Much like a Black Friday sale, so many people tried getting through the doors at once that the doors broke.

@ said:

How do you join this? And, what if you don't have access to PT 27? Do I have to buy it to participate? Thanks!

Here's how:

@ said:

Oldies But Goodies - PT 27

Monday, June 19, 7:30 PM EDT

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/853312053

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

Access Code: 853-312-053

First GoToMeeting? Try a test session: http://help.citrix.com/getready

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@ Thank you so much for letting me struggle and joke my way through Q21 (the attribution paintings question). You steered me onto the right path, and I fee like I owned that question. I really needed that pick-me-up after my recent LSAT struggle/rut.

Also, jazz and big band music is my thing. Fite me lol.

awww lol you wait to tell him about Jazz now after its all over?

I did mention it during the review, but I didn't pursue it because any minor distraction would have resulted in me losing all train of thought.

lol. That makes sense. But I think we shouldn't lose any opportunity to give @ a hard time. :joy:

That single question fried my brain hard. I'm just really glad all of the other answers were "very wrong" lol. Had we approached it as a strengthening question, I would have been lost. Going at it as a weakening was the best approach.

Yeah, that question was definitely weird, the stem and the stimulus! But I am glad we got it. I was looking at Manhattan Forum about how they classified it and it was kind of interesting because their approach was there is no conclusion in the stimulus as they are all facts. So we just need to strengthen the point/conclusion stated in the question itself. :confounded: lol I am just glad LSAT has done away this such crappy way of asking questions. But if it comes back we will be ready :smiley:

@ said:

Haha, sorry to have hated on your jazz! I used to play trombone in a jazz band if it helps! Now if we're talking Dixie Land Jazz, that changes everything. I even like Miles and Thelonious and a lot of the old guys, just not all this contemporary cerebral jazz. When Jazz is great, it's great. When it's anything less, it's awful!

lol What I see here is someone trying to qualify their conclusion to smooth any issues. I don't remember any such statements made last night. @ can testify to that. :joy:

I can neither confirm nor deny the actions of any such events without the Secretary's approval.

I got the right answer, but I feel that the the Green-White House rule needs to say, "The Green House is on the immediate left of the White House." The way it is written now can be interpreted as the Green House just needs to simply come before the White House.

@ said:

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@ Thank you so much for letting me struggle and joke my way through Q21 (the attribution paintings question). You steered me onto the right path, and I fee like I owned that question. I really needed that pick-me-up after my recent LSAT struggle/rut.

Also, jazz and big band music is my thing. Fite me lol.

awww lol you wait to tell him about Jazz now after its all over?

I did mention it during the review, but I didn't pursue it because any minor distraction would have resulted in me losing all train of thought.

That single question fried my brain hard. I'm just really glad all of the other answers were "very wrong" lol. Had we approached it as a strengthening question, I would have been lost. Going at it as a weakening was the best approach.

@ said:

Something that is already helping me with LR is Monday night's Oldies Mondays with @ . I can't sing that man's praises enough (as y'all could probably tell from my minion madness since last week. lol) I recommend that study group to everyone because of how much it helped me on the questions we did cover live.

Nothing beats covering a question live with many different brains (peeps) at the same time. For me, that excitement and leaps of knowledge held throughout the week. I'm working on LR & LG today for tonight's call, so we'll see how my excitement translates. LOL

Sorry, that was a long way to say, yes, drill from (cannibalize) PTs 1-35, even if you've drilled those parts before. Re-do the quizzes from CC also--those REALLY help me when I need a certain question type reinforced. And if you can, join us tonight while we chop up PT18!

I was in the group tonight. Truth be told, I didn't plan on being there. I just couldn't bring myself to focus tonight on my normal routine, so I figured "social activity" would be nice. I tackled question 21 (paintings and attribution question) with barely any prep. I feel absolutely on top of the world.

I'll try to make more in the future. I had fun, which I think is a new goal for me now. I need to make studying for this miserable test fun. Up until now, I've seen it as a thing to do because the incentive of a free law school ride is amazing. I need to study harder, but find a way to make it more... how you say... enjoyable.

@ Thank you so much for letting me struggle and joke my way through Q21 (the attribution paintings question). You steered me onto the right path, and I fee like I owned that question. I really needed that pick-me-up after my recent LSAT struggle/rut.

Also, jazz and big band music is my thing. Fite me lol.

@ said:

haha sorry guys just found out, wife said dont tell anyone yet, so i figured.. well i'll tell my 7sage friends they wont tell anyone she knows lol. so now im doing this for me and my family !! extra motivated now !!

Little does he know, I am his wife.

@ said:

it sounds like you are stuck in a bit a rut... all of the advice you've gotten here is good, but i think you would benefit from a bit of a shift in your focus. stop worrying about your score on your timed PT and focus on your blind review score.

your blind review score will gauge your actual understanding of the material and concepts. after a blind review return to the core curriculum, rather than individual questions that you got wrong, to review your weak spots. this will help you improve your knowledge base. and as your blind review score goes up you'll notice a causal relationship with your timed PT score.

lastly, i sucked at logic games at first and especially so under timed conditions. i was, like you, scoring -14/15 on each LG section during a timed PT. i paid a tutor $100/hr to help. he told me to simply skip one of the games and guess "C" for all the answers. the extra time allowed me to focus on the 3 games and complete them accurately. instantly brought my score up by 4 or 5 points. then, during my BR I would complete all 4 games. you could try a similar strategy with reading comprehension. i'll also highly recommend nicole hopkins' reading comprehension webinar:

it helped raise my RC score by 4/5 points!

Fun fact - statistically, the last LR game has a 50% chance of having D or E as the right answer.

@ said:

What are your BR scores?

On average, they're about 9 points higher than my timed score. This is mainly due to being able to get all the games in that I missed, and check the reading comps that I didn't understand.

With games, it's rare that I ever stick with the wrong answer, and that's because I'm able to figure out the right answer. I have only ever come across one game where I gave up in my BR, and it's because I literally could not figure out what the game was asking me to do.

With Critical Reading, I end up picking the right answer unless I have no idea what's going on in the passage. There's normally one passage that does that to me, but in PT39, there were three, and I was thoroughly wrecked by it.

With LR, I will rarely ever get the right answer right on BR. Most of the time, I'm picking the wrong answer on timed, and then I'm either switching over to another wrong answer, or sticking with my original wrong answer. I know for a fact that it's because I have no idea how to do what the question is asking me to do. My comprehensive reviews have helped bring me from a -15 average to a -10 average for each section, but I am still very well aware there are questions that I can't do very well. Like sufficient assumption questions. I tend to just flat out skip them and attempt it on blind review.

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I'm not really in a position to give people advice (since I'm struggling to improve my score too) but I went from -10 to -1 (or -0) in LG after doing LG Bundle.

I used to do one game type over and over again, but I improved my PT LG score after I started drilling LG per section (within 35 minutes). I think drilling LG section within 35 minutes is important because it got me into the habit of skipping questions or even a whole game. When I can't seem to get the right setup for a game, I skip and do an easy game first and then come back within 35 minutes.

This sounds like a good idea to me. I'm going to start drilling that giant package tonight. LG works on being able to inference and push-back rules. The more exposure I get, the easier this should become.

@ said:

So it sounds like you're BR-ing well. But if you're doing it twice, the logical should follow that there would be even more improvement than doing it just once. So there still might be an element missing in your BR.

+Do you drill each area of weakness you find in your BR ad nauseam before taking the next PT?

+Likewise, are you foolproofing each logic game you encounter (especially during BR?)

+Are you using a clean copy of the PT when you BR? I ask because I made huge gains in using a clean copy every time I BR (even if I am doing only a few questions throughout the entire PT), so as not to compete with any bias of previously chosen answers.

I drill the sections, but not specific question types exclusive to my weak areas. Coming from Test Masters (where all you did was drills), I've found that drilling LR and CR questions is kind of a trap for me. The test itself doesn't group all the question types together. They're scattered, and so I have to switch between one strategy to another strategy. I feel caught in a catch 22 because want to drill entire LR sections, and time myself on each individual question. Maybe I could take PTs 1-30 and do that? I'm not sure how true it is, but I was once told that the PTs from the 90s are not reflective of PTs from 2007 beyond.

For logic games, I am fool proofing them, or getting as close to fool proofing to them as I possibly can. There are some games where I had no idea on how to even begin diagraming a master game board, so I would have to individually figure out the right and wrong answers per question. As implied by @ I should drill the mammoth LG packet made from PTs 1-30.

I am using clean PTs whenever possible, which is most of the time. I end up saving quite a bit of paper by not writing on my PTs. I'll put the answers onto notebook paper, or the Scantron sheets. This helps me during my comprehensive review because it's a clean sheet of paper that shouldn't away me one way or another based on previous work.

@ said:

Are you BR-ing with a clean copy of the PT?

You say you do BR THEN do a comprehensive review. However, BR IS the comprehensive review. BR on each PT is meant to take a long time--some (like me) take 1 week per PT. From a clean PT in BR, it can take me a few hours to BR one section now that I write out reasons why I chose each answer and why the wrong answers are wrong (without checking the answer key). Are you rushing BR?

I'm not rushing the BR, but you could say I'm doing it twice. Once as normal, and the second for the entire PT.

My BR score is normally 8 to 10 points higher than my actual score, mainly because I go back and really dive into the questions I couldn't figure out on a first pass. Normally, my BR focuses on LG and CAR, with a bit of LR in there. I do not check answers until after the BR is done.

On my comprehensive review, I review everything. The most I have done with checking the answers is putting them into the grader. I don't check the answer until after I figure out why the right answer is right, and the wrong answers are wrong. This helps reinforce a mindset when approaching the questions. The repetition has definitely helped me a lot on LR.

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Can you post more info? What are your scores averaging for each section?

Averaging over the past five tests, I've gotten 13 wrong on LG, 12.6 wrong on CR, and 10.6 wrong per section of LR.

I would say LG is my worst section, mainly because I have problems with misc games and I'm generally slow when figuring them out. When drilling the games, I spend about an hour to an hour and a half per game between trying to solve the game within time, and going back to the video to see what I missed. I've really carved all of the games thus far into my brain. This is mainly due to doing them so many times. I don't feel like I've been getting better at games though.

CR is really hit or miss with me. I either get what I'm reading, or I don't. I read the passage, try to understand and link up whatever I can, and then go into the questions. I end up understanding one passage really well, one passage mostly well, and two others either barely or not at all. This is another area I haven't felt any improvement in, but that's mainly because I can't read quickly. A lot of answering of the questions feels like I'm mostly going with my gut feeling.

LR I used to be terrible at, you have no idea. Getting 14 or 15 wrong per section was standard for me up until recently. Now, I average about 10 wrong per section, and I'm super stoked about that. The areas where I'm still weak are flaw, and necessary/sufficient assumptions. I've gotten a lot better at these, but I'm still missing them.

@ said:

Also, while the post above mentioned some real situations that some lawyers face regarding work life balance, I wouldn't let that completely scare you off. I have met lawyers who worked for smaller firms specifically for the work/life balance. They informed me that the flexibility of working for a small practice with smaller case loads was great for their family life and they were able to be with their family as well as have career. I also heard a segment on NPR that as younger lawyers enter the workforce, firms are starting to acknowledge the need for better work/life balance. While this may be the exception to the rule, I do believe if you really want to find a firm that is not a slave driver, you may be able to.

I'll tell you the secrets to work-life balance. The first is telling people no. For lawyers, this means caseload. There are some cases you shouldn't take, for whatever reason. This may mean you get less money per year, but you'll get more time with your family. The second is technology. Despite my boss working over 40+ hours a week, he spends about 30 of it in the office. He does a lot of work outside the office. He always has access to the files and work thanks to cloud storage. Whatever he can do at home, he does at home so he can spend time with his wife and two daughters. Sometimes he'll even bring the family into the office for a bit for free labor I MEAN educating his children about his profession (he's the boss, so he can do whatever he wants lol). The third is having reliable assistants. Passing off whatever work you want onto them means you don't have to do it. You'll have to review it and make corrections, but that's less time than doing it all yourself. Pay for assistants usually comes out of your salary, but it's offset from you getting to do more work.

From my observations and experience, the clients are the slave drivers. You could give them the moon and they'll complain the stars didn't come with it. Another slave driver is the courts. When they set a deadline, they seldom change it. You are at their mercy, and I doubt mercy is a concept to them I MEAN they can be accommodating.

Keep those horror stories in mind though. They do happen. Thinking it can never happen to you is a flaw you might see on the LSAT lol.

I'm one of the head paralegals where I work. While not a lawyer myself, I work alongside them daily. I've seen my boss cry real tears because he was stuck at work while his daughter was performing at a dance recital. That's my most recent example, and it was two weeks ago.

On the regular, I've see vacations get canceled because of hearing dates. On a weekly basis, I see lawyers work long hours due to client's demands, and then have those same clients complain about it.

I'm going to ask you a question that I hope you have asked yourself: are you in love with the law? Notice how I didn't say lawyer. Notice how I didn't say like. I said in love because that's the least you'll need to be as a lawyer. The law is a cruel, unforgiving mistress that will pull you away from your family.

The best lawyers I know didn't go to a T14, but you'd never know it. The best lawyers are the ones so obsessed with the law you'd think they have OCD. One of my favorite quotes from a lawyer I asked about her about her work-life balance was, "My husband is okay with the love affair for now." The love affair was in reference to her dedication her job. Another lawyer told me, and I'm paraphrasing, that his job f-ing sucks but he loves it.

Again, ask yourself if you are in love with the law. Ask yourself how much you will sacrifice for this affair with the law. You don't need to say your answers here, but you have an answer you can live with.

Also, don't worry about age. I know a lawyer who is in his late 40s and graduated from Villanova three or four years ago. Clients thinks he runs the place, despite the fact he's the newest hire.

Here are some things that have worked for me:

Focus

First, identify what distracts you. Keep a note pad next to you with a pen that is only used for writing distractions. If/when something distracts you, no matter how small, write it down and then go back to studying. You must learn to cut and avoid distractions. Knowing is half the battle, and knowing what distracts you gives you more power to ignore it.

Second, build up intense focus. Next time you study, attempt to focus on your task for 35 minutes without getting distracted. If you become distracted, perform step one, and note the time. Then immediately go back to studying. You want to attempt to shut out as much of the outside world as possible. Focus on what is in front of you. Engage it. Have a conversation with your test. If you find it hard to focus, take a break and come back.

Third, dedicate a specific area for studying. For me, it's a table in my room that I now only use for studying. I keep all my study materials on it, and in order. Don't let it get cluttered, or disorganized. Keep it neat, and keep it for studying only. Don't eat, sleep, or do other things in that space. It will also help if you set up a time for that space as well. Create a scheduled time and place for study, and keep to it as much as possible. Whatever your space is, be it a cafe or closet, make sure it's a space you are comfortable in.

Avoid Panic/Test Anxiety

First, understand anxiety is a normal reaction. Even the most confident test takers feel anxiety. You can reduce it, but you can't stop it. Trying to end your anxiety about the LSAT means becoming apathetic to it. Accept you will feel anxiety now, because you'll have to do it at some point.

Second, identify your anxiety triggers. Before every test, write why you are feeling anxiety. Yes, this includes the day of the actual test itself. Again, knowing is half the battle. Also, science has proven this helps reduce text anxiety.

Third, weaponize your anxiety. Use those triggers identified in the previous step. You know where you are strong and weak on the test. Confronting those triggers now will reduce, if not end, them on test day.

Ways to Improve Speed/Confidence/Accuracy

To get better at speed and confidence, get better at accuracy. Know why the right answer is right, and the wrong answers are wrong. This will boost your confidence, which will boost your speed. Instead of trying to prove out each answer option, start from the top choice and work down. When you see your correct answer, select it and move on. You'll have time later in review to reflect on it.

For more studying and test taking tips, I suggest you watch this series:

@ Wow, no public law school

@

? There may very well be too many law schools, but not having one in your state doesn't seem good.

Meet Widener Law Delaware.

http://law-schools.startclass.com/l/26/Widener-University-Wilmington

The good news is that I'm within an hour drive of PSU, Villanova, and Temple. It was never my intention to go to Widener.

@ said:

Following up on this, have you improved since this post? If so, which method worked best for you?

I have broken the 150 barrier, but it required A LOT of trial and error.

I used everyone's advice. The advice is solid, but I made modifications.

The first 30 prep tests I use only for timing myself on completing sections. Instead of giving myself 35 minutes to complete the section, I gave myself an unlimited time. I read for understanding. I engaged each question. I always asked myself two things. First, what is this question asking me to do? Second, do I have a good understanding of what I read? These two questions are important because they let me avoid time traps.

I've also been taking notes on LR question-types I've been studying. Everyday, I review the notes for each question type. I use the Cornell Method because I can cue questions and/or issues with each section. I don't glance at my notes either. I engage them. I'll link a video series at the bottom that goes into studying and note taking.

Games are still my weakest section, but I'm better than I once was. Instead of mastering a game and moving on to the next, I now have a super complicated bin system. Again, check the linked video series at the bottom. It explains a lot better than I can type it out (I tried). Mine is different because my bins are days of the week. I also assign each question a number. If the question has a one, it means it goes into tomorrow's bin. If it gets a two, it goes into the day after tomorrow. Three is the day after the day after tomorrow. So on to seven. Every wrong question ever gets looked at at least one day a week.

For RC, I don't read LSAT passages anymore. I read legal treatises, memorandums, court opinions, and scholar articles. This stuff is dense, and it's not always written well. I'm good at RC, and only the most difficult of passages trip. Unfortunately, I am a slow reader. My reading pace has increased, but not enough to read and answer everything in RC with confidence. I accept this. I have always been a slow reader. I am slow, but purposeful. I use the dash and dot method in the video series below. Also, If you want any tips on what you should read, or what I've been reading, let me know.

I recommend everyone watch this series. It cranked my studying up to eleven on a scale of one to five.

Anything I could say is better said in this video:

After the proctor read the standard "how to take the LSAT" speech, he asked if there were any questions. Some jackass raised his hand and asked if any of it was going to be on the test.

That jackass was me. A few people laughed, including the proctor.

I also got some dirty looks because I got to use two desks. I'm left-handed, and they ran out of left handed decks for people to use. The desks were barely large enough to fit a fully opened LSAT book, so me having that extra desk to the side let me spread out a bit. To be fair, I just put my elbow on it. I didn't want to lord it too much.

@ said:

Hey guys,

I just took the LSAT in Asia. I had two RC sections and I’m trying to identify which one was experimental.

Did any one of you who took the test in Asia have a passage on George Balanchine (baller choreographer)?

Yeah, I got that one.

Unfortunately, I think that's the experimental section. That was my first section, and the multi-verse one was in my 4th section.

I am legit upset because the experimental RC was dope.

Kate Li would be very stupid if she doesn't take my advice.

Seriously, sell out to the "fake news" media. An election campaign lasts a year or two. A career lasts a year or thirty.

And for the love of baby Jesus, do not go Info Wars on us.

@ said:

Get out of your head, it's a bad neighborhood. Go out, spend time with loved ones, do something not LSAT related. Get the hell off law school/LSAT forums. Study for your actual college finals, immerse yourself in something you haven't had the time to do while you've been studying...

But most of all, chill... For now, it's over and your score is your score. Accept it. Realize you can always retake if need be, and enjoy your life :star:

This can't be stressed enough. You're done. It's over. You most likely got a score you can live with.

It's time to move on to other things. Rebuild your social life. Go out and try new things. This may be the last chance you get to experience life. Everyone I've ever known before law school has come out of law school a much more boring and awkward person.

Seriously, go be normal. These are your final days dude. Enjoy them.

My post-study ritual was me going home and taking a nap.