Sudden Dip in LR!

[jjlaw]

Hey all,

I've been pretty confident with LR, but for the last 2-3 PTs, I've missed on average 10 LR questions overall, whereas before I was missing about 4 total. It's really affecting my score, and with three weeks left, I'm a little worried about this. During the PT, I feel pretty confident about the questions, which scares me even more when I start scoring it and realize how much I've missed.

Does anyone have any advice on how to fix this? Thanks!

JJ

[Atlas LSAT Teacher]

Your past performance may be making you too confident and so more likely to fall for simple traps. Focus on working from wrong-to-right, and don't fall in love with the first pretty answer that walks by -- instead say "I've probably been fooled, so let me find a better answer." This approach take a bit of willpower to implement, so start by trying it out on a single section, then a double, and then a full preptest. You have to coach yourself before starting that that is how you want to take that section.

Good luck!

[gbpackerbacker]

I had the same problem but on different proportions. In was averaging about 7 wrong per test on LR until I suddenly was batting at -10 or -11. First thing I did was look at the types of Q's I was missing. Before my "dark ages" I missed 3 flaw questions over about ten tests. In contrast, I missed 12 or 13 over 2.5 tests. Obviously I drilled flaw types (you can but packets online or sort them yourself), but also I read the summarization on every chapter in LGB, stressing the fundamentals. I still go to -7 sometimes, but most all of my tests (and my last 5) have been -4 or less. I plan to be averaging -3 or less on my next ten PTs.

Go back to the basics. Don't freak out. I am glad I started messing up because before I was content with -7, now that is wayy too much for me. Use this to gain some energy and momentum.

Good luck.

[jjlaw]

Thanks everyone! I will definitely slow down and go back to the basics. I think that I am not thinking as hard about each question as I should (cockiness) and just being sloppy in general because I miss most questions in the first 10, which is ridiculous. I will review my LR notes, do some practice sections and pay more attention in general.

[Dinho]

Thanks everyone! I will definitely slow down and go back to the basics. I think that I am not thinking as hard about each question as I should (cockiness) and just being sloppy in general because I miss most questions in the first 10, which is ridiculous. I will review my LR notes, do some practice sections and pay more attention in general.

I think the fact that the majority of your mistakes come in the first 10 suggest that you're over-thinking. Maybe try the first ten questions of a section and review after each one so you get your thinking process for the easier questions back in shape.

[jjlaw]

Just did a practice LR section and missed 4 -- still not as good as I'm hoping for (-1/-2), but better than 10! I think I just need to be well rested and get back into my usual LR mode.

Is it possible to lose LR mojo? lol