Yes, what works best for me is simply pausing, focusing my eyes on something not on the screen, and reminding myself what to do on this next section. Usually it’s something like: “I’m not here to score a -0, but to read each stimulus/passage, prephrase/low-res, and select the best answer.” That’s how I spend my two-minute breaks.
It sounds like you already know what you need to remind yourself of. You will find your little routine and be just fine.
There are many reasons why your performance dipped. Were you tired or distracted while taking the exam? Were you overthinking the front half of the section causing you to be starved for time on the latter half? There are many more reasons for this. What is notable is that you are capable of a 163. You cannot guess your way through this exam.
The best way for you to understand the dip is to review your second exam and ask yourself why you selected the incorrect answer and why the correct answer is correct. I recommend doing one section a day so you don’t find yourself rushing through this process. Do not pressure yourself to review it in one sitting or feel the need to complete additional drills—this is the best form of studying you can do right now.
After your review, gather the main takeaways and make note of them under the notes tab. Bookmark that note. When you start drilling again, refer to that note before you begin.
It’s worth noting that this is common at the 160+ range. Progress is nonlinear for this type of exam as it rewards mitigating losses under time constraints. You can perfectly understand every question, but, because of the time limit, receive an average score.
Regarding your plan, it sounds great if you have solid fundamentals which is proven by a 170+ Blind Review score. At this point, you need to sharpen your intuition and time management strategy—sections are perfect for this. If your Blind Review is in the mid-160s, I recommend rereviewing the core curriculum for your weaker question/passage types, coupled with targeted drilling.
Your life will become much easier when you approach each drill and practice test not as a measure of your ability, but as an opportunity to learn. Your confidence should not be shaken by a low PT. You don’t need to question your study schedule every time you scored lower than you would like. You just have to keep doing what you’ve learned. You will reach your target score.
I recommend explaining to yourself why your answer is incorrect and why the other answer is correct. You don’t need to drill more questions or drastically change your study schedule. You need to review more deeply, and then rereview those questions later in the week.
I recommend toggling the “flag correct answers” under Blind Review settings. This will prevent you from simply selecting the other answer and will force you to defend your selection.
I've been stuck in the low 160s for months--since August actually. I kept drilling and scored a 163 on my November exam. I took a month off before getting back on the LSAT train, and I scored this after not touching the LSAT for a month. Praise God!
For those who remain in a plateau: Keep going. It will eventually click.
Take the January exam. If you receive a higher score, inform your schools. If not, then nothing changes and you have no regrets.
Take the job. It will strengthen your law school resume and your actual resume--very important when you apply for positions post-law-school graduation. Be prepared to sacrifice parts of your weekend and weeknights. It also puts you in a stronger financial position to say yes to more law schools regardless of scholarship as not every school is generous.
I didn't start getting these questions right until after my last tutor session. The correct answer will touch on all aspects of the passage. Common trap answers are too narrow. I recommend reviewing the RC passage types as the style of the passage often determines the structure of the correct answer.
For example, a problem-solution passage's correct answer will always say: Here is the problem and here is (are) the solution(s).
This exam continues to be one of my greatest challenges. (This makes me sound so privileged, I know.) Without being any more dramatic, the only thing that keeps me going is me knowing that God has called me to be an attorney. If he has called me to it, he must provide the grace for me to reach this goal. If you haven't already, I highly recommend spending time in prayer, ask for encouragement and strength, and ask what God has planned for your life. He truly has gone before you and made the crooked places straight. He is for you. We must submit ourselves to him and corporate with his grace--easier said than done, however.
This might be a terrible answer, and probably not what a 7sage tutor would say; however, I recommend taking a practice test, or, at least, one section of LR and another of RC. I found it difficult to engage with the Core Curriculum because I didn't understand its relation to the exam nor did I understand how much I needed its content. I definitely went through the Core Curriculum too quickly and struggled to engage with it because I didn't realize its value.
I don't think it's a terrible idea to complete a section of the Core Curriculum and then drill that question type. In fact, it might help you engage with the content more. I would recommend only drilling one to three star questions in the beginning before challenging yourself. This will help you solidify your approach. A 175 scorer needs to have an approach to every question type.
Also, you are at full liberty to use the content as you seem fit. If you're not sure if you need to complete a portion of the Core Curriculum, drill some questions. Your results will be a great indicator.
Hi, SBGardiner. From all the information I've gathered, it appears two pages is the most wise. I've heard submitted unsolicited materials are not received very favorably. I recommend included your top two or three articles/publications. Due to the vast number of applicant's, I do not think the officers will be reading more than one of your articles. It sounds like the requested statements are all that admission officers really look at. I would shorten the number of bullets you place under each job experience to meet that two page recommendation.
All the sources I've listened to recommend putting your education first on your resume with any awards, clubs, or major projects. Admissions officers will assume your level of undergraduate engagement will reflect in your law school engagement.
I don't think an addendum would be beneficial regarding your professional writing samples since this will be included in your resume. Again, I can't recommend submitting these additional materials if the law does not ask for them based off what I've learned through this process. I think it would be most wise to put no more than two titles of your work with an additional bullet stating (Written 25+ articles regarding X, Y, and Z topics).