So I was planning to take my LSAT in December, but I was scoring in the 150's with BR's in the 160's, no where near my goal, so I just finally said I don't want to put myself under so much pressure for the December test, and postponed my test until Feb. I am feeling a bit stressed out considering my parents and everyone around me is nagging me to death to take the December administration so I don't take a year off, but I know this score is just way too important, considering this determines school, job prospect, and how much scholarship money I will get, to just allow their nagging to overpower common sense.

From your perspectives, do you guys fee like my decision was reasonable, or was I just paranoid and actually had enough time to study and score in the 170's by December?

Hello friends.

Lots of stress and discouragement floating around.

Let's help one another.

How can we encourage you today?

So, I will be taking my first official test this October. If and when I get my score back and I do not feel comfortable with the score, should I still power through practice tests in between the time of the test and the day I get my score back?

A lot of us will probably come out thinking they didn't get the score they anticipate. In other words, should I continue studying after October 3 as if I'm planning on taking the December LSAT?

OK, this is another one that I just can't wrap my head around the correct answer choice relative to an incorrect answer choice. This is getting beyond frustrating ugh. Here is my breakdown:

This is a weaken question.

There is evidence that cave people polished their flints to a degree beyond what was necessary for hunting. Therefore, these people possessed an aesthetic sense.

What I am looking for: I think this makes the false dichotomy flaw. The argument assumes that the flints were either used for hunting or for aesthetic reasons. We want an answer choice that addresses this. I also looked up aesthetic during BR, in case my personal definition is incorrect. It means concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

Answer A: This does nothing to the argument since it doesn't address whether the flints were used for aesthetic reasons.

Answer B: This does nothing to the argument because we don't know if cave paintings provide evidence or not of an aesthetic sense. We just don't have any information about cave paintings to know if they are relevant to the argument.

Answer C: This is what I chose during the exam and during BR. I don't really see how the use of the word "display" allows you to eliminate this answer choice. Can't things be on display that are not used for aesthetic purposes? Especially for religion? Religious display seems like a worship use, not an aesthetic use. What also makes this attractive to me is that this is providing evidence that the highly polished flints (the ones we care about) were used for something other than hunting as well.

Answer D: This answer is the correct answer, but I run into the same problems as C. It is similar to C because it suggests that the flints were used for things other than hunting. However, I didn't choose it for two independent reasons. First, this answer choice is talking about flints in general, but we really want to know about the highly polished flints. If this answer choice had added "highly polished" as the first two words, then I think this answer choice becomes apparent.

The second reason (and I used this reason during BR) I eliminated it is the conclusion doesn't actually say that the highly polished flints were USED for aesthetic purposes. The conclusion is just that these early humans had an aesthetic sense. Specifically, this answer choice states that the flints were used for chores. Common chores are cleaning, taking out the garbage, etc. Are these not at least partly aesthetic enhancers? Do these not partly concern themselves with the beauty of the home? I think in this instance, D could strengthen the argument. For this possibility, I eliminated it and chose C.

Answer E: So what if we don't understand the benefits of their aesthetic sense.

Hi, I understand why the answer choice (D) is correct, but I have a question on (B).

The stimulus states that since "faculty salaries constitute a small part of the university's expenditure," the administration's explanation is not believable.

So I thought even though faculty salaries constitute a small part of expenditure, if they "significantly" increased after the tuition increase, the faculty's explanation can make sense, so this can be weakening argument.

To counter this weakening argument, I thought (B) can be suggested that increase in faculty salaries is only 5% which is lower than general increase in tuition. This is why I thought (B) can be strengthening argument which can fight back against possible weakening argument.

Probably I thought too complicated in this low number question (supposed to be not this tricky).

But could you explain further why (D) is better answer choice than (B)?

Two questions:(preferably someone who has taken the lsat can answer these)

1. My admission ticket first and last name match exactly but there is no middle name on my admission ticket. On my id my middle name is listed. Lsac policy says "first and last name must match exactly" but doesn't mention middle name. Has anyone had an issue or is there anything I should be worried about?

2. I wear glasses only when my eyes get fatigued (usually for reading comprehension section) and plan on bringing my reading glasses on test day. Lsac doesnt mention eye glasses as one of the "ONLY" items they allow on your desk on test day nor do they mention them being allowed in your ziplock. They also don't mention them as being prohibited or not allowed. I don't wear them when I'm just walking around (like during check in) so could i wear them like on my shirt? Or put them in my ziplock?

This last week till the lsat has me so stressed out over little stuff....ughh.

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to ask advice of any of the 7sagers here--I'd really, really appreciate it. I've been kind of lost amongst the different study methods and feel I need to schedule some pattern before the December. Also, good luck to all of those taking the October!! Sending good vibes to my friends and other members here on the 3rd.

So here's the situation:

Diagnostic was 149. By now after the curriculum I've taken a few PTs, Actual: 155,152,156, 152, respectively. BR: 162, 166, 166, 169, and 164, respectively. LR I avg -9, LG -13, and RC -6. I find timing to be a problem, as many probably do.

Initially I wanted to take 3 tests a week, but I have only been taking 2 since I've felt I needed more time to review--but I also think taking the tests has been helping me in terms of stamina, and the exposure seems good. I know I have a lot lot lot of work to do in LG,...so should I just take a break from the PTs and just do a few sets every day for a week or something before revisiting PTs? And LR I'm also behind--should I spend more time drilling conditionals and revisiting NA in the curriculum, for example, or spend more time reviewing the questions of the PTs I've taken? I've only taken the PTs in the 40s...and I keep freaking out at entire games. I've gone over a few of the LR chapters in the Trainer but for some reason it doesn't seem to be clicking...

Basically I'm not sure where I should be spending more time. If I'm feeling very tired one day, should I put off taking an exam until I'm much more focused and ready to improve my score? My friends have kept telling me "take as many PTs as possible before the exam" and have made it sound as though sheer repetition of PTs will make me better somehow. I want to break into the 60's soon...how many PTs do I expect to take before I get there? My goal was a 170 but I know that's very difficult and at this point I just want to be getting BETTER.

Would really love your help. :)) I wish I could offer more to you guys but I've been mostly learning from the community here. maybe in the future...

My last PT (67) and practice sections have all been below my average for the last month (165) and I'm starting to panic a little bit. I feel like my focus is gone, and because of that I've been making lots of dumb mistakes. I'm scheduled to take the exam in one week. Is there anything that I can do to get out of this funk before test day?

I was stuck between B and C and finally chose C because I thought "suggest that a particular approach be taken by the proponents of the assertion" from B didn't match the passage.

But the answer is B and I can't still find why C is wrong. It seems every words from C are match for the passage.

Why is C wrong and can B is an answer?

And which part of the passage is compatible with "suggest that a particular approach be taken by the proponents of the assertion" from B?

I still don't understand why D is wrong.

Is it ("a band signed with a major label ~~"part from the stimulus) the phenomenon to support the main conclusion?

What's the difference between D and E?

Can anyone explain why D is wrong and E is an answer?

Thanks in advance!

hmmm. isn't D diagrammed backwards. ie. All students can participate in recess after the bell has rung.

Bell doesn't ring, they can't go to recess.

~ring -----> ~recess

Recess ----> Ring

All employees can participate after they have been with the company for 1 year.

Not 1 year service then can't participate

~1 year ----> ~participate

Participate -----> 1 year +

Video instead says 1 year + ----------> participate?

Gavin is 3 years instead of 1. And then they conclude that he must participate from a can premise. That is why it doesn't match. I think there is error in the video.

Hi All!

I am looking for a list that puts together all the grouping games.

Grouping games are a weakness of mine!

A few days back, I read a post here that had a list of some in/out games.

Now I am looking for a similar grouping list.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

Main Point question, I agonize between B and E. B is wrong because they never said it was not the only factor? But isn't E wrong as well because the conclusion was about unlikely that a prediction will occur where as E said probably will not? Isn't E kind of too definitive?

I watched JY's video on this one (http://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-45-section-4-question-06/), but I don't understand his reasoning for eliminating answer choice C. During the exam, I couldn't distinguish between C and E. I know that E is a necessary assumption, but how is C not as well? If the beauty of the river crossing must not be preserved, then doesn't this completely wreck the argument? Why would the extra cost of the cable bridge be justified if the beauty of the crossing must not be preserved?

My 3 recent PTs I have experienced an oddity.....my timing is deplorable.....

For prior PTs I would reach question 21 or 22 in each LR section when time is called.....but for my 3 most recent PTs I only finish up to number 17.

By the 30 minute mark I am only on question 15.... why is this happening? I feel so much slower than before! I have to read, then re-read, then re-read again, the stimulus before going to the answer choices...

How much room is there in the test booklet? Does the test look just like the PTs? No scratch paper just seems like another way to make this exam more painful than it already is.

I emailed him a couple times at studentservices@7sage.com. He never answers.

Most of the time, my deductions and diagramming are the same with 7sage's, but it still took me average 12 mins to finish each section. What are other ways to improve speed?? Have you successfully overcome similar problem and do you mind sharing your experience?

I chose C, but the answer is B.

I can't still find out what the difference between B and C.

Why is C wrong and B an answer?

Can someone explain me?

Thanks!

Ie. you wrote test 61 4 months ago and forgot it or didn't score that well and didn't review it and got a 158 but re-write it now and get a 166?

Hello All!

Quick question for those who know:

How in the world do you Blind Review reading comprehension??

1. I do the memory method, however at this point, i am taking practice tests, and i have no clue on how to Blind Review, or Review in general, the reading comprehension section

2. If anyone can, PLEASE give me some detailed insight.

-After taking your PT and Blind Reviewing the LR section (and of course, doing the fool-proof method on Logic Games that you did not breeze right through), how do you Review/Blind Review the RC passages? How do you better yourself? How can you increase the amount of control you have over the passage?

-After taking your PT and Reviewing/Blind Reviewing all other sections, (and of course, putting the memory method ASIDE, since its physically impossible to do the memory method after you've already taken the PT), how can you increase the level of comprehension you have within the passage? I.E. - some passages i am able to completely master after reading them untimed, and for others i will literally sit there for a good 20-30 minutes still saying "DFJDHVDKJFDNFFDFFD??????"

THANKS ALL!! and for everyone else taking the 10/3 LSAT, GOOD LUCK!

Guys I'm very confused. In today's lsac email it sounds like 2 plus a picture. But on the ticket it says one. I only have one so the sooner I find out the better (if not tomorrow I'll have to get a state id or soemthign cuz it's too late for passport)

I'm feeling pretty depressed and just beaten down right now because I'm not doing any better at the LSAT since I began for the most part. My lowest timed score in June was 144. To my utter disbelief, I took a PT today and got a 147. I've figured out that I'm only missing around 10 questions because of my stupidity; the rest I'm just unable to get to because I run out of time. I've gotten near 170 before multiple times, but those tests were all untimed. I'm scheduled to take the October 3rd test and I just don't know what to do at this point. I'm unable to get to at least 5 questions from each section.

Does anyone have any advice? I've been going through tests, doing BR, recording my score, and watching the explanation videos. I've also been looking through the analytics, seeing which question types I'm missing, and then reviewing the core curriculum for the applicable section. I'm starting to think that I'm just not made for law school. It seems like the test is just so much easier for other people; I actually had a lawyer laugh at me a few weeks ago when I told him I was actually studying for the LSAT (I'm quoting, "No one studies for the LSAT. If you have to study, you shouldn't try to go to law school."). I've been studying for 4 months and wish I had longer (my pre-law advisor actually told me I should just grab a logic games book and flip through it, that no studying was really required).

Since d-day is so soon, any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys!

Moving from bracket to bracket (140 to 150 to 160 to 170...)?

Consensus on the board is curriculum+BR+management of your body/mind+don't burnout.

Is there an overall mindset you need to have to make the gains you want?

Obviously not being down and negative about your scores, keeping a resilient face would seem to be something to keep in mind. But has anyone come across something that has helped their scores outside of actually practicing the material?

In terms of necessary and sufficient conditions for the LSAT, I'm wondering what the difference is between "All because..." and "Only because...". For example: "All because the nail fell out, the war was lost" vs. "Only because the nail fell out, the war was lost." Or, the example could be, say, "All because of you, the war was lost" vs. "Only because of you, the war was lost", etc.

My confusion is that "All" introduces a sufficient condition, whereas "Only" introduces a necessary condition. But, the sentences seem to have the same meaning. What's the difference between "All" and "Only" in the examples above? Is the use of the word "All" just simply wrong when applying it to only one person (or thing), and such an example would never be found on a LSAT (even if people say "All because of you..." in everyday, real life)?

Also, I am confused by the word "because" in the above examples. I know "because" introduces a premise (which I think of a premise as being akin to a sufficient condition, or at least as an antecedent), but does "because" introduce necessary or sufficient conditions, as well?

Thanks!

Michael