December 2014 RE-takers Thread Forum

DiniMae · Post by **DiniMae** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:53 pm

Officially checking in also. I got a score that won't work for my reaches (obvi). No idea where to start because I still can't log into LSAC. I too have RC issues. I think I need to return to basics. In 6 weeks.....

churrochi · Post by **churrochi** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:39 pm

Checking in. Got a 158, but was hoping to break 160 at the very least this time around. This will be my third retake. Got a 151 when I took it last year though, so...at least I know I can only go up from where I started.

What are y'all changing this time around? I tend to vary wildly when it comes to LR (got -12 on the second LR section), even after going through the Manhattan LSAT book. Thinking of giving it another read tomorrow, then drilling problem areas from now until the LSAT. For RC, which I get anywhere from -4 to -9 on, I'm thinking of actually acquiring a strategy this time around (via MLSAT) because I clearly need one. Anyone else have recommendations for LR/RC improvement?

Kinda bummed though; I did insanely well on LG...and have this impending fear that the Dec. exam will have a scary game like June did.

chicaicai · Post by **chicaicai** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:44 pm

checking in.

dontdoitkid · Post by **dontdoitkid** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:46 pm

Checking in. Will be my 4th retake... Only up to 164 from 163 last time. Haven't reviewed it too much as I've been at work since the score came back, but I bet it has something to do with those six bubbles I misaligned in section 5. I'll still be submitting my early decision to BU in a few weeks since I'm slightly above their LSAT median and way above their GPA median, but that's only because their ED comes with a full tuition scholarship. Holding off on the rest of the applications until after December.

Can't say I'm not frustrated, but at least I've got groups like this one. Let's do this.

itskevin · Post by **itskevin** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:05 pm

Checking in.. will be my 3rd and final LSAT seating. Need to break into the 160s.

mr.plum · Post by **mr.plum** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:21 pm

checkin in. Got an okay/acceptable score but messed up LG big time in Sept, and missed a few ridiculously easy questions in the other sections.

Kezaron · Post by **Kezaron** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:24 pm

Checking in. Did quite well, but I know I can do better and don't want any regrets down the road.

Triceratopz · Post by **Triceratopz** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:54 pm

Hi all, long time lurker checking in. Need some support because thinking about getting back on that study schedule sounds pretty horrible to me right now. I got a 169 in Sept. though my practice test average was 175. Really need to up it to have a shot at my top choice schools and I really think I can do better.

msmizz85 · Post by **msmizz85** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:55 pm

Checking in. Long time lurker. PT average of 171, scored a 164. First time taker.

Helllllloooo December.

rbrown0824 · Post by **rbrown0824** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:15 am

Checking in as well. Took test for the first time in Spetember. Got 158 but PT'd 163-165. Looking for study tactics as well since I've had this whole time off.

santoki · Post by **santoki** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:16 am

checking in, friends

164, 162, and cancel. 171 PT avg....averages dont mean a thing!

4th take here i come

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:19 am

santoki wrote:checking in, friends

164, 162, and cancel. 171 PT avg....averages dont mean a thing!

4th take here i come

Think there's a trend. We all tend to score lower in the real thing.

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:23 am

As embarrassing as it is, I am going say it: I got a 163 in June and followed it with a 160 in September. Now, I am being told by everyone on this forum that outside the top few schools, they all go with the highest LSAT, so not too bummed.

But, I scored 5 below my median in June, followed by 13 below my median in September. Well, I froze in LG, my last section, in September and got a -10 in it. I think going in with a weak section, even if you are doing well in that in PTs (like I was), is a mistake.

dontdoitkid · Post by **dontdoitkid** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:07 am

What's everybody doing in their prep for December? I'm still putting together some ideas, but I never really touched many of the Cambridge LR by question type packets, so I'm thinking that drilling those might be a good idea. I've heard of other people picking up the LSAT Trainer but I'm not sure if I'm past that already. Thoughts?

secadc11 · Post by **secadc11** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:25 am

Checking in as well.

161 in June, 166 in Sept.

PTing around 171-172 so figure I owe it to myself to go for round 3.

Like many of you, I'm debating how to go about it. Feeling good on RC, decent on logic games, and all over the place on LR. Best resources for some LR work?

churrochi · Post by **churrochi** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:54 am

dontdoitkid wrote:What's everybody doing in their prep for December? I'm still putting together some ideas, but I never really touched many of the Cambridge LR by question type packets, so I'm thinking that drilling those might be a good idea. I've heard of other people picking up the LSAT Trainer but I'm not sure if I'm past that already. Thoughts?

LSAT Trainer is a good way to boost your confidence after a bad sitting of the LSAT. I picked it up around June after tanking the Oct. 2013 exam, and with it I rose 7 points from where I started (though I want 7 more points...that's another story entirely). IMO, it's vague enough in its strategies that you can apply whatever you're used to (MLSAT, Blueprint, Powerscore, etc.) with a little modification. I say use the LSAT Trainer, along with any books you've used in the past as a refresher, and then drill with Cambridge packets. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

ugg · Post by **ugg** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:20 am

Post removed.

secadc11 · Post by **secadc11** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:23 am

Thanks, theugg. Much needed.

Duchess14 · Post by **Duchess14** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:24 am

Checking in. Long time lurker.

Just got September results back: 162 (RC -5; LR1 -4; LG: -9; LR2: -4). Got a 161 in February so December will be 3rd take. Disappointed in the 162 because I felt better prepared this time around; LG is obviously where the wheels fell off... It's never been my strong point but it had been a long time since I did that poorly on a timed section.

Trying to get back in the swing of things today/keep my head up but 12/6 seems really soon and have the standard retake problem of having burned through a lot of material already.

Also trying to figure out how to approach this next ~6/7 weeks. What are you guys changing up this time around?

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:28 am

lawjag2015 wrote:As embarrassing as it is, I am going say it: I got a 163 in June and followed it with a 160 in September. Now, I am being told by everyone on this forum that outside the top few schools, they all go with the highest LSAT, so not too bummed.

But, I scored 5 below my median in June, followed by 13 below my median in September. Well, I froze in LG, my last section, in September and got a -10 in it. I think going in with a weak section, even if you are doing well in that in PTs (like I was), is a mistake.

Thanks for sharing. I'm terribly afraid this will be my situation. I took in June and still have not gotten a score for September bc I made a test center complaint. I have no idea how I did, and based off of so many people saying their score was well below Pt's I'm really nervous that I may have done worse than my first take. There is so little time until December that I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the different study options I previously was unaware of.

secadc11 · Post by **secadc11** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:34 am

justabitunusual wrote:
lawjag2015 wrote:As embarrassing as it is, I am going say it: I got a 163 in June and followed it with a 160 in September. Now, I am being told by everyone on this forum that outside the top few schools, they all go with the highest LSAT, so not too bummed.

But, I scored 5 below my median in June, followed by 13 below my median in September. Well, I froze in LG, my last section, in September and got a -10 in it. I think going in with a weak section, even if you are doing well in that in PTs (like I was), is a mistake.
Thanks for sharing. I'm terribly afraid this will be my situation. I took in June and still have not gotten a score for September bc I made a test center complaint. I have no idea how I did, and based off of so many people saying their score was well below Pt's I'm really nervous that I may have done worse than my first take. There is so little time until December that I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the different study options I previously was unaware of.

Feeling this as well. However I calmed my panic by looking at my sections. My RC was great, my LG was solid (could improve a bit), but my LR was shit. This 100% made the difference of me not hitting 170+. In retrospect, I've been cocky about LR and have never given it the proper attention it deserves.

So with that in mind, I'm going to focus the majority of my time on LR work with some brushing up on LG. I'll take some PTs as well but I am thinking I'll dial back the amount/frequency back so I don't hit burnout... I have been studying since April/May after all.

Anyone else thinking of not hitting the PTs super hard this time around?

justabitunusual · Post by **justabitunusual** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:45 am

secadc11 wrote:
justabitunusual wrote:
lawjag2015 wrote:As embarrassing as it is, I am going say it: I got a 163 in June and followed it with a 160 in September. Now, I am being told by everyone on this forum that outside the top few schools, they all go with the highest LSAT, so not too bummed.

But, I scored 5 below my median in June, followed by 13 below my median in September. Well, I froze in LG, my last section, in September and got a -10 in it. I think going in with a weak section, even if you are doing well in that in PTs (like I was), is a mistake.
Thanks for sharing. I'm terribly afraid this will be my situation. I took in June and still have not gotten a score for September bc I made a test center complaint. I have no idea how I did, and based off of so many people saying their score was well below Pt's I'm really nervous that I may have done worse than my first take. There is so little time until December that I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the different study options I previously was unaware of.
Feeling this as well. However I calmed my panic by looking at my sections. My RC was great, my LG was solid (could improve a bit), but my LR was shit. This 100% made the difference of me not hitting 170+. In retrospect, I've been cocky about LR and have never given it the proper attention it deserves.

So with that in mind, I'm going to focus the majority of my time on LR work with some brushing up on LG. I'll take some PTs as well but I am thinking I'll dial back the amount/frequency back so I don't hit burnout... I have been studying since April/May after all.

Anyone else thinking of not hitting the PTs super hard this time around?

Um actually, I may be in a bit of an opposite situation. The first time I took it, I barely studied and managed maybe 8 PT's before test day, Second time around, I got the Powerscore Bible for LR since it was 2 sections.

While I felt the info was helpful, it took me forever to get through the book, making flashcards (which I didn't really end up using much bc of time constraints), i only had enough time to get 8.5 Pt's in again, and this time I was considerably slower from taking so much time off of Pt'ing.

This time, I think I will take more Pt's but spaced out so as not to burn out and also read another study plan and drill more I guess. But, I really think PT's are super important in maintaing speed!

tyang · Post by **tyang** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:02 pm

yeah so i bombed the Sept test (-12 RC, -9 both LRs, and -5 LG)... when I was PT'ing low to mid 160's, and RC at worst was -5 or 6. i wasn't even on the last RC passage yet when the 5 min warning was called, and so i attempted to make good guesses, but alas this failed and i had none right. timing will be worked on...

I think i feel confident enough in the other sections for now tht my main focus should be drilling LR and not doing exclusively PT's

ugg · Post by **ugg** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:04 pm

Post removed.

Yeezus · Post by **Yeezus** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:10 pm

Here for Round 3. Third time's the charm. I might need to change my approach to LR, since I consistently get around -3 on both sections combined in PTs but have gotten -9 on the real thing twice in a row. Maybe the Trainer will do the trick.