@lagata My pleasure! I'm really glad it helped. I think that's a great decision. Writing things down at work has made a huge difference for me because it gets those thoughts out of my head and onto paper, so I'm not carrying them around afterward. I hope it helps you too, and I'm wishing you all the best!

I completely relate to this. I worked while studying, and one thing that helped me was accepting that I could never do my best studying if part of my brain was still at work.

For context, I earned a 515 on the MCAT (about the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (about the 96th percentile). These are the habits that made the biggest difference for me:

• I gave myself a 20–30 minute "shutdown routine" after work. I wrote down every client issue, task, or idea that was on my mind. Once it was on paper, I reminded myself, "I'll handle this tomorrow." That made it much easier to mentally transition into study mode.

• Before opening my books, I spent 5–10 minutes taking a walk, stretching, or doing light exercise. That physical transition helped separate work from studying.

• I studied in a different environment whenever possible. Even moving to another room or a library made my brain associate that location with LSAT mode instead of work mode.

• I studied in focused blocks (45–60 minutes) with my phone completely out of sight. Even brief interruptions noticeably reduced my concentration.

• I didn't aim for perfect focus—I aimed to get started. Once I was 10–15 minutes into a Logical Reasoning section or Reading Comprehension passage, the work thoughts usually faded on their own.

As for actually enjoying the LSAT, my mindset changed when I stopped treating it like a test and started treating it like a game of finding flaws in arguments and solving puzzles.

A few things that helped:

• I celebrated getting difficult questions right instead of being frustrated when I missed them.

• I reviewed every mistake until I could explain exactly why the correct answer was right and why every other choice was wrong.

• I tracked my progress instead of obsessing over my score. Watching my accuracy improve made studying much more rewarding.

• I reminded myself that every question has one objectively correct answer. That made the exam feel like a puzzle with rules rather than something subjective.

The people I know who scored in the 170s didn't necessarily "love" the LSAT at first—they learned to enjoy the challenge because every mistake was an opportunity to sharpen their reasoning. Once I viewed each question as a puzzle instead of an obstacle, studying became much more engaging, and my focus improved significantly.

@superchillasian Thank you so much for your kind words and support! I really appreciate it. It means a lot to hear that my journey has been inspiring. The road definitely had its ups and downs, but staying consistent made a huge difference, and I’m excited for the next chapter in law school.

For context, I was fortunate to earn a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 96th percentile). Those scores came from a lot of disciplined preparation, consistency, and learning from mistakes along the way.

If there’s one piece of advice I would give, it’s to focus on steady improvement rather than perfection. Small gains every day add up over time. If my experience can motivate someone else to keep going, then sharing it is absolutely worthwhile.

Thank you again for the encouragement. I wish you all the success with your own goals, and I’m confident that with persistence and hard work, you can achieve them too. Wishing you nothing but the very best! 🩵

@KeltonRivas Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words, and I wish you the very best on your journey toward a 170.

Having earned a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 95th–97th percentile) and a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile), the biggest lessons I learned were that consistency, careful review, and focusing on the quality of preparation matter more than simply increasing the number of hours studied.

For the LSAT, my best advice is:

• Master the fundamentals before chasing speed. Make sure you fully understand why each answer choice is right or wrong.

• Keep an error log. Every missed question should become a lesson. Identify whether the mistake came from misunderstanding the stimulus, a logic error, rushing, or falling for a trap answer.

• Prioritize accuracy first, then timing. Speed naturally improves once your recognition of patterns becomes stronger.

• Practice under realistic conditions. Full-length timed exams are essential for building endurance and confidence.

For the MCAT, my biggest recommendations are:

• Focus on active learning rather than passive review. Practice questions and explaining concepts in your own words are much more valuable than rereading content.

• Review every practice question deeply. Understanding why you missed something is where the greatest improvement happens.

• Build strong foundations in the sciences while continuously practicing passage-based reasoning.

• Develop a consistent schedule and track weaknesses over time.

Most importantly, don't become discouraged by practice scores that are lower than your goal. Improvement often happens gradually, and every mistake is an opportunity to strengthen your approach. Stay disciplined, trust the process, and keep refining your strategy.

I’m rooting for you—you can absolutely make significant progress with the right preparation and mindset. Best of luck on your LSAT journey!

@J.Y.Ping Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words.

My final LSAT score was 170. Because my long-term goal is to practice medical malpractice law while also training as a physician, I prepared for and took both the LSAT and the MCAT. The LSAT was essential for pursuing legal education, while the MCAT was required for medical school admissions. Since I plan to build a career at the intersection of medicine and law, strong preparation for both exams was an important part of that path.

I ultimately earned a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 95th–97th percentile) and a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile). Reaching those scores took consistent preparation, careful review of my mistakes, and steady improvement over time. My progress wasn't the result of one breakthrough—it came from continually refining my approach, strengthening my reasoning skills, and learning from each practice test.

If anyone has questions about preparing for either exam or wants advice on pursuing both medicine and law, I'm always happy to share what I learned and help however I can.

@PhoebeHopp Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words.

My final LSAT score was 170. Because my long-term goal is to practice medical malpractice law while also training as a physician, I prepared for and took both the LSAT and the MCAT. The LSAT was essential for pursuing legal education, while the MCAT was required for medical school admissions. Since I plan to build a career at the intersection of medicine and law, strong preparation for both exams was an important part of that path.

I ultimately earned a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 95th–97th percentile) and a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile). Reaching those scores took consistent preparation, careful review of my mistakes, and steady improvement over time. My progress wasn't the result of one breakthrough—it came from continually refining my approach, strengthening my reasoning skills, and learning from each practice test.

If anyone has questions about preparing for either exam or wants advice on pursuing both medicine and law, I'm always happy to share what I learned and help however I can.

@KeltonRivas Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words.

My final LSAT score was 170. Because my long-term goal is to practice medical malpractice law while also training as a physician, I prepared for and took both the LSAT and the MCAT. The LSAT was essential for pursuing legal education, while the MCAT was required for medical school admissions. Since I plan to build a career at the intersection of medicine and law, strong preparation for both exams was an important part of that path.

I ultimately earned a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 95th–97th percentile) and a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile). Reaching those scores took consistent preparation, careful review of my mistakes, and steady improvement over time. My progress wasn't the result of one breakthrough—it came from continually refining my approach, strengthening my reasoning skills, and learning from each practice test.

If anyone has questions about preparing for either exam or wants advice on pursuing both medicine and law, I'm always happy to share what I learned and help however I can.

@bilingualspeechpath107 Thank you so much! It’s my pleasure, and I truly appreciate your kind words. I completely understand how you feel, but keep pushing forward and don’t give up. I started with my lowest practice exam scores and had to keep improving through persistence, discipline, and believing in the process. Applying for accommodations like TLL can be an important step in creating the right testing environment, so keep advocating for yourself. Wishing you the very best on your LSAT journey—you’ve got this!

One additional thing I wanted to share is that my journey did not begin with strong practice scores. My first MCAT practice exam was a 472 (the minimum possible composite score based on four 118 section scores), and my first LSAT practice exam was a 120. At that point, the goal I was working toward felt extremely far away.

The gap between where I started and where I ultimately finished was built through consistency, discipline, and learning from every mistake. I had to completely rebuild my approach, strengthen my foundations, and commit to improving a little bit every day.

Eventually, that work led to earning a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 97th percentile), along with a 4.0 GPA.

The biggest lesson I learned is that your starting point does not determine your destination. A disappointing diagnostic score is simply a snapshot of where you are today—not a limit on where you can go. Keep working, trust the process, and remember that significant growth is possible with dedication and perseverance.

Congratulations! This is an incredible accomplishment, and your perseverance is truly inspiring. Stories like yours are a reminder that setbacks don't define the outcome—determination, resilience, and consistency do.

Your journey resonates with me because I've also dedicated years to pursuing ambitious academic goals. I was incredibly grateful to earn a 4.0 GPA, a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile), and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 97th percentile). Those achievements ultimately led to acceptances to MD–JD programs at many of the nation's most selective institutions, including Harvard, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Stanford, Northwestern, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, and other leading MD–JD programs from all these schools. Receiving full-ride scholarships made the opportunity even more meaningful, and I'm deeply thankful for everyone who supported me throughout the journey.

Your story is another example that persistence pays off. Congratulations again on your acceptance and scholarship. I wish you every success as you begin law school this fall, and I hope others who are facing setbacks today will keep believing in themselves and continue working toward their goals. Please do not hesitate to ask me questions for everyone and anyone needing advice.

I completely understand where you’re coming from. I experienced a similar challenge while preparing for major standardized exams. I earned a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 97th percentile), and one of the biggest lessons I learned was that maximizing study time does not mean studying at maximum intensity every single day.

When I started feeling burnout, I focused on making my preparation more sustainable rather than simply adding more hours. A few things that helped me:

• Build in intentional recovery time: I treated rest as part of my study plan rather than something I had to “earn.” A consistent schedule with breaks helped me stay focused over the long term.

• Prioritize quality over quantity: A few hours of deeply focused LSAT practice with thorough review was often more valuable than forcing myself through endless drills while mentally exhausted.

• Track progress beyond scores: I paid attention to improvements in specific skills—like recognizing patterns, reducing mistakes, and improving timing—rather than only judging myself by practice test numbers.

• Change the routine, but keep structure: Studying in different locations, volunteering, exercising, and maintaining hobbies can help prevent monotony, but having a predictable daily framework is what kept me consistent.

• Review mistakes carefully: For the LSAT especially, improvement came less from doing more questions and more from understanding exactly why I missed questions and building better habits.

Since you still have about a month before starting your new job, I would try to view this period as a marathon rather than a sprint. The goal is to arrive at test day confident, mentally sharp, and consistent—not exhausted from trying to be perfect every day.

You’re already doing a lot of the right things by recognizing burnout early and making adjustments. Keep protecting your energy while continuing deliberate practice, and you’ll put yourself in a much stronger position for September.

I was in a similar position before my official MCAT. What ultimately helped me earn a 515 (91st percentile) was focusing on consistency and learning from every mistake rather than just trying to complete more practice questions.

A few things made the biggest difference for me:

• I took a full-length practice exam regularly under realistic testing conditions and spent far more time reviewing it than taking it.

• I kept a detailed error log to identify patterns in my mistakes, whether they were content gaps, reasoning errors, or misreading the question.

• I made sure I truly understood every question I missed instead of simply memorizing the correct answer.

• I prioritized high-yield topics while still reviewing weaker areas consistently.

• I used spaced repetition for equations, amino acids, metabolic pathways, and other concepts that required long-term retention.

• I practiced CARS every day, focusing on understanding the author's reasoning rather than rushing through passages.

• I treated every practice exam as if it were the real MCAT so test day felt familiar.

The biggest improvement came from the quality of my review, not the quantity of questions I completed. Once I started fixing the underlying reasons for my mistakes instead of repeating them, my scores steadily improved and eventually reached 515.

If you're feeling stuck, don't get discouraged. Progress on the MCAT is rarely linear. Stay consistent, trust your review process, and keep building on your weaknesses one step at a time. You've got this!

I was in a similar position before my official LSAT. What ultimately helped me earn a 170 (97th percentile) was improving my consistency rather than looking for a single breakthrough.

A few things made the biggest difference for me:

• I took a timed, full-length practice test every week and thoroughly reviewed every question afterward, especially the ones I answered correctly for the wrong reasons.

• I kept an error log to identify recurring patterns in my mistakes instead of simply tracking my score.

• I focused on accuracy first, then gradually increased my pace. Speed came naturally as my reasoning improved.

• For Logical Reasoning, I practiced identifying the conclusion, evidence, and assumption before looking at the answer choices.

• For Reading Comprehension, I concentrated on understanding the author's viewpoint and the structure of the passage rather than trying to memorize every detail.

• I simulated official testing conditions as closely as possible so test day felt routine.

The review process was far more valuable than taking additional practice tests. Once I began understanding why I was making mistakes and eliminated those patterns, my score consistently moved into the 160s and eventually reached 170.

You're already scoring in the 154–158 range, so you're within striking distance of your goal. Stay disciplined with your review, trust the process, and don't let a single practice test define your progress. Good luck in August—you've got this!

I earned a 515 on the MCAT (≈91st–92nd percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (≈97th–98th percentile), and the biggest shift for me was realizing that understanding material during review and performing under timed conditions are almost completely different skills.

At first, I was exactly in the same situation: I would drill questions, review them carefully, and feel like I “got it,” but my full-length performance stayed flat. The breakthrough happened when I stopped treating review as the goal. Review only told me what was wrong—it didn’t train me to not do it again under time pressure.

What actually moved my scores:

I stopped relying on passive understanding and forced repetition under conditions that matched the real exam. Every missed question wasn’t just reviewed—I re-did it cold days later until I could consistently get it right without hesitation. That gap between “I recognize it” and “I can generate it under pressure” is where most score ceilings live.

I also stopped treating full-length tests as progress indicators on their own. A single PT meant very little. What mattered was whether the same mistake type was disappearing over time. When I noticed patterns—like misreading conditional logic or falling for LSAT trap answers—I trained those categories in isolation instead of doing broad, unfocused practice.

Another key adjustment was separating accuracy from speed. I first trained myself to get near-perfect accuracy untimed, then gradually layered in timing pressure. Trying to do both at once earlier just reinforced mistakes.

Mentally, what kept me consistent was not expecting every PT to improve. My scores fluctuated, but I tracked progress by error elimination, not raw numbers. Once repeated mistakes started disappearing, the score jump followed naturally.

The discouraging part early on is that improvement feels invisible. But at this level, progress is mostly happening in pattern correction, not in obvious score jumps until a threshold breaks.

I don't think you're late at all. I know people who started the process several years after graduating and were very successful. The most important thing is submitting the strongest application you can, not rushing it.

For context, I earned a 515 MCAT (about the 91st percentile), a 170 LSAT (about the 97th percentile), an 800 GMAT Focus (100th percentile), and a 340 GRE (about the 99th percentile). Based on my experience preparing for standardized tests, I'd recommend focusing on earning the highest LSAT score you can rather than trying to test as early as possible.

An October LSAT can still work for Fall 2027 applications, but if you think waiting until a later administration would result in a meaningfully higher score, that can be a worthwhile tradeoff depending on your target schools and application timeline. A stronger LSAT score generally has a greater impact than rushing to take the exam before you're ready.

My biggest tips would be:

• Don't rush your LSAT preparation—master logical reasoning and take plenty of timed practice tests.

• Apply as early in the admissions cycle as you reasonably can after you have your score.

• Spend time crafting a compelling personal statement and obtaining strong letters of recommendation.

• Apply broadly, including reach, target, and safety schools.

You've got plenty of time to put together a competitive application for Fall 2027. A well-prepared application is far more valuable than simply being a few weeks earlier.

I can definitely relate to the feeling of being stuck at a score plateau. When I was preparing, I ultimately earned a 170 LSAT (approximately the 97th percentile) and a 515 MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile), and one of the biggest lessons I learned was that the jump from the mid-160s to 170+ is very different from the jump from the 150s to the 160s.

At a 165, you're already getting the vast majority of questions correct. The difference between 165 and 170 is often just a handful of questions per test, which means the focus shifts from learning concepts to eliminating recurring mistakes.

A few things that helped me:

1. Track every missed question by type. Don't just review why an answer was wrong. Create an error log and look for patterns. Are the misses concentrated in Necessary Assumption, Parallel Reasoning, Strengthen, Weaken, RC inference questions, or something else? Many people think their mistakes are random when they're actually clustered.

2. Study the questions you get wrong after predicting the answer. If you're successfully predicting most answers but still missing questions, the issue may not be comprehension. It may be that attractive wrong answers are pulling you away from your initial reasoning. Analyze exactly what made the wrong choice tempting.

3. Slow down on the hardest questions. The highest-difficulty questions are often where 170+ scorers separate themselves. Rather than trying to force speed everywhere, make sure you're fully understanding the argument structure and answer choice language on those final few questions.

4. Review correct answers too. Some of my biggest improvements came from questions I answered correctly but wasn't fully confident about. Those are often hidden weaknesses waiting to become future mistakes.

5. Prioritize quality over volume. Two hundred questions per day is an enormous workload. If you're already averaging 86% on drills, it may be more beneficial to spend additional time dissecting the hardest misses than simply completing more questions.

6. Look for recurring reasoning errors rather than content gaps. At your level, improvements often come from refining judgment—recognizing subtle logical shifts, scope issues, causation problems, and unsupported assumptions.

An 86% drill average and consecutive 165 practice tests suggest that you're already operating at a strong level. If you continue identifying and eliminating the specific reasons behind those 5–7 misses per section, a move into the high 160s and potentially 170+ by August is absolutely realistic. The key is making your review process more precise than your practice process.

As someone who earned a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 96th-97th percentile), I want to tell you that your experience sounds genuinely awful, and I can understand why you're second-guessing your decision.

I've taken high-stakes standardized exams myself, and one thing people who haven't been through them often underestimate is how much concentration matters. On both the MCAT and the LSAT, a single interruption can break your train of thought, especially during Reading Comprehension/CARS passages where you're actively building a mental model of the text. Being interrupted once is distracting. Being interrupted repeatedly throughout a section is something else entirely.

I also dealt with proctoring issues during both exams. During the MCAT, there were multiple disruptions at my testing center that pulled me out of focus during critical portions of the exam. During the LSAT, I experienced proctor-related difficulties that made it difficult to settle into a rhythm and stay fully engaged with the test. Neither situation was ideal, and I remember leaving both exams wondering how much those interruptions had affected my performance.

What stands out to me about your situation is not just the number of interruptions but the inconsistency. You were repeatedly told everything looked fine before sections began, only to be interrupted again minutes later and given different instructions. The fact that one proctor told you, "This is the last warning, please cooperate," despite your repeated attempts to comply would have rattled almost anyone. Then asking whether your shoulders were visible and receiving "No" followed by "." is the kind of interaction that could easily make a test taker worry they were about to be removed from the exam.

The part that really resonates with me is your uncertainty afterward. After a difficult testing experience, it's natural to replay every interruption and assume it must have destroyed your score. But the truth is that immediately after an exam, our perception is often unreliable. I've seen people walk out convinced they bombed a section and later discover they performed far better than expected. Adrenaline, stress, and exhaustion distort our ability to evaluate how we actually did.

Given everything you described, I think submitting a complaint was absolutely reasonable. You documented what happened and preserved your concerns. As for declining the retest, I can understand that decision too. Six months of preparation is a long time. Sometimes the idea of immediately gearing up to take another full LSAT is emotionally exhausting. Choosing not to retest wasn't necessarily the wrong decision—it was simply a tradeoff. You chose certainty and recovery over putting yourself through another administration right away.

If I were in your position, I would try not to assume that the RC section was ruined just because it felt ruined. Those are not always the same thing. You may have lost focus at moments, but that doesn't mean you suddenly lost all of the skills and preparation you built over six months. People are often far more resilient during an exam than they realize.

At this point, the complaint has been submitted and the exam is over. There's nothing left to change about June. What you can do is give yourself permission to step away from the LSAT for a little while. If your score ends up where you want it, then June can be your last LSAT after all. If it doesn't, August is still there, and you'll be approaching it with the benefit of having already experienced a real administration.

Most importantly, don't interpret your uncertainty as evidence that you performed poorly. The fact that you can't accurately judge how you did is completely normal after a stressful testing experience. Right now, all you really know is that the administration was far more disruptive than it should have been. You don't actually know what score those interruptions translated into.

For now, I'd try to give yourself the break you've earned. You spent six months preparing for this test. The score is already determined. Whatever happens, you'll deal with it when the results arrive. Until then, there's no reason to assume the worst.

@KariEs I appreciate that.

From my own experience preparing for both exams, I found that timing issues usually resolve indirectly once the underlying reasoning becomes more efficient. When I stopped focusing on “speed” and instead focused on tightening accuracy and pattern recognition, timing improved on its own.

For reference, my 515 on the MCAT is approximately the ~91st percentile, and my 170 on the LSAT is approximately the ~97th percentile. What stood out to me is that both scores reflected the same underlying shift: less cognitive load spent decoding questions and more energy spent evaluating reasoning quality.

I agree with the point that accuracy gains tend to be the harder and more valuable part. Once that foundation is stable, the timing curve usually improves much faster than expected

@Elo Thank you, I really appreciate that. Honestly, I remember having many of the same concerns early in my preparation. A cold diagnostic score does not define where you'll finish—it is simply a snapshot of where you're starting.

I experienced this firsthand with the MCAT. My diagnostic score was much lower than the score I ultimately earned, and at the beginning I also worried about whether I would ever be able to master the content and perform under strict timing conditions. What helped me was focusing on building a strong foundation first. I spent a lot of time understanding why answers were right or wrong, reviewing mistakes carefully, and developing a consistent approach to each question type.

Over time, accuracy came first, and speed followed. As I became more comfortable with the material and my strategy, the timing aspect became much more manageable. That process eventually helped me work my way up to a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 96th–97th percentile).

So if you're still in the foundational stage, I wouldn't be discouraged by where you are today. The fact that you're already noticing yourself understanding the material more is a great sign. Progress on these exams is rarely linear, and many strong scores start with diagnostics that look nothing like the final result.

Thank you again for the encouragement, and I wish you the best in your preparation. Keep building that foundation and give yourself time to improve—you may surprise yourself with how far you can go.

@DestinyCampbell This is great advice. Having the proper documentation from a psychiatrist or prior diagnosis can make a significant difference during the accommodations process.

This strategy and reasoning were exactly what helped me navigate standardized testing successfully. I was able to earn a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 97th percentile) and a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile). For me, the key was understanding that requesting accommodations is about ensuring a fair testing environment that accurately reflects your abilities, not about gaining an advantage.

If you have ADHD, anxiety, or another documented condition that substantially affects test-taking, it is worth exploring accommodations and making sure you have the appropriate evaluations and records in place.

@Coco Sure! Feel free to message me.

I requested accommodations as well, so I’m happy to share what I learned from the process. If you have an ADHD diagnosis, the main place to start is gathering documentation from the professional who diagnosed or treats you, since testing organizations typically want evidence of both the diagnosis and how it substantially affects your test-taking abilities.

Send me a message with where you are in the process, what documentation you currently have, and which exam you're requesting accommodations for. I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction and share what worked for me.

@inky Yes, accommodations are available, but you generally need a documented condition that substantially affects test-taking, such as ADHD, a learning disability, or another recognized condition. In my case, I have test-taking anxiety and ADHD, which qualified me to request accommodations.

That said, I always emphasize that accommodations don't replace preparation. Even with accommodations, I still had to put in an enormous amount of work, discipline, and perseverance. Earning a 515 MCAT and a 170 LSAT required years of studying, practice exams, and learning how to perform under pressure.

If you think you may qualify, I'd recommend looking into the accommodation requirements for the specific exam and gathering the necessary documentation early, since the approval process can take time.

@KariEs You're very welcome! And honestly, I think that's a smart approach.

One thing I noticed during my own preparation was that timing felt almost impossible until it suddenly didn't. As my understanding improved and I became more familiar with recurring question types, I spent less mental energy figuring out what was happening in the stimulus and more energy evaluating the answer choices. That naturally made me faster without consciously trying to rush.

A 20-point improvement from a 139 diagnostic to a 159 untimed is already a strong sign that you're building the right foundation. In my experience, accuracy gains tend to be more valuable and more difficult to develop than speed gains. Once the reasoning becomes more automatic, timing often improves much faster than people expect.

Keep focusing on understanding why answers are right and wrong, trust the process, and give yourself credit for the progress you've already made. What feels impossible now may feel surprisingly manageable a few months from now. Wishing you the best with your studies and your upcoming exam!

@mar765 Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful.

To answer your question, I did not feel like I had timing completely mastered before my first official exam. I was consistently improving, but there were still moments where I felt rushed on difficult questions or sections. What gave me confidence was not that my timing was perfect, but that I had developed a reliable process for approaching questions and knew how to recover if I fell behind.

One thing I learned is that timing tends to improve gradually as pattern recognition improves. The more questions I completed and thoroughly reviewed, the faster I became at identifying conclusions, assumptions, flaws, and common reasoning structures without forcing speed.

I also don't think most people walk into their first administration feeling 100% certain about timing. In my experience, there is always some level of uncertainty. What matters more is having enough timed practice under your belt that the testing environment feels familiar rather than completely new.

If timing is still a work in progress for you, I wouldn't view that as a sign you're not ready. I would focus on continuing to build accuracy and gradually increasing timed exposure. Over time, efficiency becomes much more natural.

Wishing you the best with your preparation—you may be further along than you think.

@ErinThames Thank you, Erin! I completely understand how you feel. I remember experiencing the same thing early in my preparation—untimed work felt manageable, but as soon as the clock started running, everything seemed faster and more stressful. One thing that helped me was realizing that timing is a separate skill from understanding the material. It took time and repetition before the pace started to feel natural.

For me, gradually increasing timed practice rather than forcing full exams right away made a big difference. The more exposure I had to timed conditions, the less intimidating the clock became. I also found that focusing on accuracy first helped build the confidence needed to work more efficiently later.

It's completely normal to feel nervous before your first official administration, but remember that this is only one step in the process. The fact that you're already identifying timing as an area to improve puts you ahead of many people because you can work on it strategically. Keep building your fundamentals, trust the work you're putting in, and give yourself permission to learn from the experience. You've got this, and I'm rooting for you!