The Official October 2015 Study Group Forum

MrBalloons · Post by **MrBalloons** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:48 pm

somethingelse55 wrote:I'm back! Lol...I took about a week off of studying as I felt I might have been at a plateau and I was feeling a bit burnt out. Took PT 42 today:

RC1: Exp (-0)
LG: -1
LR1: -2
RC2: -2
LR2: -0

176...I'll definitely take it. My goal for October is to miss 5 or less (I figure that goal is somewhat more in my control versus going for a specific score out of 180, since that depends on the scaling). So this is the first time I actually hit that goal. I think the break definitely helped recharge my batteries so to speak. I can definitely recommend it if you're at a plateau/feeling burnt out.

-5 is a good goal. I think that's something reasonable for me to aim for too.

calmike · Post by **calmike** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:01 pm

Took PT 55, October 2008

RC: -1
LG: -2
LR: -6

170

LR will be the death of me on test day.

calmike · Post by **calmike** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:02 pm

What is your study schedule like for the next few weeks?

I plan to take 3 preptests a week and then off days, I will finish reading the powerscore books.

The Abyss · Post by **The Abyss** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 9:07 pm

calmike wrote:What is your study schedule like for the next few weeks?

I plan to take 3 preptests a week and then off days, I will finish reading the powerscore books.

PT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
Blind Review very thoroughly Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays
Drill weaknesses on Fridays

PatriotP74 · Post by **PatriotP74** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:16 pm

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Mint-Berry_Crunch · Post by **Mint-Berry_Crunch** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:33 pm

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supermann · Post by **supermann** » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:52 pm

I am still very deterred by LG. I don't think I was fast enough to complete the first five questions. Not to mention the remaining 17-18 questions. I am sooo stupid!!!

appind · Post by **appind** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 2:18 am

may be have a poll for those who go near perfect in new RC: time they take to read the passage.
it may help those of us who get kicked by this section.

seashell.economy · Post by **seashell.economy** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:01 am

supermann wrote:I am still very deterred by LG. I don't think I was fast enough to complete the first five questions. Not to mention the remaining 17-18 questions. I am sooo stupid!!!

No, you just need to practice more.

Talarose · Post by **Talarose** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:25 am

June 2015: 152
July 26: 156 (no studying since test day)
August 17: 166
Today: 173 !!!!!!!!!!!

Probably just a fluke but it's a 173 nonetheless and I'll take it! Going to continue drilling and hope for PTs consistent with 173+. Honestly, this is the best feeling in the world. Never thought I would break 165, let alone 170. I mean, I knew I could but during studying & drilling, it definitely didn't feel like I was improving. Thank goodness. Literally having a dance party at 2:30 am. So. Much. Happiness. Ahhhhhh!

mist4bison · Post by **mist4bison** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:30 am

I had to wake up at 6 am to go into work early. I have no idea how I'll be able to do this on test day. So. Tired.

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:04 am

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ltowns1 · Post by **ltowns1** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:31 am

Anybody got any helpful ideals for weakening questions? I really hate them, and drilling only seems to reinforce bad habits for them.

mist4bison · Post by **mist4bison** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:28 am

ltowns1 wrote:Anybody got any helpful ideals for weakening questions? I really hate them, and drilling only seems to reinforce bad habits for them.

I haven't really drilled Weaken, but also haven't missed any or had trouble with any during PTs/Sections. Anyway, I tend to dump a lot of my answers (for multiple question types, actually) into buckets. I personally look at why an AC is wrong as opposed to why the correct one is correct, so the buckets help me. I think that when I attempt to find the right answer, I end up being more open-minded. Looking for the wrong AC forces me to be very critical.

For Strengthen and Weaken, I dump the ACs into one of three Categories:

- S - Strengthen
- W - Weaken
- U - No or unknown bearing on the argument

I basically read through and write "S," "W, " or "U" to the right of each AC.

I know it's not an innovative strategy by any means, but it might help.

ETA: Haven't drilled any recently. I drilled them all back in Nov, though.

Mint-Berry_Crunch · Post by **Mint-Berry_Crunch** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:31 am

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Mint-Berry_Crunch · Post by **Mint-Berry_Crunch** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:34 am

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mist4bison · Post by **mist4bison** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:44 am

Mint-Berry_Crunch wrote:
mist4bison wrote:
ltowns1 wrote:Anybody got any helpful ideals for weakening questions? I really hate them, and drilling only seems to reinforce bad habits for them.
I haven't really drilled Weaken, but also haven't missed any or had trouble with any during PTs/Sections. Anyway, I tend to dump a lot of my answers (for multiple question types, actually) into buckets. I personally look at why an AC is wrong as opposed to why the correct one is correct, so the buckets help me. I think that when I attempt to find the right answer, I end up being more open-minded. Looking for the wrong AC forces me to be very critical.

For Strengthen and Weaken, I dump the ACs into one of three Categories:
- S - Strengthen
- W - Weaken
- U - No or unknown bearing on the argument

I basically read through and write "S," "W, " or "U" to the right of each AC.

I know it's not an innovative strategy by any means, but it might help.

ETA: Haven't drilled any recently. I drilled them all back in Nov, though.
This is great advice also, and really super duper useful for strengthen/ weaken except (generally speaking, for those TCR will be one that doesn't do anything). It's good to do this for both strengthen and weaken.
I generally don't anticipate these questions, I just eliminate.

I think it's a lot better not to anticipate AC with Weaken or Strengthen. Like you said in your other post, you're generally finding a flaw (an assumption) and the correct answer will do something to fill that hole or make it wider. The tricky part is that it might widen or fill the gap by a small amount that's barely noticeable. There are so many different ways to fill the gap/make it larger, that anticipating is likely to take too long and not be worthwhile.

As far as the "No/unknown bearing" bucket that I use, these answers can be a little tricky. A lot of the time, they discuss the same subject manner, but in a way that doesn't actually have an effect on the argument. Or it has an effect, but you have no idea what that effect might be.

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:55 pm

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flash21 · Post by **flash21** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:56 pm

guys,

I am killing blind review scores, but then I'll have atrocities like a -13 I just got on PT 64's reading comprehension section (I know.. ) resulting in a 158.. but 176 blind review? What the hell.

Upon blind reviewing reading comp it seems that subtle language in reading comp really kills me much more than in LR for some reason. Its actually insane.. typically I am getting -8 which is still horrible but god damn I missed almost half of the section for this timed section. .. need to dedicate all my time to RC i guess...

PoopNpants · Post by **PoopNpants** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:22 pm

Any got good tips on main conclusion Qs? I always seem to pick an answer that is a sub-conclusion or can't decide between 2 answers that both seem like they could be the main conclusion.

The Abyss · Post by **The Abyss** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:28 pm

PoopNpants wrote:Any got good tips on main conclusion Qs? I always seem to pick an answer that is a sub-conclusion or can't decide between 2 answers that both seem like they could be the main conclusion.

A sub-conclusion will work as a premise for the main conclusion. It will read as, "sub-conclusion" therefore "main conclusion".

PoopNpants · Post by **PoopNpants** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:36 pm

The Abyss wrote:
PoopNpants wrote:Any got good tips on main conclusion Qs? I always seem to pick an answer that is a sub-conclusion or can't decide between 2 answers that both seem like they could be the main conclusion.
A sub-conclusion will work as a premise for the main conclusion. It will read as, "sub-conclusion" therefore "main conclusion".

Word I gotcha, thanks dog

mist4bison · Post by **mist4bison** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:43 pm

PoopNpants wrote:Any got good tips on main conclusion Qs? I always seem to pick an answer that is a sub-conclusion or can't decide between 2 answers that both seem like they could be the main conclusion.

This might help. I found it in my compilation of useful URLs, but I haven't read it in a while. I scrolled through and it looks like it mentions sub-conclusions.

ltowns1 · Post by **ltowns1** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 2:14 pm

Mint-Berry_Crunch wrote:
ltowns1 wrote:Anybody got any helpful ideals for weakening questions? I really hate them, and drilling only seems to reinforce bad habits for them.
I had a hard time with them at first. I think the key is in how to approach them. You're not trying to render the conclusion invalid (like you would by negation in a necessary question), instead you're just trying to cast doubt. It's a lower logical strength. Kind of approach the answer choices looking for info that, if known, would cause the arguer to reconsider the validity of the conclusion.
Not all weaken questions are cause and effect arguments, and for those it helps to look for the flaw.

Yeah I don't really have a problem with cause and effect/weaken

sanibella · Post by **sanibella** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 2:40 pm

Mint-Berry_Crunch wrote:Woo highest PT!
PT66
176!
RC -3 couldn't wake up for it, haha.
LR1 -1
LG -1
LR2 -0

Second test in a row where I went -1 in LR combined. Games have been shakey, but still hovering around -1. Need to start reading my book to help with my RC. Def still need to drill LR though.

Poll ideas:
Study tunes (by genres?)
Where do people live?
Pencil types (mirado black warrior or death)
Age?
Job types?
Which relative would you sacrifice for a 180?

You're freaking me out. Took the same exact PT yesterday with the same exact score and the SAME EXACT number of questions wrong per section. I haven't gotten -3 wrong on RC in I don't know how long so that makes it extra bizarre.

I also laughed out loud at the relative question. That gets my vote. That or pencils.