I've heard repeatedly on this forum and others that someone should expect to drop 3 or 4 points from their Testing average on the actual test day (because of nerves, new environment, etc).

I just want to suggest that this is a really self-defeating thought to have in your mind. I'm not saying don't be prepared to potentially do worse, but also don't go in assuming a 3 to 4 point drop in score. I've met at least 5 people that have told me they PEAKED on test day. That is, they scored their highest on test day, sometimes 2 or 3 points over their normal prep test score.

I'm not saying you should go in assuming you will score 2-3 points higher on test day, but I would suggest orienting oneself around a goal of peak performance instead of an assumption of dropping points.

The mind is a powerful thing.

Consider an Olympic athlete. Many athletes have "Peak" performance on the actual day of the Olympics, getting better and faster times than they ever did in practice. Some get nervous and do worse. Point is, it can go either way. I'd aim for thinking about Test Day as your peak day.

Of course work hard and get the best average score you can before test day, and be prepared for anything, but go into the test aiming to peak.

Just my 2 cents.

Hey guys,

I am still working my way through the core curriculum, but I feel like I forget how to tackle the specific question types as I progress through the rest of the curriculum. Is this normal? I have been doing fairly well on the problem sets for the different question types, but I keep stressing over the fact that I will forget how to do the previous question types. For example, I finished the Powerscore LG workbook last week, but I haven't touched a game for three days now.. starting to worry a little bit now. I have read a lot of discussions on the forum stating that you shouldn't take too long of a break (ie. days), but is that for overall content or specifically just following how the core curriculum is set up? What do you guys suggest?

I am following the curriculum, hence I haven't been switching between LG/LR/RC. Should I be worried?

I am aiming to score in the high 170s by December so I want to get all the practice I can get starting now. Any advice on what study schedule has worked for you guys?

Thank you for your suggestions in advance!

Hey everyone,

Just having some trouble that I thought someone here could clarify. I'm looking at my online LSAT registration for September on the LSAC site, but I don't see any information there on where exactly the room is I'm taking the test etc. I know it is at UofT, but no idea what room and don't see an address. I also don't see times listed. I'm wondering if this is what you get info for when you print out your ticket? Which I can't do till August 30th.

I'm confused

Can someone break this one down for me?

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-48-section-1-question-16/

Hi guys! I wanted to get some feedback on this RC question.

The prompt asks for the main idea and the right answer is that 'the views of ecologists and economic growth advocates have only recently become polarized.'

To me, that phrase implies that the passage is about recency. It implies that the passage is primarily dedicated towards explaining a long history of no polarization that has but little time ago turned into a polarized dichotomy.

I agree that the passage accomplishes this, but to me, this accomplishment was used as a template for the author rather than his/her explicit, or even primary purpose.

I detected notes of author view, such as in line 11 when he describes the recent polarization as "sad." On top of that, the way the author describes both sides seems to indicate that he favors the previous attitudes towards the issue, consistent with what Marsh and the Enlightenment thinkers believe. I almost got a sense of sarcasm in how he described the implications of Clements' equilibrium model. The author claims that the model became a "mystique," environmental interference was "taboo," wilderness was "adored." These descriptions made me believe that the author saw followers of this mentality to be radical, cult-like, trendy, and perhaps a form of the "tree-hugger" stereotype.

Back to the first paragraph, the final sentence talks about how the "sad effects" make it "difficult for industry to respond to impact analyses that demand action." This came across as having sympathy for contemporary industries, being pinned down in this polarized climate where (as we would later read) before they could act in harmony with environmentalists and have productive conversations based in compromise and understanding.

With all of that in mind, I was very quick to eliminate D, an answer choice with no reflection of the author's argument/bias, and way too much (in fact, pretty much 100%) emphasis on the mere fact that such a change is recent. Who cares if it's recent? You didn't need to give your opinion and write four paragraphs only to tell us that this polarization is recent. You could easily switch the dates mentioned in the passage, and the meaning would barely change. It would just be polarized ----> not polarized instead of not polarized ----> polarized.

I picked E because I thought it captured the author's sentiment and reflected an idea that the entire passage built to establish. A lot of the passage's content contributes to that idea, while only a few small distinctions affirm that the change happened to be recent.

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-23-section-4-passage-3-passage/

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-23-section-4-passage-3-questions/

Hey guys!

So, I've spent the majority of my study time focusing on LR and LG. I know I need to dive into RC but I'm not really sure how to go about it. I've read others notation strategies and have skimmed question types but I want to know if one is prioritized over the other.

Did you focus on getting your timing and notation right before diving into questions or, did you focus on the questions first?

Not sure how to be the most productive with my time when it comes to RC.

Any tips are greatly appreciated!

-M

I heard JY mention that there are 8 types of game boards. Is there a place where that is described in a consolidated manner in the syllabus?

So I woke up extra early this morning before work and took PT58. I haven't finished BR'ing it, so I haven't looked at my score, but did anyone else find this test unusually easy? I'm wondering if my confidence is just playing tricks on me because I was able to finish both LR sections and LG with quite a bit of extra time. RC didn't really seem all that hard either. Either way, I was pleasantly surprised with my performance on it.

Anyone else who recently took PT58 find it on the easier side?

To any other slow readers out there--what strategies have you used to understand LR and RC stimuli and passages well? I find myself needing to go through a significant number of LR stimuli and answer choices twice, and I often need 5+ minutes to get through RC passages (let alone decode the questions and answer choices.) I've done well with these sections outside of timed conditions, but I'm really feeling the crunch when the clock is running. What has worked for other people?

Interesting article especially for those who want to score 170+. I find it very helpful and in some way validates the advice about trusting your gut feeling after mastering the test.

https://www.1843magazine.com/content/ideas/ian-leslie/non-cogito-ergo-sum

Hi all,

I find myself on these forums everyday because everyone is so helpful :). I've recently experienced a 7 point jump from my diagnostic! Which I am so keenly happy about. Mainly, this is because I'm doing well in RC and LG (avg -5 and -2 respectively).

But where I'm really struggling with is LR! When I first started (before learning methods and question types), I would get 5-8 wrong. Now I consistently get 10-11 wrong! It's really disheartening. I've read the Powerscore LRB once through, and I'm thinking about going over it again. Does anyone have some good advice on how to improve LR? Anything helps, considering I'm getting 56% on each section! Alot of people mention drilling too. Any advice on how to drill well?

I should also mention I can never finish a full section in 35 minutes. The highest I go is question 23, and even that is a struggle. The first 10 questions, I can normally complete within 10 minutes. But after that, it slows down alot. By the time I'm at question 15, 20 minutes have passed.

How can we pit schools against one another? I am working under the assumption that if I applied to school X with a GPA/LSAT higher than their medium and I applied to no other schools, then I would receive less scholarship money (generally speaking) than if I applied to schools which School X competes with and was accepted to those competitor schools.

Maybe that assumption is wrong. Please let me know.

But assuming that it is right, how should we choose those other schools to apply to? Regionally? USNWR rank adjacent?

@"David.Busis" perhaps this is covered in one of the admissions courses. I am focused on my LSAT so have not ventured much into that world.

I have deferred taking the exam a couple of times now and I just have to bite the bullet and take it in September. However, I am making progress and I feel like I could get the score I want by December. I know that everyone says that you shouldn't take the test until you're ready, but I've wasted so much money and I think putting it off again will mess with my head space. My plan is to take the test in September, apply to the schools within my range, and then if need be, take it again in December and apply to my reach schools with the (hopefully) better score added to my application. Does LSAC allow this? Please don't tell me to just wait until December, my parents will kill me if I put it off AGAIN!

I may not be able to make it tonight.

I have become used to minimal to zero diagramming in LR. I can usually keep track of the argument premises and conditional reasoning in my head (I always bracket the conclusions and circles "some" "most" "all" etc). However, since I have been getting the LR questions with long conditional chains either incorrect or I guess correctly, I have been starting to diagram. Now my brain feels like a bunch of tennis shoes in a washing machine whenever I see a conditional chain longer than 3 variables. My question is this: Do you feel continued practice without diagramming is more worthwhile than learning a new technique specific to long conditional chain questions? I know it's a bit of an ambiguous question, but I feel I'm at a crossroad and want to make the best use of my studies/practice.

Thoughts?

Hi everyone,

Can someone please explain why AC E is wrong? I understand why D is the correct AC but I am having trouble eliminating E, more importantly I am having trouble understanding what E is saying in the first place. Thank you!

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-74-section-4-question-20/

Hi all--

I took the June LSAT and for the 6 practice tests leading up to it I started scoring between 0-2 wrong on every game section, almost regardless of difficulty. I only got 1 wrong on the games section of the actual test.

I need to retake the test in September. This 0-2 streak endured for the first 6-8 prep tests, but about a week ago my games scores started slipping significantlyI can't seem to shake the issues I seem to have picked up with games and it's pretty significantly affecting my ability to score above a 166. I think I've chosen Some hard tests to practice with (in order to make sure my games skills can endure through hard games) but today I took a preptest with a games section that wasn't particularly difficult on its face, and I still got 4 wrong.

I've tried slowing down, I'm watching all of 7Sage explanations of anything I miss (and before I do, I go back and try to complete the game myself without time constraints or help). Do you have any advice?

The tests I've done recently are:

52 (4 wrong on games)

62 (5 wrong on games)

71 (9 wrong on games)

70 (5 wrong on games)

23 (7 wrong on games)

64 (3 wrong on games)

I have been studying for the LSAT and I was doing great on the logic games however I am still practicing and have not taken timed exams of the entire PT. I would like to know your opinions on repeating PTs not necessarily limited to logic games but rather the other sections as well.

What do you guys think of this?

[Admin Edit] LSAC's tweet and LSAC's announcement:

https://twitter.com/Official_LSAT/status/864501182202556416

http://www.lsac.org/jd/announcements-and-news

"Starting with the September 2017 LSAT, there will no longer be any limitations on the number of times a test taker can take the LSAT in a two-year period. LSAC has revised this policy as part of its planning for additional administrations of the LSAT. We will provide more information about the LSAT schedule in the coming weeks."

(P1) Get your nutrients from natural foods and not supplements.

(P2) Carrots give you beta carotene but it can only be transformed into Vitamin A if you eat them with some fat.

(P3) Fat in one's diet is generally unhealthy.

(C) Eat carrots wth some fat, but not too much fat because that is generally unhealthy.

It seems that the statement that "fat in one's diet is generally unhealthy" is mentioned as the reason to moderate the dietary practice of eating carrots wits some fat. But the AC says it is mentioned as a reason for adopting a dietary practice. Am I missing something?

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-50-section-2-question-19/

Hi all :)

In my timed PTs, I always tank the first LR section... a VERY poor performance. I think this can be attributed to my brain not being warmed up? As a solution, would it make sense to take a timed LR section prior to the PT?

If yes, a concern I have in implementing this into my routine is- test day. On test day, do I take a timed PT at home before driving to the test center? Do I do it in my car at the test center? Would taking it in my car freak me out too much right before the test? I do not want to finalize something into my routine and then derail it on test day, possibly negatively impacting my performance.

I could take a timed LR section maybe an hour before the PT and then maybe a LG or 2 right before?

Anyways, I would love to hear what you guys think. Thank you in advance! :)

So, here goes:

I graduated a little over 6 years ago and when I think about professors I could get strong LORs from, only one really comes to mind, the professor whom I did my senior thesis under. I had a good working relationship with this professor and ended up producing a pretty good thesis, however I did complete the work late and thus was marked down a grade.

As for professional references, I volunteered at a district court clerk's office and I've been working in the field of legal advocacy assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, etc for the last 3 years, which included working at a city prosecutor's office for a year and a community based agency for the last 2 years doing more civil work. During that time through the work I've done on various task forces, community groups, and just generally collaborating and networking with our community partners, I've gained a lot of potential professional LOR possibilities from attorneys, prosecutors, agency directors, clerks, a chief of police, etc.

So I guess my point is, I've seen a lot of people saying education LORs are everything and professional LORs barely count for anything. My problem is that I have a lot more opportunity on the professional side.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Am I totally screwed if I can't pad my application with outstanding undergrad LORs?

What are good skipping strategies for questions on Logic Games and Reading Comp? Unlike LR, LG and RC sections require a certain investment in either a game or a passage so there's a kind of loss when you skip and come back at the very end to address those questions which are entirely dependent on a game or passage.

Also, is there a cutoff time or something else that goes into your determination for skipping on LG and RC?

LR Tutoring with Sage Josh

https://media.giphy.com/media/qKltgF7Aw515K/giphy.gif

So what will be going down in these meetings and what do you need to do to prepare?

These classes are a live, Sage guided forum to help address whatever it is you're studying within LR. We'll use older tests to work through questions, discuss question types, break down argument structures, and analyze answer choices. We'll also talk general LR strategy and pacing. To prepare, just use whatever portion of the week's homework that is relevant to your current studies.

This week's homework: PT 35 Logical Reasoning

LR Tutoring with Sage Josh - PT 35

Monday, August 21, 7:30 PM EDT

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

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