Low score on PTs but do well on actual test? Forum

[lisa4and20]

People that already took the test-did any of you score low on your PTs but did good on the actual test?
Do you think the PTs are really an example of how you will do on the actual test?

[BlueJeanBaby]

People that already took the test-did any of you score low on your PTs but did good on the actual test?
Do you think the PTs are really an example of how you will do on the actual test?

Since you've finished 4 years of college I imagine you know what kind of test taker you are. I'm one of the people who does better on actual test day because the pressure helps me focus. For other people, the stress can make them do worse. A PT is really the only way you can gauge how you are doing, though, so it is the best indicator we have. I'm personally using them more to show me where I need to improve and how to fix problems than to predict my score.

[zoomzoom88]

People that already took the test-did any of you score low on your PTs but did good on the actual test?
Do you think the PTs are really an example of how you will do on the actual test?

Since you've finished 4 years of college I imagine you know what kind of test taker you are. I'm one of the people who does better on actual test day because the pressure helps me focus. For other people, the stress can make them do worse. A PT is really the only way you can gauge how you are doing, though, so it is the best indicator we have. I'm personally using them more to show me where I need to improve and how to fix problems than to predict my score.

i think its naive to assume youll do substantially better on the real test than your pts.

[sinfiery]

If you hit your PT average, I think that leaves you doing better than most test takers.


I always considered myself a very strong test taker (Probably most poeple here do though...) and under performed on 1 LSAT and hit my average on the other.

[BlueJeanBaby]

People that already took the test-did any of you score low on your PTs but did good on the actual test?
Do you think the PTs are really an example of how you will do on the actual test?

Since you've finished 4 years of college I imagine you know what kind of test taker you are. I'm one of the people who does better on actual test day because the pressure helps me focus. For other people, the stress can make them do worse. A PT is really the only way you can gauge how you are doing, though, so it is the best indicator we have. I'm personally using them more to show me where I need to improve and how to fix problems than to predict my score.

i think its naive to assume youll do substantially better on the real test than your pts.

It happened to me (although I only took 2 PTs before the actual test) but I was more or less saying PTs aren't a perfect indication of how you will do as people react differently to the pressure of test day.

[_corsair]

I made the huge mistake of not taking my test prep very seriously, and only took a few practice tests before the real thing, with a PT average of 167-168. I got a 170 on the real test. It can happen, but I feel like I was just incredibly lucky, and most people do worse than or as good as their practice tests. The slim possibility of doing better is not something to bank on.

[CalAlumni]

It can happen; however, what is more common is hitting just under your PT average on test day.

[florida1949]

If you hit your PT average, I think that leaves you doing better than most test takers.


I always considered myself a very strong test taker (Probably most poeple here do though...) and under performed on 1 LSAT and hit my average on the other.

+1

[wisteria]

I hit my PT average in both of my actual tests.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

I made the huge mistake of not taking my test prep very seriously, and only took a few practice tests before the real thing, with a PT average of 167-168. I got a 170 on the real test. It can happen, but I feel like I was just incredibly lucky, and most people do worse than or as good as their practice tests. The slim possibility of doing better is not something to bank on.

Same here. My first test I hit right in the middle of where I was PTing. The next test I didn't really do any more full-length PT's or take anything very seriously and scored 7 points higher. It can happen, but don't count on it.

[wert3813]

.

[voytek]

I was lucky enough to outscore my PT high score by 2 points and my average by 4 on test day. Not that this is worth banking on though. Your mileage may vary.

[skri65]

I took the LSAT four times, and hit 9, 4, 3, and 4 points below each of my respective PT averages. To be fair, during the first and last test I truly could not sleep a wink before the test, and the second test I took a sleeping pill the night before to force me to sleep. So if you keep your cool, you'll probably score +/-2 your PT average.

[Granfalloon12]

I tied my highest PT score on test day, felt that it absolutely reflected the best I could have done on test day -- made for a little more pleasantry on release day.

[googlesearch]

Before the test I was scoring 169-171 on my PTs. Scored a 172.

[kdev1203]

Think I broke 160 like once during PTs. Pulled a 163 on the real deal. For me it came down to getting the kind of LGs that clicked, and passages that didn't make me want to gauge my eyes out with my pencil.

[dkb17xzx]

first time i took the LSAT, i was PT'ing 162-164. got a 166 on the real thing

second time i was PT'ing 172-174. ended up with the same score as the first one.

Your PT scores a very good indicator of how much of the LSAT you "know" in terms of structure, content, and to a certain extent your test taking ability. The problem is that a great many things can go wrong during the real deal - anxiety, pressure, stress, that one really difficult passage or game that puts you in panic mode, the administration of the test takes too long and the redbull / expresso shot you took an hour ago starts to wear off, etc etc.

[bdm261]

Somehow I scored 3 pts above my highest PT on the actual LSAT. The actual LSAT I took in June 2012 just seemed easier for some reason than all the PTs.

[kay2016]

I work MUCH better under pressure.

Therefore, I did MUCH better on the actual LSAT than I did on the practice tests.

I had not gotten to study and take the PTs as much as I had hoped leading up to the October test, but I had worked through all the Bibles and felt comfortable. Then my PTs were lackluster, but I ended up getting a decent enough score (for where I want to go). So it can happen, but you have to know if you're one of the people who just tests really well or not.

[MsAvocadoPit]

.

[CorkBoard]

Don't expect to magically do well if you haven't been scoring well on practice tests.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

Don't expect to magically do well if you haven't been scoring well on practice tests.

I BELIEVE IN MAGIC

[CorkBoard]

Don't expect to magically do well if you haven't been scoring well on practice tests.

I BELIEVE IN MAGIC

Apparently you and most of the other posters ITT are witches and wizards because scoring above your PT averages is not the norm.

[karich]

.

[shock259]

Test 1: PTing ~160, scored 162.
Test 2: PTing ~170, scored 165.

Meh.