2 full weeks of no work, no commitments. Schedule recommendations? How much is too much?

splitterhopeful

Hi everyone, I hope your studying is going well as we get closer to T-Day. I now have 2 weeks free for the sole purpose of LSAT studying, which is great. However, I'm looking now and find myself at a loss as of how to approach things. I already have done 7Sage's curriculum, so I'm guessing I should be in PT/BR only mode now. Should I still stick a 3-per-week test limit or would 5 not be unreasonable right now? Thanks!

GordonBombay

If I'm not mistaken somewhere in the core curriculum JY recommends not taking more than 3 Pt's per week. Personally the max I have taken is 3 per week and I think that's about as much as I could handle without getting burned out.

I would keep it at three, and make sure you do a really thorough Blind Review of the test before you grade it. I recently started printing out a fresh PT to use for Blind Review and really find it more beneficial. Also would recommend watching video explanations of questions that gave you trouble after you BR and Grade. This process should take quite a bit of time, especially during the course of your first 10 or so PT's.

If you do the three PT's per week with thorough BR's and don't get burned out then I would say use that extra time to focus on doing extra timed logic games sections, or timed LR specific drilling.

Good luck with your prep!

Pacifico

Have you not taken any PTs yet? I would say 2-3 per week is the best rate for most people, but that's not really going to do much for you for October and I would highly recommend postponing until December if you're only now going to start doing PTs.

harrismegan

I am currently taking 2 new PTs a week and 1 retake of an old one. I would say that's probably enough!

nicole.hopkins

@Pacifico said:
I would say 2-3 per week is the best rate for most people, but that's not really going to do much for you for October and I would highly recommend postponing until December if you're only now going to start doing PTs.

Yes

@splitterhopeful said:
Should I still stick a 3-per-week test limit or would 5 not be unreasonable right now?

My opinion: there is no way for you to take 5 tests a week, BR them properly, take care of yourself, and not burn out. Even in 2 weeks. No no no. More is not more above a certain threshold. It sounds to me like you have time to do 3 tests if you want to, definitely 2, BR them until you have mastered them, eat some iced cream, watch some Suits, go for many walks, have fun with friends, mow the lawn, get your hair did, etc. There is no reason to sacrifice every hour of your time off to the LSAT. It is not worth it and you will not get return on investment above a certain number of hours; I'd say 40 hours of real study is a HARD maximum. Anything beyond that is probably silliness.

ddakjiking

IMO 3 a week should be a max even with a completely free schedule. Burn out is too real.

splitterhopeful

Thank you to all of you folks for your words of wisdom. I've set a hard limit now of 3 tests or 40 hours. Rest of the time will be chillin'. The problem is when I'm working, my work days are typically 10-11 hours and I'm just too drained to take a PT at that point. And so I feel a lot of pressure to do PT's when I have full days off.

I've taken 6 PT's at this point. I've BR'd at 180, 180, and 178 on the last 3 tests, but I've only scored 165, 163, and 163 taking them timed. It's just so frustrating because I can do the work, just not fast enough... and I'm guessing the only way to get faster is more PT. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to set my sights on December, even though I really really wanted to apply as early as possible.

nicole.hopkins

@splitterhopeful said:
I've set a hard limit now of 3 tests or 40 hours. Rest of the time will be chillin'.

You better make sure that chill time is CHILLLLLLLLLLL ...

@splitterhopeful said:
I've BR'd at 180, 180, and 178 on the last 3 tests, but I've only scored 165, 163, and 163 taking them timed.

Are you checking whether you got the Q's wrong initially, before BR?

splitterhopeful

@nicole.hopkins said:
@splitterhopeful said:
I've set a hard limit now of 3 tests or 40 hours. Rest of the time will be chillin'.

You better make sure that chill time is CHILLLLLLLLLLL ...
I'm currently slurping on a chocolate milkshake... does that count? xD

@splitterhopeful said:
I've BR'd at 180, 180, and 178 on the last 3 tests, but I've only scored 165, 163, and 163 taking them timed.

Are you checking whether you got the Q's wrong initially, before BR?

Nooo, absolutely not. I "get it", I'm just slow like turtle.

nicole.hopkins

@splitterhopeful said:
I'm currently slurping on a chocolate milkshake

GREAT START

rdelamat

@splitterhopeful I'm in the exact same spot. Scoring low 160's and BRing 175+. Would be nice to hear what people have done to fix this problem.

splitterhopeful

@rdelamat said:
I'm in the exact same spot. Scoring low 160's and BRing 175+. Would be nice to hear what people have done to fix this problem.

How many PT's have you taken?

rdelamat

7 or 8
Maybe we just don't have enough tests under our belts?

Pacifico

Take more PTs... You ideally want 20-30 at a minimum unless you're a 170+ diagnostic unicorn.