Help! What would "A book will not give its readers pleasure unless it was intended by its authors to have that affect" be negated?

I’ve been studying since February, and haven’t posted on this discussion board yet, but I’m feeling especially frustrated and lost with my LSAT journey lately. I had planned to take the test in October, and at this point, I don’t think that would advisable. I could push my test date back to November, but more realistically, I’m looking at a Spring test date for the 2023 academic year. I’m particularly frustrated given that in the last couple of weeks I’ve seen my PT score move backwards, and as someone who has already been out from undergrad for 3 years, delaying for another academic year is a bitter pill to swallow. Any suggestions on charting my best course of action would certainly be welcome.

I just scored a 161`on my first LSAT in August and I am pretty disappointed by it. I was scoring a 165 average on my practice tests with a top score of 169. Has anyone taken the LSAT more than once and improved a few points in a short span of time? I am taking the October and November tests. I feel like I am capable of performing better but this LSAT was particularly hard for me because I got a super hard reading comp section and this is my worst section (the Quantum physics passage). I plan on doing some moderate studying (15 hours a week) from now until the test. Is it possible to improve to a 165?

If I can master this exam (while 7 months pregnant, working full-time, & parenting a toddler), you can too.

Scored a 146 on a diagnostic back in 2018. Took the November 2019 LSAT and scored a 153. Took it again and scored even lower. Worked my ass off (used Khan Academy —> BluePrint —> LSAT Hacks —> 7sage) and scored 180 in August. I almost canceled my score.

I’m very tired. Need a nap and maybe some chocolate.

Update: ** see below for the topics I covered in the comments.

** In the comments, I added tips around each of the following topics:**

Note: found my diagnostic score and it was actually 2 points lower! (updated accordingly).

I just wanna pay it forward a bit. I’m offering advice/help/consultation to anyone who wants it

My Aug’21 results came back (3rd test this calendar year) and I was blown away by how badly I fucked up. I mean I was averaging 169+ and repeatedly hitting 170-171 the last five or so tests before the actual exam and my score came out to be 162, which is one point higher than my first test. My highest score is 165 which was on the June exam, and I’m signed up to take it a fourth time in October. I’m just unsure if it’s worth it at this point. Based on my PTs, I’m definitely capable of hitting my goal of high 160s but it hasn’t happened during the past two tests (which I was actually confident about) and I initially wanted to apply by the end of September or early October so taking it in October will push back my applications to at least mid November. So I’m wondering if it’s worth taking it a fourth time and if I do and don’t perform better than my high of 165, will it negatively impact me my candidacy in any way? Just for a complete picture, my LSAC gpa is 4.02 from Berkeley Haas and my goal has been to get into a top 10 school, specifically in the East Coast. Please let me know if you have any advice!

What is the most effective way to study for the LSAT in 2 months time.

Hi everyone,

I had kind of a breakdown yesterday because of my August LSAT score. This was my second time taking it, and while I improved 7 points from last time (I got a 144, compared to the 137 I got in November last year) it's still very low, and I feel stuck. I'm registered for November, but I'm feeling a lot of pressure to score higher because my GPA is a 3.2, if I want to get into my target law schools, and I think it's keeping me from actually practicing again. I Does anyone have any advice on how I can strategize and work past this?

I did pretty well on RC of old tests (usually -1 to -3), but on the newer PTs, I've been going -5 to -7. I'm taking the October LSAT and the RC of recent tests have me worried... does anyone have any advice on how to improve on the newer RC sections? #help

do you guys think it's a bad idea? i wanted to submit my application early and wait for my scores. does anyone that will ruin my chances.

Hi everyone- I'm working on creating my CV for my application and I was wondering if we should still put down extra curricular activities if we've been out of school for a while. I participated in two clubs while I was in undergrad but I graduated 4 years ago. I also currently volunteer- should I be including that? Not sure how important extra curricular activities are compared to my professional experience especially since I've been out of school for a bit. Thank you!

Hello everyone,

I am enrolled in October 2021's LSAT exam and I feel as if I am on the verge of a breakdown most of the time... I first started studying for the LSAT fall 2019 (without 7Sage), and got a 149 on my very first LSAT exam. It was the fall after I graduated college and the stress of finding a job and general income issues were deeply demanding and I decided to delay applying to law school until fall 2021 because I did not have the mental energy to focus on LSAT prep. In February-March 2021 after several months of studying with 7Sage I felt I had made progress when it came to content and accuracy, however timing was a major issue. I took the LSAT in April 2021 and totally FROZE during LG and essentially I guessed on the entire section because the timer filled me with so much anxiety that I could not access the memory centers of my brain to answer the questions. It was horrible and I fought the urge not to burst into tears on camera. So here we are, just shy of a month before the October LSAT and I just CAN'T SEEM TO WORK FAST ENOUGH. I keep getting to game 3 and having little more than 5 minutes left to complete the fourth and most difficult game. LR and RC swing back and forth from having 7-10 wrong answers which is not helping my confidence. I can't score higher than a 155 on my timed PT's, yet can score as high as 165 during blind review. I've recently started trying to begin LG with the hardest games and work backwards, but then the inverse happens and I guess on the easiest games that normally I would have gotten most correct on. I feel like I just keep on studying and nothing really happens to alter my overall performance and I'm extremely anxious about it. I work full-time, so I don't have the ability to do a lot of times exercises during the day, but am willing to suck up my after work exhaustion to try and improve on timing. I find myself wondering, can I even hit 163-165 in less than one month? Am I kidding myself when I think I'll be able to apply to schools before Thanksgiving? So please, if anyone has any advice on how to make the best use of my last month please share! I am trying to keep my cool, talk myself up, not catastrophize, but its not working....

Quick rundown:

URM

3.92 UGPA

150 diagnostic

June 2019- 150 (canceled)

October 2020- 148 :(

July 2021- 157

August 2021- 165 :)

The LSAT and I have a very tough relationship. I started studying during my Junior year in 2019. I read through the Powerscore books and was confident I would be able to teach myself. I got 7sage and studied here and there, not super seriously since I had classes. I took the June 2019 LSAT (the first digital one that allowed you to cancel your score) and I got a 150. I only really took it so I could see how I would do with test day conditions, so I canceled. I continued to study haphazardly (I hated studying for the LSAT since there is no direct return to your studying efforts), hoping for my scores to magically hit 170. I quickly realized that just because I read the Powerscore books and went through the 7sage curriculum, that doesnt mean I studied in a way that would help my score. That is how I studied in school and was able to get a 3.92, but it did not work that way with the LSAT. I had to make the hard decision to take a year off after school to continue studying because I was not seeing the improvement I was hoping for.

Fast forward to 2020, I graduated, and now had more time to study. I drilled, took PT's here and there and got the Loophole book in hopes it would all click. I even finally accepted the fact that I may need a tutor, so I got one and studied with him for a few weeks. I did not want to take another year off, so I decided to take the October test. Sadly, I was not ready and VERY burnt out and got an extremely disappointing 148. I was crushed because it was even lower than the score I got a year prior that I canceled. I felt like an absolute failure and did not want to even think about the LSAT. Pressure from family made it very hard to think that I may need to take an extra year off. (Side note, family can be extremely toxic when it comes to the LSAT and law school application journey, I definitely almost cost myself a great cycle by being tempted to apply to appease my father, even though I knew my score was not where it needed to be. So for those out there struggling with familial pressures, you know what is best for you, trust your instincts.)

After taking a month or so off, and coming to terms with my additional year off, I got back to studying. I found another tutor @Constantine whose teaching style fit my learning style perfectly and with his help I found myself PT'ing in the 160's for the first time ever. It seemed to have clicked! I even PT'd at 168 before I took the July 2020 test. I was shocked by my 157 on that test because I truly thought it was relatively easy (but im convinced the curve was very tight with that one).

I continued to study and was luckily able to get some accommodations for the August 2021 test due to a condition I have that I finally got treatment for. After more studying and getting the time I needed on the August test, I found out yesterday about my 165! I was terrified to look at my score and was pleasantly surprised! Now I can finally kick the LSAT out of the corner of my mind that it has been occupying for years.

Now, with my long LSAT journey finished, here are my take aways:

Nobody knows the perfect way to study for the LSAT. Some can self study, some need structured classes, some need

a tutor. With that being said, its okay if you spend months studying one way and finding out it doesn't work. Use that information to try a new way. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and failure. Keep trying new ways and consider a tutor!

If you are not PT'ing where you want your score to be around test time, consider taking a later test. I think a lot of us

believe we will be lucky and miraculously score 170 even though our most recent PT's were nowhere near that. I wish I did not take the October test. I was not ready and I knew it.

The trick to LG is doing them often. After a time, like everyone says, it just clicks. The road to it "clicking" does take some time. Do one LG per day, if you can. Even a 1 star question helps you get the pattern down.

RC and LR are both tricky. LR was easier for me to get better at than RC. Once I started studying with Constantine, he

was able to help me get my LR from around -9/-10 to -3/-4. With RC, I had issues focusing. You really have to get yourself engaged with the story and not focus too much on the details.

The LSAT will force you to be very honest with yourself. My goal in the beginning was 170+. While I know I could have gotten there with more studying, I had to realize that the studying and mental anguish it would have taken me to get there was not worth it for me personally. Luckily, law schools look at applications holistically! You may also have to make tough life decisions in your LSAT journey, but in the end, as long as you know you did your best, whatever the outcome is was meant to be.

All in all, I wish everyone that is on their journey the best of luck. Do NOT lose yourself in the process. Your LSAT score does not define you or your overall intelligence. Although I will not miss coming to 7sage to study, I will miss the great community and the support.!

Be safe out there everyone! (3(/p)

Hey guys! After scoring consistently in the mid 170s for about 10 practice tests leading up to the exam, I kind of choked and wound up with a score much lower than any test I've ever taken, far lower than even my diagnostic. When I sat down to actually take the test for the first time, all my habits went out the window. I couldn't focus, I got worried, got distracted by the proctor, hell I even had a song stuck in my head. Am I the only one in this boat? Any advice? Its frustrating because I know what I'm capable of and a decrease of this many points is just completely unrepresentative of my abilities. Thanks all.

I know usually means most but I am not sure about "tends to."

i have been studying on and off for the LSAT, but i started again in august and the logiv games are fianlly starting to make sense. I want to take 2nd time test on the 20th of september. do you guys think i will have enoguh time for the november test? because the plan is to keep taking prep test till the test. I want to used the 12-19 to gover the foundations and blind reivew the drills. what do you guys think? sorry my keyborad is werid. should i take the november ? i am looking to apply to duke

#help

Hi everyone! I have 2 questions.

1st. In logical reasoning, when the question stem asks for the main point, is that slightly different then it asking for the conclusion? I watched an explanation video for a main point, the question stem said “Which one of the following states the main point of the argument?” And JY said that the main point questions are looking for a summary of the conclusion. Rather, I notice when the question stem ask for us to state the conclusion it will be a more “word-for-word” explicit answer, leaning away from a summary type answer. Is this correct? Or does it depend on other factors?

2nd. Okay. Another question. Is not always the same as sometimes in logic?

Thank you so much.

I look forward to the #help!

Hello people of the good earth,

In need of some clear coated advice. I studied for eight months and scored a 150 on the August LSAT. This was my second time writing it as my first time was me being an overconfident rebel thinking I could swoop in a perfect score with 2 months of studying... I was very very wrong. I canceled that score. But, I came back with vengeance and determination and scored a 150. Am I happy with this score? Absolutely not, I was aiming for 160. I wrote the Saturday exam that had dual RC with African Languages and photo apertures. This section was brutal and I wish the best for anyone who got thunderstruck by it too. I must have scored a -15 on that RC alone. The rest of the exam went good. Now I am trying to figure out if I can increase my score by 10 points in two months? I know there is a lot of optimistic people saying its possible but is it a reasonable climb? I was PTing at 150 and I scored exactly 150. I know the perplexity of getting a section drilled to a T but, reading comprehension is my pitiful. So many high and lows with RC. Any advice improving in two month or should I throw in the towel for this year and continue grinding until everything clicks? Any help or opinion will help me immensely. Thank you beautiful people.

Got my scores back and actually scored better than any of my PTs to date - a 179. I've prepped full time since June, so had about two and a half months of study time. I took every PT 60+ and nearly solved every single logic game publicly available during that time.

So I'm going to pivot towards focusing on my app materials for the time being.

Shoutout to the super friendly folks on the forum as well as the explanation videos, test taking UI and analytics 7sage makes available.

I don't know if I'm qualified to give tips, but here's my 2 cents

Logic Games are all practice. You have to drill them till they "click." Once they click, they're all actually pretty similar to each other. Yes, even the crazy mauve dinosaur game will click eventually. It may never become trivial, but it will start to make sense.

Use the analytics feature on Logical Reasoning. Seriously. It saves so. much. time. This was the most useful feature on 7Sage for me. It isolates what question/difficulty combinations trip me up regularly. You can filter the results to only include most recent X tests, which will make the analysis more representative of your recent performance.

For example, I saw in the analytics section in my final run-up to the test that I consistently made errors in difficult (4-5 bubble) Weaken, Parallel Flaw, and Necessary Assumption questions. So I replaced PTs with focused drills on those types of questions & difficulty only. The Problem Set feature is very nifty for this. And about 100 questions per type later, I began seeing significant improvement.

Happy to answer questions if interested. May come back to return the favor by helping folks with harder questions.

Best of luck all!

I have a few questions about the applications if anyone can help!

My last job on my resume ended this past May because I moved back home (just graduated). I have not gotten a new job yet because I was focusing on studying for June LSAT, wanted to take a break for the summer before my life is never-ending school/work, and wanted to focus on working on my applications. Because schools ask for explanations of gaps longer than 3 months, should I write an addendum about this? And if so, will they look down on the fact that I did not work all summer? I plan to get a job in October but will hopefully already have submitted my apps by then.

On the employment section of the apps, it asks for a reason for leaving. All of my reasons are either leaving for school, or going home for the summer, most of my experience is either semester-long internships or summer jobs. In the reason can I just put "moved home for summer" and "moved away for school"?

The apps all ask for a "good until" date for my permanent address, which is my parents house. I don't have an exact date or even exact year that I will move out so what would I put? It is not a blank, just slots for mm/dd/yy.

If anyone can answer any of these I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Can't believe I'm finally making this post after so long, now I can't seem to find all the words for what I want to say.

I am: low income, first gen, immigrant, woman of color

Cold Diagnostic: 147

First PT after CC: 151

Feb 2021 LSAT: 162

Studied since: Oct 2019 on and off, working full time

Prep used: primarily 7sage, small study group, LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim

Let me make it clear: I am not a great test taker. Never have been. I am unconfident, anxious, and indecisive. It's what led me to pushing my first test back 5 times from April 2020 to Feb 2021. It also led to an underperformance on my first LSAT. Despite prepping so much I blanked out hard on LG, my best section, and receiving my score back was devastating knowing I missed my 90th percentile goal by a hair. I was miserable in March/April.

But that defeat turned into an opportunity to surpass my goal of 165 with a 168! I got the help I needed for my severe anxiety that I've struggled with all of my life and received accommodations. Even though I'm no 170+ scorer, us folks in the 165+ range need to remember that being in the top 10% is HUGE.

There's a lot more I can say, but I want to wrap it up with a few nuggets.

This test is conquerable. It can be done if you want it enough! You hear people say it all the time but it's true.

Accommodations are NOT unfair advantages. A 50% time increase did not make me have to study any less. I prepped hard for months. Do not let anyone shame you into getting the tools you need to succeed.

Process > Results. I stopped worrying about my PT scores and started making sure I was doing the proper steps in each section. This mindset eased anxiety to always expect a certain score and helped improve my results consequentially!

Chance favors the prepared. I have to say I lucked out with my format because it played to my strengths. But I also came into the exam being ready for anything! Luck alone did not get me to my score.

Be confident and aggressive. Top scorers don't self doubt. You know your shit!

Thank you to 7Sage and the community here for being a huge part of my journey. I found my wonderful small study group on here for the Feb test, and with their help they pushed me to get this score. I am rooting for y'all, esp my fellow BIPOC women who are low income, first gen, and/or immigrants tryna enter this profession to help our communities.

Much love!

How many points below your target score should you cancel your score, and should you even cancel your score? Does a canceled score look suspicious?

I've taken the LSAT 4 times now, 144, 159, 159, and I just got my August LSAT with a 156. What doesn't make sense? My PTs were always 170s. I don't want to take this test again, I can't put myself through that stress again. I graduated undergrad in 2017, and had to take some time off for financial and health reasons, I really want to start this cycle. My GPA wasn't that great, 3.4. I was aiming at UNC and University of Texas at Austin but obviously I am far below their median this time. Should I even apply? How is it viewed when you get even lower points on a test you've already taken 3x? Is it even realistic to apply to schools whos median is far above our scores?

Hi everyone! I’m offering free tutoring for those scoring below 155. I am taking the October test and would love to hone my understanding of a few concepts and think the best way to do that would be through tutoring.

I’ve tutored other subjects but never LSAT material so I'll be very upfront if I cannot help. I'm ok with LR but really thrive with LG and RC. I managed to raise my RC score substantially with a unique technique so if you're interested in learning that please reach out.

Send me a DM if you're interested- thank you!

I took the LSAT for the first time in April and received a 166. Although I was proud of my score, I believed that I was capable of getting a 170+. So I continued to prep using 7Sage as my only LSAT resource. Today, I am thrilled to report that I made 174 on the August LSAT!!! Now I've got to get started on my applications for Fall 2022. Keep grinding everyone!