The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[Straw_Mandible]

No matter what anybody says, the deadline has passed anyways.

btw, what do you guys say as your real score? the one after blind review - or the one before?

Can you blind review on test day?

[10052014]

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[FlyingNorth]

No matter what anybody says, the deadline has passed anyways.

btw, what do you guys say as your real score? the one after blind review - or the one before?

Can you blind review on test day?

k, because I was looking at 7sage, and on their lsat grader, they have an option to input your blind review answer as well as your original answer.

Blind review is meant to eliminate mistakes or correct answers from guessing.

To determine your score, use pre-blind review.

[10052014]

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[mo1234]

Im in the houston area looking for a study group. for june 2014 LSAT.Please lmk if interested!

[dardardelight]

Would you guys think it would be better to start PT'ing with 4 sections rather than the extra experimental? I'm thinking about replicating test -day conditions as early as possible, but also think that the extra section might be too much for me (stamina-wise) and will compromise my overall score , and lead me towards a demoralized feeling haha . Any thoughts?

And you should probably use the pre-blind review scores when judging your PT score.

My dream school: NYU / Columbia . I have a "floor-level" GPA at about 3.3 -- but it is from a "tier one school" & I will have a masters degree, plus I am fluent in Chinese (fwiw) -- so I'd definitely need 172 + and probably an Early Decision application with that : /

Keep at it everyone! We'll get there

[alexrodriguez]

Alright... I guess jaylawyer shouldn't take the feb exam. I'm just so happy for the dude! Scoring 168 this far out! That's crazy to me. I can't even score a 168 with all the time in the world, but that will change soon!

Anyways today marks a significant milestone in my LSAT prep. By the end of the day I'll have completed the LSAT trainer!

After this it's going to be mainly drilling and PT's.

[WaltGrace83]

I've been taking a break from the LSAT trainer to drill. I got to the sections about specific questions and I figure that I might as well practice what I am learning. It will be awhile.........

[WaltGrace83]

and don't worry louie, we will all get there. We just need to keep practicing!

[eagleslive]

What are TLSers doing for RC prep, besides the online journals, if they have not reached that section of The Trainer?

I know RC is the hardest to improve on, so I am concerned that I am waiting too long to start improving without reading strategies or seeing LSAT RC questions.

[alexrodriguez]

Time to start this weekend off right with loads of Friday night studying!

Who's with me?!

oh and I just finished all 600 (give or take) pages of the LSAT trainer!

[AcsFoolMike]

Checking in.

Been reading through this thread for a few days now, so figured I'd start participating in the discussion.

Prep materials include LGB, MLSAT LR and RC, LSAT Trainer, BPLG, and the Cambridge packets. I've completed the MLSAT LR and am nearly done with the LGB.

I did have a couple of questions regarding the Trainer - would those of you who have used it along with other materials:

A) Recommend I skip over the LG sections (I have a pretty good grasp of them from the LGB, and I'm also going to read BPLG), as I've heard his methods in these sections are a bit odd

B) Recommend I start it at this point in my prep and go with the MLSAT RC and BPLG afterward, or vice versa?

Looking forward to the next few months leading up to the test.

[WaltGrace83]

A) Recommend I skip over the LG sections (I have a pretty good grasp of them from the LGB, and I'm also going to read BPLG), as I've heard his methods in these sections are a bit odd

B) Recommend I start it at this point in my prep and go with the MLSAT RC and BPLG afterward, or vice versa?

Looking forward to the next few months leading up to the test.

A) I wouldn't necessarily say so. I think it could always do some good to get more info on question types. Who knows...there could be one little tidbit that makes one type of game a little more clear. That is worth it IMHO.

B) If you haven't started yet, I really like what I have been doing so far. Read the trainer first until about chapter 15. Then when you get to the individual question type chapters then read those and pair it with drilling. If you are having trouble, pair THAT with Manhattan LR chapters. Then continue on with the Trainer RC and finish the book, reassessing your needs after you finish

[Straw_Mandible]

Checking in.

Been reading through this thread for a few days now, so figured I'd start participating in the discussion.

Prep materials include LGB, MLSAT LR and RC, LSAT Trainer, BPLG, and the Cambridge packets. I've completed the MLSAT LR and am nearly done with the LGB.

I did have a couple of questions regarding the Trainer - would those of you who have used it along with other materials:

A) Recommend I skip over the LG sections (I have a pretty good grasp of them from the LGB, and I'm also going to read BPLG), as I've heard his methods in these sections are a bit odd

B) Recommend I start it at this point in my prep and go with the MLSAT RC and BPLG afterward, or vice versa?

Looking forward to the next few months leading up to the test.

I might be in the minority here, but I do not recommend that you skip the LG sections in the Trainer. The methods are a little bit wacky, yes, but the lessons are valuable and the drills very challenging. The whole experience of reading the Trainer, for me, served to condition my thinking in a way that aligns with the LSAT frame of mind. To that end, the LG lessons will provide you with the skills to think very abstractly about the challenges which this section presents.

I don't tend to use this term liberally, but I'm very sure that Mike Kim is a genius. Even if you do not end up using the particular diagramming strategies he advocates, the drills and lessons will condition you to meet any unusual challenges that may arise on test day. The other LG materials you are using are very mechanical, focusing more on methods and less on principles. The LSAT Trainer is a book of principles. It trains us to respond flexibly and actively to the test, rather than boxing us into the mindless "hacking" techniques that so many prep companies love to sell.

TL;DR -- Every word in the Trainer is pure gold. It's all worth reading.

ETA: scooped by Walt

[AcsFoolMike]

Thanks for the quick replies!

Alright, so I'll read through the Trainer first, supplementing with the Manhattan and BP materials as necessary.

I really enjoyed Manhattan for LR and Powerscore for LG, so I'm interested to see how Mike Kim's methods (or principles, as you say) play into and complement what I already know and am comfortable with.

[alexrodriguez]

I don't think I should be the OP for this thread. I don't even think I'm deserving to be on this website anymore. It was around 8PM when I decided to take Preptest 58. I was in my pajamas when I came to this realization. I decided to replicate all testing conditions. I changed into my Harvard Law t-shirt, I cleaned off my desk, I put my ID card on my desk and I turned on my proctor DVD. I even sharpened two new pencils to give you an idea of my mindset.

Then I began.

LR
RC
LG

Ten minute break. I went to the bathroom, I ate a protein bar, I drank some water, and I waited for the proctor to start the test again.

LR

I had another section ready, but I decided against it last minute.

I graded my exam.

-14
-10
-7
-13

That's 44 questions wrong.

That comes to a 149.

What am I supposed to do right now?

This was my first PT taken in its entirety, but still, there is no excuse for this level of idiocy.

If you scored a 149 right now would you even still be set on the idea of going to law school?

The LSAT has been actively on my mind since May of 2013. That's a long time.

I suppose Logic Games really are the only thing I have actually drilled so far. Still though, no excuses. A 149! That's an abomination.

If I do end up being successful in June of 2014 I'll really have a story to tell when it comes to LSAT prep, but I have to ask myself if that's even possible. Which right now isn't.

I may as well take this Harvard Law T-shirt off and throw it away.

[rebexness]

I don't think I should be the OP for this thread. I don't even think I'm deserving to be on this website anymore. It was around 8PM when I decided to take Preptest 58. I was in my pajamas when I came to this realization. I decided to replicate all testing conditions. I changed into my Harvard Law t-shirt, I cleaned off my desk, I put my ID card on my desk and I turned on my proctor DVD. I even sharpened two new pencils to give you an idea of my mindset.

Ease up breh.

1) Late nights are an AWFUL time to PT, so its not really mimicking test conditions.

If my brain has "checked out" for the night I can expect to see a 15 point drop on a PT.

You might want to stick to 4 section tests with a break after the 2nd, just for your first month or so of PTs. However, I wouldn't really PT yet if this is a normal indication of your scores.

What books have you worked in and on what kind of schedule? Weren't you very "on-and-off"?

[10052014]

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[Straw_Mandible]

While I do think it's totally silly that you did your PT in a Harvard t-shirt, I'm going to give you a serious response:

This isn't the end of the world. Try your best to separate your ego from this score, and take it for what it really means: Your approach to your prep so far has not been effective. This is a wonderful opportunity to change course, provided that you are willing to see it that way. If this is your first fully timed PT, then it is a diagnostic. Review every single question. Consider your process. Think actively and positively about the things you need to improve, and then crack open the books and start learning new strategies and drilling your Cambridge packets in a focused and deliberate manner. The great thing about drills is that you can test out new strategies, approaches, and mindsets. Be radical. Shake up your process. Figure out what works and what doesn't. This test is about conditioning, yes--you need the mental stamina and discipline to get through it--but it is also about flexibility and willingness to meet unfamiliar challenges. Simply refuse to fall into a rut, and you will make real and sustainable progress.

In solidarity,

SM

[FlyingNorth]

I don't think I should be the OP for this thread. I don't even think I'm deserving to be on this website anymore. It was around 8PM when I decided to take Preptest 58. I was in my pajamas when I came to this realization. I decided to replicate all testing conditions. I changed into my Harvard Law t-shirt, I cleaned off my desk, I put my ID card on my desk and I turned on my proctor DVD. I even sharpened two new pencils to give you an idea of my mindset.

Then I began.

LR
RC
LG

Ten minute break. I went to the bathroom, I ate a protein bar, I drank some water, and I waited for the proctor to start the test again.

LR

I had another section ready, but I decided against it last minute.

I graded my exam.

-14
-10
-7
-13

That's 44 questions wrong.

That comes to a 149.

What am I supposed to do right now?

This was my first PT taken in its entirety, but still, there is no excuse for this level of idiocy.

If you scored a 149 right now would you even still be set on the idea of going to law school?

The LSAT has been actively on my mind since May of 2013. That's a long time.

I suppose Logic Games really are the only thing I have actually drilled so far. Still though, no excuses. A 149! That's an abomination.

If I do end up being successful in June of 2014 I'll really have a story to tell when it comes to LSAT prep, but I have to ask myself if that's even possible. Which right now isn't.

I may as well take this Harvard Law T-shirt off and throw it away.

Pretty much every person on here has scored in the 140's for their first test. Chillax and focus on your weaknesses. You're going to look back at this post in May and shit yourself laughing, and not because you were wearing a HLS t-shirt

[alexrodriguez]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Tomorrow I'll start LR drilling and will not stop until I've finished all of Cambridge.

I shall go to sleep now and have nightmares about this exam.

Good night

[DuncND2013]

jaylawyer--quick Cambridge question, so are all the questions in the packets from PT 1-40? I'm trying to avoid overlap.

taking PT 61 tomorrow morning. first PT in a while, been doing sections only for a little. Really interested to see where I'm at.

[rebexness]

jaylawyer--quick Cambridge question, so are all the questions in the packets from PT 1-40? I'm trying to avoid overlap.
.

I think they are actually PT 1-38

[Straw_Mandible]

Just checked this out, and apparently the new Cambridge bundles have 1-40 as drilling packets and 41-70 as full PTs.

[10052014]

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