Holy smokes, did I get rekt on this RC. I normally average between -1 to -4 on RC sections, but this one was -7 and by far my worst PT in over a month. I did fine on blind review for the other sections, but I really struggled with time on this last passage and would love some help on the last question in particular.

27: Which one of the following is most analogous to the process, described in the last paragraph, by which the spread of thistles can be curtailed?

On the actual run-through, I was scrambling for time and guessed E - I eliminated C fairly quickly because none of the methods for combating thistle growth in the passage seemed remotely analogous to voter suppression. I eliminated D because similarly, I didn't see any part of the restoration method as similar to attacking the things supporting thistle growth (which I interpreted as, for example, heavy use of fertilizers). I didn't have time to work through the other choices, so I went with E because the two factions sounded somewhat similar to the two kinds of organisms mentioned in the last paragraph.

On blind review, I figured that while the researchers did conclude a diversity of both kinds of organisms was effective in restoring the native species (and thereby curtailing the spread of thistles), a diversity of disease organisms and beneficial organisms did not necessarily indicate an antagonistic relationship - in fact, it seemed to be the opposite upon closer examination of the text. I eliminated E as well.

At this point, I was trying to decide between A and B, and went with A because thought the last sentence of the passage, specifically "...if beneficial microorganisms are "sown" systematically into the soil along with a wide variety of native plant seeds" was somewhat analogous to tipping the balance of organisms from mostly "bad" to a perhaps more even balance of "good" organisms.

Obviously, this was still incorrect. I think I'm probably misinterpreting which specific parts of the last paragraph are analogous to the voter scenarios mentioned, but I'm having a hard time reasoning out what the "candidates" are supposed to be vs. the "journalists."

All in all, this just seemed like a really strange question, and I couldn't really remember seeing one like it in any prior PTs.

As a side note, I think this might be my inaugural post, but I've been lurking on these forums for a bit over a month and a half (I'm taking the December exam) and have found everyone to be tremendously helpful and kind. Cheers!

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-65-section-3-passage-4-passage/

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-65-section-3-passage-4-questions/

Wednesday, November 23st at 7PM ET: PT 46

Click here to join this conversation: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/219480381

Please click the link and comment if you plan on participating.

You can also dial in to the BR call by using your phone.

United States +1 (571) 317-3112

Access Code: 219-480-381

Well folks, I'll still pop in from time to time, but my race is run and it's time for the next group of leaders to take it from here. I can already tell that I like the direction things are going. So for this week's picture/GIF, here's some of my favorite humans, in black and white, smiling:

http://rollingstone.uol.com.br/media/images/large/2015/05/11/img-1031307-galeria-bob-marley.jpg

http://www.hemingwaypreservationfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/ernest-hemingway-timeline-745x483.jpg

http://www.indianspice.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mohandas-Smiling.gif

http://deism.com/images/Einstein_laughing.jpeg

http://www.kreiranje-uspeha.com/images/bl/Rosa%20Parks.jpg

http://www.xtec.cat/~aparra1/astronom/sagan.jpg

Sorry this is so Euro/male-centric, lol. Feel free to add your own!

The Full Schedule

And if you’d like to see the full schedule for upcoming reviews, here it is: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=h14k4idvt1lb4hp5ujds97qt7k%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York

Note:

This is probably a dumb question - but I've been studying logic games by buying the LSAT preptests (usually in the 10 tests book form), photocopying them and doing the questions on the photo copied version. But I feel like there isn't a lot of space because I've seen some old 7Sage printouts (from the live commentary videos) that seem to have a ton of workspace. Is there a difference between how the 10 New Preptests books look compared to how the test looks day-of?

Does "A is always the Best Student" mean "A --> Best Student" or "Best Student --> A" ?

Does "A is the only Best Student" mean "A --> Best Student" or "Best Student --> A" ?

I get a bit confused when "is" or other referents are used in conjunction with Group 1 - 4 logical indicators. I know the convention is to follow the rule of the indicators, but when I think about what the sentence is saying instead of just blindly following the rule, I'm not always so sure.

Can someone diagram the logic of this question? I don't see where the latter part of answer choice A can be inferred from the stimulus?.

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-54-section-4-question-09/

I know the forums always gets inundated with frantic, nervous posts around this time, and I hate to add to them, but I need some advice on how to spend the next two weeks.

Let me start off by saying that I'm not going to postpone, even though I know many of you will think that I should. I am taking advantage of an "early entry" program that my school (OU) offers to its undergraduates. I am pretty much already accepted unless I just completely blow it. The top 25 percent LSAT score at OU is a 159 and my current average is a 164. I would love to eventually get a 170 for scholarship reasons, but I've been told that if I retake in February, they will take that score into consideration as well. I just need an LSAT score now so that I can finish my application ASAP.

Last week, I took 3 recent PT and scored 166 on two and 167 on one. Then, I took a proctored test under test conditions and scored a 163 mostly due to freaking out during LG which continues to be my worst section. If I am able to get through 3 games, I should have no problem getting a 166-167 or higher because I'm getting -2 to -3 in the other sections. I have never been able to get through an entire LG section during a timed test and they are just the bane of my existence.

So, how do you guys think I should spend these last two weeks? Here are my current possible scenarios, but I'm open to other suggestions:

1. Take 3 timed PT/BR this week (72, 77, 79 on MWF) and then retake a test I've already done (78) on Monday but timed per section then focus on drilling LG T-TH the week of the test.

or

2. Take 2 timed PT/BR this week (77 and 79) and otherwise focus on drilling LG until the Friday before the test.

Maybe the differences are subtle but basically should I spend the majority of my time taking timed PT/BR or focusing on LG?

I'm trying, really trying to have interests in the passages but sometimes its really hard to keep concentrate on what it says.

How do you stay focused and have interests in the passages?

What is active reader anyway?

My LG scores were already so-so on the earlier tests (-6-7 per section), and dropped like a sack of bricks when I started doing preptests in the 70s (so far have done 70 and 71, 72 slated for tomorrow). I'm taking the December LSAT and it's pretty clear that the logic games are make or break for me. Thoughts for the next two weeks?

Hey guys, so I'm going to take the December LSAT and maybe retake in FEB if i need to but I'm just wondering what i should do the final week before the test? Im planning on taking PT 79 on Tuesday and attending the BR session that JY is going to have but then I'm not sure what to do for the final week to stay sharp. Should i just keep doing separate sections of LG,RC, LR, and just BR them afterwards just to stay sharp? What do you guys suggest? I was thinking about having PT 79 be the last practice test i take so i can take it semi easy the final week leading up to the test.

Here's the link to the question: https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-36-section-3-question-20/

Okay. I'm confused why (A) is incorrect. Isn't the stimulus just an instance of us evaluating legislation... that is, aren't we determining whether or not legislation that would limit TV programs is more (or less) harmful than the consequences of us not doing so?

Furthermore, in the stimulus, we definitely do consider the consequences of not passing the legislation...

Hi all, hope your studies are going well.

Just looking for some tips. I only started studying 2 weeks ago :|

I completed a 1000pg book-LG and a 1000pg book-LR that's it. Also reading The Economist out loud for exercise. I recommend it, some dense articles - different subjects tech/med/politics/economics etc. I performed my first PT 72 and got 140 last week Of course I was only able to complete 1/3 of the questons in allotted time the rest all D's.

- My plan is -

LR

Focus on the question type and practice speed

LG

Practice realizing all available deductions and realizing shortcuts to answer questions, increase speed through repetition and teach my parents different game types over and over and over and over ....

RC

Practice actual PT RC sections, untimed, however speed up constantly until can complete them near 8-9 mins each.

I have another 10 PT to complete 62-71, my plan is to do 5-10 within next two weeks.

My goal is 160.

Any tips or suggestions would really help out.

Best of luck to you. :)

A long, strange LSAT journey Top-Law-Schools.com

Postby fredfred » Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:21 pm

This is my experience with the LSAT and it should be read by anyone who is looking for LSAT motivation.

In college, I started thinking about the LSAT and law school. I went to a free kaplan session where there is a proctor (tutor) and he gives a full exam. I had not prepared at all and left with a 143. My head was spinning and I went to talk to an advisor of mine. He said if someone wants to go to law school, they should have started studying in high school. That was his serious advice. It takes 3-4 years to master the LSAT at a minimum (he went to HYS law and Princeton PHD so the dude is extremely smart himself). That did not help my confidence.

Fast forward a year. Just graduated college, I was headed to graduate school. It is June 1st, 2014. It was the first time I seriously tried to study, aiming for the September exam. I was doing okay, never really breaking 160. Games was my worst section, going -15/-20 at a time. Having access to some family support, I reached out to a tutor to teach me games. Worth every penny and started going -10, then -5, then -1. Progress! Unfortunately reasoning wasn't progressing as I would have liked, but I was getting tutored on Skype as my graduate school was far away. I was doing what my tutor told me all the way up through the September exam and was pting mid 160s. Eventually September came and I received a high 150's score. I was devastated. 4 months of work, lots of money, and still not even breaking 160. I was distraught, a failure, a waste. This was all in the mist of graduate school and it was just awful.

I take a month off of studying and decided to try again in December. I dumped my tutor (but LG was a massive improvement getting to -0) and decided instead of trying to learn everything just focus on LR. I had games down and just needed LR help. I buckled down for a few months and studied hard. December came, did great on games and not as great on LR, but a significant improvement. I had been pting from 164-174 on any given test. Come December, I went -6 on RC. Received a mid 160s score. Was devastated again, how could I possibly get into a t14? My dreams were over.

I applied everywhere and had a good cycle. Got serious scholarship money from top 20 schools and wl at a few t14. I decided on one top 20 with a nice scholarship and my parents were proud, I was proud, it actually was all okay. But something was bugging me, it was the LSAT. I felt like twice it had won, twice it beat me yet I wanted to try again. My parents said no, why even go through this again?

So I signed up for June. I threw out everything I knew about the LSAT and started at PT 1. I took EVERY SINGLE LSAT from 1-76 (or whatever it is) and then redid 60-76 again. I wasn't trying to beat the test or learn the test, rather I was just going through it systematically. If I got a RC question wrong, I spent 15 minutes breaking down every answer choice and trying to figure out where I went wrong and which one is more right. I did this for 4 months, on top of grad school.

It now brings me to this moment. I received a mid 170s score in the 99th percentile in June. Within 12 hours of the score, I had received a call from a t14 I was rejected from offering me unsolicited admission along with 2 others just outside the t14. It looks like I will be sitting out a year and reapplying.

What this is all about ultimately is I had around a 30 point increase from first pt to June 2015. It was a full year of studying with small breaks in between. You don't need a tutor. What he taught me I found the same on youtube for free. What matters is you determination to really work at it. Actually take every single PT ever given over and over. By my actual count, I have taken over 150 full pts this past year (obviously repeating each one at some point). My professor was wrong, you don't need 4 years of study. You need 1 and the determination to do it.

tl;dr I started from the bottom (143) and now I am here (mid 170s). Good luck, you can do it.

If someone can explain to me why B is correct and C is wrong I would be most appreciative. My thought process is below:

Although dissemination of national security and commercial information should be restricted/prohibited (based on the condition), the spread of scientific information should always be allowed.

A) Yes, this country can distinguish potential competitors or enemies based on the stimulus.

B) If technology is restricted, then the general public does not need that information on public policy issues.

C) I said this one was not a necessary assumption because we have no idea about democratic vs. non democratic countries relative proportion of advancement.

D) This has to be true as the stimulus requires a distinction of scientific information vs commercial and national security.

E) This could be true if MNC uses technology but doesn't share it internationally.

PLEASE HELP!!! I really cannot see why C is wrong and B is correct. Thank you in advance.

I have been under a rock for the past 3 weeks. Now I am back just in time for the sessions that start tonight.

So I heard the rumor that applications are divided into batches submitted before thanksgiving and after.

Is it true?

I got my October score and was wondering if I should speed up the entire process to enhance my chances or wait a little more...

Hey Yall!

We have a new study group geared for those of you who are planning on taking the June 2017 LSAT. This post is to gauge interest and to give you all a heads up about the new LSAT study group. Below I have posted a schedule that is very flexible. This is a new feature of the study group. This means that those of you who attend will get to help decide what PTs we take, what day and time you want to BR them, when we want to take breaks (we'll adjust the schedule for holidays), and what question types and LSAT sections we workshop with Sages etc. I really want this to be more than a Blind Review group, so it is to your advantage to be vocal during the study group session about what particular PTs we should switch in (provided we start with the lower number PTs and work in ascending order). You (the June2017 LSAT taker) should also speak up about what issues, question types, LSAT sections etc we should look into work-shopping when we meet.

Comment below if you would like me to tag you for our first meeting on December 3rd at 5pm EST and complete the attached poll to provide feedback for the date that we will meet next, after the initial December 3rd meeting.

Current tentative PT schedule -- https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=aWw1aWEzYTRkbWdoaDZsa3U3YjBsaDBlZDBAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ

Note this is subject to change to reflect the needs of the group.

I'm really looking forward to this and I can't wait to begin studying with you!

P.S. theme gif requests welcome :)

Hey, could someone help explain in detail why A is the correct answer choice? I am still lost. Thank you.

It's a BR GROUP PICK this week.

@hazelnut13 nominated PT 78 for next week. Feel free to nominate anything below and then we'll have a poll on it!

Edit: Vote by midnight Tuesday! :)

I just took PT63 and the score is around 140s, far below my target score(160). I know that it would be a hardship to move 30s in next 2 months.I registered for Feb, 2017(hopefully enroll in 2017) But I has a ambition to conquer. I still suffer at LGs(lots to improve). I want to stay in America while I finish my OPT(internship for international student) and start my law school.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Hey, could someone help explain in detail why A is the correct answer choice? I am still lost. Thank you.

Hey Everyone,

I was thinking about starting to take PT's in 40's starting this week. Is anyone else also planning to start taking them soon? I wanted to see if maybe we could get through some of them together. We could go over even RC sections ( I kinda feel like we neglect to get each other's help on them) and it ends up costing us points.

Moreover, it would be nice to know who is in same phase <3

The mood I am in <3

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/66/e9/e3/66e9e3f14c5d0eb41c0b622ac44495ca.gif

Hi all

I've done only 2 PTs in 70s and just want to do those PTs with weird, rare logic games that threw people off before December.

I know 72 has circular..and what other PTs in 70s have weird games?

Thank you so much! :)

Hey guys,

I've been pting for the last month or so for the December LSAT. I have improved immensely in LG and LR because I feel like I've been blind reviewing this sections pretty effectively. I try to blind review RC as well, but I don't feel like my level of understanding in this section has improved much since I started doing PT's.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get the most out of reviewing RC after a PT?

A condition stated is "Within each segment, reports are ordered by length, from longest to shortest." For purposes of my question I'd like to emphasize that this condition, like all LG rules, is an absolute rule that must be followed.

We are given no information about the length relation of T to either of W or I. Despite this:

The correct answer to Q1, the typical "acceptable configuration" question, implies T — W (where "—" is the usual notation indicating relative order). If this is a way of providing more information, i.e., another rule, it is unique in my limited experience.

The correct answers to Q5 and Q6 imply T — I.

How can T — W or T — I be required assumptions to answer correctly without our having any information that would support them?

The explanation for this game does not address my question.

Hey everyone! I just wanted some suggestions or techniques for approaching weakening q's. I'm finding that while timing myself, I take a longer time or I rush when solving weakening questions because I take too long. I average around 1 minute and half, sometimes closer to 2 mins, even on the easier questions. I think it's because I'm trying to reason it out completely (find all alternative assumptions, etc.) However, on blind review my accuracy is pretty good, as I'll usually get all or almost all of them right. Are there any techniques or strategies you guys use in order to increase speed on weakening q's, or even all LR question types? Thanks!