ITT: Retake Success Stories for Inspiration Forum

[sanetruth]

This thread has been attempted before, but not very well. I think it would be good for everyone unhappy with their October score to get some evidence of people who improved on their second attempt.

Something like...

Score 1:
Score 2:
How/why did you screw up test 1:
How did you prep for test 2:
Misc. comments:

(Also, I know a lot of people's scores actually DROPPED on their retake, but lets avoid those horror stories here for morale purposes, shall we?)

[Adjudicator]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

[DieAntwoord]

This thread has been attempted before, but not very well. I think it would be good for everyone unhappy with their October score to get some evidence of people who improved on their second attempt.

Something like...

Score 1:
Score 2:
How/why did you screw up test 1:
How did you prep for test 2:
Misc. comments:

(Also, I know a lot of people's scores actually DROPPED on their retake, but lets avoid those horror stories here for morale purposes, shall we?)

1: 170
2: 178
3: Combination of hand shaking and not self timing. me was scared
4: relaxed, more confident; pretty much the same prep
5: eat well, sleep well, be nice to your SO

Excuse my fascination with the smiley faces....

[SupraVln180]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

Did you take the June and October tests? or did you have more of a time-gap to study?

[Adjudicator]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

Did you take the June and October tests? or did you have more of a time-gap to study?

My first score was February 09, and the second one was last month. But I wasn't even planning to retake at all until about July. That's when I started studying for the retake.

[teaadntoast]

Score 1: 166 (2/2009)
Score 2: 174 (10/2010)

How/why did you screw up test 1: Did almost no concerted studying, sat no full length practice tests and went through with the test despite being exhausted and stressed to the max.

How did you prep for test 2: Lots of self-study. Thorough reading of the LG Bible. Timed tests with an experimental section every Saturday morning for approx. two months before the test. Got proper sleep for the two weeks leading up to the exam.

Misc. comments: Register early to be sure you get the test center you want. Things like the PowerScore Bibles can be great, but don't force it. If a technique doesn't work for you, scrap it and develop your own. Take as many timed tests as you can under real testing conditions. That means turn the t.v. off, kick your roommates out and actually put down the damn pencil when your timer goes off.

[Adjudicator]

Score 1: 166 (2/2009)
Score 2: 174 (10/2010)

Hey, we took the same 2 tests.

[CapHillLove]

I think I owe it to future re-takers to offer a ray of hope...

Score 1: 161
Score 2: 180

How/why did you screw up test 1: Test center problems which fed into a downward spiral of stress and pain. I wasn't prepared for how nerve racking it would be.

How did you prep for test 2: Similar to the first time, but more structured and with more focus on managing stress. I began taking full-length practice tests with background distractions and went into test day assuming that something outside of my control was going to go wrong. I also had an "it is what it is" attitude, rather than an "If I score under 175, I won't get into Harvard and my life will be over" attitude like the first time. I look back and realize how ridiculous I was.

Misc. comments: Chill out. You are your own worst enemy.

[teaadntoast]

Misc. comments: Chill out. You are your own worst enemy.

+ elevendy billion

[Sandro]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

You are my twin. In the sense that we both got 164, both were terrible at LG. But not in the fact that you got a 175. NOT YET

[Adjudicator]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

You are my twin. In the sense that we both got 164, both were terrible at LG. But not in the fact that you got a 175. NOT YET

When are you retaking it? Go for it.

[Sandro]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

You are my twin. In the sense that we both got 164, both were terrible at LG. But not in the fact that you got a 175. NOT YET

When are you retaking it? Go for it.

December. I started off terrible at LG, did a ton of practice and got it down to -2/-3 on recent LG's.... plopped out a -8 on October.

[teaadntoast]

December. I started off terrible at LG, did a ton of practice and got it down to -2/-3 on recent LG's.... plopped out a -8 on October.

Concentrated on one game, or scattered throughout?

[aesis]

I think I owe it to future re-takers to offer a ray of hope...

Score 1: 161
Score 2: 180

How/why did you screw up test 1: Test center problems which fed into a downward spiral of stress and pain. I wasn't prepared for how nerve racking it would be.

How did you prep for test 2: Similar to the first time, but more structured and with more focus on managing stress. I began taking full-length practice tests with background distractions and went into test day assuming that something outside of my control was going to go wrong. I also had an "it is what it is" attitude, rather than an "If I score under 175, I won't get into Harvard and my life will be over" attitude like the first time. I look back and realize how ridiculous I was.

Misc. comments: Chill out. You are your own worst enemy.

Ugh, talk about a beacon of hope when you need one.

[Sandro]

December. I started off terrible at LG, did a ton of practice and got it down to -2/-3 on recent LG's.... plopped out a -8 on October.

Concentrated on one game, or scattered throughout?

Spread out. 1 on the first, I think 2 each on the next two, and 3 on the last (2 guesses). I must have missed some rules even though I felt pretty confident I didn't... usually my bad LG sections are when I miss an entire game through guessing.

[pasteurizedmilk]

1. Cancelled.

2. 171


Stay. Calm. Whatever it takes for you to remain calm on test day. I can't overstate how important this is.

Also, after test 1 i made myself do penance. Erased every old LSAT I had completed. Took hours. Days. Twas good cleansing.

[ATR]

I guess I'll go first.

Score 1: 164
Score 2: 175
How/why did you screw up test 1: I was terrible at LG.
How did you prep for test 2: LG Bible and did the most recent 20 PTs in full, plus LG sections from older tests.
Misc. comments: Practice practice practice!

Wow, this is my situation (minus the second score). I sucked at LG (-10) but did well on everything else. I am planning on using this strategy in preparing for December. Did you just work a LG Bible section and then hammer home a ton a LG games of that type? That's what I plan on doing.

[teaadntoast]

December. I started off terrible at LG, did a ton of practice and got it down to -2/-3 on recent LG's.... plopped out a -8 on October.

Concentrated on one game, or scattered throughout?

Spread out. 1 on the first, I think 2 each on the next two, and 3 on the last (2 guesses). I must have missed some rules even though I felt pretty confident I didn't... usually my bad LG sections are when I miss an entire game through guessing.

Sounds like nerves, which can totally be overcome.