Taking an LSAT throughout several days. Forum

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JohnV

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Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by JohnV » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:42 am

Should I count the score of a test that I complete within the course of a week (Ex: RC Sunday, LR1 Monday, LR2 Tuesday, LG3 Wednesday) as a score to keep track of my progress? Obviously if I were to take considerable time between sections, like several weeks to a month, the score would be dated, but what about within a few days?

I don't have a lot of time to sit aside 4 - 5 hours (work, school) for an entire PT. Those usually can only occur on weekends. But throughout a week I usually finish a PT or 2 so I'm wondering how accurate you guys think this score would be and if I should give them any real consideration or neglect the scaled score due to some sort of bias/inaccuracy.

EDIT: Gah, sorry, I have multiple browsers up and posted in the wrong forum by mistake. Mods, please move this thread.

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westinghouse60

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by westinghouse60 » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:47 am

Taking sections days apart makes a score overall it pretty meaningless, sorry. Even taking 5 minute breaks between sections makes it far easier than the actual test. I suppose if you're just starting out though, you can keep track of progress section to section, ie if you're struggling on LG do a section of those every day to gauge progress, just don't expect that to translate to a real test.

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oaken

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by oaken » Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:59 pm

JohnV wrote:Should I count the score of a test that I complete within the course of a week (Ex: RC Sunday, LR1 Monday, LR2 Tuesday, LG3 Wednesday) as a score to keep track of my progress? Obviously if I were to take considerable time between sections, like several weeks to a month, the score would be dated, but what about within a few days?

I don't have a lot of time to sit aside 4 - 5 hours (work, school) for an entire PT. Those usually can only occur on weekends. But throughout a week I usually finish a PT or 2 so I'm wondering how accurate you guys think this score would be and if I should give them any real consideration or neglect the scaled score due to some sort of bias/inaccuracy.

EDIT: Gah, sorry, I have multiple browsers up and posted in the wrong forum by mistake. Mods, please move this thread.
Would you break a marathon up into five parts over several days and then add them together and say "this is how long it takes me to run 26.5 miles"?

JohnV

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by JohnV » Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:51 pm

oaken wrote:
JohnV wrote:Should I count the score of a test that I complete within the course of a week (Ex: RC Sunday, LR1 Monday, LR2 Tuesday, LG3 Wednesday) as a score to keep track of my progress? Obviously if I were to take considerable time between sections, like several weeks to a month, the score would be dated, but what about within a few days?

I don't have a lot of time to sit aside 4 - 5 hours (work, school) for an entire PT. Those usually can only occur on weekends. But throughout a week I usually finish a PT or 2 so I'm wondering how accurate you guys think this score would be and if I should give them any real consideration or neglect the scaled score due to some sort of bias/inaccuracy.

EDIT: Gah, sorry, I have multiple browsers up and posted in the wrong forum by mistake. Mods, please move this thread.
Would you break a marathon up into five parts over several days and then add them together and say "this is how long it takes me to run 26.5 miles"?
Interesting analogy but I don't think it really applies. Through the PT's I've taken, endurance has not been much of an issue. I no longer notice any significant drops at the end of test in my score than would be expected.

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SaintsTheMetal

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by SaintsTheMetal » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:42 pm

It's fine once you know for certain that endurance isn't an issue. You only know this after you've taken plenty 5 section PTs.

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Nova

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by Nova » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:43 pm

SaintsTheMetal wrote:It's fine once you know for certain that endurance isn't an issue. You only know this after you've taken plenty 5 section PTs.
+1

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fatduck

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by fatduck » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:51 pm

the only score that matters is the one you get on test day, man.

5 sections at once > 5 sections over 3 days > not prepping at all

just do what you can.

anonymouse2828

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Re: Taking an LSAT throughout several days.

Post by anonymouse2828 » Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:20 pm

I assume you're taking Sept LSAT or later, and applying in Jan 2013? In that case, you've got plenty of time.

I would invest in a prep-course. However, if you are REALLY disciplined, you can find resources online, etc. Make sure you try to use REAL LSAT questions, I've seen many bad "LSAT-like" questions.

Also, you don't need to take a ton of full-length exams. one every weekend or every-other weekend to gauge your progress should be sufficient. Make sure you take one that's a prior test w/ answers, so you can accurately gauge your progress. Between practice tests, you should be working on the sections you're bad at. One problem section at a time to improve your timing and proficiency per question type, and then every now and then an entire section.

Lastly, go exercise. Physical endurance has a big effect of mental endurance.

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