Hello all,

I’d like to start off by congratulating those who just finished taking this past June administration! I’m taking the LSAT this September, and I’m looking for some advice as far the PT phase of my prep. I’ve been fortunate enough to have access to every published PT, so I’m wondering if it makes sense to take every single one of them. Sticking to my original plan of taking every PT, I would be taking about 4 PT’s a week up until the September administration. I took PT’s 1-3 so far and my scores have thus far been sporadic, and much lower than I’ve anticipated considering where I believe my level of understanding actually is with the LSAT, and also having been through the curriculum twice with months of previous preparation.

After having taken PTs 1-3 so far, I feel as though the LR sections in particular have been substantially different from the questions I’ve been prepping with through the curriculum, JY’s videos, the LSAT Trainer, the Power score Bibles, and foolishly enough…. a Kaplan book or two (lol). So really my question is, from the experience of others in the community, if it makes sense to take the earliest PT’s, and if BR’ing and learning from the questions will actually be of use for my upcoming September administration? Or if I should limit my focus to the more recent exams… say around 20 or so, and to retake the PT’s in the 60’s and 70’s if I have the time.

A thank you in advance to any of those who take the time to respond, any advice is appreciated.

I'm just wondering where people have seen the most success. I'm at about a 168 and looking to score 170+. I've been trying to get through the whole curriculum, but many parts of it seem way to broken down (with concepts I already understand), and i'm wondering if going through them is really a good use of my time. In general, do people pick and choose which parts of the curriculum they want to focus on, or just power through all of it? Thanks!!

Hey guys,

I just took the June exam and I couldn't really get too much sleep the night before, about 3 hours. The first LR section was a bit hazy and I had some trouble doing the first few problems which otherwise shouldn't have been hard. Is a bad day's sleep grounds for cancelling?

In the link below, can someone explain number 8? The comments don't provide a clear answer, and I have no idea what it means. It makes no sense how dull means "placing demands on readers" to me

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-19-section-3-passage-1-questions/

I'm doing some new prep tests these days, and they're shockingly more difficult than the old ones we use to practice on here in 7sage, this is extremely annoying to me. prep tests 60 and up are much more harder to a depressing level, my score in the old prep test are much more higher than in the new ones! i'm wondering if the other 7sage packages are making the the new prep tests exclusive. if this is the case then i'm doomed.

Hi guys,

I am planning on taking the LSAT in Sept and was wondering if anyone knows what the Marymount University in Alrington, VA testing center is like? I want to go there to do some practice tests but I'm not sure which rooms they used. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

From our LSAT Blog: https://classic.7sage.com/lsat-final-stretch-encouraging-quotes/

For this final installment of LSAT Final Stretch leading up to the June exam, we've asked some of our Mentors and Sages for any final words of encouragement for those of you taking the exam (or looking forward to future administrations).

Mentor Sam: "You got this!" "You're almost there!" "Last minute advice: Stay focused and do your best. You've come this far, and you're only a few steps away from the finish line.”

Mentor Nilesh, Georgetown University Law Center '18: “I know it can seem impossible... but never give up hope. Logic Games only clicked definitively for me in the last week after a year and a half of prep and even more so in the last 4 days...keep working...and do not give up!”

Mentor Josh: “The LSAT doesn't happen in a testing room on test day. It happens the months and years before test day. It happens during core curriculum as we slog through the information and slowly achieve mastery. It happens during drilling as we reinforce and solidify that mastery. It happens during PTs and JY videos and fool proofing games; and during the times when we inevitably get knocked down, when a bad PT shakes us, when we realize we have further to go than we thought; and it happens when we get back up and keep fighting. So what is test day? It is not the LSAT. You have already conquered the LSAT. Test day is simply the dropping of your score in the mail. Y'all got this.”

Mentor Alejandro: “Trust your instincts. Find serenity in the fact that you studied your hardest up until this point. Oh and don't be afraid to skip!”

Mentor Brittany: “Good luck on the test everyone!! We did all the hard work already!!! Let's go crush this thing!!!”

Sage Allison, Harvard Law School '19: “You've already put in so many hours on this test. In a real sense, the hard work is behind you. June 6th is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the LSAT, and regardless of your nerves, you are equipped. You can do this!”

Let me be the final person to say ... YOU GOT THIS

Good luck to the sages taking on the beast tomorrow. Get plenty of rest, relax, and just chill out today.

Don't know how helpful this will be for everyone, but I had a realization a couple of weeks back and it's helped me tremendously during PTs, so I figured I should share. Like many on here, I have issues with being able to skip questions in an effective matter.. and as JY and all the other Mentors on here have taught us; if you aren't able to hone that skill you'll never achieve your max potential score. And as many times as I heard it, read it, tried it, forced it, that notion never really stuck with me -- and that's why I'll be sitting for my third take in September.

However, I recently had a very profound realization while watching Jackie Bradley Jr go on a 28 game hitting streak. (Bare with me non-baseball fans, this story will make perfect sense even if you don't watch). Jackie Bradley is currently one of the best hitters in all of baseball... but for the first three years of his career he was mediocre at best, and some even considered him to be a below average player during that span.

This year, however, something changed. He started swinging at the ball significantly less than he used to. Pitchers became dumbfounded because they used to be able to throw any garbage pitch and he would always swing and miss. Refusing to give up the potential he knew he had, he worked with a new swinging coach to change his approach during the offseason. And now, he rarely, if ever, swings at a bad pitch.. Anyone here starting to catch how analogous this is to combatting the LSAT?

The greatest batters in the history of baseball were the ones who had a great eye for bad pitches. They didn't swing at every pitch that came their way. And something tells me, (though it may be a mere correlation ;) ) the highest lsat scorers are the ones who know they've come across a bad pitch. They don't get flustered, they stay disciplined, and they know when "not to swing" when they come across a "bad pitch" or, in our case, a really tough question.

So go out there, do your best Babe Ruth impression. Don't take swings at questions that are bad pitches. Instead look for that easy fastball, (better known to us as "low hanging fruit"), right down the middle and knock it out of the park. Before you know it, you'll have humbled the metaphoric pitcher in the LSAT and with your confidence riding sky high, there won't be any pitch (or question) he'll be able to toss your way that would stop you from smacking a grand slam. See you all at home plate. Good Luck!

During the test, how do we know how much time we have left? Is there a giant digital clock that has a timer, or is it a regular clock, or do the proctors just give 10 20 5 minute warnings?

does anyone else have a mon-fri 9-5? How do you balance studying and working? Especially for the PT's, how do you find a time to get a direct LSAT model 4 hour duration to do one when you're always working? Any advice is appreciated.

Tomorrow morning is the big day for a lot of you guys out there! I plan on taking the September 24 LSAT and was curious to know about the thought processes going through your mind on the day before such as your plans for tonight, tomorrow morning before the exam and if their is anything you're really glad you did or anything you regret about your studying leading up to the exam. Thanks for reading!

I'm so lost on this question. It asks which statement would most appropriately continue the discussion at the end of the passage. I ruled out A, because of tone, and selected E. However, apparently A is the right answer. Is anyone able to explain why? I knew the question was a little sketchy, and circled it for my blind review, but I still couldn't find the right answer. Thanks friends!

For LR clearly. When you see a question involves heavy Lawgic say MBT MBF Parallel reasoning etc.. Do you start mapping the lawgic right away or read it first then read it again and Map it out?

I realized my lsat picture also includes my chest. (like more than the tops of my shoulders.)

Should I be very concerned? :( Freaking out!

Hey guys/gals,

I was wondering if you might be able to lend a hand? Can anyone tell me when it's most prudent (with respects to sacrificing time) to use the 4 wrongs make it right formula? Are there question stems worded in ways (i.e. must be true, etc.) that would alert you to this, or are there specific questions types (i.e. parallel, etc.) that should signal using this approach?

Thanks!

@pseudonymous made this look REALLY easy. If you find any errors I will make you a custom meme or avatar of your choice.

@"Al [^-^d]" @blah170blah @"Dillon A. Wright" @jdawg113 @emli1000 @"Nilesh S" @pseudonymous

Seven Sagers—Al, Blah, Dillon, Emli, JDawg, Nilesh, and Pseudonymous—have gathered in a library for a free tutoring session Dillon has offered (to make up for the chaos resulting from a certain scheduling disaster). They will sit, each in one of eight chairs, around a circular table. Any two of them are said to be sitting directly across from one another if and only if there are exactly three chairs between them, counting in either direction of the table, whether the chairs are occupied or not. The following conditions apply:

Al sits directly across from Emli.

Dillon can only sit next to one other person (on his right side) because “[his] coffee needs a seat” (srsly?).

JDawg sits immediately next to neither Al nor Nilesh.

1. Which one of the following could be the order in which four of the Sagers are seated, with no one else seated between them, counting clockwise around the table?

a. JDawg, Dillon, Dillon’s Coffee, Nilesh

b. Emli, Pseudonymous, Nilesh, Al

c. Dillon, Blah, Nilesh, Emli

d. Pseudonymous, JDawg, Nilesh, Al

e. Dillon’s Coffee, Al, Pseudonymous, Blah

2. If Emli sits between Dillon and JDawg, then which one of the following could be the two people each of whom sits immediately next to Pseudonymous?

a. JDawg and Nilesh

b. Al and Nilesh

c. Al and Dillon

d. JDawg and Dillon’s Coffee

e. Nilesh and Blah

3. If Emli does not sit immediately next to Jdawg, then which one of the following could be the two people each of whom sits immediately next to Blah?

a. Al and Pseudonymous

b. Emli and Nilesh

c. Emli and Pseudonymous

d. Al and JDawg

e. JDawg and Pseudonymous

4. If Nilesh sits directly across from Dillon’s Coffee, then each of the following people could sit immediately next to Dillon EXCEPT:

a. Al

b. Emli

c. JDawg

d. Blah

e. Pseudonymous

5. If Nilesh sits directly across from JDawg, then what is the minimum possible number of seats (occupied or not) between Emli and Nilesh, counting clockwise from Emli to Nilesh?

a. Zero

b. One

c. Two

d. Three

e. Four

Hello, would anyone care to explain to me how D is the correct answer in this question, when in my opinion, it is so logically wrong? Thank you!

June '16 Pep Rally! Featuring JY Ping and Nicole Hopkins | Friday 8pm ET

Come for the encouragement. Come for the power. Come for the pro-tips. One of our most popular events, we want to pump you up and answer any lingering questions you may have about the June administration of the LSAT.

Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose.

To join, please do the following:

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

Hey 7Sagers,

I'm starting this thread so we can have a few laughs. Share your scariest LSAT nightmare(s)!

I woke up in a Saw game. Jigsaw informed me that I had TWENTY minutes to finish one of the hardest LG sections I've ever seen (PT 27 with the snakes and lizards game, omg).

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-53-section-1-question-09/

I could really use some help on this one.

First, here's a quick breakdown of the stimulus:

P: Nesting female leatherbacks have declined by more than 2/3.

P: Any species whose population declines by more than 2/3 is in danger of extinction.

C: Leatherback turtles are in danger of extinction.

Even though I quickly realized the gap between nesting females and the entire population of leatherbacks, I still don't see how answer A passes the negation rule (that the correct answer choice to all necessary assumption questions must pass).

A says: "The decline in the population of nesting female leatherbacks is proportional to the decline in the leatherback population as a whole."

When I negate answer choice A, I read it as "the decline in the population of nesting female leatherbacks IS NOT proportional to the decline in the leatherback population as a whole." While I see how this can be problematic for the conclusion, it doesn't necessarily make it false. Let's assume that the decline being referred to in the stimulus in the nesting female subpopulation is 70% (greater than 2/3). If we are applying the negation of A, then decline in the entire population of leatherbacks is NOT PROPORTIONAL to the 70% decline in nesting females. However, it still can be true that the entire population of leatherback turtles is declining by more than 2/3 (they're declining by 85%). So the conclusion can still be true that leatherbacks as a whole are in danger of extinction.

So while A would be the perfect sufficient assumption answer choice, it doesn't seem like it's playing by the LSAT's rules for necessary assumption questions.

Recognizing this problem, during blind review I chose answer choice D, because I assumed that "nesting" meant not living in captivity. So by negating D, it reads "Not very few leatherback turtles exist in captivity." And since "few" = "some, but not most," in plain English, D translates to: either none or most (>50%) of the turtleback population lives in captivity. So if most of these turtles do in fact live in captivity (let's just assume 51% of them do), then a 2/3 decline in the nesting females can constitute only a maximum overall decline of ~34% in the entire population of leatherbacks, which is obviously less than 2/3, and means we cannot make the conclusion that they're in danger of extinction. So isn't this assumption the necessary one?

Please help. My brain hurts...

Hi friends,

I appear to be in a bit of a dilemma. I'm registered to write the Sept. LSAT and have been practicing steadily for about two weeks. I'm scoring consistently around 168, which I realize is fine, but I just can't seem to break through that plateau. My struggles will either always be in logic games or reading comp, but sometimes I get 100% on reading comp so it really just doesn't make sense. My gpa is low enough that if I want a chance to get into a decent school, a 170 would really be an asset. Does anyone have any advice on how to break through and gain 4-5 points before the exam?

Thank you!

Taylor

Trying to decide whether I should take PT 77 before Monday. This would be my last PT. I've been scoring lower on these 70s tests, and I really don't wanna score low a few days before the real thing.

On the other hand, the 70s tests are different than the 60s and 50s IMO.And the test I'll be taking Monday will likely be most similar to the past 5 exams. Taking this test also has some other advantages: will help to see how I deal with the curveball game, newer LR and RC, etc. What do you all think?

Hi guys,

For those of you that have taken the LSAT before - were you able to get into the test center facility before the actual signup? I'm talking about getting there maybe 20 minutes early to scope out/use the restrooms and so on.

I'm going to be taking at Suffolk Law in Boston, and on normal days the access to the building is badge based, and the security guard said I couldn't go in and take a look at the rooms or general facilities (I'm amazed some people are able to take PT's in their testing room, this guy was serious about no can't do).

Thanks!

In the course of blind reviewing LR questions, I gained a few simple insights that I thought might help some people. In the interests of facilitating improvement on LR, maybe this can get people to chime in on some of their methods.

First of all, I've seen it said many times, but I now think that the advice to write out by hand every question you're reviewing can't be overstated enough. I found that by writing out and explaining exactly what I read in the stimulus along with writing out reasons for why each answer choice is either right or wrong, I was able to expose so many gaps in my understanding and tacit assumptions that would have completely gone unnoticed had I just scribbled a quick diagram or something to that effect while reviewing. By writing things out, even if by playing around with things, paraphrasing, or putting an idea in a different light, I was able to express everything I knew, which led me to identify everything I didn't know. (I think the old adage of knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know applies well here). Writing it out also doesn't have to be formal or strict, but as long as you are able to hold your ideas accountable by enumerating them, you'll have a good point from which to improve yourself.

Second, make sure that you eliminate answer choices independently to fully understand what's wrong with them. I think a tendency of reviewing without writing things out is that we're more liable to blithely skim from one choice to the next, not holding ourselves wholly accountable and not giving each answer choice a fair hearing. You can't understand why something is wrong if you can't eliminate it for its own sake. If you spell out your reasoning for each choice before either choosing it or eliminating it, you'll better understand why you chose it or not.

Third, make sure to read the stimulus naturally first, with some light marks if necessary, and then come back and diagram. Keep in mind I recommend doing this during review, not necessarily timed PTs. I found that If I'm too ready to write something out, I might miss making some connection and seeing the larger point. Get a grasp of the idea or structure of the stimulus before you assign a specific methodology or approach. Maybe this is more applicable to harder stimuli as opposed to easier ones with a quick and simple setup and with time you'll be so good that you know exactly where things are going as you're reading and your diagramming is right at the heels of your thoughts, but I think it will take some time to gain that level of intuition.

Fourth, be sincere with yourself. Don't censor your thoughts too much in the course of writing down your reasoning and be intimately aware of the initial impressions you have after reading something. Those initial impressions may reveal something about your intuition, and if you want to improve your intuition, you should first expose them by writing them out. Improvement is made easier when you know exactly what you have to improve on, and this starts by being honest about yourself and your reasoning behind choosing an answer choice.

Finally, do not move on until you feel absolutely certain about an answer choice. I think the temptation of watching the explanation for the question by JY is just an excuse for you not doing your job properly. The videos should be a complement to what you already learned yourself by pouring in all that time reviewing the question.

Okay! Here is my dilemma, I have registered for the Testmasters course, but now I am having second thoughts and thinking about getting a refund and signing up for 7sage instead. The community have been so helpful so far, and I've heard such good things that I I'm considering changing, can someone who maybe have an experience with the live course vs. 7sage or anyone at all tell me why they find 7sage to be more beneficial. Please! I need to know by tomorrow so I can cancel and update my account.