Clearly reading comprehension is my weakest section. But after close to 6 months of intensive prep, I've gotten to a point where I feel unmotivated in terms of practicing RC passages, or even blind reviewing them.

I think this is due to two reasons. First, I don't like reading about topics that I don't enjoy, or have very little familiarity (geology, biology, history of 19th century painting etc.). I tried the tactic of "convincing myself that it's the most wonderful thing I'm going to read"; but it doesn't really work on me.

Second, I lost my faith in believing that I can improve on RC. I don't think I've made substantial progress throughout these months. When I sit down and do a logic game or an LR section, at least I know that I'll make some sort of progress. The same can't be said with RC - I always get between -6 to -8 per section without knowing what my weaknesses are. I don't have a coherent strategy going into a section, and my mistakes are mostly due to not being able to fully comprehend the passages (or enough time to digest them). For example, when I read a passage that talks about geological processes and volcanic activities, I can't picture the descriptive sentences or string together a mental image, which contributes to less understanding of the passage as a whole.

What do you all think?

Thanks in advance

I am now taking PTS and my scores havent improved from my cold diagnostic. (Well, Logic Games has improved a little, but Reading Comprehension has gone down)... in fact, the scores are lower..

The thing is, when i do Blind Review, it goes incredibly fast, and I do very well, especially with Logical Reasoning. I clearly see what is the correct answer.

So, does anyone have this experience? is it test anxiety?

Would anyone be willing to read over my personal statement & add comments/suggestions? If so please comment with your email. Thanks!

Hey guys. Newbie here that just signed up on this site a few days ago. I'm confused as to why, when, and how JY is applying the following analogy. Can someone help me understand this?

All beings that are Jedi’s are entities that use the force.

Jedi = Force User

This seems different from:

If Jedi, then Force User.

IF a being IS a Jedi, then the being must be a force user. Isn’t later is a conditional??? And thus not a logical equivalent? Do you see what I’m asking?

If it is the case that:

Jedi = Force User

then it is necessarily the case that:

Force User = Jedi.

But this renders the premise completely not true. Force User also = Sith and Sith (do not equal) Jedi.

I don’t care to pick a debate over about Jedi vs Sith, or Disney vs Lucasfilm. What I’m trying to understand is how equals can be construed as the logical equivalent of a conditional on the LSAT?

Isn't "=" traditionally used as follows?:

Anakin = Darth Vader

Darth Vader = Anakin

Thus "=" functions differently in the form than "->". It is entirely different than saying:

IF Anakin THEN Vader.

Thanks again to anyone who can simplify and clarify! Much appreciated.

I so wish I'd found this website a few months ago! I've been studying since September, taking practice tests and going through the exercises in the LSAT Trainer. My score fluctuates a lot more than I'd like due to timing issues, 179 one day and 166 the next. I've signed up for the December LSAT (less than two weeks to go!) and have started panicking. I feel I'd benefit from pushing the test back to February and going through all the lessons on this site and following the recommended exercise/coffee/steady bedtime schedule. It's too late to change the date but I could withdraw and sign up again. Or, I could do my best on the December test, see how it goes and cancel score or retake if necessary in February. I don't want multiple tests to look bad on my record or to underperform for the real test, but there is also the chance of getting my desired score or just having a another full length test under my belt before February. Any advice much appreciated!

Is it a good idea to avoid answer choices with the word "Some" for Strengthen/Weaken questions? Are these answer choices ever correct?

Hey, everyone!

I've been averaging a 155/156 on my most recent LSAT PTs and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to bump it up to a 160 before the Dec. LSAT. I know 4-5 points is a lot to jump in 2 weeks, but I'm willing to to work hard, and no life it to reach a consistent 159/160. Anyway, if you have any suggestions let me know!

For SOME reason.

I thought I was getting better at Reading Comprehension. I felt myself connecting with the passage, interested in the material, I was reading the Economist and a history magazine to increase my familiarity with that type of writing... it was going great.

About two weeks ago I scored my highest (-3).

Today. And every prep test after that, I have scored my WORST (-13).

I don't connect with the passages. I don't care about the material. And quite frankly, it scares the shit out of me every time I open RC.

Has this happened to anyone? it's a major stumbling block because I feel as if I've made vast improvements on my LR, my LG is consistently 0, but this is truly holding me back now :(

Hey guys hope everyone is doing well. I have a quick question about test day. On the actual test do they give you the Lsat scantron answer sheet separately or do we have to tear it out from the book ourselves? I'm only asking because I never tear it out the right away and always mess up the answer sheet. Thank you all!

http://www.ted.com/talks/kimberley_motley_how_i_defend_the_rule_of_law

JY suggests giving up alcohol about 2 months prior to the test.

I've given it up for about that time for the Dec exam coming up.

But I've got to holiday events where alcohol will be served.

Will a drinks a week before the exam hurt?

The proctor app asks me whether I am taking a four or five section practice test, and I know the real test has five with one being an experimental, but every practice test I have taken has only had four sections. Is there a way to add a fifth section to the practice tests that I don't know about? Also, have all of my PT scores been skewed due to always having one less section?

http://spiveyconsulting.com/blog/timeline-and-tips-for-the-best-possible-law-school-application/

These guys are awesome! They answer a lot of question for free here as well:

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=197451

(Great insider comments from former admissions officers)

Best of luck to those applying this cycle!

Does anyone know how long they give you to complete bubbling in the name etc section on the answer sheet? Do you guys practice doing that so its fast enough or is there plenty of time?

Finally took Preptest 73 today -- had been nervous about what would be the 'closest link' to the December LSAT,

But why was I expecting something enormously different from any other preptest? I was surprised to find that Preptest 73 is really like any other preptest....But you know what? I shouldn't have been surprised!

There truly are patterns inherent to the LSAT & Preptest 73 isn't particularly special, and there is no reason to think Preptest 74 (or the December LSAT) should be particularly special either.

Our weaknesses are laid out in similar ways on each test -- and we just need to keep tackling them.

Throughout preptest reviews, we may notice specific connections amongst questions' content in various tests (like the repeated discussion of the QWERTY keyboard). And Preptest 73 is no different -- Section 2, Q14 repeats the same idea of space exploration linked to unexpected technology benefits as Preptest 59, Section 3, Q18 while Section 4, Q3 repeats the same idea of sunblock vs. incidences of skin cancer repeated in other tests, including Preptest 62, Section 2, Q5.

The LG section is just as non-special as the other sections. And I had psych-ed myself out into thinking maybe a game was very unusual. I was wrong.

I'm not saying Preptest 73 wasn't difficult... every Preptest is difficult! But none of them is particularly special.

Things may *feel* different because we *expect* them to be different. But we should NOT psych ourselves out too much. Yes, there may be a few unusual bits in each preptest, but the December test should be seen for what it is: just another ol' preptest!

Hey,

I was happy earlier this week. I scored my highest scores of 165, a 165 again, and then a 168. My Blind review was also great, somewhere in the 170's. I only missed questions that JY was claiming were curve breaker on the LR. I just don't perform well on Reading Comprehension in general, but I did do slightly better on these tests. Basically, I was happy with my score and feeling confident for the Dec. 6th test.

Now I've taken two tests the past 2 days and scored a 159 and 160. I didn't get perfect logic game on either and my I am just missing more LR than I have been. My RC doesn't do me any favors either, but it never does. I'm glad that I still have time to make corrections, but still my confidence is slightly shaken after 2 disappointing tests. I really want to score that 167+ on test day.

Am I just taking too many tests close together? That wasn't a problem with those 165/168 tests... but did it just catch up to me finally? The thing I fear is that the later tests are harder. I feel like the LG section in particular is harder starting with #53.

My game plan now is to review today and tomorrow any patterns of the last two tests and go for another simulated test Saturday.

Any comments would be appreciated.

180!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. This question may seem kind of odd, but I was wondering on the actual test day do they provide you with the answer sheet scantron separately or do we have to tear if off the test booklet ourselves? I'm asking because for some stupid reason every-time I tear off the answer sheet scantron from the test booklet when I do practice tests, I always mess it up somehow. Thank you!

Hi.

I took the LSAT a year ago, and to study for that I took almost all of the recent prep tests. Now with only a few weeks left I am deciding whether I should take fresh tests that are much older (like 2003) or should I retake the tests that I already took last year, since they are more recent?

With the older tests, since I've never taken them I realize I can maybe get a better idea the accuracy of my score. But they also have a disadvantage because the test has changed over the years. Since it has been a year since I've taken the more recent tests, maybe I will have forgotten most of the material and it will just be vaguely familiar to me. But still, I don't know which is better! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!

As we near the 2 weeks mark from the December LSAT, I, as sure as others, are wondering really how much can one expect to improve in this time? My last 4 PTs are 166, 161, 159, and 160. I really want to score 165+ consistently. Some people say you can improve immensely and others say maybe a couple points. What does everyone think?

Hi everyone! If you are like me, you are probably trying very hard to study for the LSAT. Perhaps sometimes you feel like your efforts aren't enough. Or you get frustrated when you feel stuck in area or section. I am a self-declared cheesy person and I love listening to motivational speeches. So if you need any motivation whatsoever, regardless of whether or not it's for the LSAT, below are some motivational youtube videos. If you can, download it into MP3 form and listen to it anytime you need some inspiration. The videos are like mixes of inspirational speeches from films and speakers along with amazing inspirational film scores, which I'm a sucker for. (Who doesn't love a film score from The Dark Knight?!) So if you need that extra push, take some time to watch one of these videos, I promise you will feel refreshed afterwards! Enjoy!!

Why Do We Fail:

Dream:

Desire:

Unbroken:

Idea:

Pretty much what the title says. I've consistently gotten 168s on the past 5/6 PTs and it's so frustrating when my BR score is in the 175+'s. Any advice on how to get over that hump for the next 2 weeks? I've been drilling my weaknesses using the cambridge packets which have been helpful but any other suggestions would be grand. In particular, I'm missing question types that I never used to miss (like resolve, parallel structure, etc.).

Thanks guys and happy studying!

I don't know how this is possible, but I really suck at answering Strengthening Questions, even though I answer Weakening Questions with ease. I understand that I should be going about S questions in reverse, and after trying it that way, I still find myself answering it incorrectly.

Am I just not understanding how to answer Strengthening Questions then? What am I missing? I know I have to strengthen the support, and I narrow it down to the last two potential answers and I always pick the wrong one of the two. FML. I don't know if this sounds like mumbo jumbo but if anyone can offer some insight on my problem, please let me know!!

I post quite a bit, but I really do appreciate the advice.

I am deciding if I should write a prep test this evening.

I work full time, so right now I'm taking an old, timed, RC section every morning before work. On lunch I do one old, time, LG section and I review the 2 questions given as an intro. Yesterday I did both grouping questions.

My LG is usually 0 - -3 wrong, and I usually only get any wrong because I'm rushing... but I usually have like 10 minutes left at the end, so I know I can improve by taking my time.

My RC is anywhere from -3 - -10, but I find I consistently sit at a 7 or an 8. I know I can improve, which is why I drill them daily.

I know LR is the section that needs the most work.

Monday and Tuesday I went through old question types and drilled them by section (approx. 20) per SA, NA, PSA, Flaw, MC, MSS, MBT, MBF, ect.

I was planning on writing a prep test today after work, take a break, review 1-2 sections of it (most likely RC and LG since they take less time for me to review), review the rest Thursday, do some more review, and Friday (I have the day off), spend the day drilling concepts again.

I find that Flaw questions, and identifying the flaw, are the fundamentals of these arguments, so I bought the Cambridge package of 200+ flaw questions and planned on drilling them on Friday.

My question is.

Should I wait. Should I do some more drilling of the flaw questions tonight, Thursday do some more review, and then spend Friday writing it?

I know now that writing prep test after prep test isn't THE best study method, but I have quite a few left before the LSAT, and I view taking them as a good way to increase speed.

I don't know. :( I guess I just came down with a cold yesterday, so I don't know if waiting is best. But weekends are usually the old/best time for me to write practice exams, and I was already advised not to write one F/S/ and S.

Hey 7Sagers, got a question I thought you could help me answer! Here it is:

Would you please give me some suggestions on how to improve my score on timed PTs. When I take timed PTs, my score ranges 140-145. However, when I do blind review or take double time (such as 70 min instead of 35 min), my score goes up to 155-160. I have already taken about 15 PTs.

Since English is my 2nd language, I don't rush to under the stimulus better. If I rush a little bit, I miss a question for a little mistake, which I can avoid if I don't rush on it.