Hi all!
I'm in the process of studying for the September 27 exam, and I'm wondering whether there are any 7Sagers who would like to get together to take PTs and discuss problems/study methods/etc. Ideally, I'd like to meet up on either a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday morning somewhere in Vancouver (location suggestions welcome - maybe a VPL branch?).
If anyone is interested, let me know!
Since finishing the 7Sage course, I've been consistently scoring in the 170s. Over the course of 17 PTs, I've had a low of 169, a high of 178, and an average of 174.
The frustrating thing is that I didn't start out scoring 169 and advance to 178; rather, my score fluctuates wildly from one test to the next. This weekend, for instance, I got a 170 on Saturday and a 177 on Sunday.
Equally random is the distribution of my wrong answers. One day, I'll have trouble with an RC passage. The next, it's an LG game that trips me up. Sometimes, it's a bunch of LR questions that push my score down. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.
How have those of you scoring 170+ improved your consistency? Any tips from the pros?
I've been following the chronological order of PTs set out in the 7Sage syllabus in preparation for the September exam. So far, I've written PTs 36-46 with an average score of 174. However, I've seen a number of comments on the forum suggesting that the newer PTs (60+) are significantly harder than the older ones, particularly when it comes to LR. With this in mind, I'm considering alternating between newer and older PTs to ensure that my scores aren't being distorted by easier tests.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Will using up newer PTs now hurt me as test day approaches?
Thanks in advance!
Totally totally totally do the old problems. Regardless of whether or not a weird question comes up on your LSAT, the old games really help develop your ability to think flexibly about game setup. Even on "normal" games, this is an advantage (IMO). Once you've foolproofed all of the old games, you'll be shocked by how easy the new games feel!
My advice: work your way through the course materials over the next month or so, take a PT, and see where you're at. IMO, you really can't infer anything from your diagnostic about how quickly you'll make gains.
@, that's another hard one to answer!
In LR, I spent some time working on my weakest question types (parallel/parallel flaw). I also lost points through misreading question stems, so I worked on slowing down and double checking that I was reading everything correctly.
How I improved in RC is somewhat unclear to me. I think that doing so many RC passages helped me learn to read for tone (always my weakest question type), points of view, structure, etc. instead of getting too bogged down in the details of a passage.
At the end of the day, I really think it's just a matter of practice (and review). But everyone's learning style is different, so I encourage others to chime in with their recommendations!
@ shoot me a PM and we can discuss
@ I'm going to assume that intermediate conclusion = major premise/sub-conclusion (the terms used by 7Sage). If that's incorrect, let me know!
A sub-conclusion is something that receives support from a premise *and* is used to support the main conclusion of the argument. I could say:
Anyone who has studied hard will do well on the LSAT. [premise]
Rachel has studied hard. [premise]
Therefore, she will do well on the LSAT. [intermediate/sub-conclusion]
Everyone who does well on the LSAT gets into HYS. [premise]
Therefore, Rachel will get into HYS. [main conclusion]
The important thing is not where the sentences are relative to each other, but rather which direction the support flows. To figure this out, think to yourself: why do I know X to be true? To use the above example: why do we know Rachel will get into HYS? Because she's done well on the LSAT, and everyone who does well on the LSAT gets into HYS. Now, ask yourself why we know she'll do well on the LSAT. Because she studied hard, and everyone who studies hard does well.
I find that thinking about it this way can really help untangle the relationships between argument parts. It doesn't matter whether we put "Rachel will get into HYS" first or last; all of the premises still flow toward that conclusion. Some premises also give support to the fact that she'll do well on the LSAT, which is how we know that this, too, is a conclusion.
Get it? I hope that this makes things clearer... and even more than that, I hope I haven't confused you even further!
@ that's a hard question to answer concisely, but I'll try!
I worked my way through the 7Sage ultimate curriculum before taking any PTs (other than the diagnostic). I then moved on to PTs. I did 2-3 per week (one on a Saturday morning to replicate test day; the other one or two whenever I could), and always included an experimental section from PTs 1-35. I also drilled sections throughout the week. Toward the end, I would try to set challenges for myself (for instance, completing sections in 30 minutes instead of 35).
I also met with a study group once per week for the last two months leading up to test day. We would sit a PT together in a quiet (but not silent) part of the library and then BR it as a group. I really recommend doing this, if you can!
To be honest, I made most of my gains during the course itself. I scored 156 on the experimental, and 175 on the first PT after finishing the curriculum. I don't know whether this is because I really took my time on the course (i.e., BR on all problem sets, fool proofing games, etc.), or whether it was some other factor. Regardless, it helped a lot.
In the end, I completed all PTs available to me (at the time, 72 + 3 February tests) over a 5 month period.
I don't know that I had one particularly weak section. LG was almost always my best, but LR and RC are tied for worst. I didn't really have a strategy for improvement, other than taking tests and doing BR. Sorry that I can't be more helpful on that front!
I did retake the test once. I actually cancelled my September score, because I realized during the test that I had made a huge bubbling error -- one big enough that it would have made doing well pretty much impossible. Mostly, my studying from that point consisted of doing PTs to stay in the groove -- I wasn't too concerned with improving my score.
I hope this answers your questions. If not, feel free to shoot me a message. I think I should point out that everyone is unique when it comes to studying for the LSAT, so don't be discouraged if what worked for me isn't working for you :)
@ Just be glad that you're no longer in need of help ;)
@ : Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll change my OP to ask people to include links.
@ : Aw, shucks.
I confidently blew through almost all of my study materials in preparation for the September test, not anticipating that I would need to rewrite. I was scoring in the high 170s on my PTs, so what could go wrong, right? Well, a HUGE stress-induced bubbling error could (and did). I cancelled my score and will be re-writing in December.
After taking a week off from studying, I want to get back into the swing of things. The problem is that I have just one clean PT: I took PTs 35 - 72 as full-length exams, did the games from every test, and used up the LR and RC from about half of the early tests. The one exception is PT 68, which I accidentally skipped over.
Does anyone have any advice about how to study in the absence of clean PTs? Is drilling with blind review my best bet? Should I review old PTs? Anything?
Sure thing, @ . You can always PM me with your explanation for a question, and we can chat about why it is/isn't correct. This would have the added benefit of forcing you to articulate your reasoning :)
[ @ , let me know if there's a better place to answer questions about specific PTs!]
@:
LSAT PrepTest 27, Section 4, Question 16 | D
The stimulus says that the four food groups idea promotes unhealthy eating. We're looking for one AC that does NOT support this conclusion.
A) Incorrect - it encourages overconsumption of meat and dairy, which is unhealthy.
B) Incorrect - it discourages people from eating fish, which is unhealthy.
C) Incorrect - it misleads people into thinking one fruit/veg per day is sufficent, which is unhealthy.
D) Correct - it reminds people to eat fruits and veggies, ergo their nutrients, which is healthy
E) Incorrect - it distracts people from the real issue - overeating.
LSAT PrepTest 27, Section 4, Question 02 | B
The stim says that thanks to the better value of fiber optic TV relative to cable TV, cable companies will displaced by telephone companies within a few years. We are looking for an AC that supports this argument.
A) Incorrect - this definitely doesn't help us, and possibly hurts us -- will the long-term value of fiber optics encourage people to overcome the high upfront cost? Or will the opposite be true?
B) Correct - this tells us that the extra 50 channels available on the fiber optic network will include the most popular programs currently on cable. Without this, it could be the case that the channels will be much lower quality than those on cable -- 100 yule log channels, perhaps?
C) Incorrect - if the cable companies respond to competition by improving their services, then the value of switching services decreases.
D) Incorrect - why do we care about this info?
C) Incorrect - extra regulations may hurt the competitiveness of FO networks vis-a-vis cable, so this one definitely doesn't help us.
Let me know if this helps. I'm new at this, so feedback is always super, super welcome!
Hi all,
I got a ton of help from fellow 7Sagers when I was studying for the LSAT. Now that I'm a Sage, I'm trying to pay it forward by helping out current students. I'm mostly going to spend some time going through the course and writing out explanations for questions where videos don't yet exist.
If you want some input from me on a particular problem that you're having, please tag me ( @"Allison M" ) or send me a PM. If you need help with a question from a specific problem set, please include a link!
Cheers!
Allison
@, one big part of meditating is realizing that there isn't a "right" way to do it. Just sit, focus on your breath (or whatever else you're trying to focus on), and notice your thoughts/feelings without engaging them. Don't get discouraged if your attention wanders -- just notice, and return your attention to your breath. Remember, it's a practice. No one reaches Buddhist monk level zen overnight!
Thanks! 7Sage + all of the PTs = my smurtz.
I second what @ said: make sure that you're simulating test day conditions as accurately as possible when you take PTs (assuming that you decide to retake). Taking PTs in an unfamiliar environment (e.g. a library) can also help you prepare for the inevitable annoyances on test day: tapping pencils, proctors whispering, sirens outside, etc. Finally, if you were using older tests during your preparation, make sure to get your hands on more recent ones.
Good luck, guys! One way or another, the wait is over!!!
Go into your course syllabus, find the PT you are looking for, and hit "Video Explanations for All Questions." There, you'll find links to every question, including LR.
Hope this helps!
@.18, it totally is. Get your hands on every game ever written and do them over and over and over until it becomes second nature!
I think everyone has been in your shoes at some point or another, @.on.me. I certainly have!
If I were you, I would focus on feeling better in general rather than on the LSAT specifically. Is there anything that you find helps you when you feel depressed? For me, going to bed and getting up at a regular time really helps, as does eating well, getting exercise, spending time on my hobbies, and seeing friends as often as I can. Sacrificing these things in order to make more time for studying can feel productive, but I always end up paying for it in the long run. If you go through your list of feel-good things and are still feeling depressed, a visit to a therapist can be very helpful.
Once you're feeling like you've shaken off the worst of the blues, dip your toes back into studying. Remind yourself: this is a learnable test, and you will get better at it! I think seeing your score increase is the best motivation out there. Finding a study buddy to work through the curriculum/do PTs with might also be a good idea. Not only will it help you stay on track work-wise, you'll have someone who knows what you're going through. Commiseration can be a powerful antidote to LSAT angst.
Remember: what you're going through is temporary, normal, and in no way a symptom of insufficient motivation/dedication/willpower. It's just life, and it'll get better.
No silly questions! I personally didn't listen to music while studying. I figured that all studying should be LSAT like -- in pencil, with an analog watch, and without distractions.
That said, I do love to listen to Songza's lyricless jazz and classical playlists while working or studying for other stuff. I also know some people like to listen to pump up music before PTs!
Thanks for looking into this, JY! I suspected that might be the case. What a mean trick to play on a group of anxious students.
Was that maybe a troll? I see that Whitney180's account has been deleted, and it seems unlikely that someone would receive their acceptance from Yale (A) on a Sunday and (B) on the same day that their score was released. I could definitely be wrong -- apologies in advance if I am!
Fair enough. I think that distinction may have been where the confusion about strengthening/MBT overlap was coming from by the users above -- I imagine that I'm not alone in my unfamiliarity with Testmasters!
I think that making dumb mistakes is fairly par for the course. I got practically every point at issue: agree question wrong, simply because I assumed it was a PAI: disagree Q. I found it helpful to accumulate a list of these errors and review it before PT (along with a list of solutions). For instance, I made a habit of double-checking all of my LG rules before proceeding to the questions, simply because I had made so many dumb mistakes as a result of improperly written rules. Being aware of these vulnerabilities can definitely help you avoid them.
Hey all,
Just a quick note to let you know that I'm retiring from the 7Sage community. I've taken a job teaching the LSAT for a competing company, and a condition of my employment is that I not provide LSAT assistance outside of my classroom/tutoring sessions. It's a huge bummer.
Good luck to you all! I'll be back as soon as my non-compete expires...