Hello everyone,

I recently completed PrepTest 101 before beginning formal LSAT study and received a 147 with a raw score of 42/78. I would appreciate guidance on how to translate the results into an effective study plan.

I previously had an initial 141 exposure. I did not complete formal lessons or drills between the two scores, although I became more familiar with the LSAT’s general structure. I am therefore treating this 147 as my pre-study baseline rather than as the result of an established preparation routine.

My long-term goal is the University of Washington School of Law. My undergraduate GPA is approximately 3.47, so I anticipate applying as an out-of-region splitter. Since my LSAT performance will be especially important to my admissions prospects, I am aiming for at least a 165 and ideally a 170.

Diagnostic results:

• Scored RC: 16/27

• Timed LR: 9/25

• Second LR: 17/26

• Experimental RC: 14/27

My question-type results across the two LR sections included:

• Deductions and inferences: 5/7

• Conclusions and disputes: 2/3

• Matching flaws: 2/2

• Matching structure/principles: 2/2

• Assumptions: 4/8 overall

• Strengthen/weaken: 4/9

• Techniques, roles, and principles: 4/10

• Flaws: 3/8

• Explain/resolve: 0/2

The small sample sizes limit what I can conclude, but identifying argument structure, flaws, roles, and the effect of new information appears to require substantial work.

RC also showed a strong pacing pattern. I answered 15/20 correctly on the first three scored passages, then only 1/7 on the final passage after leaving myself fewer than five minutes. The final passage happened to be humanities, but I answered 7/8 correctly on a humanities passage when it appeared first in the experimental section. This suggests that passage order and time management may be more significant than passage type.

My current priorities appear to be:

• Building a consistent method for identifying conclusions, premises, assumptions, and gaps

• Improving accuracy before attempting to force speed

• Learning when to skip and return instead of spending too long on one question

• Using blind review and a detailed wrong-answer journal

• Developing RC passage timing that leaves adequate time for all four passages

Would you recommend completing the full Core Curriculum before beginning timed sections, or combining the curriculum with targeted drilling from the beginning? I would also appreciate advice about when to introduce full practice tests and what untimed or timed accuracy benchmarks I should reach before progressing.

If anyone began around this score range and eventually reached the mid-to-high 160s or 170, I would be grateful to hear which parts of your study process produced the greatest improvement.