The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[alexrodriguez]

Well the time has come. I took a pt after months of studying and drilling.

Took pt 40 - and got a 165. quite disheartening...

LR -4
LG -0
LR -6
RC -6

As you can see, lr is killing me, even though I drilled all of cambridge.

The reason is that I got so nervous that I threw all my strategies out the window for the LR sections. I finished both sections in 27 minutes, so i reviewed some of my answers. But, that shows that I was rushing and not using the strategies I was supposed to.
For the next pt, I will make sure not to do that.


I believe that I will review it tomorrow, if not today.

jaylawyer, you're going to be fine.

want to post all the questions you got wrong? I'd be curious to take a look at those

[10052014]

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[DMW723]

Is it just me or does the Powerscore LG Bible focus too much on diagramming an excessive number of less useful inferences? I'm reading the LSAT Trainer now and have noticed that Mike spends significantly less effort on those types of inferences.

Also, I took my first practice test (41) over the weekend under timed conditions and made a 166. The majority of my misses were timing related or errors in logical reasoning. I was terrified of taking a PT for the longest time because I didn't want to be disheartened by starting off with a bad diagnostic and now I'm more motivated than ever.

I believe in ~5 months time we can all turn our weaknesses into strengths, keep up the good work guys!

[law_dawg18]

Ehhhhh. I am not so sure about this. I think it is better to really take your time and not rush (not to exactly saying that 3 months would be rushing but I think it would be). You are developing a new mindset. One of the challenges of the LSAT is breaking down the logic you THINK you have for actual logic. This takes time and intensity is not always conducive to really changing your mindset. Usually a slow, gradual, process is best.

I, myself, am going with the slow gradual process. I am not worried about my schedule. Yes I am planning on taking it in June but if I am not ready I am not going to. There is no point to rush this process only to try to "cram in" studying. The LSAT is something that takes time and diligence.

I appreciate the reply, I just am terrified to do any little thing that (according to other people, illogical as that may be) might compromise my score or prevent me from getting as high as possible you know? And as far as the logic goes, I am purposefully taking both Symbolic Logic and Logic and Critical Thinking this semester with the hope that they will help me on the LSAT. Thus far I feel like they have made me better at analyzing arguments and thinking critically so we shall see.

[flash21]

Guys - reading comp is killing me here. I keep finishing a passage (doing individual ones at the moment), and I am usually finishing them at like 11-12 minutes.

Going to keep trying to get the time down more but god this is annyoing

[10052014]

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[DMW723]

For Match the Flaw and Match the Reasoning questions does anyone diagram the passage from the stimulus? I often feel like I use too much time when answering these. Thanks guys.

[WaltGrace83]

Hey guys,

How should I schedule my PTs from now until test day? any suggestions? (I have 41-70)

I'm thinking 1 pt a week until march 1.
Then 2 a week till april 1.
Then from april 1 - june, it'll be 3 a week.

Obviously take what I say with a grain of salt but I think that any PT schedule will be okay as long as you review each PT thoroughly with blind review. Obviously, I think it is a little bit harsh to say your first PT should be blind review (let's face it...we want to know how we did that very first time) but since you have already done your first PT then I think you should blind review here on out. Otherwise, go crazy jay

[10052014]

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[Nicolena.]

What about 70 and 71?

Hey guys,

How should I schedule my PTs from now until test day? any suggestions? (I have 41-70)

I'm thinking 1 pt a week until march 1.
Then 2 a week till april 1.
Then from april 1 - june, it'll be 3 a week.

Obviously take what I say with a grain of salt but I think that any PT schedule will be okay as long as you review each PT thoroughly with blind review. Obviously, I think it is a little bit harsh to say your first PT should be blind review (let's face it...we want to know how we did that very first time) but since you have already done your first PT then I think you should blind review here on out. Otherwise, go crazy jay

I actually ran across this now on DD'd thread (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=212294):

What I dont understand is why he says to review the PT two days after taking the PT, and not the day immediately after...
Like on March 12, he says take PT 52, and review March 16. (4 days later!) Why is this? maybe its intended for us to blind review and do some drilling?
take a look at it below, and tell me what you think.



February:

(2/4).......... PT 40
(2/15).......... PT 41
(2/18).......... PT 50
(2/25).......... PT 51

March:

(3/2).......... PT 67
(3/9).......... PT 66 and RC from PT 38, Review on 3/10

(3/12).......... PT 52, Review 3/16
(3/14).......... PT 53 and RC from PT 37, Review 3/17

(3/19).......... PT 65, Review 3/23
(3/21).......... PT 64 and RC from PT 36, Review 3/24

(3/26).......... PT 54, Review 3/30
(3/28).......... PT 55 and RC from PT 35, Review 3/31

April:

(4/2).......... PT 56, Review 4/6
(4/4).......... PT 63 and RC from PT 33, Review 4/7

(4/9).......... PT 57, Review 4/13
(4/11).......... PT 58 and RC from PT 32, Review 4/14

(4/16).......... PT 62, Review 4/20
(4/18).......... PT 61 and RC from PT 31, Review 4/21

(4/23).......... PT 59, Review 4/27
(4/25).......... PT 60 and RC from PT 30, Review 4/28


May: the final stretch, all at the test center review

(4/30).......... PT 68, Review 5/4
(5/2).......... PT 43 and RC from PT 29, Review 5/5

(5/7).......... PT 44 and PT 63, Review 5/11
(5/9).......... PT 45 and PT 62, Review 5/12

(5/14).......... PT 46 and Preptest B, Review 5/18
(5/16).......... PT 47 and Preptest C, Review 5/19

(5/21).......... PT 48 and PT 64, Review 5/25
(5/23).......... PT 49 and PT 50, back to back, Review 5/26

(5/28).......... PT 65 and 66, back to back, Review 6/1
(5/30).......... PT 67 and PT 68 back to back, Review 6/2

June:

(6/1 - 6/9).......... Relax
(6/10).......... PT 69 at the test center

[10052014]

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[mist4bison]

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[10052014]

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[mist4bison]

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[Nicolena.]

Nicolena,

I just finsihed adjusting DD's sched. to the June 2014 takers. All I did was add 3 to each pt he mentions in there. That way, it'll all be in sync. (For example, he says take PT 67, but I would replace it with 70 on my sched.)

anyways, that what I did, and now I actually have a sched. to stick to.
Looks like 2 days a week I'll PT (M and W) and review them (F and SAT) - It follows this pattern the throughout the whole sched.

Its the same thing until june 9 - the same pattern for three months.

I'm taking in feb but I may take June as well. My only criticism is that if it were me, I would not take off a week before the test. If you are going to do this, I would take off a week somewhere else in your schedule to ensure that it won't effect your score. It's different for everyone, but I like to pt even the day before the test to stay focused.

Also, once you start your schedule I would take into consideration that if something doesn't seem to be working like the back to back PTing, then maybe come up with a solution like one test in the morning and evening. I know your very ambitious from your posts though so maybe this won't be an issue for you.

If you decide to take off, I would at least review flash cards and do some drilling.

Just my opinion.

[afnajjerh]

If you look closely at the sched, 5 section test begin in March.

I will be able to take them on M and W at 12:30. Then will review them on F and Sat.

Ahh, I need to practice my critical reading skills haha. Sounds like you've got an awesome plan. You go, Glen Coco!

On another note, does anyone that's working full time (or just taking a lot of classes, I guess) plan on taking PTs at night? I don't even plan on PTing until March, but I'm worried only doing 2 PTs a week (Sat and Sun) won't be sufficient (but I also will be burnt out after working 11 hours...).

I've been debating that issue a lot. Honestly, I will probably try a few PT's after work on Monday for the first 2-3 weeks and see how I do, not just in the score but with mental exhaustion. As of now I have most of my PT's scheduled for the weekends and every other friday (I am on a 9/80 schedule so i get every other friday off).

[mist4bison]

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[Straw_Mandible]

I've just spent some time laying out my PT schedule and it looks like I'll be taking 30, distributed as such:
February: 1
March: 6
April: 9
May: 12
June: 2 (not sure about this, though)

In April I have a week off,so I'll take a few during that time. In May I'll start taking 3 a week--Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.

I figure that 1) I can skip out of our professional development an hour early on Wednesdays, 2) it'll be better to add more PTs in as I'm more comfortable with them, and 3) it'll be lighter out in May, anyway.

I have 2 scheduled the week before the exam. One on June 4 (Wed) and one on June 7 (Saturday). (I may also take off June 6 and take a PT that day instead of June 7). The June 4 is a 5 section and June 7 is a 6 section. Does anyone see it as a problem to take a PT the week beforehand?

This is necessarily going to depend on you. Some people swear by taking a PT every day of the week before test day, and others advise to take the whole week off. I recommend scheduling in those PTs for now, but remain open to readjustment depending on how you feel as that fated Monday in June approaches. If you think you need a rest, trust that instinct. If you feel strong, keep going strong. The LSAT is ultimately a performance, after all.

[rebexness]

I actually ran across this now on DD'd thread (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=212294):

What I dont understand is why he says to review the PT two days after taking the PT, and not the day immediately after...
Like on March 12, he says take PT 52, and review March 16. (4 days later!) Why is this?


February:

(2/4).......... PT 40
(2/15).......... PT 41
(2/18).......... PT 50
(2/25).......... PT 51

March:
r

The first day is the day he was taking the test, the review day was a group review online.

[afnajjerh]

I actually ran across this now on DD'd thread (http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=212294):

What I dont understand is why he says to review the PT two days after taking the PT, and not the day immediately after...
Like on March 12, he says take PT 52, and review March 16. (4 days later!) Why is this?


February:

(2/4).......... PT 40
(2/15).......... PT 41
(2/18).......... PT 50
(2/25).......... PT 51

March:
r

The first day is the day he was taking the test, the review day was a group review online.

Speaking about group review, this would be a great schedule to have for those of us who joined the Manhattan study group. Just a thought

[rebexness]

Speaking about group review, this would be a great schedule to have for those of us who joined the Manhattan study group. Just a thought

Personally, I am doing my PTs on Saturdays, Sundays, and any day off so I can mimic dat 12:00noon start time.

[cavalier2015]

i thought I would share my plan with y'all. maybe it might help some. feel free to critique it and tell me if i am missing things.

Lesson 1-15 in Trainer (read through and do assigned problems in book)
Then use LGB or Blueprint LG (drill each game type with Cambridge)
Then do Trainer for specific LR and couple with manhattan (drill with Cambridge)

Finish all by April 1st. Then spend all of april and may doing PTs.

thoughts? advice?

[afnajjerh]

Speaking about group review, this would be a great schedule to have for those of us who joined the Manhattan study group. Just a thought

Personally, I am doing my PTs on Saturdays, Sundays, and any day off so I can mimic dat 12:00noon start time.

I was going more along the lines of PT review.

[mornincounselor]

Post removed.

[alexrodriguez]

By doing this I was hoping to distinguish between questions I missed only because of misreading from questions where my answering process was incorrect. Anyone try something similar early on in their prep? Is it beneficial? Detrimental?

I think you're the only real judge in whether it will be beneficial or detrimental.

I've redone a lot of the same material and the only thing I've gotten out of comparing my answers is seeing how dumb I use to be.

It's redoing the material that matters.