Hi guys I'm back from my trip so I will join this coming Sunday :)

I know it sucks, but don't write it on Saturday. Your scores will improve and you WILL learn but there is no point writing on Saturday. I wish i told myself this in June - but there is just this pressure to go and quickly write this exam so its done with.

You also are studying like i did when i first started off. I didn't learn anything from those books tbh. I wasted months doing that too.

I recommend the LSAT trainer and the CC on 7sage. Also get a hold of the Cambridge drill packets for LG (foolproof all those games). Then start PTing.

Good luck :)

Yeah I have studied 8 hours. For the past month, I have just treated it as a full time job mon-friday. 9-5pm with an hour break for lunch. no lsat on the weekend. This way is much better than studying random times during the day. I know that after 5pm and weekends no lsat. I feel much more refreshed that way. Sometimes it might be 4 days a week.

I am not productive at night so can't speak about that. everyone is different! :)

I will say that before the September exam, i was doing 7 days a week! or at least trying to do it. I felt extremely burnt out.

Took PT42. It has similar rule ‘positioned higher’. If you do logic games enough, this won’t trip you up. They do state when they mean 1 is the highest. For example when they have games about ranking. 1 would be “higher”. I think after you have written down your rules, go back and just double check!!! It takes literally couple seconds but can save you so many points!! I got into the habit of doing this.

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No! do not PT if you even feel slightly burnt out! I learnt that the hard way in September when I tried to do as many PTs as I could before the exam.

Haha okay I'm definitely just going to be doing light reviewing based on what you and David have said! Are you writing in December as well?

Yes I am!! Good luck to youuuuu

No! do not PT if you even feel slightly burnt out! I learnt that the hard way in September when I tried to do as many PTs as I could before the exam.

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I'm in the same situation! Sometimes I'll do well in LG but bomb LR or RC. For me, it's mostly due to timing. I'll review the LR question types I know I suck at (flaw, NA).

I'm also aiming for a similar score. I think I'll review some past RC to reinforce the format of the passages. I'll especially look over science passages because I usually trip up on those.

I'll also drill some of the newer LG games, since I feel like there are more misc. games as compared to older tests. (I'll also cross my fingers for no odd games on Saturday...)

I think I'll take a PT on Wednesday. And maybe do an easy drill to warm up the day of, but that'll be it! Like Leah said, don't burn out! Good luck on Saturday! :)

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I have the same issue when it comes to consistency. I generally score in a range from highest to lowest scores of like seven points, with an average somewhere in the middle. I think that this is typical, as sometimes you test differently because of the day's uncontrolled variables and the variability in aspects of the test that you may be weak/strong in. The only way to reduce inconsistency is to control as many variables as possible and to make sure that you improve all of your weaknesses (which is, like, kind of impossible, so don't sweat it). :B

I think you'll do great! Just make sure you've got your best mindset for test day and I'm sure you'll score above or about your average!

For last minute efforts, I'd say review some of your hardest LR question types and practice a few of your hardest LG games (ie. work on your weaknesses). Don't worry about RC. Just make sure you stay focused and don't move too slowly and you'll be fine. :)

Your best is all you can do!

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The variation in score can definitely be normal. After I finished the cc, I had a period of time that my score was all over the place. In just the last month or 2, I got a lot more consistent. I think that it just comes with time. RC is my killer too, so I don't have great advice for that one. I'd be careful about doing a PT this week - you don't want to burn out. If you are studying and trying to improve, then I'd say definitely take Friday completely off to rest.

Taking PTs and timed sections is really just to get used to timing issues and for stamina. If you feel comfortable with those, then I'd just work on the underlying questions and not worry about time this week. Do some logic games, watch the videos, and also maybe narrow down your top few LR question types that you need to improve and do some drilling of those. But be careful not to do too much, you want to be fresh and relaxed for the test on Saturday!

Thanks guys for the help! I think i will just focus on question types and lightly drill games. I just don't see the point on working on RC.

Goodluck to all of you! for someone who has been doing this for nearly a year, the forums have been so helpful. Really hoping Saturday I can put all this to rest. clawed my way from 135 to 159 (today's PT score).

I just took a PT today. I scored 159! my diagnostic was 135 in feb. :) but on RC i somehow went only -7... i thought i did terrible on it as usual.I would be beyond thrilled if i can score that on test day. I think this will be my last PT before the exam.

Same boat as you :) good luck

Hey!! I don't recommend cramming as many PTs before the exam. I did that in September and was PTing high 150s and low 160s. On the actual thing tho, I was beyond burnt out and scored terrible. kinda confused too about what i should be doing till the exam tho. I just do not want to repeat last time.

hiii, pls add me:)

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Thank you so much for the link. I will definitely start incorporating that everyday. I guess this exam is something else - no undergrad course made me feel so much anxiety.

Of course! I hope it helps (I have faith that it will because like I said, I'm a giant stress ball naturally haha). And it really is its own beast. It's tough to keep your mind from wandering while you're taking it when there's so much at stake with it, but once your confidence is up and your stress is down I know you can kill it!

It did! To be honest, I have been losing sleep too. So today, I just sat down in my room on the floor for 20 mins and just focused on my breathing. It was hard to do, but it really calmed me down!!! I'm gonna try doing this everyday now.

Thank you for the positive kind words :) Sending you lots of love.

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I'm in the same boat! The first game confused me enough to freak out and question my every step. I can do games without any issues but the stress took over :( after that I knew I'm going to cancel. Picking myself up and practicing timing and accuracy in the next two months.

We can still apply this cycle. More study time can help to get even better scores! Things happen for a reason!

Yeah :( I just really didn't want to rewrite. So sad, literally didn't sleep last night after the exam. Hopefully December will be our exam!!! Im gonna drill the hell out of games. I thought i had it covered since last LSAT in June i went -5 on games. So I focused more on LR. LMAO i get somewhat good at one section and get hella crappy at another. Like damn. Gotta pick ourselves up tho ey and push thru two more months.

Overheard: Some self obsessed dudes talking bout how they don't understand people scoring under 160. I had to urge to say 'Who even asked you tho' but these days I'm learning to be more civilized so I didn't.

How many questions guessed: Got confused on first game and then that negativity carried through the entire section and guessed last game :( RC I suck at so no hope there. During an LR section, I realized I misbubbled like a good 7 questions. So had to go back erase and rebubble it. I was thinking to myself, "Why is this happening to me"

real lsats taken prior: 1

Expected score: Don't think it was close to what I was prepping at

Cancel - I will probably cancel :( scared it might be lower than my first write. This sucks. I just registered for the Dec 2nd date. Oh what fun.

Timing issues - YES. damn this exam. I had plans to be done with it

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I'm also going to chime in with the mindfulness/meditation advice! Along with mastering fundamentals, it is essential that you don't lose your cool on test day. Easier said than done, I know. I'm a super Type-A, highly anxious person so for what it's worth, this isn't coming to you from a yogi or anything. :wink:

Each day I sit or lay down with my eyes closed and focus on how my breath feels going into my nose as I fill my "belly" (meaning that it's a diaphragmatic breath) and note how it feels when I just release the breath with a little hiss out of my mouth, repeating for anywhere from two to twenty minutes. (this link may help: http://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/mindful_breathing)

I do a similar thing minus the hiss on test day (obviously lol) at question 15 in every section per a friend's advice. No matter if I'm doing great or the section is messing with me, I put my pencil down at question 15 and take a mindful three-second breath to reset the body and brain. Some will say that's nuts, but it works for me. From what you've said, the mental turmoil of this test seems to be what's really getting to you. But incorporating mindful practices into your daily routine really will change the way your body responds to stress. Also, to second Alex's comment, concurrently work on drilling fundamentals so that the processes behind each question type become reflexive. I think if you can calm your mind during the test, you won't feel the fundamentals slipping so much. Hopefully that helps! Best of luck!

Thank you so much for the link. I will definitely start incorporating that everyday. I guess this exam is something else - no undergrad course made me feel so much anxiety.

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I would focus on drilling and solidifying fundamentals. I've truly realized that a mastery of the basics is sufficient to score in the 160s on this exam. Also, make sure you fool proof games to get those as close to -0 as possible. It is true that they are the most learnable section of the LSAT.

Also, follow Sage CantGetRight's 3 step study process: https://classic.7sage.com/webinar/post-core-curriculum-study-strategies/

It's an hour long webinar and worth every minute.

Good luck :)

I couldn't even hold the inferences in my head during the timed exam :( I went -10 on games. On PTing, it was usually -5 sometimes -3.

Ahh I just feel like so discouraged. I can't even put into words. I will definitely check out the webinar.

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Funny story - > @ said:

Here’s one tip for test day anxiety that helped me:

You know that moment at the beginning of each section where the proctor says, “Begin,” and everyone frantically flips the page? You start holding your breath, trying to read faster, trying not to think about the last section, saying to yourself, “Focus!!” Instead, when you flip the page, pause. Watch everyone else panic for just a second. They’re about to make stupid mistakes because they’re panicking. But you’ve got this. Take a deep breath, and begin. The 2 seconds, or even 5 seconds, you spend doing this at the beginning of each section will pay off in dividends over the next 35 minutes because you took the time to correct your mindset before you began to fall into the rabbit hole of anxiety and panic.

I totally believe in this! I really think that everything in this test (once you have the fundamentals down) comes down to a mental state. I'm retaking so I took a Diagnostic this weekend after 3 weeks of not even thinking about the LSAT. I obviously studied before so I just thought - "who cares if I botch this diagnostic? It's just to see what stuck with me" and I got a pretty good score! Just relax, don't think everything is resting on it. You've studied this before. Take a diag, relax and see what else you need to work on.

I will definitely take a diagnostic since I haven't touched anything LSAT related since the exam. Just drilled some games today.

I wanted to ask, will you be using the SEPT exam as just an exam to review over or will you take it again under timed conditions?

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Hi Pink Dust, you are not alone i promise! I blacked out during the first section this Sep test and got 9 right which is just awful. I didn't increase at all from my first take because of anxiety and stress.

I am curious what others say. I am starting to practice mindfulness and yoga maybe this could help you as well.

Hey! Good luck to both of us! I will try yoga or the gym more. My anxiety has just gotten worse since feb. I also think that I shouldn't spend all day studying for this exam. Max 3-4 hours a day. Will definitely PM you so we can both stay on track. Today I just drilled some games.

congrats :)

Hi, I'm still confused about C. Can someone please further explain why it is incorrect.

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I had two LG

1st LG = Some things must close, some must be open

2nd LG = Voting committee versus Zoning Committee

RC was about Chinese Language, Multiverse, Law as it applied to Comedians and Chefs, and Social Darwinism

Which LG was real?!

The some must be open game was real

the last two games where hard!

yay I'm excited!

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Would we get in trouble if we worked with a mechanical pencil but bubbles with the regular wooden one?

I hate working with the wooden pencil especially on games. :/ but I feel like I’ll get yelled at :(

You'll get kicked out! Don't do it. They state it very clear.

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I've amassed over 200 pencils while prepping. I'm planning on bring about 100. I want people to experience the magic of the Staedtler Wopex on their exams. I ha> @ said:

Would we get in trouble if we worked with a mechanical pencil but bubbles with the regular wooden one?

I hate working with the wooden pencil especially on games. :/ but I feel like I’ll get yelled at :(

You can't use them and I wouldn't recommend trying. I started studying with mechanical pencils and it's whatever. They're certainly more convenient, I'll give you that. The switch and what type of pencil make no difference beyond your imagination.

People have also reported that it's standard procedure for the proctors to make you place them on the ground and they do seem to note what type of pencil you're using.

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On the September test someone near me brought mechanical pencils. The proctor noticed while checking his bag. They told him he couldn't use them, and provided two no. 2 pencils. So definitively, no mechs! Sadly, because I would love to use @ s method. I think the last time id used a wooden pencil prior to LSAT study was the frickin ACT. Back in 1872.

damn. I am sad. hahaha

Would we get in trouble if we worked with a mechanical pencil but bubbles with the regular wooden one?

I hate working with the wooden pencil especially on games. :/ but I feel like I’ll get yelled at :(