Discussions
Hello! An 'assumption' is a premise that is not directly given to you as a solid fact. The two types of Assumption questions in LR are Necessary Assumption and Sufficient Assumption. A Necessary Assumption is the bare minimum the author must believe in order for their argument not to fall apart. A sufficient Assumption, on the other hand, is a powerful piece of new information that, if true, 100% guarantees the conclusion is correct (even if it is extreme and the author didn't strictly 'need' it).
I highly recommend checking out this lesson called 'Not all assumptions are equally reasonable' (https://7sage.com/lessons/foundations/arguments/not-all-assumptions-are-equally-reasonable) to learn more about assumptions! As the lesson states, the more reasonable an assumption is, the less that assumption renders the argument vulnerable to criticism. The less reasonable an assumption is, the more that assumption renders the argument vulnerable to criticism.
Inference, on the other hand, is always a valid piece of information you can draw from given pieces of fact. In an Inference/Must Be True question, the stimulus usually doesn't even have a conclusion. The text just gives you a set of solid facts, and your job is to combine them to find the answer choice that is 100% proven by the text. I hope this helps, and good luck!
Hello! First of all, it is completely normal to feel rattled and discouraged after a significant score drop, especially this close to test day!
Regarding the general 'no PTs in the final week' rule, there is truly no single best way to manage this week. While many people choose to rest, many others (myself included) prefer to keep practicing to maintain our pace and prevent our brains from resetting.
If you feel that this latest PT was just a fluke and you need a better score to feel ready, you can try taking another one. However, please be careful; taking a full PT right now carries the risk of burning you out or shaking your confidence further if it doesn't go perfectly. A safer alternative to build confidence this week is to try taking just one or two individual sections (even from older tests you've seen before) just to get into a rhythm and remind yourself of your ability.
Most importantly, I highly recommend viewing this low PT score from a different angle. Every question you miss during practice is a hole you have successfully exposed before the real exam. It is actually great that you made these mistakes today! If you had seen those questions for the first time on the actual exam, they would have cost you points. Treat this test as a precious opportunity to improve your strategy.
Ultimately, your practice scores do not matter; only the official one matters. You have already proven you are capable of hitting the high end of that 12-point range. I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello,
I totally hear you! Maintaining focus throughout a 2-hour and 20-minute exam is exhausting. It is great that you are simulating full conditions now so that you can be fully prepared for the actual exam.
For now, instead of forcing the strict 10-minute break, try giving yourself 15 to 20 minutes for your next few PTs. That extra time can help your brain fully reset so the second half feels like a fresh start. Once that feels comfortable, gradually reduce the break by a few minutes each week until you are back down to the official 10 minutes.
Also, getting thrown off by someone talking in the library is normal; and honestly, it actually helps to train yourself under such environment, in case anything occurs at the actual test center! To really enhance your focus, try intentionally studying in slightly noisy environments (like a busy café).
You have the skills to get that 162; now we just need to train your brain's endurance like a muscle. I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello! I totally hear your concern. I know that many people take breaks between their studies to refresh their minds and rest, but that was never the case for me either!
When I took a few days off, my brain literally reset, and it took time to return to my normal pace. Therefore, I realized that taking multiple days completely off was just not an option for me.
That being said, there is no single best method for studying; it varies from person to person. The best strategy is simply the one that yields the highest accuracy and comfort for you. For some people, taking time off works. But for others (like you and me), that rest can hurt our momentum.
Honestly, I think it is great that you noticed your study style sooner rather than later! It gives you time to revise your plan. Now that you know taking a few days off causes a score drop, I highly recommend you to do a little bit every day. You don't need to do full tests every day if that causes burnout, but try to do at least something small daily so your brain doesn't forget your pace.
This same logic applies to topic shifts. Instead of focusing exclusively on RC for several days, shorten the duration. For example, maybe try a one-day ping-pong method: LR on Monday, RC on Tuesday, LR on Wednesday, and so on. This can keep both skill sets warmed up. I hope this helps, and good luck!
@tinedfork Hi! I unfortunately cannot recall an exact example among PT 150-159, but PT138.S3.Q6 is an example where a correct answer choice contains a weak quantifier ('some') but is a valid resolution. So judging the answer choice's power solely based on its quantifier might lead to eliminating a correct AC! I hope this helps.
Hello!
I totally understand your concern about spoiling fresh questions by drilling! First of all, there is no single best method for studying. It varies from person to person, and the best strategy is simply the one that yields the highest accuracy and comfort for you.
Frankly speaking, I also preferred taking full, timed PTs over drilling because I wanted the experience of working through a completely fresh test. As you mentioned, simulating the actual testing environment is very important; you want to build the stamina required to endure the 2-hour and 20-minute exam (with a 10-minute break in the middle).
If you feel more confident studying by taking full PTs rather than drilling, I don't see any reason against it! However, once you complete a few full PTs and notice you are consistently struggling with specific question types, then you can dedicate a few sections strictly to drilling those exact questions. Also, you can do your drills using questions from older PTs you took a long time ago. Even if you think you remember them, you will likely earn great insights without wasting your precious fresh material.
I hope this helps, and good luck!
Hello,
First of all, that's a really high BR score! It indicates that you got the right logic tools in your mind.
If you tend to actually have some time left over the end of the section, make sure you're using those final minutes to go back and double-check your flagged questions. Since you're scoring high on BR, I assume simply allowing yourself to see a question a second time will help you spot any mistakes you made at the first instance.
Also, try to pinpoint what you do differently during BR. Which question types do you consistently miss at first but fix correctly? For instance, do you usually get a RC Stated question wrong at first but later find a relevant place from the passage and correct it? In that case, you can try going back to the stimulus as soon as finishing reading a Stated question and find a relevant information, instead of staring at the ACs and trying to recall any information from your head. Like this, try to do what you do during the BR during the actual exam.
Regarding LR, which question types do you consistently fix? Which specific flaws? For instance, do you usually miss a Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaw initially, but easily spot it during BR? Build a 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you are having a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
Lastly, it could also be that you too much pressure every time you begin a new PT. Because your experience convinces you that you tend to not perform well enough at the first time, whenever you sit for a new exam, you may feel discouraged (at least a little bit). I would tell you again that your high BR scores reflect your capability, so don't get eaten by the previous scores, but see the bright side that you got all the tools needed!
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello,
If you are getting -5 on average on untimed sections, it indicates that there is still room to revise your foundational logic tools. Revisiting the core lessons on 7Sage will definitely help!
It also helps tremendously to identify your true weaknesses. Even though it is natural to feel like 'I get different kinds of questions wrong all the time,' careful analysis usually reveals a pattern. For instance, do you usually miss Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaws? Build a mental 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you have a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
Because your test is approaching soon, I would recommend shifting away from untimed practice to timed practice. You can start with 40–45 minutes per section (giving yourself some extra time) and then decrease the time limit throughout this week or so.
When you start your timed sections, I highly recommend focusing on seeing all the questions within the time limit rather than spending 2+ minutes on a single tricky one. If you cannot figure out the answer on the first read and the clock is ticking, make your best guess, flag it, and move on. You do not want to waste time on one difficult question only to miss several easier questions at the end because you ran out of time. You might be surprised by how much clearer a flagged question looks when you return to it using your leftover minutes at the end of the section.
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello,
If I were in your shoes, I would not cancel the score! If you had experienced a massive drop, like 10+ points, it would be worth considering a cancellation. However, the score you received is still pretty much in line with your previous scores.
You are correct that schools will still see that you canceled a score; they just cannot see what that score was. That being said, there is a high chance that admissions committees might suspect you really bombed the exam (like a 10+ point drop) if they see a cancellation on your record. Because a 160 is not a score that you need to hide, and you don't want to induce that kind of doubt from admissions, I highly recommend against canceling it! I hope this helps!
Hello!
I honestly believe one big difference is the text length. Stimuli in the PT 150s tend to be longer than those in older PTs, which naturally requires you to spend more time reading the material and leaves you with less time for other questions.
Here are a few others I noticed:
Fewer "Strict Conditional" Questions: There seem to be fewer inference questions where you can easily extract the correct answer choice just by diagramming.
Denser, Abstract Language: While many stimuli from older PTs also had conceptual or abstract language, there is noticeably more of it in the most recent PTs. The sentences are often phrased in a highly twisted way, so it takes more time to translate them into comprehensible, everyday language. This can easily trip you up during timed practice.
Tricky Quantifiers: The newer tests play around with quantifiers much more frequently. For example, an answer choice that uses strong wording (e.g. 'most') might not actually be a strong strengthener/weakener when applied to the specific context of the stimulus. Likewise, an answer choice that says 'some' isn't necessarily too weak and can often be a perfectly valid strengthener or weakener.
Ultimately, the underlying logic is the exact same. However, the more recent tests play around with the presentation so that you can no longer fully rely on the rigid, mathematical strategies you may have built using older PTs. I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello!
First of all, there is no single best method for studying! It varies from person to person, and the best strategy is simply the one that yields the highest accuracy and comfort for you.
That being said, if you are feeling burnt out by your current schedule of 5–6 hours a day, it is a sign that you need to make an adjustment. Consistency is much more important than density.
Since you just took your first-ever timed PT and are planning to take an official exam in October, there objectively isn't much time left. You need to become very familiar with the actual test format and stamina required (2 hours and 20 minutes with a 10-minute break). Because of this timeline, I highly recommend shifting your focus primarily to timed drills and timed PTs soon.
It is great that you are taking your WAJ seriously, but it shouldn't be making you feel overwhelmed! I honestly think you do not need to write out explanations for why all the other choices are wrong. Instead, just focus on the specific trap choices that you fell for (or almost fell for). For the answer choices that didn't confuse you, you don't need to waste your time confirming why you avoided them.
The single most important part of your WAJ is the 'what I should do next time' section. The takeaway you write there must be an actionable rule that prevents you from missing a similar question in the future. Quality over quantity will save you from burnout here. I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello!
First of all, I totally hear you! It must be very frustrating to feel stuck on a plateau for a long time.
For now, I recommend focusing on finishing all the questions within the time limit rather than spending 2+ minutes on a single tricky question. If you cannot figure out the answer on the first read and the clock is ticking, make your best guess, flag it, and move on. You do not want to waste time on one difficult question only to miss several easier questions at the end because you ran out of time. You might be surprised by how much clearer a flagged question looks when you return to it using your leftover minutes at the end of the section.
Next, it helps tremendously to identify your true weaknesses. Even though it is natural to feel like 'I get different kinds of questions wrong all the time,' careful analysis usually reveals a pattern. For instance, do you usually miss Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaws initially? Build a mental 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you have a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
Lastly, I wonder how you perform in your Blind Review. If your BR score is significantly better: You already have the logical tools in your head! You just need to replicate your BR habits under timed conditions. If your BR score is similar to your first try: You probably need to review and revise your foundational logic tools. Re-visiting the lessons on 7Sage will definitely help!
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello!
Since you're planning to retake the test in November, I highly recommend saving your last fresh PT for now. It is definitely worth working on older PTs, especially since you don't have many fresh ones left. Although the difficulty and style may vary slightly from the current versions, the underlying logic is the same.
Once you run out of PTs 1–23 and are wondering what to do next, I highly recommend retaking PTs that you reviewed a long time ago. You might feel like you will remember everything, but when you actually take them, you will probably notice yourself getting the same questions wrong twice, or even missing questions that you previously got right.
In short, my suggestion is: save your fresh PT for now, study with the older PTs, and eventually retry the PTs that you completed a long time ago! I hope this helps, and good luck!
Hello!
First of all, that's a really high BR score! It indicates that you got the right logic tools in your mind.
Since you said you get such results even when you take the test untimed, so I assume timing is not the real issue here. If you tend to actually have some time left over the end of the section, make sure you're using those final minutes to go back and double-check your flagged questions. Since you're scoring high on BR, I assume simply allowing yourself to see a question a second time will help you spot any mistakes you made at the first instance.
Also, try to pinpoint what you do differently during BR. Which question types do you consistently miss at first but fix correctly? For instance, do you usually get a RC Stated question wrong at first but later find a relevant place from the passage and correct it? In that case, you can try going back to the stimulus as soon as finishing reading a Stated question and find a relevant information, instead of staring at the ACs and trying to recall any information from your head. Like this, try to do what you do during the BR during the actual exam.
Regarding LR, which question types do you consistently fix? Which specific flaws? For instance, do you usually miss a Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaw initially, but easily spot it during BR? Build a 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you are having a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
Lastly, it could also be that you too much pressure every time you begin a new PT. Because your experience convinces you that you tend to not perform well enough at the first time, whenever you sit for a new exam, you may feel discouraged (at least a little bit). I would tell you again that your high BR scores reflect your capability, so don't get eaten by the previous scores, but see the bright side that you got all the tools needed!
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello!
First of all, it might seem to be getting worse, but it could also be that the later PTs contain more challenging or tricky questions, so don't feel bad about it!
I would highly recommend finding out the reason why you miss questions on your first pass. Are you simply running out of time? Since you said you feel like you have enough time saved, this might not be the reason. But if you aren't sure about if timing is the problem, try a timed PT with a few extra minutes (like 40-45 minutes per section) to see if that relieves the pressure.
If timing is not the issue and you actually have some time left over the end of the section, make sure you're using those final minutes to go back and double-check your flagged questions. Since you're scoring high on BR, I assume simply allowing yourself to see a question a second time will help you spot any mistakes you made at the first instance.
Lastly, try to pinpoint what you do differently during BR. Which question types do you consistently fix? Which specific flaws? For instance, do you usually miss a Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaw initially, but easily spot it during BR? Build a 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you are having a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello,
You are correct that for international applicants with fewer than 60 US or Canadian credit hours, LSAC does not compute a numerical GPA. Therefore, your undergraduate grades do not impact a law school's reported GPA medians.
Instead of a numerical GPA, LSAC evaluates international transcripts qualitatively. They will assign your transcript a categorical rating, like: Superior, Above Average, Average, etc. Because there is no numerical GPA, you naturally cannot be considered a traditional 'splitter' (high LSAT / low GPA).
Because your GPA won't be factored into the school's medians for rankings, your LSAT score becomes the only numerical metric the school can report for you. Depending on your profile, this can be an advantage or a hurdle. If you have an excellent LSAT score but a relatively weak undergraduate record, you are in a great position. The school gets to value your high LSAT to boost their medians without affecting their GPA medians. On the other hand, if your LSAT is on the lower end, you do not have a high numerical GPA to help balance out your application statistically.
And just like domestic applicants, the application will be evaluated holistically, although admissions committees will place a significantly heavier weight on your LSAT score. I hope this helps!
Hello!
First of all, there is no single best method for using the highlight tool! It varies from person to person, and the best strategy is simply the one that yields the highest accuracy and comfort for you.
That being said, I know that a lot of students do not utilize highlights at all, with various reasons. Some of the ones that I heard include: 'It's time consuming,' 'When I highlight, I naturally focus more on highlighting rather than actually understanding the text,' 'Even if I highlight, I never go back and it read it,' and so on.
On the other hand, many students do use it! Some reasons include: 'It helps me remember exactly where the author's main point or a specific viewpoint is located,' 'It maintains my reading rhythm,' 'I use different colors for different people's perspectives,' an so on.
In short, many successful students do exactly what you are doing! However, if you ever catch yourself thinking, 'I'm highlighting this because it looks important, but I'm not really comprehending what it means,' you need to pull back and reduce your reliance on the tool.
Since you are just starting your RC prep, it is fine to use highlights often to help train your brain to look for structure and perspectives. However, as you practice more, I recommend experimenting with reducing your usage to see how it affects your reading pace and accuracy. I hope this helps!
Hello!
First off, there is no single 'best' way to utilize your time before the exam! It varies from person to person and situation to situation.
If you have a ton of time and can comfortably do more than one PT a week, go for it: especially if it makes you feel more prepared and secure. If you don't have enough time, then don't force it. In short, how many PTs you take depends entirely on your availability and your own comfort level.
I highly recommend not rushing through a lot of PTs just to complete many of them before August. The review process is what actually allows you to fix your mistakes and revise your strategies. As many people say: quality over quantity. Completing 10 PTs without deeply learning from them has no value.
Finally, I usually advise against taking a full PT right before the exam if you know that a subpar score will crush your confidence. Mentality is just as important as every other component. It is perfectly okay to take one if you know you won't let a fluctuating score get you down, but always be mindful of your mental state and confidence!
I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck for the upcoming exam!
Hello! That's very common among LSAT students, so you're not alone! If you're experience a huge gap between your timed drill and your BR, I would highly recommend finding out the reason why you miss questions on your first pass. Are you simply running out of time? Or feeling some pressure due to the time constraint? If you aren't sure about if timing is the problem, try a timed drill/PT with a few extra minutes than your regular duration (2-5 more minutes) to see if that relieves the pressure.
If timing is not the issue and you actually have some time left over the end of the section, make sure you're using those final minutes to go back and double-check your flagged questions. Since you're scoring high on BR, I assume simply allowing yourself to see a question a second time will help you spot any mistakes you made at the first instance.
Lastly, try to pinpoint what you do differently during BR. Which question types do you consistently miss at first but fix correctly?
As an example for LR, for which specific flaws do you fail to notice at first? Do you usually miss a Part-to-Whole or False Dichotomy flaw initially, but easily spot it during BR? Build a 'checklist' of your most common blind spots. Next time you are having a hard time locating a flaw in a stimulus, run through that checklist.
As an example for RC, do you usually get a Stated question wrong at first but later find a relevant place from the passage and correct it? In that case, you can try going back to the stimulus as soon as finishing reading a Stated question and find a relevant information, instead of staring at the ACs and trying to recall any information from your head. Like this, try to do what you do during the BR during the actual exam.
I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello! When you create a drill, you can customize it to only contain question you ever got incorrect. You can do so by: create a drill > Customize > Status > Set it to 'Incorrect ever', 'Incorrect on last take', or 'Incorrect more than once'. I hope this helps!
Hello! I know this is a slightly older post, but I'm writing this anyway in case it helps!
I don't have a non-American degree, but I think there's no specific guideline released publicly on how the LSAC labels international degrees. Generally speaking, the grade from non-American institutions is converted by LSAC into a qualitative tier like Superior, Above Average, Average, or Below Average. And I believe they don't count into the school's median; the qualitative labels are provided to schools just as a reference.
This is so encouraging, thanks for sharing! The long journey of studying for this exam is actually incredibly rewarding in its own way. You build serious mental endurance, you learn how to push through the frustrating plateaus, and you literally rewire your brain. And finally, you realize it is about so much more than just the score you earn; you prove to yourself what pure consistency can achieve. Keep up the amazing work, you've got this!
Hello! I totally understand the emotional ride you're going through. Please know that plateaus are a completely normal part of this process, and you are definitely not alone in feeling this way!
Adding onto all the great things others wrote, while you save fresh PTs for later, I highly recommend re-taking older PTs that you completed a few months ago. You might be surprised by how much you don't actually remember. You will probably get a few questions wrong again, and those specific questions will be absolute gold for you to review because they highlight deeply ingrained habits.
Re-working older PTs also helps you build the mental stamina required to endure the full exam without burning through your precious remaining fresh material.
Lastly, since you are hitting your goal during your BR, know that you absolutely have the foundational knowledge and the right tools in your head to reach your goal. I hope this helps, and best of luck!
Hello! Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, so it is completely normal to be much stronger in one question type than another.
In my opinion, Flaw, Strengthen, and Weaken questions are all on the same track. Strengthen and Weaken just require one step further; you have to identify the underlying flaw, and then bring in a new piece of evidence to either patch that hole (Strengthen) or rip it wide open (Weaken).
Because of this, a strategy for Strengthen/Weaken questions can be to treat them exactly like Flaw questions at first. Identify the problem in the argument, and then scan the answer choices for the one that actively interacts with that specific problem. Best of luck!
Hello! First of all, there is no single best way to utilize your time a few days before the exam! Every test-taker handles this final time differently.
Both drilling options (easier questions vs harder ones) provide great benefits, but very different ones. The former will boost your confidence going into test day, while the latter will help you stay sharp on the specific areas you need to watch out for. If you have time, I would suggest doing a light mix of both (but never a heavy load!) so you get the best of both.
For the challenging drills, make sure you do a thorough review so that if you see similar traps on the actual exam, you know exactly what to do.
Finally, whatever questions you get incorrect over the next two days, view them as gold. If you had seen those on the actual exam, they would have cost you points. It is a great fortune to catch those mistakes now during practice. I hope this helps, and best of luck!