Hi everyone,
I hope studying is going well! I was wondering if anyone knew what the "typical" range of variance from most recent average PT's compared to the actual test is? The PT average on my four most recent tests is a 165. I haven't taken the LSAT before (taking November exam), so I'm just looking for a little input on other people's experiences. Thanks so much!
Hi everyone!
Thank you for how helpful you've all been during this process! So I finished the CC and now I have 45 days till the LSAT. I've gotten my score up a few points (from mid 150s diagnostic to high 150s low 160s now) and I know I won't be able to "maximize" my score since I've only committed a few months, but my goal score is low-mid 160s and my top choices are mid tier state schools that prioritize public interest work. So I was wondering, is 25 practice tests in 45ish days too many? I'd be committing roughly 4-5 hours to each test between the actual exam and review. I've been committing around 8 hours a day to preparation so I feel like it should be reasonable, but I am also very new to intense study and prep testing. I'd appreciate any advice you all could throw my way, thank you so much!
@ that's really good point about rereading, haven't tried that. Thanks!
@ same here man, and it’s so subject dependent. Like for a middle difficulty game I’ll get -5ish harder -7ish and easier -2 or 3. Same w logical reasoning. But for rc the passage, difficulty has much less of an impact on my scores, and it’s usually the ones that have 2 science passages that I struggle w the most
@ I agree w that for sure
Will taking the January test impact my admission chances at schools in the 70-130 US News ranking range? And will it lower the amount of scholarship that I would have gotten with an identical resume if I'd applied in November? Thank you !
@ okay so 1, you specifically asked how the test differs from individual to individual. 2, someone made an awesome point about how students 2nd guess themselves too much in general, which has nothing to do w the structure of the LSAT or specific LSAT studying habits, but you had no problem with that. Wonder why you applied that principle to what I said but said not to them? You posted on a public forum dude. Interact with the points brought up that you can learn or benefit from, unless someone says something rude or offensive, keep scrolling
Hi everyone!
Thank you for reaching out after my last post, it was incredibly helpful! I was wondering if anyone had advice for how to become more fluent in logic? I feel like I'm spending a lot of time thinking it over instead of it being natural. Did flashcards help anyone? Or was it more just heavy repetition of logical reasoning and then intense blind review? Thank you!
Hey everyone
I have 9 recent PT's left that I plan to take before the November 11th LSAT. Would it be ideal to have all of them except maybe one or two done before the final week leading up to the LSAT? That way I'd have completed all the material and can focus solely on review that week. Or is it better to just keep at my current pace and not switch to primarily review the final week. Thanks for any advice!
Hi Everyone!
I was wondering if anyone could share a rough estimate of their score progressions from the first diagnostic to maybe 2 months after the fact? I was a pretty meh student throughout college so I assumed my LSAT diagnostic would be low off the bat, but it ended up being a 156! I was so excited! That was 17 days ago. Since then I've done 8 more practice tests ( I know that's kind of insane, but I make sure to check my mistakes after and figure out why I got them wrong) and the scores were 154, 155, 156, 159, 155, 153, 159, 154, and 159. I'm happy that my initial score was a decent indicator of where I am at and not a fluke, but I'm so excited to see improvement! I feel like I am able to understand the material but sometimes it is hard for me to access the understanding quickly and under pressure. I'm new to the LSAT so I don't know if this is normal, but I have put in roughly 100 hours over the past 5 weeks so I'm just kinda bummed it hasn't gone up more. It seems like I am still in that "band" of 156. Thanks everyone! And like I said I am super new to the LSAT as well as intense studying (got my first ever headache from too much studying this week) so please feel free to share anything that might help.
@ ”talk about how the LSAT is a different journey for everyone” okay, I talked about how it’s difficult for low income individuals. “Original thoughts regarding the lsat” okay, I’m not the first person to say this but first to bring it up in this thread so I’d say it’s original here. Also I’m not criticizing the lsat itself, if I was saying the LSAT is dumb and designed for idiots, then I’d agree that my comment is negative. I’m criticizing the barriers of entry that surround the test. “Positive and brain enhancing” lol cmon, bringing up a social issue can’t enhance the brain? Positive? I’d say pointing out the social disadvantages is positive if the alternative is ignoring it and only talking about the test structure.
I think the LSAT hasn't done enough to level the playing field for people from disadvantaged socioeconomic communities and that they think they can get away with this by adding in more diverse names in the LG section. First of all the LG is the most dependent on studying, so it's going to favor those who have access to top notch study tools. I can't explain how much of a difference it's made having the unlimited data on 7sage. Second, they've only made the LG section worth more since eliminating the second LR section. If they really wanted to level the playing field they'd let everyone who signed up have access to every prep test previously offered. Rough analogy here: Imagine you spend 200$ to sign up for a class and then the teacher offer proportionately more study material to those who give more money. All the while the teacher is profiting directly from whoever buys more material. Open to any feedback on this but I think the LSAC is so damn greedy
Hi everyone,
Since I started studying for RC my scores have gone up a little, but not significantly because I don't put much practice time into them. I've made sure I know what each question is asking, how to figure out the main point and the essentials like that. Is my best bet for improvement through just hammering RC passages, like doing all the old ones? Thank you!
@ thank you so much! Super helpful. I have been trying to "translate" the ones I get wrong and that has been helpful, it sounds like really focusing on that can help.
Hi Everyone,
I'm wondering if applying in February after the January test would significantly lower my scholarship money offered at mid tier schools? Like if I get a 160 on the November test, and my top school has a median LSAT of 157, do you think I'd get more money at the normal deadline, or would retaking and getting a 163 in January put me in a better position to get more money at the same school? I probably won't retake if the majority of money is used by most programs by February. Thank you for your help.
I don't know how to feel about the double time stuff, I definitely believe that some people need it, but students in wealthier districts with easier access to health services can get a diagnosis so much quicker and they'll get more attention from educators.
Maybe you could mention a learning disability for the reach schools? I made my essays all about these two times I got arrested as a teenager lol, not doing it this time, and a lot of the safety schools rejected me but I got into two schools with pretty good scholarships that my scores and gpa were pretty far below average. I spoke with an admissions person from one of my safety schools and we reviewed the application and he said I should focus less on it, maybe a quick mention.
Hey everyone!
I hope things are going well and studying hasn't been too stressful! I'm looking for some tips or advice, I've been plateauing in the mid 160's for about 3 weeks (I'd be content with that for sure, my goal score is right around there), but I was wondering if anyone had tips for the things I should work on to make a final jump? I got my first -0 today in the LG section (from -12 or 13 early on!) and my RC is something I'm pretty consistent with, usually -7ish. But my LR can be crazy inconsistent. Today the PT I took, both LR sections were 3 star difficulty, and I got -1 on one and -10 on the other. I've been blind reviewing and drilling the questions that the analytics page says I struggle with pretty often. I might've hit my peak score band because some of the questions are super difficult for me to understand even after BRing and watching explanation videos. It'd be nice to go up a little though so I could feel more at ease on test day.
I agree with this! The videos made me second guess my own intuition and the concepts clicked much better before, I love the amount of PTs and the analytics available but I think the CC is a bit overblown
Hi everyone,
Hope studying is going well! I have a question for people who have already taken the online proctored version. Can I click on the clock to make it go away the same way I can with PT's on 7Sage? It really distracts me when I see the clock ticking in the corner of my eye and find myself having to reread way more. Thanks for your help!
Hi everyone! Congrats on finishing the exam! I didn't experience any technical issues, but I ate something I was allergic to the night before and was up from like 4 AM - noon throwing up on and off! I just wanted to say how much a positive mindset helped me get through it. I like to workout or run before studying and have before every single practice test, but today I couldn't. I also couldn't eat anything because of the allergic reaction I had, and I had my day planned to every 15 minute interval! That all went out the window, but by reminding myself that I have studied for hundreds of hours, and that not having food in my system, or not sticking to my typical routine, could not supersede the amount of work I put in, I was able to stay positive. I just kept reminding myself that this is why I put in the extra hours, just in case of a curveball. So try to trust your training, and remind yourself that even if there's a "curveball", you've worked hard enough to get a base-hit regardless! The time spent studying is the most important part, and all that work is done!
@ lmao i dont know how that popped into my feed
It's possible, I'd say just don't get discouraged if it doesn't improve by more than a few points or even goes down. My first PT I got a 156, next one was a 154, one after that was a 155. That was in early September, and I didn't get into the 160's for the first time until late September. Now I'm PTing in the mid 160s and occasionally high 160s but also some high 150s low 160s. I think the most important thing is to stay positive. A single point on the LSAT can be massive in terms of scholarship money, acceptance to your top schools, etc. So when you don't see an improvement or even see a dip don't be alarmed at all, and when you increase your score even by a point or two be proud of yourself and celebrate!
I don't think all of the videos are super necessary. Sometimes they can be legitimately confusing and make you overthink easy questions. 7Sage has been awesome because of the amount of content it offers and the explanation videos.
Hi Everyone,
I'm taking the LSAT at a hotel because the wifi at my house is kind of spotty. I was wondering if I can have the TV in the room or if I should call the front desk to have it removed. Also trying to pick a spot in the room where I am going to take the test so anything else that might be relevant in terms of what I can / can not have near me or in the room. Thank you!
Hey everyone,
Is there a deadline for completing the LSAT writing? Like can I do it after I take the test? Or do I need to get it done before test day? I know the LSAC wants me to complete it ASAP, but I'd rather not. Kind of rude of me I guess, but I'm just wondering if I could do it in the week after the test so I don't have to add any stress to my plate for this week (taking it Friday). Thank you for any info!
I'm sorry to hear that that's so frustrating. I've been dealing w a lot of anxiety even just prepping so I understand. I'd say just remind yourself that you aren't going to bomb it and you are going to be right around where you have been pting! Is there a chance the anxiety makes you rush or misread something and maybe you end up scoring a point or two lower than you're capable? That's possible, but you won't suddenly forget everything. You've got this! Next couple days, if I was in your shoes, I'd just focus on relaxing, breathing exercises, stuff like that. Good luck!
Hey everyone,
I had a question about undermining the conclusion of an argument. Does it have to help undermine a premise that is stated because that is how the conclusion is arrived at? Or can it be an entirely new premise? For instance, if the conclusion is that increased energy consumption is bad because we are already too dependent on technology and too many kids are on their phones all the time, and one option said studies conclusively show children aren't on their phones at an unhealthy rate and that technology dependence has replaced drug dependence, would that be the right answer choice since it most directly undermines the premises of the conclusion? Versus another option that says increased energy consumption is bad because global warming is directly affected by energy consumption and our planet is on the verge of falling apart, I feel like that better undermines the conclusion if we are just looking at the conclusion alone. But if it is undermining the specific conclusion that the author came to then I guess the initial choice would be better? This might be a super dumb question I just keep spending way too much time on easy questions because I'm overthinking it.
It sounds like you've got the fundamentals down so I'd say just keep drilling. Also what helped me in RC is really taking an active interest in the passage, and stopping to reread if I didn't fully comprehend the information. As far as the 160+ goes, since you're only losing a couple points on LG and LR I'd say the odds are really good.
Hi everyone,
I'm really struggling with parallel, parallel flaw, and weakening arguments. It started out as my strongest areas but has plummeted as I am actually trying to figure out the methods and not base it on intuition. Doesn't nearly every single argument have a flaw? Like with an analogy I can always just say "relationship between X and Y isn't similar enough to Y and Z to be compared". It's just so frustrating that the test makers are setting the parameters for whether I'm looking for a flaw or saying some absolutely bizarre, nonsensical, but technically sound (?) argument is actually one that I'm looking for a parallel for. Thank you so much for taking the time to help!
Hi everyone,
When I first started LR was my biggest strength but it has really taken a dip in terms of consistency. Does anyone have advice for staying consistent in the LR section? I've been taking more older PT's, could that be contributing? Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I'm taking the LSAT on the 12th and I made a routine for myself and I can see why it can help get me in a more reflexive mindset for the day of the test and minimize anxiety. But I was wondering what I should do in terms of LSAT specific work. Should I put in an hour or two at the time that I'll be taking the test each day leading up? I've done about 50 PTs over the past 2.5 months so this would be a significant cutback and I think it might be a good strategy, but I've also heard people say take a few days off each day which I could also see being helpful because I do feel fresher after a couple day break. I'm thinking I might do a couple hours per day for the next 2-3 days, a day off, maybe 1-2 hours for the next 2 days, 2 days off, and then an hour each day the 2 days before the test. Any thoughts on that plan? I've also cut out alcohol and made sure my schedule has meditation and exercise built in which I think will help me. Thanks so much!
Does anyone really overthink the easy questions and they will abandon common sense at times because you're so focused on finding in text evidence? I just took a PT and my score dipped by a few points from my average, but the scoring breakdown was really weird. On the level 5 difficulty questions I got 7/8 correct, on the level 4 difficulty questions I got 9/11 right, on the level 3 difficulty questions I got 10/14 right, on level 2 I got 6/9 correct. RC and LG sections have a more typical breakdown in terms of percentage right and difficulty. Thanks for your help!
@ could you explain what helps about going from the 25th after the 12th ? I feel like a set strategy will help so much
Hey everyone! I was wondering if people had any takes on the strategy of answering easiest questions first? What’s the minimum amount of time you’ll spend on a question before skipping it in the LR and RC sections? My most recent pts have been pretty consistent in the logic games but RC has been -3 or 4 about half of them and -8 or 9 on half and then LR have been -0 to -4 on most and then a few outliers of -8 and I feel super stressed throughout the sections I struggle on. Could that be because I’m getting in my head on early questions? Bizarrely have been discounting A and E on a lot of questions when I get down to guessing. Anyone feel like making a serious effort to get the easier ones first make a difference?
@ no doubt. As long as I'm within range of my average PT, like within 5, I'll be okay w that. I'll be super bummed if its like 10 points lower
@ I definitely do not have them down yet haha. I'm consistently in the -5 range so I think I need to practice the other stuff a bit more
Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if it's still worth it to redo the miscellaneous games in the logic game section? I'm not sure if they still test it much.
timed repetition has been big for me to become more consistent but yeah I think LR is my most inconsistent section
@ I agree! It's unjust that the LSAC doesn't make better accommodations when they aren't able to offer in person testing. But unless their money is affected I doubt they will
@ damn I'm really sorry to hear that. Is there a list you used the next time around to make sure there wouldn't be an issue w the proctoring?
@ ok cool thanks for the info. What do you mean by proctoring issues btw?