Hi everyone,

I first started studying for the LSATs about a year ago, and have taken the LSAT 3 times since then. I plan on applying this year.

Nov 2018: 161

Mar 2019: 161

Jul 2019: 163

I had been consistently PTing at 165+ since May, but my digital July testing center had issues which I know affected my performance. I'm planning on taking the test one more time in November, and since I have another shot, I was hoping to tackle the 2 things that have consistently brought my score down: flaw + argument part question types.

I can tell you all 19 flaw types and I can tell you exactly what the highlighted argument part phrase/sentence is doing in an argument -- in my own words. My problem is the freaking answer options... I feel like 95% of the time I have a hard time understanding what the answer options are actually saying. Is it just me or has anyone else struggled with this? I have generally taken the strategy of skipping those questions and coming back to them, but now that I've (literally) bought myself another opportunity, I thought I'd try to master these.

If you are a tutor and think I could benefit from a session with you, please let me know! I'm open to tutoring at this point as well.

Thanks!

FW

I'm taking the Nov test on Monday and it'll be my last one...!

But I had a dream last night that a completely new type of section was introduced into the test starting with Nov, and I had completely missed the memo. The fact that it was a paper test should've tipped me off that I was dreaming lol

However, with so many different LSAC policies rolling out over the last few months, it did make me a little paranoid so I just wanted to check in..........

Aside from the test being digital and writing sample being a separate component, there isn't anything else about the actual LSAT test content & administration itself that is new, right?

It's still 5 sections 2 LR, 1 RC, 1 LG, 1 experimental with a 15 min break after the first 3 sections?

Thank you and best of luck to everyone!

Update: All books have been claimed!

Hi 7sagers

I'm heading off to law school this fall! I wanted to thank the 7Sage community for being a part of my journey. Like most people, I discovered 7Sage through the (formerly) free LG videos. I found JY and this community extremely helpful and I hit my target score of 165. I took my very first LSAT in Nov 2018 with only using books and the free videos as prep and got a 161.

I could only afford a Starter course, but I felt that this community was extremely helpful and helped me make the most of the resources that I had. So I'd like to pay it forward by giving away my books to another 7Sager with a Starter account and/or LSAC need based fee waiver.

These are all the books I have:

Powerscore Bibles (LR, LG, RC)

Powerscore Training (LR, RC)

LSAC Superprep

LSAC Vol 4 (PT 52-61)

LSAC Vol 5 x2 (PT 62-71; I have 2 because a friend gave me one after she changed her mind about law school)

LSAC Vol 6 (PT 72-81)

Please message me if interested.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I had been practicing with the LSAT official books (50s, 60s, 70s) and I recently purchased the 80s via 7sage. I noticed that in the 80s, there's a bit of a shift with the LR. I can't quite describe the changes, but I feel like there is an increased of "debatable" questions/questions that push you to make assumptions in ways that earlier tests didn't... for example, in PT 83 section 1 #18 (LR):

If the standards committee has a quorum, then the assembly will begin today at 6:00. If the awards committee has a quorum, then the assembly will begin today at 7:00. (MBT)

In the explanation, it says that we should "safely assume" that if the assembly starts at 6 then it does not start at 7 and vice versa, however, I feel like this prompt doesn't necessarily show any indication that both things couldn't happen. I made the correct assumption based on the answer options and the wording "will begin today" (something can only "begin" once), but the greater point is, it seems like the newer LSATs include more subtleties and newer patterns like this question.... am I crazy or am I on to something?

If I'm not crazy, then for those who have scored 165+, I'm curious how you adapted to these changes.

I had been scoring in the high 160s, low 170s for the earlier PTs, but my score dropped to low 160s on both the real LSAT and on 80s PTs. I have 2 more fresh 80s that I haven't taken yet, and I'm struggling to figure out how to prepare leading up to the November test. I'd love to hear others' experiences on adapting to subtle changes in LR.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I was browsing through the "How to study for the digital" discussion and saw it was mostly format related questions... I haven't seen discussions on how people are adapting to digital so thought I might get one going. I have written Nov 2018, March 2019 tests (both 161 lol) so definitely required some adjustments!

I have taken I think 5 PTs using the digital tester and feel like I've developed my "toolbox" of techniques. My scores are currently in the upper 160s/lower 170s... I think one of the main reasons I've seen this jump is because the digital tester has allowed me to gain about 5 mins per section. Would love to hear others' tips + tricks as well!

(PS -- Thanks to the 7Sage team for all their work on the digital tester!! I am using an iPad and Apple pencil and it works beautifully!!)

7/15/2019 edit after my experience on July 2019 digital test

Get psyched!

I was anxious when I realized July might be digital. But I forced myself to feel excited about it and I got over my anxiety a lot quicker than I thought I would.

Use highlighter for segmenting LR stims

I used to break up LR stims by segmenting them with pencil / marks. Not being able to segment the stim was what I feared most, but now I use the orange highlighter to segment the passages by marking the period or the space between words. It actually works so much better than my pencil marks because the orange pops.

womp womp, the real digital won't let you highlight only spaces. I used the red highlighter to highlight the conclusion of the argument and focused on that and used the yellow highlighter to highlight key/relevant premises (but only when I really needed to/for complicated stims... for me, highlighting conclusion was usually enough).

Use highlighter for marking potential answer options

The "eliminate" option is super helpful, but I found making highlight marks on the answer options that are potentials help my eyes focus on the contenders a little better than when I only eliminate answer options.

https://i.imgur.com/kSI5f78.png

Marking up RC

I use the memory method for RC. I use a highlighter to highlight any information I think I would need to remember.

If it's a particularly complicated passage with 2 ideas/views/theories/etc. in the passage, I use one highlighter to mark up things related to group 1 and the other highlighter for group 2.

I also use alternating highlighter color to highlight the first word of each paragraph so that I can easily distinguish paragraphs.

In my scratch paper, I jot down the paragraph # along with 1-2 key words about that paragraph. Since you can't see the entire passage in one view, mapping the passage out like this is super helpful in getting me to the right place in the passage quickly, esp for paragraph references (e.g. "What is the purpose of the third paragraph?")

Fold scrap paper in half, hot dog style

My middle school math teacher was very insistent on us folding our papers in half to create 2 columns and completing assignments with our work flowing from left column downward, then right column downward (if that makes sense...) It helped stay organized and efficiently used the space, especially on unlined paper. 20ish years later, I still do this with any kind of scrap paper note taking, and it's been helpful for me on the LSATs as well. Since the space is narrow, it helps me write straighter and groups notes into a smaller surface area so when I'm looking at my paper the notes come into single view. When I make a mistake, I just cross it out and continue underneath. I only put a single line through it JUST in case it turns out I didn't make a mistake so that the notes are still legible. I can rewrite it quickly (or just refer to it) without spending extra time trying to figure out what I had written.

Knowing exactly how my scrap paper will flow has taken the guesswork out of where I'm going to write, and taking out that guesswork I think has been impactful in my race against time.

PS -- for LG, I fold the paper so that the right column is slightly larger than the left. I'll write the game board on the right column and do questions on the left.

LG scrap paper use example

https://i.imgur.com/yj5biTc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3ucjcQm.jpg

Clearly mark everything on scrap paper

I clearly number all the notes I take. When I'm done with a question I draw a horizontal line that separates it from the next question. If feel confident of my answer, I draw a single, large diagonal line through that section of notes. If I'm NOT confident of my answer and feel like I'll come back to it, I circle or star the question number prominently.

Practice solving problems with 1:30 timer countdown

I LOVE that there's a built in timer, but at first it was terrifying, especially towards the end. I freaked out when the clock turned red at the 5 min mark and panic heightened especially after the 2 min mark. Knowing that I generally average a little over 1 min/question, I knew that it would be critical for me to keep my cool at the end, especially if I'm actually solving a new question and not reviewing. I set a timer at 1:30 and just trained myself to "be normal" as I watch the timer countdown. I developed an awareness of what it feels like watching the countdown at the 1 min mark, at the 30 second mark, 15 second mark etc... basically, I realized that 30 seconds is a lot "longer" than I thought (also, planking for 30 seconds feels like 30 mins haha). Anyways, a calm 30 seconds vs. panicked 30 seconds can be the difference between -0 vs. -4

Simplify your mark ups (added 5/24)

This technique may be more suitable for those scoring 160+ who have a fairly strong grasp of the LSATs.

When I was preparing for paper LSATs, as my skills grew, my passage mark ups became simpler: I underlined things or segmented sentences using / marks. Since on paper, I really only used 1 type of mark-up (lines), I have been able to translate that into digital using only 1 highlighter tool. I gave myself about 6 LR sections to adjust any time I made a change before making a judgement call on its effectiveness.

When I learned the digital tester would include multiple highlighting options, I was excited at first. Then I realized that switching among the different functions is somewhat time consuming. I tried my best to find a mark-up technique that uses only 1 highlighter tool.

If your paper test mark ups have been fairly complex (on average, you use 3+ types of symbols like brackets, underlining and circling), try simplifying it by evaluating which kinds of mark ups are absolutely vital to the way you process information. You may find that there are some marks you make more out of habit than necessity.

Anyways, these are some tools I've developed for myself to prepare for digital. I'll post a pic of examples of LR passage mark ups soon.

Would love to hear tips and tricks from others as well!

Hi guys!

I am in need of some Hail Mary encouragement but also want to be realistic... I'm taking tomorrow's test haha

I am a full time working professional and have 2 kids. Since sitting the Nov 2018 test as a "base line" (161), I THOUGHT I was seeing drastic improvement in my scores... I sat the March 2019 test and scored 161 again, but our testing center had some unusual circumstances that were distracting (our proctor informed LSAC of the anomalies but we weren't given much choice other than cancel + free test or see your score and no free test... I chose to see my score just in case).

Since March 2019, I've been fairly consistent in my studies and had been doing 1 PT per week... from May to June I was consistently scoring 166-170 and I was using mostly PT Vol 5 and 6 (used other older tests for drills and digital practice).

Well, I purchased PT 87 and bombed it at 159...!! I had never received that score before. Some things I noticed... whereas when I was scoring in the high 160s, I was averaging -4 on each RC and LR sections, the recent PTs are about -10 for RC and -8 for just one of the LR. WHAT GIVES?!

I did notice that these newer tests "feel different"... am I just crazy and stressing out too much or are the differences between Vol 6 and recent PTs (82+) substantial enough to impact test day performance?

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I am almost done with my 1L year. I remember the days where I felt like 7Sage was my digital home, so as 1L comes to a close, I wanted to hop on here from "the other side" to share where I am.

I remember when I was here on 7Sage, I felt like everyone was posting their 170+ journey and strategy and sharing their journeys from a subpar LSAT to a T14 school. I have so much respect for everyone who shared those stories, but I felt isolated because I could not connect with their journey and it gave me a bit of anxiety of whether I could be successful.

Since I feel like I don't fit the mold of someone who is heading into Big Law, I wanted to share my story.

Here are my stats:

When they say they look at the holistic candidate profile, I feel like they mean it. My stats are not stellar compared to the average associate at my firm, but I have extensive corporate client services experience working (successfully) in a fast paced environment very similar to a law firm environment. Managing clients is a good chunk of your work as a lawyer in a Big Law firm. I also have stayed very engaged and involved in my community and corporate culture all throughout my life. My GPA is not at the top by any means, but I'm also doing Zoom school while caring for my two children during this pandemic, so I think overall, the hiring committee saw that I have the soft skills to succeed as a lawyer in an intense environment, because I have a proven track record of doing so.

For those who are interested in the nitty gritty, I'll leave some more specific details about my journey below. And of course, feel free to ask me anything!

Choice of Law School

I did not get into my "top choice" school, but this school is absolutely the right choice for me. So when the admissions roll on, don't fret no matter how disappointed you may feel. My stats are considerably higher than my peers, so I ended up getting a 70% merit scholarship. I cannot stress enough how much in hindsight this was such a wise move for me... I felt strongly that if I let my waitlist schools know that I would go no matter what with 0 financial aid, I would have a very, very good shot at getting in. However, I decided not to do that. To not have the burden of tuition hanging over my head gave me the freedom to consider ALL options. So many of my friends who came in for public interest are quickly pivoting to other career paths because it's not a financially sustainable choice for them. Also, I don't know how else to say this, without sounding arrogant, but my stats had indicated that my scholastic abilities were at least above average. I went to a top 5 undergrad, and I can definitively say that A's seem more attainable for me here than they did at my undergrad (this is NOT to say that law school is easy... it is challenging for sure!) Simply put, I would not have the grades I have now if I had gone to my top choice, much higher ranked school, especially because I have a family and I am not in a life stage where I can devote 100% of my time into caring for myself and my studies.

Network, Network, Network

Most Big Law firms hire one 1L summer associate through their diversity programs. I learned about this opportunity by attending a variety of virtual events and speaking with various attorneys. When time came for my interviews with the firm I am heading to, I had probably had 15+ 1:1 Zoom calls with both attorneys and recruiters that I was extremely comfortable talking about my resume and also being myself in an interview setting. Be proactive about reaching out to attorneys and recruiters for informational interviews and ask them to connect you to someone else (if it makes sense). Law firms keep a file on you and take note of which events you attended, who you have spoken with etc. Even though the 1L opportunity may not be open to all students since they tend to be diversity based, I know several upperclass students who received offers before OCI started because they networked successfully (5-10). For those who may not be familiar, OCI stands for on-campus interviews and it's the formal recruiting event for those interested in Big Law summer associateships.

Pivoting to Big Law

I did not set out to go to law school to get into Big Law. In fact, I applied to every public interest scholarship opportunity and thought I was going to become a prosecutor and particularly interested in criminal justice reform. I'm going into law school 10 years out of college, this was a very deliberate decision for me. So what changed? I attended a lot of career events at school and quickly learned that public interest did not necessarily align with my personal goals. I ultimately pivoted to Big Law because I realized that law firms are NOT like Suits (and it occurred to me that I had a very stigmatized impression of Big Law). The firms I developed interest in have very robust pro bono programs integrated into their practices, and I realized that I could make potentially a bigger impact by bringing my firm's name value and resources to causes and organizations I care about.

There is an entire world beyond admissions, and I want to break the stigma that in order to get into a top Big Law firm, you need to go to a T14 school. My school has about 50 summer associates heading to a variety of highly ranked Big Law firms; essentially almost everyone who wanted to go into Big Law got in. Our school has maintained amazing relationships with major firms, and our career director recently told us at a Big Law overview event that even though our school ranking trails behind other schools, we absolutely have a shot and a seat at the table. My school is located in a major Big Law hub, which I think helps. It's not always about the T14 or T20 or T50 (lol)... it's really about how much opportunity you create for yourself!

Hi everyone,

I tried searching in the discussions and the CC but wasn't able to find what I'm looking for... feel free to redirect me if there's already a lesson/thread that covers this.

Can anyone provide me with an example of a Flaw type problem where it mistakes a necessary condition for a sufficient condition as well as a problem where it mistakes a sufficient condition for a necessary condition?

I conceptually understand what mistaking one for the other looks like when written in lawgic but would like to see how this looks like in an LSAT problem.

Thank you!