Hey all you cool 99th percentile scorers out there. I am wondering...once you crack into the 170's...is the test just easy? I am stuck in the 163-166 range, and still find that every time I take a PT it never feels easy. I really feel like each and every test thoroughly kicks my ass, even though my score is continuing to creep up. I do feel like my understanding of the material has greatly improved, but it is certainly never a walk in the park.
Just curious!
I think your gradual improvement just shows that you learned the test and put the work in. I know some schools ask for an addendum, but I think it's ridiculous to have to explain "I studied and got a better score". My hunch is that the score jump addenda are for, say, a 14 point jump in 2 months, which would require some explanation as to why the lower score occurred. I think it's obvious that you just put in the work and got a great score!
I think it's important to remember that law school and this test will ALWAYS be there. There isn't any reason to be burning yourself out studying 8 hours a day, if it is negatively affecting your mental health. Take it slow and keep chipping away, but remember that this isn't the only time you'll ever have a shot at this. The long game isn't as exciting but it could end up getting you somewhere worthwhile! Hang in there.
nooooooooo
175 is over every 75th percentile, barring Yale maybe? I would instead take the time to get your PS and resume polished!
Hey!
I am in a very similar position and have been struggling with the same dilemma. I am 30 and am working full time, studying and planning to take the LSAT in August. I'm not quite where I'd like to be with my PT scores, and I am in a similar splitter scenario with my GPA.
That being said, I don't think it hurts at all to get some test day experience. I am excited to see what the flex is all about and hopefully have a good test day! Who knows?
I really don't think any school would think twice about your scores. They are really looking for large discrepancies. For instance, my first take was a 148, and I'm currently PTing in the mid 160's, so if October goes well I will hopefully have to write one! I don't think a 167-173 warrants an addendum. Good luck!
I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of any time I do a game. If I do a game -0, in around the amount of time J.Y. recommends, and I felt completely confident, I DON'T add the game to the spreadsheet. I don't ever have to see that game again. If I see a game like it, I feel confident I can tackle it no problem. If I don't meet ALL of these criteria when doing a game, I add it to the spreadsheet. I go back and foolproof games twice a week. I work on each different game, untimed, until I feel confident I know how the game should flow. Then, I time myself and see if I can get the game completed in the appropriate time frame. Once I check all the boxes, I remove the game from the sheet.
The emptier the spreadsheet, the better!
I have been drilling the early games (PT 1-15) and have found this super helpful. Some of them are WEIRD games. I feel like if you can handle the earlier games in a timed setting, it makes it easier when you get thrown a weird one on test day.
I make an agenda for myself every morning when I'm drinking coffee or walking the dog. Usually my goal is 1 hour a day, with the exception of Mondays which I take off (meetings all day/burnt out). Some days all I have time for is 20 minutes of LSAT. But, you can do A LOT in 20 minutes. You can really get detailed with just one LR question that you don't understand and grapple with it, or work on one game and watch the explanation. To be perfectly honest, I think many people could benefit from a "quality over quantity" approach--full time job or not!
Best of luck.