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Proctor: any questions before we start?

Rando: may I grab a sip of water from my bottle really quick?

Proctor: yes.

Rando: [sips water].

Proctor: anyone else?

Rando: can I grab a sip of water during the test?

Proctor: no.

Rando: during the 5 minute breaks, may I grab a sip of water or eat a handful of nuts?

Proctor: yes.

Me: this dude is going to be sorely disappointed when there are no 5 minute breaks.

End result: Rando drinks water during test at the end of each section after time is called and is not reprimanded for it.

[Facepalm]

4
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Last comment sunday, dec 06 2015

Really Bummed Out

So I sat the Dec. exam today going in very confident. I've been PTing in the 168-172 range for the past 5 PTs. First 3 section went by amazing, felt like those times I scored 170+. Then the LG came and I just panicked on G3. Sunk too much time so I skipped to G4 but the damage was done, my mental state was gone. Ended up guessing on 8 questions total in the LG games. I'm guessing I'll end up in the 160-163 range. Terrible. Was going to submit my applications by the end of the year but looks like I'm going to have to wait till Feb.

Any tips, to prevent future incidents like this? I'm just going to go and drill the hell out LG for the next 9 weeks.

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I'm just curious what type of prep work those of you who took the exam in October did between the October and December exams to improve your score before the retake or to better prepare in general? I'm hoping it won't come down to this, but just in case I would like to have a game plan in place to be able to make any necessary changes to my study techniques in case it is necessary to retake in February.

I know there are some of you who have also been studying for over or close to a year, for those of you who were able to make substantial improvements, what techniques did you use to get to your goal score before your retake other than the obvious (taking many PTs, and BRing)?

Also are there any other websites or forums (youtube videos) etc... you have used during your prep for the LSAT that you have found to be helpful?

Thanks in advance for any feedback or suggestions.

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I got this question correct (D was the flaw I anticipated), but during the exam and BR, I couldn't come up with a reason to eliminate E. According to the video explanation, E is explicitly supported in the passage, but I'm just not seeing it. Here is the video: http://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-63-section-3-question-02/

Almost everyone I know hopes to make a living as painter, musician, etc. if they currently work as dishwashers or store clerks. Therefore, almost all want to be artists, even though they might have to work other jobs to make money.

What I am looking for: Big sample flaw here. The sample the author uses is not varied enough and extremely limited: the people the author knows that are dishwashers or store-clerks. The author uses that as evidence to make a conclusion about "almost all" people in general.

Answer A: The argument isn't circular.

Answer B: The argument sort of makes a part to whole flaw, but it isn't as extreme as this answer choice. The argument never talks about what is true of EACH person (we only have "almost all" relationships) and even then, the evidence is only about people the author knows, not everyone in the country.

Answer C: Is the view widely held? We don't know.

Answer D: This is exactly what I anticipated, so I picked it over E.

Answer E: I read this, and got held up for second. Doesn't the argument do this? The conclusion is about "wanting to be an artists" while the premise is about "making a living as a painter, musician, or poet." Sure, there is an assumption that painters, musicians, or poets are types of artists, but that seems like an OK trivial assumption to me. If those people are not artists, the who are artists? I think the crux of eliminating it is that you don't "need" to make a distinction, but why not? Isn't there a pretty sizable difference between "wanting" to be something (like being a perpetually lazy college kid that doesn't have to wake up until 1:00) vs. making a "living" doing that? I don't see how it's OK for the argument to equivocate on these ideas.

0

I just finished the 12/5 test. I don't know whether I should cancel my score.

I have two major concerns that persuade me to cancel my score:

1. I did not do well on this test at all. This is my first time taking LSAT, except for pretests. But I am sure I could do way better than this if give me more time to practice.

2. The proctors told me they had to report me because I was rewriting my name on the bubble sheet after the first 5 sections were done. I explained to them that my name was slightly erased by my hand when I filled out the bubbles, so I had to rewrite them just to be safe. They said they would send a note to LSAC and let them know I was rewriting my name instead of making marks on questions. So, they let me sign my name on the surface of the booklet, and I did. I don't know how much negative influence will this cause. I felt very upset about it.

Also, I am struggling not cancel the score, because this is the last chance for me to apply 2016 fall admission. I don't really want to take a gap year. But I do want to attend a really good law school.

So, right now, I am struggling! Really confused.

Please give me some suggestions. Also please let me know if you have any similar experiences and how you handled it! If you have any ideas about what to do during the gap year, let me know!!!!

P.S: I am an international student. I don't know how much difference will this make. So let me know if you have any ideas.

0

Hey 7Sagers!

With the LSAT coming up this Saturday (Dec. 5th), I figured I'd reiterate our TOS and rules a bit.

We know that everyone will be excited to discuss what was on the December '15 LSAT, but mentioning specifics about the test (e.g., "Question 4 was odd" or "I got B for question 6" or "the 3rd LG was sequencing") can get both us and you in a lot of trouble with LSAC.

Saying that the test was hard/easy without going into detail is okay, but anything more specific is not okay. LSAC monitors this forum.

One exception is you can say which section was the experimental. For example, the LG with "flowers" was experimental. That's okay.

TL;DR: PLEASE don't talk specifics about December's LSAT!

Good luck everyone! Have a complimentary cute cat dog possum bunny hippo gif to (s)knead(/s) wiggle gnaw binky stumble its way into your heart and melt your stress away.

15

LSAT Party time, that is!

LSATurday, Dec. 5 at 8PM ET: PT59

Click here to join this conversation: https://join.skype.com/C8Yeac0csm8G

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

Note:

  • For the newbies: Add me on Skype, using handle dmlevine76 and PM your email for Google Hangout.
  • For the regulars: If for some reason you're not in the group conversation[s] already, just message me on Skype.
  • For everyone: take the PT under timed conditions; BR as you are able; join us for all or part of the call—everyone is welcome.
  • Note: For the purposes of the call, we like to check our group blind review score together at the very end of the call :) So at least don't say ... "No guys, really, it's D, I checked it.” Win the argument with your reasoning.
  • These groups work best when folks from ALL stages of prep and with all different goals join in! Not just for "super-preppers" and definitely not just for the casual LSATer (does such a person exist?).
  • The only expectation anyone has for these calls is for you to have fun and ask questions as you desire. We are just a bunch of LSAT lovers who gather via Skype and intellectually slaughter each test.
  • 0

    Ok here’s an odd question and probably not of much practical use, but I’m hoping some of you might be able to relate to this and shed some insight.

    You read the stimulus. It’s a tougher question. You read it slowly once. There’s a sentence whose meaning you couldn’t fully process. You re-read it, it’s become clearer- the argument’s become clear and you’re ready to answer the question. You’re down to a couple answer choices, D and E and the more time you spend looking at it, the less clearer the right answer gets. It feels like you’re all maxed out in terms of your reasoning capacity. It’s gotten counterproductive to keep staring at the question.

    You do a few other problems, and then come back to it- and the right answer jumps out at you. Not D or E. But A or B or C- the answers you had dismissed the first time around. I’m inclined to wonder why the right answer can become so clear and obvious on the second go.

    Why is it that a question can seem a lot easier when you come back to it? Does your mind/brain naturally come away with a fresher perspective after a break? Is your subconscious mind doing the work for you even when you’re not consciously thinking about that very question? Maybe this is a question for a psychologist; I don’t know but I can’t help but think about it. It’s gotten me curious.

    I find this tendency to be counterintuitive since one might figure the first time around you’re at an advantage as opposed to the second time when you’re having to re-process the information in the stimulus.

    Thoughts?

    0

    Just curious, has anyone been able to figure out when it was administered? It has a comparative passage (which suggests it is post 55ish) and it has a substitution rule logic games question (which suggests it's post 61ish). The Superprep 11 book was published in July 2015, which is right after PT 75. So, do you think it is fair to say it is close to a 60s or 70s PT? I haven't taken it, and I'm trying to decide where to place it in my PTing.

    0
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    Last comment saturday, dec 05 2015

    Good Luck Everyone!

    Hey Everyone -- Just wanted to hop on to wish you all the best this Saturday --

    Also wanted to try and offer one more small bit of motivation/inspiration in case anyone needs it --

    This is a clip of a speech by Robert Kennedy that I often reach for when my spirits need a bit of a pick me up -- whatever your political affiliations may be, I’m sure you can agree with his hopes and ideals --

    To be perfectly honest, I am not, personally, that interested in the LSAT --

    The reason I teach it is to be in the company of people like you.

    J.Y. and I have talked in the past about the fact that many of the students working with us today are going to be the people that lead the world tomorrow (not in those cheesy words :)) -- to me, it is just amazing that my abilities with this random standardized test have lead me here --

    The test will be the culmination of your efforts, but it will not be the biggest of your obstacles -- you’ve already passed those, when you decided not to be satisfied with your diagnostic, and when you chose to spend all those hours preparing for the exam when you could have been doing something else, and in all the countless similar decisions you’ve made throughout your life.

    Saturday is the day you want to be aggressive in getting your just reward.

    So, I wish you all the very best. A fundamental (dare I say, “necessary”) characteristic of success is the ability to embrace challenges, and this too, like many other things, is a force of habit. There is nothing to fear -- the test will be just like all the ones you’ve seen before, and worst comes to worst you can just take it again. Embrace the challenge, take it to the questions, and again, make sure you get the score that you deserve. Good luck, everyone!

    17

    I keep hearing that LR questions are getting more pointed or trickier on tests 70+. Also I have heard some say there are similar differences in the other sections in tests 70+. Given that my PT 70 and PT 71 substantially lower than my scores on PTs numbered in the 60s I am worried that I am not ready for new trends that might be coming our way on Saturday or in February. Was down in all three sections. Are the 70+ PTs really different? If so how and what is a good strategy for coping given that there are only 7 of them and I've taken 2. Will appreciate everyone's input -- thanks!

    0

    Feb Test Takers (or Taking the test tomorrow and a glutton for punishment)

    Don’t wait to hit the 70s in January! Be prepared!

    Friday, Dec 4th at 8PM ET: PT75

    Click here to join this conversation: https://join.skype.com/sdiINq0J9AwI

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

    Note:

  • For the newbies: Add me on Skype, using handle dmlevine76 and PM your email for Google Hangout.
  • For the regulars: If for some reason you're not in the group conversation[s] already, just message me on Skype.
  • For everyone: take the PT under timed conditions; BR as you are able; join us for all or part of the call—everyone is welcome.
  • Note: For the purposes of the call, we like to check our group blind review score together at the very end of the call :) So at least don't say ... "No guys, really, it's D, I checked it.” Keep the correct answer to yourself. Use your reasoning to win the argument.
  • These groups work best when folks from ALL stages of prep and with all different goals join in! Not just for "super-preppers" and definitely not just for the casual LSATer (does such a person exist?).
  • The only expectation anyone has for these calls is for you to have fun and ask questions as you desire. We are just a bunch of LSAT lovers who gather via Skype and intellectually slaughter each test.
  • 0

    Should you?

    and if so, What would you do?

    to everyone tomorrow... We have been busting our butts off studying for this. Blood, sweat, and beers (i mean, tears) have gone into this exam (13 months now, for me).

    Release the inner monster in you.

    I got my game-face, war-gear, shotgun loaded with Flaw exposers, ammunition full of conditionals transitions, A full-body armour composed of 27 Layers of confused-passage blockers, 4 dynamite sticks packed with Game-destroyers,

    and most importantly...

    A #2 PENCIL WITH THE NUMBERS 170 WRITTEN ALL OVER THAT MOTHER******.

    LETS GO. LETS GET IT. YOU ARE READY.

    2
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    Last comment friday, dec 04 2015

    PT76 S4 Q9

    The question is a "which of the following propositions is best illustrated by the situation described in the passage?"/ a principle one.

    I'm not sure as to why (D) is not the correct choice, and why it's (C).

    0

    Hey guys! I noticed that a number of you are interested in this clinic, which is so exciting (thank you for sparing me some awkward few hours with me talking to an empty room while my roommate thinks I'm crazy). There will be a formal poll coming your way shortly but for now I want to get a pulse check in the virtual room. For all those interested, I would really appreciate it if you guys could answer the following questions in the comments below or PM me if you're not comfortable sharing information:

    1) Explain your study history. How long have you been studying for the LSAT? (does this include extended breaks?) How long have you been using curriculum for? When did you start using PT?

    2) What scores have you plateaued at? What did you do to overcome plateaus?

    3) What materials have you used while studying?

    4) What is your PT average over the last 5 PTs?

    5) What is your LSAT goal?

    6) What are you struggling with when it comes to assumption questions and flaw questions?

    7) What are you hoping to gain from the clinic?

    2

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