June 2014 Retakers Forum

[ender235]

Hey guys, I originally took the test last October and decided to retake VERY late after seeing how this cycle turned out. A little background info before my question: I scored a 168 on the October LSAT and have not thought about anything LSAT related since. I have taken three practice tests in the last week and scored a 160 (June 2006) on the first one, a 169 (June 2007) on the second and a 166 (June 2008) on the third. I am wondering how accurate this with regard to how I will test in June. My main concern is that the 169 is an outlier/is mainly because I have taken these practice tests when I was studying for the October test. I definitely recognized some of the questions in the LR section and I was able to just point straight to the flaw. Also, I only test the 4 sections included in the book - is stamina really that big of an issue that testing with 5 will yield more representative results? Should I throw in a section from another book while testing?
Another question I have was about the best method to study now. I get between 2-5 wrong per section, generally going -0 on LG and -5 on RC (boring passages tend to make my mind wander). I plan on taking a practice test every day and reviewing what I got right and wrong and making sure I understand the logic behind every answer. Is there anything else I can do at this point to hit 170+? Thanks in advance for any help and I hope everyone hits their desired score!

[dd235]

My schedule thus fas has been

Monday: PT
Tuesday: BR
Wednesday: Drill
Thursday: PT
Friday: BR
Saturday: Drill
Sunday: Day OFF!!!

I am going to continue this until test day. Last take I was taking 5 PTs/week and studying 40-50 hours a week and it definitely hurt my performance. I’m trying to switch things up this time around.

[rebexness]

My schedule for the rest of the days:

May 21: PT 42
May 24: PT 71
May 26: PT 45
May 28: PT 46
June 3: PT 51
June 5: June 2007
June 7: PT 52
June 8: PT 46

With drilling in between. Going to hit LR/RC hard.

[dd235]

Hey guys, I originally took the test last October and decided to retake VERY late after seeing how this cycle turned out. A little background info before my question: I scored a 168 on the October LSAT and have not thought about anything LSAT related since. I have taken three practice tests in the last week and scored a 160 (June 2006) on the first one, a 169 (June 2007) on the second and a 166 (June 2008) on the third. I am wondering how accurate this with regard to how I will test in June. My main concern is that the 169 is an outlier/is mainly because I have taken these practice tests when I was studying for the October test. I definitely recognized some of the questions in the LR section and I was able to just point straight to the flaw. Also, I only test the 4 sections included in the book - is stamina really that big of an issue that testing with 5 will yield more representative results? Should I throw in a section from another book while testing?
Another question I have was about the best method to study now. I get between 2-5 wrong per section, generally going -0 on LG and -5 on RC (boring passages tend to make my mind wander). I plan on taking a practice test every day and reviewing what I got right and wrong and making sure I understand the logic behind every answer. Is there anything else I can do at this point to hit 170+? Thanks in advance for any help and I hope everyone hits their desired score!

You have less than three weeks left so time is a big issue here. If I were you I would be taking 5-section PTs (it will help with stamina but also give you more material to review). Most people here will agree that your review of the test is where you will see improvements. I usually spend more time reviewing than I do taking the actual test. It is important to use the blind review method and really analyze your thought process.

Three weeks is not a lot of time, but this is a good place to start. Good luck!

[dd235]

Reb,

Solid. we should try to match up PT 71 and do a group review. Seems like it would be helpful and I still haven’t done one yet. I was planning on taking it next monday but can switch it up. When is everyone else here planning on taking 71?

[Learn_Live_Hope]

...

[rebexness]

Anyone want to review PT 71 in depth Tuesday night?

ETA: Looking like 8:00 BCT or 11:00 EST, if you are interested.

[SpiritofFire]

Ugggg I got -6 on LR ON PT71. Anyone sensing a difference in LR on the most recent preptests? The questions seem to be taking longer to solve for some reason. When I look at them, they don't seem to be significantly more difficult, they just seem to cost more time... Thoughts?

[NYSStateOfMind]

.

[sashafierce]

Just had one of the best LSAT days I've had in a while!!!

Took PT 64 with 2 experimental sections from PT 65 (I usually take 4-section PTs and wanted to ensure that I had the stamina for test day)

LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
RC:-3
EXP LR: -0
EXP LG: -0

Raw 97
Scales 178

RC felt really hard to me so I am shocked that I only missed three questions. I also wasn't able to finish the RC section and spent an extra 8 minutes on it and didn't count it against me in my score so it would have probably been closer to low 170s if strictly timed. At this point, I am definitely going to concentrate my few remaining drilling days on RC, mostly ignoring LR but still sprinkling in at least one LG a day so I don't slow down.

I took yesterday off and it felt great! I can't stress enough how much we all need a break in order to rejuvenate our minds.

Great score!

I just did PT64 scored 161, how did you diagram Game 3, did you do solve for all of the possibilities?

[dd235]

Anyone want to review PT 71 in depth Tuesday night?

ETA: Looking like 8:00 BCT or 11:00 EST, if you are interested.

BCT?? Is that a thing? I think you mean PST.

Ugggg I got -6 on LR ON PT71. Anyone sensing a difference in LR on the most recent preptests? The questions seem to be taking longer to solve for some reason. When I look at them, they don't seem to be significantly more difficult, they just seem to cost more time... Thoughts?

Yes, most people (along with myself) feel a slight difference in the newer tests. I personally think that the answer choices are cleaner. Whereas in the older ones there were some answers that really felt like stretches to me while with the newer ones they seem more definitive (if that makes sense). In terms of question types, just going off of memory I seem to recall more "which of the following most logically completes the argument" and "role" questions. They have also been throwing in some "agree" rather than "disagree" questions so it is extremely important to focus on what they are looking for. Additionally, I have noticed more 26-question sections. I am not a fan.

Checking in pretty late here, but I have been preparing for my retake since the beginning of April. 167 in October after two months of strict studying. My plan is a little different from what I have seen on here, but I pretty much did not look at the LSAT for all of April and the beginning of May. I spent about four hours a day reading the most complex books/stories I could find and doing Sudoku(s?). I decided to do this because LG was never a problem for me (I think I got 1 wrong in my last 5 practice tests before the October test) and I did not really know how else to improve. After a bit of reviewing around May 8th, I took my first practice test and scored a 166 (timing was really bad). Since then I have taken 3 more tests which averaged out to 174 and I took one today and got a 178!

If I score high enough I will be trying to move off of my waitlists and attempt to get into schools that flat-out rejected me. Does anyone know how either of these processes would work? Do I just email the schools and tell them my new score?

I am pretty sure that once you are rejected you are done for the cycle. Waitlists however are still in play. I would email the schools you were waitlisted at immediately once you get your score (should be about 3-4 weeks after the test). If you want to get into the schools that rejected you, I think you would have to reapply next cycle. I am not 100% sure about this, however.

[dd235]

Just had one of the best LSAT days I've had in a while!!!

Took PT 64 with 2 experimental sections from PT 65 (I usually take 4-section PTs and wanted to ensure that I had the stamina for test day)

LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
RC:-3
EXP LR: -0
EXP LG: -0

Raw 97
Scales 178

RC felt really hard to me so I am shocked that I only missed three questions. I also wasn't able to finish the RC section and spent an extra 8 minutes on it and didn't count it against me in my score so it would have probably been closer to low 170s if strictly timed. At this point, I am definitely going to concentrate my few remaining drilling days on RC, mostly ignoring LR but still sprinkling in at least one LG a day so I don't slow down.

I took yesterday off and it felt great! I can't stress enough how much we all need a break in order to rejuvenate our minds.

Great score!

I just did PT64 scored 161, how did you diagram Game 3, did you do solve for all of the possibilities?

Thanks! I split the game into 4 sub gameboards. I knew J and H could not fit in the Y1/S2 rule, so it must be either G or F. Given this, I split each of these scenarios into two. One with H in T1 and the other with H in T2. Here's a picture of my setup. I haven't seen JY's solution yet so hopefully they aren't too far off.

[sashafierce]

Just had one of the best LSAT days I've had in a while!!!

Took PT 64 with 2 experimental sections from PT 65 (I usually take 4-section PTs and wanted to ensure that I had the stamina for test day)

LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
RC:-3
EXP LR: -0
EXP LG: -0

Raw 97
Scales 178

RC felt really hard to me so I am shocked that I only missed three questions. I also wasn't able to finish the RC section and spent an extra 8 minutes on it and didn't count it against me in my score so it would have probably been closer to low 170s if strictly timed. At this point, I am definitely going to concentrate my few remaining drilling days on RC, mostly ignoring LR but still sprinkling in at least one LG a day so I don't slow down.

I took yesterday off and it felt great! I can't stress enough how much we all need a break in order to rejuvenate our minds.

Great score!

I just did PT64 scored 161, how did you diagram Game 3, did you do solve for all of the possibilities?

Thanks! I split the game into 4 sub gameboards. I knew J and H could not fit in the Y1/S2 rule, so it must be either G or F. Given this, I split each of these scenarios into two. One with H in T1 and the other with H in T2. Here's a picture of my setup. I haven't seen JY's solution yet so hopefully they aren't too far off.

Nice, I spilt mines as well

[jmjm]

I'm just done taking PT 65-to-71 and 55-to-59.

I'd be happy to discuss/review any questions from these tests if anyone's interested.

[rebexness]

Anyone want to review PT 71 in depth Tuesday night?

ETA: Looking like 8:00 BCT or 11:00 EST, if you are interested.

BCT?? Is that a thing? I think you mean PST.

Best Coast Time, for the uninitiated.

[dd235]

Anyone want to review PT 71 in depth Tuesday night?

ETA: Looking like 8:00 BCT or 11:00 EST, if you are interested.

BCT?? Is that a thing? I think you mean PST.

Best Coast Time, for the uninitiated.

Haha!!! Where on the best coast are you from? Its all about SoCal!

What’s everyone’s situation with school/work as we are approaching the finish line? I’m on the quarter system so I have school right until the test. I’m assuming most people are on summer break already?

[scandk]

What’s everyone’s situation with school/work as we are approaching the finish line? I’m on the quarter system so I have school right until the test. I’m assuming most people are on summer break already?

I'm on a semester system, and ended school about two weeks ago. Having to study for finals and the LSAT simultaneously must be rough. I barely did any LSAT studying during finals week, if any. Good luck dawg

About to start PT59 with experimental from PT32. Shooting for 173+. Anyone else taking 59 anytime soon?

[dasani13]

163 on PT 62 today.

-7 on LG all because of that stupid Conferences game. Like, I didn't even know what I was doing lol.

Reviewing it tonight then PT 64 tomorrow. Also, I'm down to review 71 with you guys on the proposed date.

[Chill_Out]

Checking in (long time lurker). Good luck everyone!

[dasani13]

Checking in (long time lurker). Good luck everyone!

Welcome!

[dasani13]

Anyone want to review PT 71 in depth Tuesday night?

ETA: Looking like 8:00 BCT or 11:00 EST, if you are interested.

BCT?? Is that a thing? I think you mean PST.

Best Coast Time, for the uninitiated.

Haha!!! Where on the best coast are you from? Its all about SoCal!

What’s everyone’s situation with school/work as we are approaching the finish line? I’m on the quarter system so I have school right until the test. I’m assuming most people are on summer break already?

I'm just working part-time, about 20 hours/week. It's still annoying though so I'll probably work only 1 or 2 days/week until the test.

[rebexness]

I'm working full time plus one 3 day weekend of contracted work until the test. Plus this weekend I'm volunteering for about 4 hrs a day.

Monday (Memorial Day) is my only full day off before the test. Planning on PTing.

Possibly need to rearrange my schedule bc it sounds p scary just typing that out.

[sashafierce]

Just finished PT 69 got 161

LR1 -5 (had to guess 5, went -1 on all questions attempted)
LG -4
RC-12 wtf wtf wtf
LR2 -5 (had to guess 5 went -2 on all questions attempted)

I really need some help with timing on LR. My accuracy level is good, I have been getting -0 to -1 on the first 20 questions (for this past week) but run out of time and guess the last 5 to 6, I just chose D . Tomorrow I am going to focus on LR section drills, I am going to try to complete the first 15 in 15 mins and see how that works. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve timing on LR?

[dd235]

163 on PT 62 today.

-7 on LG all because of that stupid Conferences game. Like, I didn't even know what I was doing lol.

Reviewing it tonight then PT 64 tomorrow. Also, I'm down to review 71 with you guys on the proposed date.

Nice!!! PT62 is IMO the hardest LSAT there is. Difficult LG and RC with two 26-question LR sections... Its mentally draining

Just finished PT 69 got 161
I really need some help with timing on LR. My accuracy level is good, I have been getting -0 to -1 on the first 20 questions (for this past week) but run out of time and guess the last 5 to 6, I just chose D . Tomorrow I am going to focus on LR section drills, I am going to try to complete the first 15 in 15 mins and see how that works. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve timing on LR?

I always strive for the “15 in 15” strategy. That gives you 20 minutes for the final 10/11 questions.

[jk148706]

Checking in (long time lurker). Good luck everyone!

Welcome, come on in!