Would like to invite discussion/participation in the topic of validation/invalidatin issues with the LSAT—both from folks currently in the study process and folks who have graduated from it (perhaps especially Sages). This is something I think about a lot: it is to be expected that even top scorers will get many hundreds of questions wrong throughout the course of study; so what perspectives have you found helpful in not feeling invalidated by wrong answers, and/or embracing the validation of correct answers and progress (without becoming overconfident)?
I haven't been active on these boards for long, but I've sensed these dynamics at play. I wonder how attitudes towards performance contribute to or mitigate burnout—and how to pursue a balance of confidence and humility.
One of the ways I try to coach myself: every time I miss a question in a drill or a PT, I try to remind myself that every mistake is an opportunity—to learn more deeply, uncover otherwise undetectable weaknesses, and establish a quantitative basis against which to measure progress.
If the LSAT is meant to be a predictor of success in law school, then emotional maturity should unequivocally contribute either to success or lack thereof—just as it would in said academic setting.
Comments
Per Nicole's last paragraph, I think it is an important point: letting wrong answers during PRACTICE negatively impact you emotionally might be problematic in the future...
It's somewhat inevitable to feel great after a good PT and poorly after a low one. But it also reflects the range of each person. The higher scores reflect being on your game, and the lower ones when you are off your game. Everyone has times when they are off their game, just don't let it define you.
One of the last PTs I took (I think it might have the last, actually) before the real LSAT was horrible. I misread an entire LG and was making other mistakes. Needless to say, it wasn't what I wanted right before taking the test. But the higher range scores reminded me that both results are possible. It's up to you to pursue the higher scores, and that will hopefully be the score you receive.