It's the problem about sales representatives. I've read several explanations about this one on the Manhattan/PowerScore boards and sort of understand them, but am still really struggling because I just don't get how B is the correct answer. I can see how the other four might be wrong, but I'd at least like to know why this one is RIGHT as opposed to the other four being wrong.
https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-69-section-1-question-22/
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 Thanks for your reply. I'm still struggling with the most difficult NA and weaken questions. I would say I'm pretty good at bridging the gap but...to give an example, in an NA question I recently did, the answer I picked was the wrong one because it failed to address both parts of the conclusion and only really addressed one. The correct was obviously the one that addressed both parts of the conclusion. For a lot of these most difficult questions, I'm getting "tricked" into picking the wrong answer between the last two choices, one of which is correct.
That being said, I am getting a lot of my previously incorrect problems correct now and truly understand the reasoning. I just feel that time pressure and reading quickly reduces my accuracy - I find that missing one or two important key words can throw off your entire answer.
@rahelaalam514 I believe it's a little bit of both. To be specific, I'm currently missing the most difficult NA and weaken questions, sometimes flaw questions as well. Those are pretty much the only types of problems I still struggle with - but even then, only the most difficult ones throw me.
I'm have repeatedly reviewed the strategy to tackle these kinds of questions from PowerScore and 7Sage, so I feel like there must be something I'm missing in practice.
@rahelaalam514 Thanks! That's really helpful. You're right that time hasn't been an issue for me, but I think I definitely have been making more of the second type of error - whereas when I first started studying, most of my errors were because I didn't understand the underlying logic. I appreciate yours suggestions and will give them a try.
So I've compiled a very thorough list of all of the LR problems that I've missed or struggled mightily with on previous PTs, and have gone over them again by doing them as if they were real LR sections - doing 26-27 problems at a time in 35 minutes. I'm still missing anywhere from 2-5 of them each "section." These are the problems I now see that I truly struggle with. I was wondering what's the best way to tackle these problems going forward?
I currently approach problems first by identifying the structure and conclusion of the argument if there is one, looking for key words and phrases (e.g. "some people"; "minimal risk"), and tricky/subtle changes in subject (e.g. premise discusses mammals but conclusion mentions marine reptiles).
When I compiled the list, I made sure to look for trends in the types of questions I was missing (necessary assumption, weaken, etc.) But how can I hone this strategy to the few problems I missed again? I feel like there are specific and various tricks employed within each question type.
Tips & advice welcome, thanks in advance.
@heathershutter317 I totally know that feeling; I had a small mental break last night after scoring my latest PT as well lol. But I'm pulling myself back together today. Thank you for sharing and good luck to you as well!
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 Thank you for the detailed reply! I found your advice really helpful and it's nice to know that someone is stuck and fighting at the same place as me haha :)
In terms of LR, my weakness definitely lies in necessary assumption questions, followed by sufficient assumption, flaw, and weaken (but to a much lesser extent). Occasionally a parallel reasoning or point of agreement question will throw me, but I'm honing those as well. My issue with LR right now is that I think I may be reading too quickly or carelessly and missing key words, and I end up picking a trap answer choice - because once I BR and look at the actual correct answers, I'm always so disappointed because I didn't get most of them wrong for lack of understanding; it was due to carelessness.
I might be losing it. I'm plateauing in the low to mid 160's (162-166) and I'm aiming for a 172+. With only weeks left to go to the September exam, should I postpone to December? Is it even possible for me to see that kind of a score jump in the last few weeks? This would be a retake - I don't want to take it three times, so I would rather postpone than take in September and December (aiming to apply for Fall 2018 cycle).
To give some more background, I have read through all the PowerScore materials twice, have done the LSAT Trainer, used 7Sage materials, and have made/kept a thorough list of LG and LR problems that have stumped me to see the patterns of the ones that I miss.
I'm currently working on foolproofing LG but I feel like when I'm actually presented with the games, I start mentally panicking and spend too little time on the diagram and working out all of the inferences that could help me more easily answer the associated questions.
On LR, I make so many stupid mistakes it's sad...I truly feel that it's my strongest section, the one whose problems I innately "get" the most, but my performance doesn't always reflect that or the hours I've put into it.
I'm not too worried about RC as that's the section I know is hardest to improve in, though am trying to bookmark some of the passages I struggle with the most for review here and there. My performance here can be anywhere from -2 to -6 though.
What am I doing wrong? People who managed large score jumps in the last few weeks, how did you do it?
@dantlee14842 Perfect timing for me to leave work, drown myself in alcohol with some friends one last time, and weep for the free time I will no longer have (again). RIP social life and tinder, see you in June
Literally same. Goodbye social life and welcome back feelings of guilt every minute of life that I'm not studying.
I learned of the 7Sage blind review method months before I started using it (from exploring the website). Boy, do I wish I had started using it earlier.
Here's the rundown: Yes, it absolutely *does* take longer to go through. I often take up to 5-8 hours to fully blind review my PTs and then review them with the correct answers. But this process forces you to confront your mistakes and misunderstandings and allows you to get to the root of what you don't understand. It sounds weird and you may not believe it, but I really do feel like I understand the material better thanks to this method, even if my scores aren't always immediately reflecting it. What's more, I finally feel like studying for the LSAT is enjoyable again. The problems and games feel a little less daunting now that the blind review method has taught me to be more patient with myself and to delve deeper.
I hope this helps, for those of you who are new to the process or to 7Sage!
@gregoryalexanderdevine723 Thanks so much for your answer! Really helpful.
Hi everyone! I'm planning on taking the LSAT for the first time this December, and really am hoping to make that my one shot. I have been studying on and off (but mostly on) since February, using The LSAT Trainer and the various Powerscore Bibles + Workbooks, and I took many, many practice tests as well without blind reviewing them. Obviously, I now know from 7Sage that I shouldn't have done the last part. So, I'm fully familiar with the various types of LR problems, and am pretty good on the types of games. 7Sage is supplementing my preexisting knowledge of the LSAT.
My question is, for those of you who studied a lot using other methods/materials and varying schedules before starting 7Sage, how did you adjust to the new schedule? Are there specific sections or methods that 7Sage does best that you'd recommend focusing on? I'm worried because I just started the 7Sage course and while the lessons are useful, I feel like I'm not going to make any progress if I just watch the videos, especially given that the test is not that far away. I also feel worried not doing full timed practice problem sets, which are obviously one of the best ways to improve.
I am thinking of studying with 7Sage videos on my weak areas (games, specific types of LR problems, etc.) and using the Manhattan LSAT to drill problems by type, in addition to taking 1-2 PTs a week. Is it okay if I just skim or even skip some of the lessons if I'm already fully confident with the material?
Help me out here. Thanks :)
Hi David! Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm planning on taking the LSAT in December.
1. I'm a recent grad, one year out of an Ivy League college, who majored in sociology. I work for the local government of a major city now, and I really love my job; it's great to be able to be part of the political process. I'm Asian American and female.
2. My GPA is rather low (3.47) because I started out as a premed/science major due to parental pressure and then decided to switch into a major that I liked. I do have a strong upward trend in my grades, but I feel like law schools get a lot of former premeds who have the same story. I was told I can explain this on my app, but how can I do so without sounding like I'm making excuses for myself/like everyone else who has this problem?
3. Two ideas: A) being Asian American and being underrepresented in leadership positions in society, bamboo ceiling, etc. and how I hope to change that (I don't like to write about my ethnic identity as I find it extremely difficult, but was told by my advisor that I should in the supplemental essay(s)) B) how my work in the government has informed my interest in the law. I now see how nuances in the law can have significant impacts on peoples' lives--e.g. how something can go wrong when there is even the smallest loophole in a law, or how a seemingly insignificant change to a bill that ends up being passed can empower thousands of people (obviously will give specific examples). My job has given me a great overview of the legislative process, allowed me to educate the community about their rights, and learn about what they hope to see in our city. That is why I want to apply what I have learned to a career in the law at the federal level, to see how all of that works on a national scale.
4. No, I did not attend last time.
@twinklingxstars850 Thank you!