My Issues Forum

heyhowdyhey · Post by **heyhowdyhey** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:40 am

I have a good (above 3.9) GPA and I really do want to go to law school, but the problem is I am and always have been a terrible standardized test taker. And I get severe test-taking anxiety. I know there have been other threads about how to deal with anxiety, but it seems most people here in general are good test takers, based on what I've read.

I know that if I were to do well on the LSAT, my GPA would help me get into a really good school, but since there is so much pressure to do well on the test and not "waste my GPA" I'm just not sure what to do.

One of my main issues with this test is TIMING. I like to go over my answers very carefully and make sure they're correct, which obviously isn't possible when each section is only 35 minutes long. Then when I fail to completely finish a section, I freak out and do horribly on all the others.

How exactly have you guys been able to focus specifically on finishing the sections under the time limit?

BlueDiamond · Post by **BlueDiamond** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:46 am

this might sound like im being an ass... but the answer is to do them faster and thats really all you can do

pick the best answer then if you have time at the end go back and check... for example id rather guess on 3 questions where im deciding between 2 answers than not even get to the last 5 questions

Edit: also.. what I did was made an attempt to get the first 10 questions of LR sections done in 10 minutes.. that leaves 25 minutes for 15 questions.. if that isn't enough time for you to finish 15 questions then I'm guessing most will say law school isn't for you because the time pressure is even worse on actual law school exams

Corwin · Post by **Corwin** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:05 am

Hard to help you without a breakdown of your practice exams. Speaking of which, have you taken one yet? Yeah test anxiety sucks, but you can do up to several hundred hours of preparation for this exam. If you haven't done this preparation, your score could always be better. There are plenty of resources around TLS on how to study, what books to buy, etc.

dpk711 · Post by **dpk711** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:08 am

Yeah, don't waste that GPA. Honestly, almost everyone has timing issues when they first take their first PTs. There are really no shortcuts but with enough practice you will be able to work through the test faster.

theaether · Post by **theaether** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:21 am

Not trying to be a dick but, with your GPA, I'd study for an entire year if that's what it took to get in the 168-175 range. Maybe even longer. Put in the work and you'll be fine, you put in the work and did well on school tests to get that GPA in the first place right?

JamMasterJ · Post by **JamMasterJ** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:26 am

Take as many tests as you can. Try finishing sections in 30 minutes so that when your anxiety takes over, 35 minutes will still be doable.

BrightLine · Post by **BrightLine** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:46 am

JamMasterJ wrote:Take as many tests as you can. Try finishing sections in 30 minutes so that when your anxiety takes over, 35 minutes will still be doable.

I half agree. Take as many sections as you can. There is no reason to walk into the LSAT having not already completed every single available section. You will get better.

I am not a fan of the 30 minute idea. But what I am a fan of is never giving yourself an extra second. Set a timer and when it beeps, pencil down.

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