Frustrated . . . Forum

[splittermcsplit88]

I'm constantly testing around 158. In LR, I constantly miss 1 or 2 from Q#8-14; 2 or 3 from Q#15-21. I know the question types but it is usually those really obscure "what strengthens most" answer choices or difficult assumption questions that flicks off a few points here and there. I go over my answers and understand what went wrong but I can't possibly keep in mind every trick in the book. In RC, I don't have a concrete, engraved understanding of the passages so I usually get -2 on each passage.

For timed practices, I can only go up to about question #20 for LR and RC. I subvocalize when I read, which is why I think I am reading slow. I mean, I'm always reflaming my determination and taking note of my past mistakes, but there are always these new traps, and my reading speed isn't about to get faster anytime soon. I am so frustrated and am doubtful of whether I can ever hit 165+. If I can't even do that, what does that say about the type of lawyer I will be? Where do I go from here?

From what I know, people who hit 170+ are breezing through passages with time to spare. They are able to parse through dense 1800s literature passages and break down the most complicated logical reasoning traps. This seems very far away.

[Blueprint Ben]

How long have you been studying? What has your prep routine been looking like so far?

[trvr]

You're gonna be okay.. Plateaus can happen for a lot of different reasons. Try taking a step back from your study process and evaluating what may not be working. If it's discouraging you, maybe it's time to take a break from PT. Posting your current routine will help us to help you.

If I can't even do that, what does that say about the type of lawyer I will be? .

Don't get yourself down like that. Take some deep breaths and think about one thing at a time.

[splittermcsplit88]

Thanks guys. I guess if I were to point out the flaws in my study, I would say:

1) Although I sometimes understand why I got a question wrong, I don't write my thoughts down or keep a journal; I just make a mental note of it. So when I encounter a similar trap few PTs later, I probably fall for it again.
2) When I review my answers, I'm not having major revelations. I say "oh, I misread something" or "ah, the MOST reasonable...k." Because I know basically what the question types are, I don't feel the need to drill specific question types.
3) I feel like I need to revamp my thought process or else I'm just going to continue making similar mistakes.
4) Convoluted assumption questions are eating up a lot of time.

I read the PowerScore books and hurried through almost 50 PTs. I go over my answers but it is always "ah, okay" but pointless sort of because I never write anything down....I only started putting in sincere effort for the past 3 months though, on a full-time course load, so maybe I just need to take a break. I get home from school at around 5pm and take a PT/review each day.

[Blueprint Ben]

Thanks guys. I guess if I were to point out the flaws in my study, I would say:

1) Although I sometimes understand why I got a question wrong, I don't write my thoughts down or keep a journal; I just make a mental note of it. So when I encounter a similar trap few PTs later, I probably fall for it again.
2) When I review my answers, I'm not having major revelations. I say "oh, I misread something" or "ah, the MOST reasonable...k." Because I know basically what the question types are, I don't feel the need to drill specific question types.
3) I feel like I need to revamp my thought process or else I'm just going to continue making similar mistakes.
4) Convoluted assumption questions are eating up a lot of time.

I read the PowerScore books and hurried through almost 50 PTs. I go over my answers but it is always "ah, okay" but pointless sort of because I never write anything down....I only started putting in sincere effort for the past 3 months though, on a full-time course load, so maybe I just need to take a break. I get home from school at around 5pm and take a PT/review each day.

Just as I suspected. The problem with your prep routine is that you're not drilling. Just taking PTs and doing a cursory review of them will not help you improve substantially. You need to spend most of your time drilling questions by type, developing muscle memory, and taking PTs maybe twice or three times a week, tops. A PT should be used as a periodic gauge of your progress, not really a study tool in and of itself.

[trvr]

Gotta agree with Ben. Drilling will help you develop a feel for what's wrong and what's right in each question type. Make sure you can articulate to yourself not just why right answers are right, but why wrong answers are wrong. Also, consider getting a Manhattan book or the LSAT trainer to help with LR. I found that the LR Bible wasn't very helpful, but those were.