Hello fellow 7sagers,

I have been struggling with SA questions. I can't seem to translate the stimulus into the valid argument form. I can draw the connections once I have translated it correctly but I often struggle just to translate the ideas. I have the argument forms memorized but now it just comes to the translation of the stimulus.

I am writing in December.

Any tips?

So this is my first time posting and not sure how much background I should give lol

I’ve taken the LSAT once in September 2016 and I had only been studying for about 2 months and I also got really nervous and during the exam I kept changing my answers, and I got a 149.

I took a break from studying after that and started re studying in July 2017 and I signed up for the September exam but I hadn’t scored during my PTs in the 160s so I withdrew and signed up for the December LSAT. And right now my average is 157.7 for 28 PTs, my goal is to score 165 and the highest I’ve scored so far is a 163 one time, two weeks ago on PT 31. I'm not sure if I should just take the December LSAT and hope I get in the 160s and apply this cycle (my goal is to get into a T14 law school) or if I should take the February one since everything is kinda still fresh in my head and use that score to be really early for next cycle.

I'm just so conflicted because the last two months all of my BR are 170 and above, I even got a 179 on one ?

I would really appreciate any advice! Thanks in advance!

I'm currently working through the CC right now and I just finished the lesson on grouping games with a chart. I'm understanding the concepts alright but when it comes to application, I'm having trouble. My biggest question is... How do I know when to just do regular grouping and when to use a chart? Thanks in advance!

TL/DR - Jarrett Adams was wrongly convicted of a crime and spent 10 years in prison. Did legal research while in prison and contacted a lawyer when he found a way to fight the case. The attorney took his case and got his conviction overturned. Jarrett then went back to community college, got a BA and then a law degree. He is now a practicing attorney and won his first case!

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/defendant-defender-one-wrongfully-convicted-man-frees-another-n788886

the game doesn’t say the same color cannot appear twice (or more) in one stained glass window. so it could be like “g p r r” color combined in one window. “y p” in the 2nd window and “o g” in the 3rd window. It is not contradicting the rule. how to deal with this situation? anyone can help?,,,

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-62-section-3-game-2/

I just scored a 161 timed and a 174 BR on PT 69 (shooting for 170 by dec). I watched the recording of myself taking the PT and wrote down the time I spent on each question, but how can I effectively find some common/frequent problems I am making by analyzing the film? I don't have a particular reason why I scored a -13 on LR timed when I got -2 in BR other then the fact some questions took 2-3 mins.

I just sent a message to a few 7sage tutors for some help (thank you @akistotle for the advice).

Does anyone have particular things to look for when watching a video of PTing?

Is it true? Newer PTs are harder than older ones? Should I focus more on tests 65 onward for December/February? Thanks!

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for improving memory and retention? I'm still on the LR section of the core curriculum but I think it could be something that would be helpful for all sections. I have noticed that while I have a better understanding of the structure of the stimulus, sometimes I do have to go back and reread the stimulus for details, especially when I'm down to two answer choices. Thanks in advance!

Hi all I am a bit confused about the sufficient and necessary condition for (C).

According to JY, (C) should be interpreted as "no[Physically addictive --> psychoactive]" , but shouldn't the relative clause "to which people can become physically addicted" introduce the necessary condition to make the argument no[psychoactive --> physically active]? Thanks!

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-33-section-1-question-11/

Hey guys ,

I am hoping to give the LSAT somewhere around Sep 2018 , I am about to start my prep and I want to know what are the best ways to start my preparations ? My first thought is that I should take a PT available on the LSAC website ( June 2007 i guess ?) , complete it under test conditions so that I know where exactly I stand and what my strong and weak points are and then gradually work on my weak sections . Will that be an effective way to start?

Also , what are some good guides and websites for self study ?

All advice is welcome !

Hey everyone, I feel sometimes the lsat throws in indicator that aren't building conditional relationship. how can you tell when the conditional statements are important in a lsat question or when their not.

I know this sounds counter intuitive as this method seems to be dedicated toward LG but this was my thought process.

I attended the recent webinars (AMA) and everyone seems to say that I should fool proof RC because it would help in increasing your score. So I took their advice and now I’m fool proofing an entire RC section every day for all the PT’s that I’ve taken so far.

So their recommended method was to

Gustavo Fring etc.),

Do you think there is something I’m missing out in this process?

Anything I should add to ensure my fool proofing method is good?

Any advice would be welcome at this point because RC is a real roller coaster for me (-10 ~ -3)

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, resources or recommendations on how to sharpen one's skills at recognizing valid / invalid argument forms in the LR sections. I know there is lots about this is in the core curriculum but it's mainly within the context of formal diagramming lawgic-type methods. I feel like this is giving me trouble in Flaw, NA/SA/PSA question types which are my worst along with Strengthen and Weakening questions. I can actually get Parallel Method of Reasoning (Flaw and Regular) questions because of how basic the structures tend to be, but usually only in blind review. I'm basically terrible at every type of question that involves being critical about and analyzing the merits of an abstract argument :( Any help would be appreciated!

So i have a superficial understanding of this methodology, but i just cant wrap my head completely around whats happening, can i get someones take?

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-69-section-4-question-14/

So I think that taking a year off will increase my chances of admission (one more year of grades to boost GPA).

Should I just wait to apply? Does it hurt my chances if I get rejected this year and re-apply next year??

Also, if I were to get accepted to a school, decide to take the year off then re-apply, does that hurt my chances of re-admission?? Thanks!!

I took the September LSAT and did not reach my target score. It was my first test, nerves kicked in, and I only studied for about 3 months while working full-time. I am not able to study full time and quit my job, but my boss allowed me to have a 4 days/week schedule (Tues-Fri) to allot time for studying. I signed up for the December LSAT, but I do feel that I haven't had much time to study after September. However, the partial refund deadline was yesterday, and if I do decide to withdraw, $180 down the drain.

I plan to turn in my applications early (by next week), and I'm wondering if I don't do so well again, and decide to take the February LSAT, would hurt my chances taking it three times and later into the cycle? I will write an addendum.

To add context: My GPA is not high (double-majored, 3.4). I prefer not to wait another year for the next round of applications since I stalled one year already. I am sort of non-traditional, 3 years out of school.

I appreciate any insight and advice, thanks!

How are you handling the FAFSA and application timing?

My situation is a little unique; I have to write waivers for parental information for schools that require it of older students (it's a long story, we're not in touch, but I was never formally an emancipated minor.) Every school is a little different on what it wants and what kind of info, et cetera. It's a lot of additional work (they need letters from other people, et cetera) and I am unsure if I need to be working on that while I am also pulling everything else together for my main application. I am applying to schools that do seem to take need into account (Georgetown and Cornell as well as stretching to HY) and financial aid will be a huge part of my decision.

Anybody? Any ideas?

Yesterday I had the privilege of working through a problem with J.Y. It’s in here if you are curious;

https://classic.7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/13637/pt-82-br-sessions-with-j-y-spoiler-warning

The question was PT82.S4.Q14 a weakening question.

After working through it I can see where I was confused. I see how the two answer choices that stumped me are different.

My question is, that on some questions, I find myself really struggling to see how they work. This is ESPECIALLY true for weakening questions. On some of these questions I have a really hard time seeing how any AC does something to the argument or, more succinctly, the conclusion. Only through really intense scrutiny of these kinds of problems am I able to get to the answer. Obviously I do not have the time to do this kind of in-depth analysis during a test.

For example on the question J.Y. Helped me with I was able to eliminate 3 answer choices fairly easily. I was then stuck between two. No matter how much I read them, I thought they said the same thing. It took really comparing them to understand that one of the AC did something the other didn’t. Only after I saw how they were different, was I able to see how the right answer weakened the argument. I should have been able to spot this right away.

I don’t like feeling “on my heels” like that during a test. I like to have a semi clear idea of what to look for or, at the very least, when I read the right answer knowing right away that I've found the right one.

Another example was PT35.S4.Q20

I had no clue how the AC worked until I had a chance to really dig deep into it. By then I've wasted far too much time and screw myself for the rest of the section. It's one of the many issues I am still trying to address before my next test.

Any suggestions on how to approach questions like this in a better way? I know what I'm asking is really abstract, but I hope I make sense.

Thoughts?

Just wanted to say thank you to 7Sage. My GPA is way below the 25th percentile of pretty much every T14 school (3.49), but because of 7Sage, my LSAT skyrocketed from a 160 (Feb. 2017) to a 171 (Sept. 2017), and I'm now 2/2 at law schools including an offer from Duke!

Hello 7Sage Community! As a non traditional prospective law school student who has been out of school for awhile (94) and thinks this is a necessity, I would love to find a mentor to walk with me, share their advice and experience with applying to law school and attending law school. I truly believe having a mentor in the area that you are pursuing your dream/passion is vital. I am new to Houston TX, so I'm not sure what avenues are available to seek out this information. I would like to know if anyone has any ideas and/or suggestions on how to find a mentor. Thanks in advance!

What do you guys eat the night before, eat for breakfast and snack on, for stamina? Trying to get a rhythm going in preperation for December

Hey all, first i'd like to provide some background in case some of you have been in my shoes in the past. My diagnostic was a low 150 with a 170 BR. Even though I feel that I understand the material and the language of the test, the time constraint really freaks me out. Like most people here, I want to hit my ceiling and have given myself a year to study.

My question is regarding the expected score increase after CC. What improvement should one expect after completing the CC? In the long-run I realize this isn't all that important, but I want to make sure that I'm not wasting PT's if I haven't truly mastered the material.

If my first PT after completing the CC is still low 150's what should I do?

Thanks :)

So with the December test coming up, I am freaking out a little bit now.

I have been scoring -13/-10 on timed LR sections. I need to get to at least -8 or -7 since I am now realistically aiming between 160-165 for the upcoming test date.

I feel like this strongly has to do with flaw and necessary assumption questions. I struggle with these a lot.

I have already went back to the CC and reviewed the relevant sections.. but I still don't seem to improve. I have even drilled them down to bits but no improvement.

Overall, I often have trouble predicting or paraphrasing answers. I'm guessing this is probably why I score so low on LR.

How can I improve on this?

Hey guys,

PT82 is now available for $5.97 for a limited time:

https://classic.7sage.com/addons/

If you have Ultimate+, then you already have access to this PrepTest in your Syllabus.

The explanations are not yet complete! We currently have LG videos up, but everything else is missing until we complete the rest of the PT. Until then, you'll receive the printable test, LG explanations, and quickview videos. Once the explanations are complete, they will be added on if you own the PT form 7Sage or have Ultimate+.

Enjoy!