I'd say whatever works for you at the time. There will absolutely be times where you will want to diagram it. But as long as you can hold it in your head (don't forget the contrapositive!) you're good.

Also tip: Since you are new, train your self to hear ALARM BELLS when you see a conditional indicator. That will save you points.

@ said:

Just curious how long do you blind review for when you first started? I ask b/c I thought I was crazy spending over 12-15 hours with each PT. It would take me 3-4 hours each section to TRULY work through.

I tricked my head back and forth when I first started. Then I woke up and quit making it so dang complicated!

What does the word necessary mean to you? To me it's...well necessary. It's required. I HAVE TO HAVE IT. These are all synonyms for necessary.

Your example is a bit further off the ledge (b/c it's the actual LSAT) but it says like "something demands the memorization of unfamiliar commands". Demand is the necessary condition indicator. It's used just like "requires". "Something requires the memorization of unfamiliar commands"

Whatever it is that you MUST have, are required to have, or whatever is necessary, that's your necessary condition.

The "thing" that is DOING the "requiring", that's your sufficient condition.

The sufficient can't exist without it's requirements. So when you see the sufficient existing, you know it has it's requirements. It has it's necessary conditions fulfilled.

@ said:

oh man, is it true that the LR questions on the newer exams are tougher? This might change my study plan a bit...

I have heard they are "looser" and more dense language in both the stimulus and answer choices. I've seen people say they were -4 LR until the 80's when they went -9. I've also heard lots of people and prep professionals say it's not a big deal. Those struggling had other issues that are being exposed now.

Guess I'll find out soon enough.

Have you ran your analytics to see if there are question types you miss more than others? That's a good starting place

Personally, I was having trouble figuring out how I would incorporate the extra LR sections. Now that they're adding an experimental section, they solved this problem for me. I'll do the extra LR section for the stamina and getting used to a 4 section test, and also have a more accurate score!

Sorry I'm no help but am curious for curiosity's sake. I get the hesitation because it can feel like a graduate student is recommending you. My opinion this is not advice b/c I have no real clue on the answer:

I'd say, a PhD student isn't technically an employee of the university. They are a student probably on an assistantship. But, I'm out of school and may have an employer write mine. She definitely isn't an employee of the university.

All of the practice tests we have are 4 sections. You should be able to disable the "flex" option somehow and it will add in the 4th section. That can play to your stamina and it will also give you a more accurate score because those tests were scaled with all 4 sections. The flex scores on 7sage and other prep companies are just estimates. LSAC won't release how they scale it...secret secrets!

You are awesome for helping people!

The Logic Loophole book uses examples exactly like that as a point of emphasis. It tries to get you to look for argument structure and see past the content.

@ said:

https://classic.7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/26560/my-guide-to-reading-comprehension-part-1-long-ish-post

Thank you for posting this!

https://classic.7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/26560/my-guide-to-reading-comprehension-part-1-long-ish-post

This has an entirely different perspective of what I have on highlighting that may be useful and was posted in another thread by @

As for me, I'm at -4 to -6 RC right now down from -15ish so take this for what it's worth. I write a quick sentence out about each paragraph for reference. But I never even refer back to the writing. It's so sloppy and quickly written sometimes I couldn't read it if I tried. Like you, I felt it was wasting my time.

But it serves as accountability for me to not daze out while reading a paragraph if I know that I have to write about it within literally the next 30-45 seconds. (Apparently, the questions I have to answer are not enough to hold me accountable haha). For me, I really have to do that to stay focused. Maybe that isn't for you? It probably takes me 30 seconds each passage total. It's worth it for me. Ask yourself if you are getting an equivalent or better value in retaining what you read by writing it versus the time you've spent. Maybe it doesn't help you at all or maybe it does. If it does, maybe recognizing that it does have value for you could help change your mindset from it feeling like a waste? Or maybe it is a waste!

I highlight Names the first time they are introduced....or when a previously mentioned name is brought up again but the passage has shifted from what it was discussing on the initial introduction of that name. And that's it. Basically just names. Otherwise I'd highlight everything.

I would have highlighted a unique word if I thought they may ask a question about how/why they used it but now we have control+f.

@ said:

3, Folks speaking about vacations in Europe would make be feel bad about my life and vacations in upstate Michigan

At least it's a vacation!

@ said:

I mean, there were pros and cons. People talked to each other socially but when it came to coursework people would not help one another, to the point of refusing to share notes.

This is what I figured. As I said, I never talked to anyone so maybe I was in a competitive school and didn't even know it haha.

Hi!

Mid-30's white male here so you know, take that how you see fit.

I actually worked with my friend on her diversity statement. She is born and raised, blue blood Oklahoman, born south asian.

Much of her statement was about growing up in a place without any other south asians.

And you have Indian culture in you too. I mean you may have two really unique perspectives.

I'm not gonna lie. Two things you said in your post, kind of made my heart break

These two sentences that you wrote, to me, is indicative and full proof why you SHOULD write one.

You said:

But I wonder how adcom perceives diversity statements from Asians/South Asians?

and

but I guess I'm hesitant to write something they won't appreciate regardless.

Those concerns you mentioned could make up the point of an entire diversity statement. You as a south asian/indian are as deserving as anyone to write about your culture and how it makes you unique. It almost seems you feel that the challenges you face or the uniqueness that you offer, won't be taken as legitimate as others in the realm of racial diversity. Even "hesitant to write something that they won't appreciate", "won't appreciate". Do you have concerns that just simply writing a statement of diversity could actually negatively impact your application?

To me that's part of what efforts in cultural diversification are attempting to achieve. To destroy concerns and prejudices people have based not on character, but on race.

Last thing, I like how you mentioned you have lots of positive things to include. If you do decide to write, I hope you include lots of that in addition to your challenges you've faced. Maybe somehow those things worked together and that could be the thread of the statement.

Ok I'm done! Good luck. I'm sure you'll get lots of replies on here from people that can speak about things better than I can.

*I'm bad a mislabeling rules and a low scorer.

It's a weird situation. You lose some valuable time rechecking your notations. But the reality is one missed rule even slightly misdiagramed, I mean it could ruin an entire section and for some people, that could effectively ruin their entire score.

I have been trying to do like @ said. I slow down on the rules notating. To the point where I KNOW what I wrote and it was correct. But ( and ) will forever be danger zones for me. I know what they mean, but I love switching those. Even when I go slow!

I really hate advice like I've heard like this, but it's my approach for myself. But these are VERY controllable errors. And I need to hold myself accountable to be able to right down what? about 25 rules every couple of days without error? We can do that! well you probably can

OMG. You're the best. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this very thoughtful comment filled with amazing tips.

So the 154 was my score on an actual LSAT. I think I did one or perhaps two prep tests using Khan Academy before I wrote the actual test. So I wasn't totally unfamiliar with the test, but I didn't know much either to be honest.

I'm pretty much done with CC of 7Sage. It's great. I just need to spend more time on logic games to improve my diagramming skills. RC is going ok. Better than what I thought tho because English is not my first language, but I'm doing anywhere from -2 to -0 per timed passage so far. LR is also alright, but since I haven't done a full prep test yet, I don't know what my score's break down will be at this time.

I'm planning to do around 30-40 prep tests before test date in Jan 2021. Hopefully by then I can get to my goal of 165-7.

Wish me luck.

Thanks again for your comment. Genuinely made my day.

Oh the coffee was burning when I wrote that novel. I think I've studied more about this test than what I'm being tested on. Probably time to move to real questions haha.

You and I may be taking around the same time. I will raise you to the 170s. (hint: you are winning with a great head start)

Is your stimulus have lacking a method of reasoning like causality or conditionality? As students we are used to diagramming those more often etc. Could you try the " pancake" version to notate?:

"Premise

"Premise

"Conclusion

Please someone correct me if this isn't applicable. Also should I have said "deductive form" instead of pancake form?? omg

1-35 are for drilling problem questions and for full proofing logic games.

36+ Are newer tests, and ideally you want to save those for your timed practice full length practice tests. As you move through them, you begin working on tests that are more current and ideally* be more representative of what you'll see on test day.

@ said:

I am a random person (first warning) who has heard (second warning) that the big fish small pond thing often doesn't work out as well as you would think. There might be much more parity than you would think.

Question for you: What is a hyper competitive school like? I have always wanted to know. When I went to school, no one really talked to each other. And I really liked it that way.

Your username is confusing me!

You should learn how* before how fast*. As you are learning the material the first time through don't worry about timing. You will have so. many. more. opportunities too worry about timing when you full-proof.

@ said:

@ said:

Side questions Cuz curious: I read somewhere that circular reasoning answer choices are almost always wrong. I have no dog in this fight and I'lll check to make sure even if it is. I just wonder why they went with this one to be so often wrong. Maybe because it sounds convoluted and can trick lots of people confused by the other 4 answer?

Circular reasoning seems not to be frequently used on the LSAT for a similar reason that answer choices that deny the premise are not. At the base, both seem to be considered as cheap tricks.

Good point! Denying the premise=it's false because the evidence is false. Circular reasoning=it's true b/c the evidence is true.

thank you for posting. I want to read it so bad but doint want to spoil. but if it's like you say it may be worth skipping to sooner if its beneficial to my prep sooner.

I just missed a 166 pt b/c I had to skip the last 8 LG questions. easy game too. Ive bits of full proof but am about to go to town.

Ahhh lsat irony. The solution for your timing concern of a section, is in itself a timing concern for your preparation for the rest of the test.

I dunnnnno. I get a strong death and taxes vibe from the LG monsters. They all say the same things. I was going to foolproof 1-35. If I get a misc game im screwed unless I have 15. so im trying to get good at errrrrrything else so ill trade time.

also, these are rambling of a mad man. Good luck to you on your test. Not those words. those were cool

I feel like this test is so stingy with everything. the one thing they are not stingy with, just doesn't help me at all. Laugh at me. Laugh!

Serious question and no shade if you do! Do people used 5 pieces of paper? 4? 3?

Side questions Cuz curious: I read somewhere that circular reasoning answer choices are almost always wrong. I have no dog in this fight and I'lll check to make sure even if it is. I just wonder why they went with this one to be so often wrong. Maybe because it sounds convoluted and can trick lots of people confused by the other 4 answer?