Are older PTs harder?

mvallani8

Has anyone done the older practice tests (10-40) and compared them with the newer ones (59 +). I found that the older ones are much harder and my score is usually 4-5 points below what I score on the newer ones. Is it just me or do some of you also notice this?

Thanks!

superfuntimes

That's odd. I found that I did significantly better on older PTs than newer ones. I did a batch of old PTs to begin with and once I started the new ones (with comparative RC passages), my score dropped by 4-5 points.

iiiSpoon

Do you have a comparison with respect to specific sections? I have found that some of the older RC passages are incredibly difficult such as the one regarding Lamarck's Theory of Acquisition and the Meyerson Legal Studies. One is in 1999 and the other is in 2001. Furthermore, I believe it was mentioned in one of the lessons how the LSAT previously included very abstract questions.

However, you might be scoring low due to unfamiliarity with ideas and such, and that the past PT's have nothing to do with it. For example, on a PT RC that included concepts I read of for the first time, I scored -10, but on another PT (actually it was right after the -10 one) I scored -2 on RC, but this was because I was very familiar with the context.

A better question might be, am I doing worse because I am unfamiliar with it (ie context and jargon) or are the LSAT concepts more complex?

mvallani8

superfuntimes,

Hmmm yeah that is odd. I'm very strong in comparative RC passages though so perhaps for me the newer ones are easier in that respect.

I notice this more so with the LR section though.

I dont know, maybe it's all in my head and I've just been at this too long ha

mvallani8

TackyTrackSuit,

That's a very good point, one I did not consider. I did find that in the earlier PT's the LR section included more "abstract" questions and I don't see them as often in the newer ones. This could explain it.

LSATisland

Generally, the newer PTs have slightly easier LR, much easier LG, and more difficult RC.

As to whether a person finds the newer tests easier or not, it depends on where his strengths lie.

annkang1005

I agree with lsatisland. Slightly easier LR, although they take more time because we don't have one of those read-one-stimulus-and-answer-two-questions LR questions. MUCH easier LG if you get down the rule equivalent questions, and more difficult RC due to more time it takes with comparative readings and generally tougher inferences.

mvallani8

Yeah makes sense. Although I like the comparative reading passages more than the single passages. Guess it is different for everyone.

LSATisland

Ya, the comparative reading isn't bad. But the expectations are higher on the new RC. The questions demand greater understanding of the passage and inferences.

Jaguar007

I love comparative reading passages! LG are easier in the new ones than the old ones that is for sure. and RC is much harder I agree with this too.
How did you guys find the dec 2013 lsat? If you purchased it on here I mean.

xunianyi

RC is much harder with more details, logic functions and tricker inference questions.