October 2010 Test Prep Forum

[NonTradHealthLaw]

Got my first PT 170! Heck yeah! Time to make that my new normal!

[jwaters]

Took PT 43 on Saturday and got a 161. Took PT 44 today and got a 164. LR is still my biggest weakness but I did have my best LR score today (-2 on section 4 of PT 44). Got a -7 on the other section though. Didn't miss a single question on either section until after question 15.

[Barbie]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

[Anaconda]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

You don't need to take it, you could wait til December.

[Barbie]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

You don't need to take it, you could wait til December.

I'm already signed up now, can I change it to Dec?. I'm borderline (hence the retake) for a lot of schools so I'm sending out my apps VERY early. I feel like if I took in Dec., a lot of schools would have already made up their mind on me. No?

[ly2010]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

I started not too long ago! I think you can do it in 2 months, tbh. Go for it!

[gdane]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

You might be the only person in the entire world that hasn't started studying yet. The only one.

I dont know what your score was, but you say that youre borderline at a lot of schools, so youre probably looking for a bit of a gain, not a huge one. If this is the case you dont need to study for months and months. Some refreshing in a few days and then take PT's during September and you should be ok.

Good luck Barbie!

[Anaconda]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

You don't need to take it, you could wait til December.

I'm already signed up now, can I change it to Dec?. I'm borderline (hence the retake) for a lot of schools so I'm sending out my apps VERY early. I feel like if I took in Dec., a lot of schools would have already made up their mind on me. No?

Don't mean to sound harsh but you can't be lazy and complain about it. If you can't light the fire then accept your original score. Just because it's borderline doesn't mean you won't get into any of your top schools. You could always take a diagnostic to see how the lay-off affected you for better or worse. Supposedly many do much better after a semi-long LSAT break. Heck just taking a few PT's and working on a few certain things might net you a couple extra points and make some of your top schools safety schools.

[Barbie]

still havent started studying.... am I the absolute only one? I'm starting to fear that the re-take was a bad idea...

You don't need to take it, you could wait til December.

I'm already signed up now, can I change it to Dec?. I'm borderline (hence the retake) for a lot of schools so I'm sending out my apps VERY early. I feel like if I took in Dec., a lot of schools would have already made up their mind on me. No?

Don't mean to sound harsh but you can't be lazy and complain about it. If you can't light the fire then accept your original score. Just because it's borderline doesn't mean you won't get into any of your top schools. You could always take a diagnostic to see how the lay-off affected you for better or worse. Supposedly many do much better after a semi-long LSAT break. Heck just taking a few PT's and working on a few certain things might net you a couple extra points and make some of your top schools safety schools.

Not harsh, that's the truth! I need to step it up if I'm going to do this. I would be thrilled with a 1 pt gain. I'm not applying to really intense schools, just the mid-range UF, Wake Forest, and similarly ranked. I have a 163, so I'm a WL candidate. and a 164 means I have a shot at UGA and would possibly bump me up to an acceptance at other schools. I'm not an auto-ding at any of the schools I'm applying to (except maybe 1 or 2 super reaches I might throw an app to) but the 1 point would be very helpful for me. Someone come take all this beer from me and give me a pep talk haha

[Chris_cpb]

I think a lot of people who re-take do what Barbie is doing. I guess it depends on how far your original score is from your desired score. Some people take 50+ PT's before the first real test and then only take an additional 5-10 before the re-take. Others might try alternative prep materials that differ somehow from the ones they may have used earlier.

[Barbie]

I think a lot of people who re-take do what Barbie is doing. I guess it depends on how far your original score is from your desired score. Some people take 50+ PT's before the first real test and then only take an additional 5-10 before the re-take. Others might try alternative prep materials that differ somehow from the ones they may have used earlier.

yea, except I only ever did a few prep tests to study before.... so it seems like now is the time I have to actually study seriously to improve at all.

[Chris_cpb]

I think a lot of people who re-take do what Barbie is doing. I guess it depends on how far your original score is from your desired score. Some people take 50+ PT's before the first real test and then only take an additional 5-10 before the re-take. Others might try alternative prep materials that differ somehow from the ones they may have used earlier.

yea, except I only ever did a few prep tests to study before.... so it seems like now is the time I have to actually study seriously to improve at all.

In that case it has to do with a change in lifestyle. You have to lock yourself in your room or wherever you study and basically make it your number one priority to score higher this next time around. If that doesn't really seem like something you would or could do at the moment, then i would probably suggest re-taking it at a later date.

[rbhesser]

After I took the test last October, I immediately signed up for the December test but never could wrap my head around studying. It's hard to go right back into it; I definitely understand where you are coming from. I ended up taking a no-show for the test, half because I never really put in the right amount of studying and half because I had the swine flu I don't know what you got on your last test, but maybe consider reading through the bibles? All I did last fall was take preptests, so now I'm trying to learn the logic behind why I choose each answer. So far its been helping. Although I'll know for sure a few more weeks in. I'm only about a week and a half into serious studying. If you can get motivated and start this weekend or the beginning of next week, I think you'll have plenty of time to boost your score. If you really want to get into those borderline schools, taking the test now is definitely your best option.

[mynjb26]

Gosh I sure hope not!! That would add on just a little more stress, with a hint of pain.

Hello everyone!!

I've had a consistent headache for about a month now; the amount of time I've been studying for it.

+1 although my headaches might also be a result of my impacted wisdom teeth.

[Adu]

Did you guys read any materials before taking PTs?
I am reading the bibles and honestly when they give practice questions I keep getting them wrong for some reason. I am really stressing out; did this happen to any of you? Plese reassure me lol
I want to try out the technique of taking the PT twice, once timed and another time untimed.

[lparker]

Question for those who use the bibles: After finishing do you review them at all? How much? Of the two practice tests I've taken, my most missed question type was Assumption. I definitely want to review that chapter.

[rahimali]

Did you guys read any materials before taking PTs?
I am reading the bibles and honestly when they give practice questions I keep getting them wrong for some reason. I am really stressing out; did this happen to any of you? Plese reassure me lol
I want to try out the technique of taking the PT twice, once timed and another time untimed.

don't worry, buddy. I had the same problem. Just take your time. It'll come to you eventually.

[Adu]

Did you guys read any materials before taking PTs?
I am reading the bibles and honestly when they give practice questions I keep getting them wrong for some reason. I am really stressing out; did this happen to any of you? Plese reassure me lol
I want to try out the technique of taking the PT twice, once timed and another time untimed.

don't worry, buddy. I had the same problem. Just take your time. It'll come to you eventually.

Thanks! I've been reading the LR Bilbe 2-3 hours a day and then I plan on finishing the LG one. I just needed to be reassured that I wasn;t the only one stuggling so much at first. I'm going to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
Quick question, how long does it take to get your LSAT score once you've taken it? I think I saw that info somwhere, but I can't remember :-s

[gdane]

Question for those who use the bibles: After finishing do you review them at all? How much? Of the two practice tests I've taken, my most missed question type was Assumption. I definitely want to review that chapter.

Use Kaplan Mastery. You can work with the specific question types you went over in the LRB. This has really helped me. I'll do Main Point in the LRB and then work with the Main Point questions in Kaplan Mastery.

Good luck!

[gdane]

[/quote]Not harsh, that's the truth! I need to step it up if I'm going to do this. I would be thrilled with a 1 pt gain. I'm not applying to really intense schools, just the mid-range UF, Wake Forest, and similarly ranked. I have a 163, so I'm a WL candidate. and a 164 means I have a shot at UGA and would possibly bump me up to an acceptance at other schools. I'm not an auto-ding at any of the schools I'm applying to (except maybe 1 or 2 super reaches I might throw an app to) but the 1 point would be very helpful for me. Someone come take all this beer from me and give me a pep talk haha[/quote]

Barbie, go to a school because you want to go there, not because "rankings" compel you to go there. Keep in mind that aside from some schools in the Top 14, most law schools are regional. So, a higher ranking doesnt necessarily mean better job prospects. So if youre thinking about going to Wake Forest because you think it'll help you get a job in NYC, or some other large market, more so than UF will, dont be fooled. Wake Forest will help you get a job in NC and UF in FL.

Good luck!

[Barbie]

Not harsh, that's the truth! I need to step it up if I'm going to do this. I would be thrilled with a 1 pt gain. I'm not applying to really intense schools, just the mid-range UF, Wake Forest, and similarly ranked. I have a 163, so I'm a WL candidate. and a 164 means I have a shot at UGA and would possibly bump me up to an acceptance at other schools. I'm not an auto-ding at any of the schools I'm applying to (except maybe 1 or 2 super reaches I might throw an app to) but the 1 point would be very helpful for me. Someone come take all this beer from me and give me a pep talk haha[/quote]

Barbie, go to a school because you want to go there, not because "rankings" compel you to go there. Keep in mind that aside from some schools in the Top 14, most law schools are regional. So, a higher ranking doesnt necessarily mean better job prospects. So if youre thinking about going to Wake Forest because you think it'll help you get a job in NYC, or some other large market, more so than UF will, dont be fooled. Wake Forest will help you get a job in NC and UF in FL.

Good luck![/quote]

Oh I know. I'm just not picky... I know I want to live in or near the south east.. so FL, GA, NC, TN, KY, MS is pretty much it. I'm only sending a few apps elsewhere to schools I would really like and states I wouldn't mind living in (U. Colorado). I'm not really applying anywhere near NY/DC because I wouldn't like living there. I'm wayyyy too much of a southern girl.


To the person who asked about how long til you get your score- roughly 3 weeks. Mine came out really early this last cycle (before a lot of ppl on TLS) and I got it at a very early lunch on a Thursday (i think......) when it was supposed to come out on Monday.

[etown989]

Did you guys read any materials before taking PTs?
I am reading the bibles and honestly when they give practice questions I keep getting them wrong for some reason. I am really stressing out; did this happen to any of you? Plese reassure me lol
I want to try out the technique of taking the PT twice, once timed and another time untimed.

I believe that the practice questions are exactly that... practice. If you get a question wrong at least its a practice one and they give you a full explanation on it. No worries

[etown989]

Did you guys read any materials before taking PTs?
I am reading the bibles and honestly when they give practice questions I keep getting them wrong for some reason. I am really stressing out; did this happen to any of you? Plese reassure me lol
I want to try out the technique of taking the PT twice, once timed and another time untimed.

don't worry, buddy. I had the same problem. Just take your time. It'll come to you eventually.

Thanks! I've been reading the LR Bilbe 2-3 hours a day and then I plan on finishing the LG one. I just needed to be reassured that I wasn;t the only one stuggling so much at first. I'm going to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
Quick question, how long does it take to get your LSAT score once you've taken it? I think I saw that info somewhere, but I can't remember :-s

Its on the lsac website and typically scores have been release 1-4 days earlier then they are supposed to be.

[thomas85]

Very first timed 170! - logic games have quickly gone from enemy to best friend.

[thomas85]

When you guys are doing timed tests, have you tried adding a fifth section to simulate the practice section? Does it make a big difference in terms of your stamina?