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My Journey with 7sage From 144 to 169

grant.ashley114grant.ashley114 Core Member
in Off-topic 121 karma

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my LSAT journey in hopes of encouraging others, especially those balancing life’s many challenges.

I took my first diagnostic in Spring 2023 and scored a 144 (Logic Games absolutely crushed me). My circumstances were unusual—I had been released from prison in 2022 after nearly a decade. While studying, I was juggling multiple jobs, full-time school, volunteer work, and rebuilding my life.

I started with books and Khan Academy before purchasing 7Sage when I could afford it. Without a clear plan, I meandered through the syllabus and struggled to balance studying with life. In June 2023, I scored a 154—lower than my practice test average.

Over the summer and into Fall 2023, I studied sporadically without structure, focusing too much on timed practice tests rather than mastering the material. In October, I scored a 158, applied to schools, and was waitlisted at two great ones. Inspired by these experiences, I decided to retake the test after graduating college in May 2024.

In July 2024, I started fresh with a more systematic approach:
- Logged 400 hours of study from July to November.
- Completed the 7Sage curriculum with detailed notes.
- Focused on understanding concepts, not just timing.
- Limited myself to one PT per week until two weeks before test day, then increased to two PTs per week. I also incorporated untimed sections for review. This was key because in my first study cycle, I exhausted most recent prep tests, forcing me to focus on older material and partial sections.
- Made flashcards to memorize question types and strategies—something I skipped during my first cycle.
- Mentally mimicked J.Y.'s testing methods and watched videos of him providing commentary while taking tests.

By the end of this cycle, I averaged 164-168 on PTs and scored a 169 on test day.

I’m in my early 30s, married, working, attending religious school, and volunteering. Reaching this score came down to discipline, completing the syllabus, and mastering strategies.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that improvement is possible with the right plan and mindset.

Feel free to ask any questions—I’m happy to help!

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Comments

  • DMayor18DMayor18 Core Member
    9 karma

    Thank you so much for sharing your story, you are amazing! This has inspired me to refine my study schedule. I am graduating with my Bachelors in two weeks and I am stuck scoring 140-142. I scored 140 in August on the actual LSAT and am planning to take again in February and shooting for 150-155 range. I am going to use some of your tips! Thank you

  • grant.ashley114grant.ashley114 Core Member
    121 karma

    Thanks!
    And yes, my initial mistake was thinking that doing more practice tests (PTs) and drills would somehow drill the understanding into me. For me, that approach didn’t work. Changing your strategy might be the key if you’re investing a decent amount of time into studying but not seeing improvements.

    One additional point I didn’t mention earlier, for the sake of brevity, is something I learned from 7Sage: RC strategies. Follow the curriculum closely and learn the five passage types they outline (focused on perspective and engagement styles). Practice their method of creating low-resolution summaries, which can help you retain the main ideas without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

    Also, prioritize engaging with the passage as you read, rather than speeding through it. Check back with the rest of the passage every few lines to ensure you’re threading the ideas together cohesively. This method helped me stay connected to the passage and improved my comprehension.

    I hope you achieve the score you’re aiming for!

  • Baloch1996-1Baloch1996-1 Live Member
    62 karma

    You deserve to go to the best law school in the world. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story.

  • genepike.egenepike.e Core Member
    9 karma

    Way to go! Proud of you!

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