I have some of the 80s tests in printed booklets, so I looked at the writing sample questions in those tests 81-86 and researched a bit on IRAC / framing my argument outline.

I couldn't get the practice to work with the PSI program, so I worked a bit on paper and thought of how I would respond. In all, I practiced for just a few hours. Especially to be less verbose ... and to have my mind in a place for writing an essay. (I've been reading so many LSAT RC passages that I have been worried that 'writing style' will permeate both my Writing and my essays - yikes!)

There's a couple of LSAT sites that pop up in a search (Magoosh?? and Powerscore) that had some helpful recommendations, along with what little is on LSAC. They used the June07 writing prompt.

I treat 'unless' like the Loophole, and have it mentally grouped in as: 'unless, until, except, without' ... 'or.' It was the way I had first memorized it (from Powerscore and then Loophole) and it's the fastest way for me to process it. When I read it connected to 'either/or' in the 7sage curriculum, I didn't re-classify it, I prefer the way Loophole explains it. I've also seen it grouped in with those other indicators (until, except, without) in a couple of logic textbooks.

I agree with one of the posts above, to just pick the method that you like best. I did find the discrepancy odd, but I know that some sources have these discrepancies and we just have to process them on a case-by-case; that there must be two ways of considering it.

An LSAC rep talking at a school's webinar hinted that they will be (at least the first few). She also said that LSAC will make an announcement in the next few weeks.

A person can totally just use printed materials (books) and local libraries have copies of the 80s tests (and earlier) for checkout. So you could avoid even the PrepPlus cost if you're on a budget and study completely offline. The explanations on Powerscore are free.

One would be missing out on practicing digitally, but they could save the free June 2007 LawHub digital as their last pre-test practice and just be really careful with manual timing; use another test for their diagnostic. I wouldn't tell newbies to just use 7sage. They could even buy a set of books and share them among a group to distribute costs (if money is an issue). Assuming they're undergrads, the library at their school could be an invaluable resource for LSAT materials. (And their local library, especially if their in a more urban area - they'll have more resources than a small town library) And request that they pick up a copy of the Trainer or Loophole!! My library will do this if they think it's a valuable resource. It makes me think of the law school discussion of 'to supplement, or not to supplement.' Personally, having info presented in various ways (esp if some sources don't even present certain information!) helps with comprehension.

I'd used other sources (started with a Kaplan book from my local library when I was first curious) and mostly used 7sage for the analytics component. To me, their 'plus' is with the analytics (because Powerscore is cheaper!) and being able to filter question types and see my stats post-PT. But someone using the site free can enter their data in manually. To be honest, I'm glad I have the Powerscore books (and the Loophole) as additional references. I went through the 7sage CC (because I was paying for it!!), and I didn't personally like the way it was presented. I think it could be better organized, but that's totally my subjective opinion after seeing so many other sources first. And, it's not a book, so it can be more '3D' in its approach. :)

If you're looking at regional schools and NOT looking for scholarship consideration, you could still apply up to about July-ish. (based on the recent SAPLA webinar) Some of the schools mentioned they'd take people up until the start of classes. It's just a matter that they've already distributed scholarships ... It really depends on the school. :)

I just got an email that my Writing was approved - so fast! Woohoo. I never expected that to process so quickly. I was worried when I took it later Tuesday that I was pushing my luck. Hope everyone else's is processing smoothly and/or already approved.

@ I agree. I took the test on Sunday and was shocked that my RC were the same as those discussed from Saturday's test. I had looked into the term posted from the science passage when it was posted Saturday night out of science curiosity ... and seeing it on my actual test was such a shocker! Even seeing the weaving passage (seeing the prospect of a passage about weaving made me excited). I was also on the look-out for that 'last game,' knowing that it might be totally different. But there it was. I was NOT expecting that. I'd checked this forum prior to see if there were Proctor/other issues. I wonder if the curve will be reflective?? I felt so bad for the Saturday testers. Not so much the Tuesday testers, they seem to have had different topics. It's that constant 'luck of the draw' against our individual strengths/weaknesses.

I always thought about what would be my 'dream' types of passages for RC. And I am SO grateful that I didn't have that Kafka / anything philosophical passage (had trouble reading him in German!). Granted I didn't read it to know what was in it ;p , maybe it wasn't that difficult!!

They mentioned to keep an eye on the LSAC page for the updates/new information. There was also a hint that conditions are not the best for large gatherings, so post-April Flexs are likely.

7Sage's admission site and the Ivey Guide to Admissions book both talk about this specifically. You'll want to have a lot of extracurriculars. BUT, most schools require the résumé as part of their package. So you might have to create one if you want to apply to a top school.

It matters in the sense that according to an adcom: it's the first thing they pick up to really get to know who that candidate is (after looking at their GPA/LSAT). Then they might go into the rest of the package.

I always thought it was an age-thing and a lack of maturity sticking to commitments or with interactions with others. I was always surprised by the 'crickets' in Discord groups up until the last few weeks before the test. I guess it's just makes it even harder to find the best fit, not only in score range and knowledge, but also in commitment and willingness to put in the effort.

Good luck! It's horrible when you have the English hurdle on top of it all and you're trying to really master the material, only to have others act as unintentional barriers by not following through.

This might not help you at this point ... but if you work the PTs in order, you're probably less likely to notice a significant change in the content.

Yikes, finally managed to get the Writing section done ... hopefully it will go through without issue. I could NOT get it to load the last few days, but used Microsoft Edge and it started up. Guess I was just doing it wrong and/or it doesn't like Firefox to click on the LSAC button. Who knows :).

It's weird though, because when I took my test on Sunday, I wasn't feeling really great - I thought it was allergies. But ... yikes, feeling really feverish today (so I really wanted to get that Writing section out of the way!) and head-cold sick. Hope it's not Covid, the irony. Sad that I'm going to look like a red-eyed druggie in all the videos - me taking the test on Sunday and especially taking the writing section today - with today also being fever face. :p Haha

@ OMG, how horrible! I actually had to go out and buy a new laptop for the Flex (but, knowing that I'd need it to run the LS exam software in the future helped with that decision v just borrowing one). I hope they're able to fit you in later in the week: Friday?? in the hope that you can find a solution - borrowing a computer (yikes) or having to buy one.

I can't seem to get the Writing to work ... but I'm going to try again today ...

@ Yes!! I thought the same about the LR.

My ProctorU experience was AMAZING! I was so worried and it went perfectly. LR - LG - RC for the arrangement, which was just perfect, not having RC or LG first, but also getting the LR out of the way and not having it last. So grateful for some of the LR question types that were not included!! And the ease for others that were.

Hoping this is the only test I need to take, so fingers crossed. :)

I am so shocked/excited that I wasn't nervous or anxious at all yesterday or today. I've been pushing myself at an intense rate (two tests every Tuesday & Thursday, one of the 80s tests on Sunday ... review in between - so 5 total a week (aided by not having to review a lot of question, thank goodness)), with a mindset that today was 'just another 80s test day.' I thought for sure I was going to get all shaky and mind-blank when I connected/started, but wow! I think my Mom was more nervous than I was. It helped to know that I'd studied as much as I could as of Saturday afternoon, so everything else was out of my control. ... And now to wait for the results. ... And to put the double-check on everything else (in the hope that I can send out applications and don't have to delay until the Fall).

Good luck everyone!

It really depends on what is your personal struggle. Sometimes I read someone say that an LR section of a test is 'hard,' but then did really well - where it was easy. Other times, the analytics might say that a LR section is 'easy,' only to really struggle with it. I made a spreadsheet of the different section difficulties early-December and was surprised that the pre-35 LR sections have more 5-star questions in their sections than the recent tests (and, so, there are more 4-star sections in those LR sections than in the later tests). For the recent tests, it's more about the wording (I guess). If you're working your PTs in order, you're unlikely to notice the subtle shift in change. So if you're looking for the 'numbers,' that might be different from looking at the specific 'wording' ??? And if you struggle with, say, causal, you might react differently than if you were a wiz at logic. And question type strengths (I do really well on the argument-types, less so on MSS/MBFs, so if all the 5-stars are flaw, na or strengthen/weaken, I'm likely to do better than if the 5-stars were MBT/MSS; contributing to some sections being easier even though they're marked as hard(er).

There's also a reddit list out there that doesn't coordinate with 7sage's analytics. They have one section marked as super-tough that I think 7sage has marked as a '2.' I don't remember the specifics because it was rather useless as a tool.

I took all of the prohibited items out of the room (what a chore!) and turned my books in a small bookshelf around so the spines faced the wall (overkill here, LSAC didn't make comments about books ... although having them next to us, of course is one thing compared to having them out of reach behind us ... ). The room is so ugly right now!!

I had the walls covered with notes and notecards and it was so funny when I removed them a few weeks ago - I never realized how often I 'looked up' to the ones in front of me until there was nothing on the wall to see.

If you have a plain sheet, you could even just cover up stuff (I think LSAC recommends this for TVs and other electronics that can't be moved out of a room, but check before believing me :D). A paining should be ok (as long as it doesn't have logic formula as its motif, heehee), even more so if it's behind you. Their site mostly talks about electronics in the room. And people in the room. Watch your office supplies out, though, to make sure you meet their guidelines for max. quantities. They really make a note about wanting the desk surface empty except for our scrap paper and writing utensils (and 20oz plastic bottle).

Some of the past writing samples were delayed because of backpacks visible in the room (which is a prohibited item). Don't know at what point they'd actually cancel someone's test. I have to be really careful about not swearing in Swedish or doing something stupid in front of the camera/person that creates a violation, eeek.

I know for myself, I'm doing this week just as any other week, with the same frequency of PTs. That way, for the actual test, it will feel more like a regular day and I'll be 'fit' for it. (Full disclosure, I started taking a LOT more PTs per week in January as 'stamina training,' so the idea of stopping with a week to go makes me fear having nothing else to do :p and a fear of newly acquired understandings regressing, eeek!! But, that's just me and as a piano player, shout out suzuki method!, I know what happened when I didn't practice constantly ...). So I'm trying to set everything up and looking at the actual test on Sunday as just a regular PT - I'll call it PT91. ... Except it will be creepy, because someone will be watching me and I won't be able to have a cup in front of me or anything snack-y.

When I took time off to foolproof games (and before that when I took time off to read a logic textbook), my question misses spiked. So, I don't want to take time away. I don't want just a few days off to create a negative spike on the most important test of them all!! I know I'm lucky, though, because I'm not worried about burn out (and never have).

So, if you had PTs scheduled at a rate all the other weeks lately, I'd still treat this week that way. If you're testing on Sunday, I would stop either Thursday or Friday (if Thursday is your last PT day, you could review the PT on Friday, then review everything else and drill on Saturday; otherwise PT on Friday and review that PT on Saturday and still have time to drill on Saturday). :)

It might be that: A) you're squeezing in too many PTs without giving yourself enough time to fully review each, or maybe (most likely!!) it was just a harder PT (when I first took PT75, my score dropped 10 points - I recently took it again and it was still lower than other recent PTs (but, thankfully, not by much - but STILL, it was a retake ... it hit some still weak spots).

It was probably the PT. Is it possible for you to take another Flex PT to try to boost up your morale before the actual test (since, squeezing too many in might be another culprit to regression, eek)? Then, you could more comfortably put this bad test behind you before your 2nd LSAT. I would not take time off before next week. If you do, going into the actual test might make you more anxious. If you stick at a strong pace (pref the pace you're currently working at), the actual test will be the more 'everyday familiar.' (to a point!!) Luckily, since this is your 2nd time, your test day anxiety will hopefully be less just from having dealt with PU before. Good luck!!

There's still enough time to take another PT before Sunday (especially as a Flex). ... Assuming you're not working full-time?

I'd fit in another test to counter the psych-out from this recent test. It could make such a difference to your mindspace before the actual test day. :) Have you taken PT 69? Totally anecdotal, but I had a 0 on that RC section (and my RC score dipped on 70 and 75 compared to my recent 'usual'). PT 76 is another one that might be 'easy.' If you haven't taken that test yet either ...

Maybe think of it this way: would you regret not having taken another PT if you thought that just the chance of a setback mentally might/did (post-score) affect your performance on test day? If you don't think that it would help much, then you could just focus on drills. Especially if you're not used to taking a PT at the frequency of adding this additional test. I think with 6 days remaining, you're less likely to suffer burn-out if you continue to work as you have been. (But, that's totally my opinion and I tend to look at this test more as practicing for a piano competition compared to competing in a marathon) Good luck!!

Love the IRAC mention - I wouldn't have thought to incorporate that, but it would make writing an argument even better / more organized.

Beyond Kahn's page, where do you find actual sample essays? (Just google search it??) I have some paper test booklets, that have the writing sample question to practice on ... but not an actual sample essay to compare my attempt to.

Thanks for the helpful info above!! ... And good luck on your WS. ... I'm planning to take mine next Monday after I take the test on Sunday. And/or to also take it Sunday - but now I can practice for it on Sunday night and then be ready for it Monday!!

I'm so excited ... and excited to send out my applications, finally. I got a 175!! Signing out of 7sage's LSAT side (my subscription expires today) and moving on into the 'Law School' prep side (soon, I'm going to take a break - I've been at this for a while without one and then I'm going to read some books) :)

I was just too excited yesterday.

@ Same as above, one day whoops, two days (I think just under since I did my Writing a bit later in the day). I didn't have anything on my desk except for one sheet of paper and a single pencil and was rather meticulous about the room scan (I re-scanned the room when realized I hadn't shown that my paper was blank). Scanned the room just like I did for the test (except I didn't use a mirror to show the front of the computer).

The Ivey admissions book says that most people score lower on a retake than on their first take.

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