June 2011 Study Group Forum

[blink]

TLS1776 suggested online study partners. Anyone want to partner with me

I'll bite. I read the article a while back and I think it could help. PM for more info?

[JG7773]

.

[stlisforlovers]

Same. Online study buddies seems like it would be helpful. PM away!

If anyone is in the St Louis area, in person study buddies would be sweet too.

[neeko]

I would be up for an online study partner as well!

[Yeags]

I would also like to find a online partner, please pm! Is it possible to join a study group on pm?

[Lemon Lyman]

I'm down for a study group

[freestallion]

Hi everyone, count me in. I'll be following this thread!

I took the LSAT for the first time in October 2009 (after my junior year of college) and got a 167. Was very disappointed but the main reason was that I was just not prepared for the testing atmosphere. Lost a bit of focus in my first section there and got -5 on the RC, because I ran out of time. Then, I took a deep breath and regained focus, and did the rest of my sections just fine (-0 or -2 max). But that RC section screwed me over. I was getting around 171-173 in my practice but quite honestly, I just wasn't ready. Should have canceled my score but oh well, what can you do.

This time around, I'm hoping to get at least a 173. Hopefully higher! I'm not sure whether I'll take a prep course or not; we'll see where I am at the beginning of March. I'm going to intensively focus on my weaknesses and make sure to take practice tests in more noisy atmospheres (coffee shops, etc). I'm also going to try to take at least one or two proctored practice tests and am planning to purchase that LSAT proctor video and use that. My goal is to simulate the actual test as much as possible so I don't freak out again/get nervous and lose my focus.

I have already gone through the PS bibles and I'm going to get ahold of Kaplan Mastery so I can drill question/game types and hone in on my weaknesses. This is something I didn't do very well last time. Taking prep tests is useless unless you can identify and eliminate weaknesses.

I'm going to take 1-2 practice tests a week and spend the rest of my time reviewing wrong and uncertain answers and also, drilling question types I'm struggling with.

Oh and I'm in the D.C. area and am up for a study group..

EDIT:
Also, I completed some of the older prep tests timed and have been getting *REALLY* high scores. Range of 176 - 179 (highest so far), and I find it really weird. I never got such high scores in the past so I'm wondering if these are flukes or if I really have improved so much. I'm chalking it up to only doing 3 sections at once (not the full 5 sections) and that some of these tests are quite old (the most recent was #31). Not sure what's happening so this weekend I'm going to take a full timed more recent prep test to see what happens.

Anyone know if the older tests (1-30) are much easier than the most recent ones??

[joebloe]

Hi everyone, count me in. I'll be following this thread!

I took the LSAT for the first time in October 2009 (after my junior year of college) and got a 167. Was very disappointed but the main reason was that I was just not prepared for the testing atmosphere. Lost a bit of focus in my first section there and got -5 on the RC, because I ran out of time. Then, I took a deep breath and regained focus, and did the rest of my sections just fine (-0 or -2 max). But that RC section screwed me over. I was getting around 171-173 in my practice but quite honestly, I just wasn't ready. Should have canceled my score but oh well, what can you do.

This time around, I'm hoping to get at least a 173. Hopefully higher! I'm not sure whether I'll take a prep course or not; we'll see where I am at the beginning of March. I'm going to intensively focus on my weaknesses and make sure to take practice tests in more noisy atmospheres (coffee shops, etc). I'm also going to try to take at least one or two proctored practice tests and am planning to purchase that LSAT proctor video and use that. My goal is to simulate the actual test as much as possible so I don't freak out again/get nervous and lose my focus.

I have already gone through the PS bibles and I'm going to get ahold of Kaplan Mastery so I can drill question/game types and hone in on my weaknesses. This is something I didn't do very well last time. Taking prep tests is useless unless you can identify and eliminate weaknesses.

I'm going to take 1-2 practice tests a week and spend the rest of my time reviewing wrong and uncertain answers and also, drilling question types I'm struggling with.

Oh and I'm in the D.C. area and am up for a study group..

EDIT:
Also, I completed some of the older prep tests timed and have been getting *REALLY* high scores. Range of 176 - 179 (highest so far), and I find it really weird. I never got such high scores in the past so I'm wondering if these are flukes or if I really have improved so much. I'm chalking it up to only doing 3 sections at once (not the full 5 sections) and that some of these tests are quite old (the most recent was #31). Not sure what's happening so this weekend I'm going to take a full timed more recent prep test to see what happens.

Anyone know if the older tests (1-30) are much easier than the most recent ones??

You can absolutely tell the difference when you're working with an older PT. Kaplan's full-length in-class tests, for instance, use one section from an older test to simulate an experimental. After my first test, I could always tell which one was the experimental, and I think they were pulling from the high 40s for their experimental sections. Whether they were easier, I don't know, but I could just intuitively tell that there was something odd about that section, and while I would try to treat it equally, I can't say that I did with any certainty.

[freestallion]

Joebloe: I have heard the same thing, that old LSATs are simply different in some way or the other. Not easier or harder, but different.

I've been using the older tests for practice thus far, but hopefully my success will carry over to the newer prep tests. We'll see as I progress.

[geverett]

I suck at RC. I ordered the Atlas book on RC. Maybe it's because for the past 2 weeks I have done nothing, but logic games and LR. All that to say I am sucking at reading comprehension.

[neeko]

I suck at RC. I ordered the Atlas book on RC. Maybe it's because for the past 2 weeks I have done nothing, but logic games and LR. All that to say I am sucking at reading comprehension.

So am I. I got the atlas book earlier in the week but haven't started yet. I can't believe something so simple is so hard. I can't make myself slow down and it's showing in massive amounts of incorrect answers. It's really pissing me off.

[stlisforlovers]

I suck at RC. I ordered the Atlas book on RC. Maybe it's because for the past 2 weeks I have done nothing, but logic games and LR. All that to say I am sucking at reading comprehension.

So am I. I got the atlas book earlier in the week but haven't started yet. I can't believe something so simple is so hard. I can't make myself slow down and it's showing in massive amounts of incorrect answers. It's really pissing me off.

Me too. Please let me know if the atlas book is helpful as im between that and the RC Bible.

[cvargas84]

I'm also taking the LSAT in June and would love to join this group. I'd also be interested in a study partner- currently taking an online course and already started studying daily.

Carmen

[neeko]

I suck at RC. I ordered the Atlas book on RC. Maybe it's because for the past 2 weeks I have done nothing, but logic games and LR. All that to say I am sucking at reading comprehension.

So am I. I got the atlas book earlier in the week but haven't started yet. I can't believe something so simple is so hard. I can't make myself slow down and it's showing in massive amounts of incorrect answers. It's really pissing me off.

Me too. Please let me know if the atlas book is helpful as im between that and the RC Bible.

I just finished the RC bible and didn't find it helpful at all. I honestly feel like it made it worse. Save your money, that's for sure.

[geverett]

I just rocked it on 3 passages considered very difficult. I am finding that the more I mark these passages up the worst off I am. I feel like I am starting to get my sea legs back on this stuff. I want to be a ninja reader with ninja stars in a pouch at my side ready to be used at any moment.

[Yeags]

I suck at RC. I ordered the Atlas book on RC. Maybe it's because for the past 2 weeks I have done nothing, but logic games and LR. All that to say I am sucking at reading comprehension.

So am I. I got the atlas book earlier in the week but haven't started yet. I can't believe something so simple is so hard. I can't make myself slow down and it's showing in massive amounts of incorrect answers. It's really pissing me off.

Me too. Please let me know if the atlas book is helpful as im between that and the RC Bible.

I just finished the RC bible and didn't find it helpful at all. I honestly feel like it made it worse. Save your money, that's for sure.

Thanks for the review, I was considering the RC bible. I'm not familiar with what method the RC bible is advocating, but in what way did the RC bible make it worse?

[Clarity]

If anyone is looking for a study partner let me know. I could use the motivation to study.

[Bjavadi]

I'm also up for a study partner/group. Please PM if interested. My prep materials order just arrived and I now have all the "10 Actual" books and the bibles. I've also got Ace the LSAT and the Superprep coming. I'm almost done making copies of all the LGs, and then I'm going for a modified Pithypike, I think.

This time around, I want to try to track my weak areas (specific problem types or answer traps) better than I did last time. And, while I did review the wrong answers on the PTs that I took, I'm probably going to spend a few good hours reviewing each test and all of its answers this time around.

[neeko]

Thanks for the review, I was considering the RC bible. I'm not familiar with what method the RC bible is advocating, but in what way did the RC bible make it worse?

The way they have you marking up the passage, I just dont know that it helps. I did better when I would just read and then try to answer the questions. I'm going to try a few this weekend without all the crazy markings and see if I do better.

[freestallion]

Thanks for the review, I was considering the RC bible. I'm not familiar with what method the RC bible is advocating, but in what way did the RC bible make it worse?

The way they have you marking up the passage, I just dont know that it helps. I did better when I would just read and then try to answer the questions. I'm going to try a few this weekend without all the crazy markings and see if I do better.

I'm having a hard time with RC too, but it depends on the passage. On some I'll get -0 and on others, I have a really hard time. Strange! I think it comes down to intense focus.

I do find the markings they use in the RC bible to be helpful but you shouldn't use it if it makes you slower. I think everyone finds their own markings method that helps for them.

For me, I find it helpful to just circle and bracket different viewpoints. The most important thing for me is to keep track of the structure of the article - where everything is. I also make sure to try to make a note of the author's viewpoint, if he/she has one. If there is a dense scientific part or explanation that is hard to understand, I just read it and bracket it off so I know where it is.

I do best when I understand the structure, main point, viewpoints, and generally know where everything is and can find the answer to a question quickly. So generally, the RC bible is helpful for me but I think everyone has to find a method that works best for them! You don't have to go overboard marking up the passage but you should know where things are, generally.

[thouse]

My sister-in-law is a lawyer and I asked her about the RC section, she told me that people make it harder than what it is. She said once you get past all the vagueness of the stimulus such as the author's tone and what not, the answer to EVERY question is stated in the text. So I took a couple a sections last night un timed and I must say she was right. Every single answer was stated in the text. I don't know if that helps anyone but for me it gave me a different perspective.

[neeko]

My sister-in-law is a lawyer and I asked her about the RC section, she told me that people make it harder than what it is. She said once you get past all the vagueness of the stimulus such as the author's tone and what not, the answer to EVERY question is stated in the text. So I took a couple a sections last night un timed and I must say she was right. Every single answer was stated in the text. I don't know if that helps anyone but for me it gave me a different perspective.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try that untimed this weekend as well. I have got to get my accuracy up on RC.

[thouse]

My sister-in-law is a lawyer and I asked her about the RC section, she told me that people make it harder than what it is. She said once you get past all the vagueness of the stimulus such as the author's tone and what not, the answer to EVERY question is stated in the text. So I took a couple a sections last night un timed and I must say she was right. Every single answer was stated in the text. I don't know if that helps anyone but for me it gave me a different perspective.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try that untimed this weekend as well. I have got to get my accuracy up on RC.

Yes seriously try it. It won't be word for word what the question asks, but it will be stated (Maybe using different words) in the passage.

Example. Question says: Did the boy ran very fast to the store.
Text will say: Steve sprinted rapidly to the store.

Different words were used but these two statements mean the same thing.

[freestallion]

My sister-in-law is a lawyer and I asked her about the RC section, she told me that people make it harder than what it is. She said once you get past all the vagueness of the stimulus such as the author's tone and what not, the answer to EVERY question is stated in the text. So I took a couple a sections last night un timed and I must say she was right. Every single answer was stated in the text. I don't know if that helps anyone but for me it gave me a different perspective.

Yes, I completely agree! Every answer is stated in the text. That's why you really need to know WHERE to look for things, quickly. If you read the Q, know exactly where to look, you can find the answer quickly.

[stlisforlovers]

I think the author's tone questions are hard. To me, the author always seems relatively neutral and sometimes the credited response is "indignant and offended." Any tips on how to pick up the author's subtle mood?