Nervous Nellies Forum

[sandwiches5000]

I think I get ridiculously nervous. I always think I won't but come test day when I sit there and it hits me that "this is it" I get distracted and a bit nervous. My hand even shakes at certain points of the exam. I think this is what made me drop ~7 pts from my PT avg on test day. :/

Advice anyone?

[EarlCat]

http://blog.earldoeslsat.com/2011/03/av ... panic.html

[Sloth Hero]

Maybe try to find practice exams that are being proctored with a group?

Maybe everyone else's nervousness is rubbing off on you.

[sandwiches5000]

Yeah. That's true. I'm in Asia so it's hard to find people to study with.

Haha. Wow.

I mean there were a tonnnnn of people taking the LSAT at my testing center in Korea but I need to find these people somehow. I would love to even have a studying partner.

I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

[incompetentia]

Managing stress is the key to the LSAT, in my opinion. An important part of that is getting into your mindset and managing not to break your concentration with any types of outside distractions/wandering thoughts.

In addition to what Earl's saying, you should know whether you do better on tests when you're calmer or more energized. Trying to emulate the sense of urgency (and then, that mindset) on practice tests is not easy, but it should help make the actual test experience that much less foreign.

[totaltest.milan]

Earlcat's got a point, to some extent it's a control issue. One of the ways that you can give yourself an illusion of control is by allowing yourself to believe that your score is going to be dependent upon your practice. The more you practice the higher the chance that you'll do well on the test. All of a sudden you have control, you can control how much you practice.

Another thing I would recommend is some sort of meditation/breathing exercises. Nervousness, like all emotions, is a largely autonomous physiological response. We have no control over the onset of a nervous reaction but we do have control over how long it perpetuates within our system. I'm kind of a novice so I can't explain it very well but the basic point is to shift your attention to what's going on in your body as the emotions are running their course (racing heart, cold sweat, tightening stomach, slight buzzing, etc) and not to the narrative that we attach to those feelings. If you start thinking about the test and about how you need to do well on it because you need to go to a good school otherwise you won't make any money and without any money nobody will love you and then you'll die poor and lonely in an shallow ditch by the side of the road as stray dogs devour your flea-ridden corpse you're simply providing your mind with additional catalysts for further nervous reactions. Anyway, take a look at meditation for dummies or something like that it might be helpful if you feel that you get the nervous nellies. Meditation is also good for concentration.

[sandwiches5000]

Thanks! This is all great advice. I'm looking into yoga and meditation videos. I'm going to start running in the morning too. Also, I think that if I can finish my sections, particularly reading comprehension, early that I will feel more confident and not stress about time. I very rarely go over time but sometimes I cut it close so I think this is something that I worried about on test day.

[yu9ePUsw]

Yikes, I tried my first 3 sections in a timed setting and this test has got me seriously spooked.

[sandwiches5000]

Yikes, I tried my first 3 sections in a timed setting and this test has got me seriously spooked.

Just keep practicing. By the end of your prep you should be so calm and collect under a timed setting that you feel as if you could do it in your sleep.

[sandwiches5000]

Obviously, I have probs with nerves as well but that was only on test day. In the beginning of my prep I got nervous as well but practice will make it go away.

Also, it helps to have a friend proctor it for you. I did it once and it made me feel a lot more nervous but it's a good simulation for test day.

[Shallow]

Does anyone have experience with one of those LSAT proctoring DVDs?

I took my first proctored diagnostic test yesterday and I choked hard despite having been doing independent studying for the last month and a half. -3 LG, -4 RC, -12/-8 LR (Guess where I choked! ). I became extremely anxious having timing/environment being out of my hands and, like someone once mentioned on TLS a while ago, reverted back to old habit. I'm hoping by using a proctoring DVD, I can simulate an actual testing scenario and, come test time, remain calm.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Does anyone have experience with one of those LSAT proctoring DVDs?

I took my first proctored diagnostic test yesterday and I choked hard despite having been doing independent studying for the last month and a half. -3 LG, -4 RC, -12/-8 LR (Guess where I choked! ). I became extremely anxious having timing/environment being out of my hands and, like someone once mentioned on TLS a while ago, reverted back to old habit. I'm hoping by using a proctoring DVD, I can simulate an actual testing scenario and, come test time, remain calm.

proctorDVD is ca$h moniezzzzzz. worth every penny

[sandwiches5000]

OOH good call. I'm going to order this!

[clouds101]

Does anyone have experience with one of those LSAT proctoring DVDs?

I took my first proctored diagnostic test yesterday and I choked hard despite having been doing independent studying for the last month and a half. -3 LG, -4 RC, -12/-8 LR (Guess where I choked! ). I became extremely anxious having timing/environment being out of my hands and, like someone once mentioned on TLS a while ago, reverted back to old habit. I'm hoping by using a proctoring DVD, I can simulate an actual testing scenario and, come test time, remain calm.

This DVD delivers what it promises, but a word of caution. I bought it when I was studying for my second retake because I was desperate and the hype about "real conditions" scared me. But I think I depended way too much on PTs and didn't adequately drill my weaknesses. Don't rely solely on gimmicky things because on game day, the only thing that will come through are the habits that you built over time.

[EarlCat]

Don't rely solely on gimmicky things because on game day, the only thing that will come through are the habits that you built over time.

BOOM headshot!

[bport hopeful]

Rub one out in the bathroom right before the exam.

Reference: theres something about Mary.

[sandwiches5000]

Rub one out in the bathroom right before the exam.

Reference: theres something about Mary.

HAHA. so this is why one wants to get to the testing center early, right?

[bport hopeful]

Rub one out in the bathroom right before the exam.

Reference: theres something about Mary.

HAHA. so this is why one wants to get to the testing center early, right?

Yep, and if you dont bust for a few weeks prior, it will be that much more relaxing and youll be able to get to the test site a little later.