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allisonbilenkey71
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allisonbilenkey71
Tuesday, Nov 24 2020

I had a similar score increase (146 --> 163) since the summer and have enjoyed seeing your posts and comments on here as a fellow Canadian! Congrats and good luck!!

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allisonbilenkey71
Tuesday, Jun 23 2020

I'm also in Ontario, studying to take the August test and apply in the fall! I've been trying to be pretty strict with 6 hour days 5 days a week. I'm always down for accountability partners! We could make a group?

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allisonbilenkey71
Wednesday, Oct 21 2020

@ and @ nice to hear from people in a similar place! I have a really similar routine and trajectory as you both.

I have honestly just been spending my free time in the 7Sage forum and stumbling on threads of tips mainly for LG and LR.

For LR I came across the idea of "25 in 25" (feel free to look it up in the forum) which is a strategy for students already comfy with LR (-3 to -4). Round 1: you try to do all 25 questions in 25 minutes, flagging every question you don't feel 100% certain on and harder questions or really long ones (people also talk about figuring out your own personal threshold for this). Round 2: for the next 5 minutes return and take out the "lowest hanging fruit" so maybe confirming an AC you weren't super sure about, remove flags from questions you now feel certain about and don't want to re-visit for Round 3 etc. And then Round 3: next 5 min tackle the significantly harder questions and finish. A lot of people think this "25 in 25" is arbitrary, which I think I agree, but the principles behind it are interesting to apply. Especially because the longer you tend to spend with a question the less likely you are to get it right (said JY in a Live Commentary session I was watching). People who studied for this test back when it was on paper could have cool notation techniques to better indicate the difficulty of the question flagged but I am just doing the normal flags with digital version. I tried this today and did still find it challenging. I completed the section with only a couple minutes to spare so I don't think I'm quite ready for all 3 rounds I detailed above.

LR Cookie Cutter review is another concept I came across where when you are looking at your collection of wrong answers in BR (for a PT or Timed section) you carefully consider each question you missed or had trouble with and categorize them into "cookie cutters". Which means identifying what the argument structure was (ex. argument by analogy, correlation-causation, phen-hyp, problem solution) so you can better see the underlying structure of all LR questions on the LSAT and better-target your weaknesses. You can also do this, and some people will say you should be doing this, for wrong ACs.

LG "if" strategy is also talked about quite a bit in webinars/JY but essentially its when you start a game, quickly preview the questions and complete the conditional questions first (ex. if A is in group 2 what MBT?) because it usually forces you to draw new boards. Then tackle the "naked questions" last, the one's that just as what CBT or MBT or CBF with no additional premises. Use the boards you drew for the conditional questions to help with the naked questions to eliminate wrong ACs and sometimes it'll give you the right one.

Oh I also just started "warming up" before I do a PT. Wasn't something I was doing before and thought it might be good after listening to JY recommend it. I would recommend choosing a very easy and short routine, this morning mine was a bit difficult and long, not really helping me feel the confidence boost I needed nor the pacing I wanted to start to feel. Just a thought if you're not already trying one out.

I hope that was helpful and gave a bit more insight. Good luck to you both on the Nov test! I appreciate your comments!

PrepTests ·
PT103.S3.Q19
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allisonbilenkey71
Monday, Jul 20 2020

I thought B might be correct because it says "it infers disparate effects from the same single cause" and I thought the same single cause would be the improvement of ski equipment over the past 20 years. :/ Could someone address why this is incorrect? JY kind of glosses over it.

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allisonbilenkey71
Wednesday, Aug 19 2020

Thank you everyone for your helpful comments! I am so grateful to the 7Sage community for this forum and supportive attitudes!

If anyone was wondering on an update, I took a PT and scored ~5 points bellow my target score. I think I am going to push to October as I realized November will be almost the end of the semester for me which is maybe not a recipe for success. Hopefully in the next 6 weeks I can finish the curriculum, do some PTs and do well enough on the test for October. October will also be a flex so that is a bonus, and even with no score preview that's not a huge stress for me as the schools I'm applying for take your highest and not an average. If it doesn't go well-enough I can always last ditch write November. Thanks again everyone! Really appreciate the advice and validation.

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allisonbilenkey71
Wednesday, Aug 19 2020

@ said:

I wanted to add the 148 is a fine diagnostic score. With time and hard work you can score much higher, even beyond the 160’s. You mention that low 160’s would be fine so I am not sure what school or schools you are looking at but getting a better score can only help you. Even if you score well enough to be accepted unless you are independently wealthy or parents are paying for law school I would encourage you to try to score well enough to get at least a partial scholarship. Without it even a regional law school combined with living expenses can add up to about a half a million dollars- and no matter where you get a job at that is major debt. When I first started studying I thought I would just go to a regional law school probably part time, but the more I learned about not only the test but also the financial aspect the more realized that this isn’t a test you should try to get over with. This test counted for more than your GPA- 4 years of school and doing well on it can literally change your life. I see the appeal with the score preview in August but this might be offered again. Don’t rush and take the test before you are ready.

I appreciate the sentiment for sure! Just to give a little background on me, I am Canadian and the LSAT doesn't seem to count for as much here I've found. It also doesn't affect your chances of a scholarship like it does in the US (there are not many here). I've been fortunate enough to finish my undergrad with no debt due to a scholarship I earned, and I have a financial plan for what Canadian law schools are (~$20,000 tuition a year). My top choice law schools in Canada (due to program specializations, clinics, family proximity etc) have a ~156 - 163 range in their median LSAT scores so I don't see the need to push back my education by a year if that score is possible sooner. I think if I lived in the US it would be a whole other ball game. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and wish you the best of luck! :)

This is a bit of a personal question but I wonder if anyone has any thoughts or has been in a similar situation.

My cold diagnostic LSAT test written end of May was 148 –my strongest to weakest sections were RC, LR, LG respectively. My goal score is anywhere in the low 160s. I have been studying with 7Sage since then and am about 80% through the course (just finishing LG but in need of some serious fool proofing time even after I finish). I have not done any timed section practices, or PTs as I was waiting until I was done with the CC.

I signed up for the August-Flex but now am reconsidering, as I really don't feel ready to write yet (not having finished the CC and haven't taken a PT since my diagnostic). I am wondering if I should:

  • Take the August-Flex anyways just to see how it goes and then if it goes poorly (under 160), register for the November test.
  • Request a coupon (which you can still do until August 21st), and re-schedule my test for November (I don't think I would reschedule for October as its only a month from the August date and if I'm rescheduling I may as well give myself a little extra time - I'm also doing full-time remote school in the fall and preparing my Law schools apps DUE in November).
  • Maybe I should take a day before the 21st to write a PT and see how I score to help make this decision? I had friends last summer who only took a month to three months for the LSAT and scored well enough for me, its making me feel like I should write it to get it over with? Or should I be patient and wait until I feel more ready? If I reschedule to November it could not be a flex anymore and no score preview but not sure if that is worth it?

    Not sure if anyone's been in this situation. I feel like the 7Sage community is so helpful so it couldn't hurt to reach out.

    Thank you for any thoughts!!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Friday, Oct 16 2020

    @ great suggestion, I will definitely be doing PT 88 and maybe using PT 87 as drilling material that's more recent. Appreciate the props, hoping to! :) Thank you!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Friday, Oct 16 2020

    @ thank you that is a helpful breakdown I think I will follow!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Friday, Oct 16 2020

    following!

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    Thursday, Oct 15 2020

    allisonbilenkey71

    PT Guide - Nov LSAT-FLex

    Hi Everyone,

    I'm on here hoping to get some suggestions for which PT's to cover in my limited four weeks until the November LSAT-Flex. I finished the CC about three weeks ago and I am writing the November LSAT-Flex (may write the January as well depending on how it goes). Since finishing, I have been using PTs 1 - 36 for LG foolproofing. Concurrently, I have been reading Ellen Cassidy's The Loophole book to improve and solidify LR skills – I am on track to finish the textbook by the end of this week.

    So far, in this order I have taken PT 37 (Actual Score: 153), PT 36 (Actual Score 157; BR Score: 162), PT 38 (Actual Score: 161; BR Score: 167). Per that schedule I have only been completing one PT a week, and focusing on the LR book (and doing Basic Translation Drills) and Foolproofing LR. I am pleased with my progress and have learned a lot from the forum/webinars this week I am excited to put into practice (ex. LG tiered-skipping strategy, LR Cookie Cutter review, LG "if" strategy etc). I am hoping to ramp up to two PTs a week (while drilling in the days between) in the next three weeks leading up to the test which only leaves about 6 PTs. My question is, which 6 PTs should I do? Should I do the most recent PTs 7Sage has (PT 84 - 89)? Or should I try to do a PT from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, two from 80s? And I may write the test again, so I would just have to work around the PTs I complete now, during Nov - Jan study if that is the case.

    I know the test slightly changes throughout the PTs. I've heard from friends say that post-PT 70 LR is wordier/more confusing, post-PT 55 RC comparative passages are introduced (which I have not done yet), and that LG get easier near the end? I feel like it would be ideal to just do all the PTs chronologically, throughout time, but in reality I have 3 weeks.

    For context, my diagnostic was a 146 (June 2020), my goal score is a 165.

    Thank you for any input!

    PrepTests ·
    PT102.S2.Q21
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    allisonbilenkey71
    Monday, Jul 13 2020

    #help I'm confused about how JY translated the last sentence. How did he make the second set of logical statements (/UF→US; /US→UF)? I understood what kind of "or" it was and I interpreted it correctly, that for our first set of two statements only one of them will happen. However, I still don't understand how he translated it into the second set, and this seems rather essential for selecting the correct AC. Any help is welcome!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Monday, Jul 13 2020

    I'm not really sure what advantage being able to cancel your score has. Unless the schools you are applying to take an average of all your scores –which for me (as a Canadian) I have not seen. If it's not a great score and you write again (scoring higher on this second write), but don't cancel the first write, schools will choose the highest score regardless. If any one has any input please let me know.

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Tuesday, Nov 10 2020

    @ said:

    @ said:

    I'm in the same boat, working 40+ hours a week and studying after work + on weekends. I'd honestly recommend the 7Sage Admissions Course. It's like $10 and totally worth the money from what I've heard/experienced so far.

    Does this course focus on US schools only or does it cover Canadian law schools as well? Thanks 🙏🏼

    I'm fairly sure it's just US schools. I don't know for sure but I briefly looked at it until I saw a comment from JY I think saying its only US schools responding to this exact question.

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Tuesday, Nov 10 2020

    Hey! I also have my test tomorrow and generally don't have bad test anxiety but am feeling more stressed due to the weight and nature of the LSAT. I am trying to turn my nerves into excitement! It is SO exciting I get to show LSAC and myself what I know tomorrow, after months of hard work! And I keep reminding myself to have faith in my abilities. Nerves will be of no help now or during the test, so every time you feel 'em just think I got this, this is going to be awesome, I am going to rock this test and have such a nice break afterwards!! And if this test isn't your A-Game then you can always write the next one.

    On a more practical note, I would keep to your routine if you have one. Tonight I'm going to de-compress by watching some TV, and reading some Harry Potter like I do every night. When I sleep I'm going to focus on my breathing, like I always do. And tomorrow morning I'm going to follow the exact same routine that I've been following, when I sit down to start my "work day" (at 11:20am) I'll be focused like I always am, just this time I'll be writing my test with someone else!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Sunday, Nov 08 2020

    I will be there! Thanks for hosting!

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Monday, Jun 08 2020

    @ said:

    @ said:

    I am in a similar boat, making the decision between the July LSAT Flex and taking it in August (I don't want to write it later in the year once school starts back up). I decided to post-phone and take the August test purely because I am not prepared enough and wanted more time to study. I think the August LSAT will be an LSAT Flex regardless. So I would make the best decision for you in terms of where you're at with studying.

    Thanks so much for your response, I am glad that we can relate. Can I ask what makes you so sure that August will be Flex? Honestly, I feel like I would be more prepared for August's test date but it seems to be beneficial as a first time LSAT-taker to go Flex.

    @

    Hey! Sorry not sure if this is the right way to try and comment back to someone.

    With COVID I think some states in the US and some provinces in Canada are starting to open back up (open schools, shops etc.). But many remain under stricter lock-down measures. For example, universities in Ontario (I'm from Canada) are staying closed for the fall 2020 semester. I think the LSAT has to be administered in the same "mode" (either in person or LSAT-Flex) for all LSAT test takers across all of the US and Canada. I can't imagine they'd be able to make it work by August to have in person tests in provinces or states that aren't even opening universities etc. Also, from what I can tell, the LSAT test administers seem to say the LSAT-flex is just as academically credible as the normal LSAT. If they have a way to administer it online, that works, is academically credible, and doesn't have to go against some regions COVID rules – I don't see why they wouldn't continue with the LSAT-Flex at least for August. Hope that makes sense! Just my opinion.

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Saturday, Nov 07 2020

    @ said:

    PT90 is up on LsatLab.com

    Do you mean they have video explanations up? I just took the May 2020 on lawhub and could use a breakdown.

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Monday, Nov 02 2020

    Hi there! I finished the CC in September, and have been PT-ing around 157-161 with the goal score of 162-165. I am taking the November-Flex and depending on my score I may write again in January. In which case, I would be interested in connecting with other people scoring in a similar range with a similar goal score and test date. My email is allison.bilenkey@.com

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    allisonbilenkey71
    Monday, Jun 01 2020

    I am in a similar boat, making the decision between the July LSAT Flex and taking it in August (I don't want to write it later in the year once school starts back up). I decided to post-phone and take the August test purely because I am not prepared enough and wanted more time to study. I think the August LSAT will be an LSAT Flex regardless. So I would make the best decision for you in terms of where you're at with studying.

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