@TCL I also noticed with a few friends that their first real attempt seemed to be, on average, 8-10 points lower than their regular PTs. I think that's why it's important not to get too hung up on them, because you don't know how you're going to do in the actual testing environment. For instance, one of my friends had a 152 diagnostic, practiced a little more than you (10 months to a year) and was regularly scoring in the low to mid 170s on PTs. Got a 165 on the first attempt. Second attempt got a 169. Third attempt got a 173. All of those scores are great, but she needed to break 170 for Georgetown. Not saying this happens with everyone—but my LSAT tutor noted he's seen it quite a bit as well. It's encouraging because yes, it is highly likely that you did worse on your first attempt than PTs due to stress. Now you know what to expect. (Sorry, my dog is climbing all over me due to a thunderstorm, so if I'm repeating myself, that's not my intention!)

I can only tell you what my LSAT tutor tells me—don't place too much emphasis on PTs. It's imperative that you do enough of them to know your strengths, weaknesses, and any time management concerns. Quality over quantity. Repetitive practice isn't enough—really lean into the explanations and why you were wrong. Practice along with thoughtful review is what builds skill, and building skill is the most important part of it all. If you want to DM me, I can give you some of his info if you're interested in tutoring with him. He really changed the way I THINK, which is so rare (he built Kaplan's LSAT prep in the early 90s I believe and has been doing this over forty years. Got enough 180s that LSAC told him to move on). I'd really love to just have an accountability buddy, so if you or anyone else reading this needs the same, that would be great. Not to necessarily study or review with, but at least to check with each other and make sure we're doing what we should be.

@madisonmasterson All of the writers who prepare the LSAT questions are men. Not the same as all authors, of course.

Damn, just wanted to say congrats!!! That's incredible.

@MikeRoss I was arguing with myself a bit about this one as well, and defaulted to similar logic. There’s no argument for or against the hugging.

@LiviaLSAT The author is making the claim that the aforementioned technique can be used to obtain accurate dates for sites almost a million years old in cooler regions.

That’s the conclusion of the argument because the premise only states that measurements of the extent of amino acid decomposition in fragments of eggshell found at archaeological sites in such places as Southern Africa can be used to obtain accurate dates for sites up to 200,000 years old.

Yet, “because the decomposition is slower in cooler climates”, accurate dates go back even further there than in Southern Africa.

Hopefully that makes sense.

My doctor: “The LSAT is easy, Kate. I don’t understand why you don’t just go take it and stop with this prep nonsense. Simply read the stimulus and select the most logical answer.”

Also my doctor: PhD in aerospace engineering. MD in aerospace medicine. Scored a 173 on the practice test I sent him. Is horrible about calling in medication refills but I can get him to do so by sending LSAT prep questions and then withholding the credited answer.

My professor/UVA grad/part time appellate court judge: “I didn’t prep. I did keep a prep book under my pillow to remind me to study. I guess it must have been osmosis.”

I know I’m plowing right off the track here, but does anyone else know people like this who actually believe their advice is sound? I get it. You’re geniuses. It doesn’t apply to 99.9% of us, though. I just find it entertaining and wanted to hear other funny examples.

@HainingPeng I don’t think you could, due to the “because” after the word “omelet” in the argument being the indicator of the conclusion.

I think it would only be possible if you played around with the structure of the argument a bit, like — Most chefs have extensive culinary knowledge because all chefs with extensive culinary knowledge can make a delicious omelet and most chefs can make a delicious omelet.

That might make it make sense as the conclusion. I’m also getting tired so maybe someone else can weigh in, lol.

@AaronMiller2003 and sometimes you have an intermediate conclusion! Fun times.

@GGG If you’re someone who thoroughly enjoys reading SCOTUS opinions and has excitedly shared these with friends or family — only to be met with a blank stare — law school is probably for you. That likely applies to most people on 7Sage, ha.

Taking the LSAT in April. Using April's as a "good effort" goal but June as my "best effort". I graduated from UCF with a poly sci/pre law degree in 2024, yet went through the most traumatic experience of my life five days before graduation. Hence why it took me two years to get back on track. But I'm definitely back on track. If anyone in the Orlando, FL or Savannah, GA area wants to study sometime or just have an accountability buddy, msg me through the chat. :) I'm in Orlando now but I'm back and forth between the two.

This was the best and easiest explanation by far. Everything before it made it slightly more confusing until I finally understood it, but this is a lot more clean.