSAT tests multiple sections, and you don’t need to have LR totally mastered before you move on to RC.

If you’re finding that you’re missing level 1 and 2 questions, it might help to slow down and focus on your process instead of trying to do a ton of questions. Try to make sure you’re spotting the conclusion, understanding the support, and thinking about what the right answer should do before you look at the choices. Sometimes, doing fewer questions but reviewing them more deeply is what really helps things click.

I hope this helps, and please don’t get discouraged! It’s really common to feel stuck right before things start to make sense. Keep focusing on understanding your mistakes, and you’ll set yourself up for success in September.

Hi there! I know this feels frustrating, but honestly, I see this as a sign that your challenge is probably about timing, confidence, or handling pressure, not about not understanding the material.

If your blind review score is in the high 160s or even 170s, that tells me that, when you have enough time, you can usually find the right answer. That's a big difference from someone whose timed and blind review scores are both in the low 150s. In your case, you really do know the material.

The next thing to figure out is where those points are slipping away. Are you spending too much time on tough questions? Are you changing answers that were right the first time? Is pacing tricky, or does the timer make you panic? There are a few reasons why your timed and blind review scores might be different, so it's important to pinpoint what's going on for you.

Don't underestimate how much the timer can mess with your head! A lot of students start to hesitate, second-guess themselves, or rush when they see the clock ticking, even if they know how to solve the questions. So I would recommend pinpointing exactly where and why the points are being lost.

I've been in your shoes, balancing work and studying, and I want to remind you that rest is actually part of your study plan and definitely not something to feel guilty about. If you're working full-time, it's totally normal that studying every single day might not be realistic or sustainable.

Something that really helped me manage the guilt was focusing on being consistent, not perfect. Missing a study day or two each week is very different from not studying at all. If you keep showing up over time, those rest days probably won't make or break your score.

It can also help to think of those days as recovery days instead of skipped days. Mental fatigue is real, and sometimes giving yourself a night off means you'll come back even more productive!

One thing that helped me with flaw questions was realizing that my job wasn't to find every single thing wrong with the argument. LSAT arguments often have a bunch of issues, but the test makers usually want you to pick the answer that describes the flaw that's most important to the reasoning.

One habit I recommend is to start by finding the conclusion, and then ask yourself, "Why does the author think these premises prove this conclusion?" Once you spot that connection, try to figure out what the author is assuming or taking for granted. Usually, the flaw is hiding right in that gap.

If you notice a few possible flaws, try lining them up with the conclusion and see which one matches the author's actual reasoning. Ask yourself which answer choice describes exactly how the author is thinking, instead of just pointing out something that's wrong. A lot of wrong answers mention a weakness, but don't actually get at the main flaw in the argument.

Another tip: try reviewing flaw questions by grouping them into common patterns. As you practice, you'll start to spot familiar flaws, like mixing up correlation and causation, ruling out other possibilities too fast, treating a necessary condition as if it's enough, or using a biased sample. The more of these patterns you recognize, the less each flaw question will feel like a brand new puzzle.

I hope this helps! Flaw questions can definitely be tricky since you have to both understand the argument and think about the reasoning in a more abstract way. But with enough practice and review, you'll start to see the patterns and these questions will get a lot easier. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Hi!

My name is Asma, and I'm a tutor here at 7Sage.

What you're feeling is totally normal, especially before your first official LSAT! I remember feeling the same way. Something that really helped me was reminding myself that feeling anxious doesn't mean I'm not ready.

If you notice your heart racing during the test, try not to see that as a sign that something is wrong. Just notice it, take a slow breath, and gently bring your attention back to the question in front of you. Remember, your goal isn't to feel perfectly calm. It's to use the skills you've practiced so much.

At this point, trust all the work you've put in. The official LSAT is just like the practice tests you've already taken. You've got this! Wishing you the best of luck this week.

Best,

Asma

A small thing I think might help is to try treating your first pass as an elimination step instead of just picking an answer. If you can’t clearly explain why the other four choices are wrong, hold off on making a final decision. This will help you avoid many early mistakes. Have you noticed any patterns as to maybe the kind of questions or even certain things that trip you more often when you do drills vs blind review?