December 2014 RE-takers Thread Forum

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:46 pm

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mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:55 pm

Post removed.

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:57 pm

YeezusPiece wrote:
GreenTee wrote:
YeezusPiece wrote:If only that was true for me. The third time's a charm.
Hey YP (can I call you YP, for the obvious admissions jargon double entendre?)

What did you do differently, if anything, to prep for September in comparison to June? What will you do differently to prep for December?
Haha yeah, no problem, just hope that it doesn't become a foreshadowing of my upcoming cycle.

For September, I started by drilling logic games for a few days to shake off the rust (I took a month off after the June test), then jumped straight into PTs, taking one around every other day. I didn't really do much else to work on my LR and RC. That didn't seem to be a problem for me at the time, since I averaged ~174 on PTs 36-72. I even got 179 on PT 71 a couple days before the test in September, so I felt like I was on my game going into the test. Clearly, that didn't end up working out, since I inexplicably got -9 in LR and -7 in RC after averaging -3 for both sections during PTs. This time around, I'm planning on emphasizing LR and RC, as well as blind reviewing, which I didn't do before. I'm also considering the LSAT Trainer to develop a set strategy for LR, since I just solved the LR intuitively up to this point. The shitty part for me is that I'm seeing the results I want to see on my PTs, but screw up on the real thing, so I'm not sure if getting a 166 twice in a row is an anomaly or the result of me not preparing well.

You and I are in the same boat as far as LR and RC are concerned. LG is a different story for me. My LG skills suck. I am also introducing blind review for LR and RC. And I am going to double down on LG.

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:13 pm

mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.

Good thing, dude!

niceone7 · Post by **niceone7** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:17 am

Do any of you have recommendations on study schedules from now until the December test date?

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:22 am

niceone7 wrote:Do any of you have recommendations on study schedules from now until the December test date?

If you're a retaker: Figure out your weakness from the last exam and attack that as its the easiest gain.

First Timer: Not sure if you have enough time.

PeanutsNJam · Post by **PeanutsNJam** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:43 am

Considered a 3rd take for like 10 seconds but was like fuck it. I'll take my score and just roll with it.

Will still shitpoast here tho.

LG protip that I forgot which made me go -1 on test day:

On LR/RC, there are some questions where you can, with a little stretch of the imagination, convince yourself an incorrect answer is correct. However, in LG, there is always 1 objectively indisputably correct answer. It's very, very black and white. It's math. It's algebra. Take confidence in the knowledge that there's no ambiguity.

On my test, I mis-read a rule and missed a question as a result. I had noticed that two answer choices were both possible, but I forgot this little tidbit and didn't go back to review the rules. I assumed I read the rules right, and I was right, and this test is stupid. I lost a full point due to my arrogance (and 1 LSAT point matters a lot guys).

The test is always right. But in LG, especially so.

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:55 am

PeanutsNJam wrote:Considered a 3rd take for like 10 seconds but was like fuck it. I'll take my score and just roll with it.

Will still shitpoast here tho.

LG protip that I forgot which made me go -1 on test day:

On LR/RC, there are some questions where you can, with a little stretch of the imagination, convince yourself an incorrect answer is correct. However, in LG, there is always 1 objectively indisputably correct answer. It's very, very black and white. It's math. It's algebra. Take confidence in the knowledge that there's no ambiguity.

On my test, I mis-read a rule and missed a question as a result. I had noticed that two answer choices were both possible, but I forgot this little tidbit and didn't go back to review the rules. I assumed I read the rules right, and I was right, and this test is stupid. I lost a full point due to my arrogance (and 1 LSAT point matters a lot guys).

The test is always right. But in LG, especially so.

Peanuts, you got a 172, right? You should be very happy, and I'm sure you are! And, thanks for sharing the tip/experience, I am learning that reviewing is absolutely necessary for LG. I never did that before, so I am looking at big gains. need a 170!

msmizz85 · Post by **msmizz85** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:05 am

I went -7 on RC, not totally unexpected since I usually go about -4 or -5 on more recent RC. I didn't drill it at all though during prep, just took it during PTs and used strategies from the Trainer. Doing better on RC could have saved my ass, so I've learned my lesson.

How should I prep it now? Drilling?

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:16 am

JerryLundegard · Post by **JerryLundegard** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:30 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Yep. Especially working full time, I think taking some time off would have been smart. It's tough to grind for 4-5 hours a day and perform consistently at that high of a level after working all day. So when the test came around and I was well rested and 'focused' like everyone else alluded to i just rushed through everything and my accuracy suffered tremendously. I'm gonna prep my but off still but acknowledge when my body and mind can take no more.

HRomanus · Post by **HRomanus** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:35 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Agreed. I think eliminating the "non-productive" stuff in your life can really hurt over the course of the study schedule. As smcc said, it varies depending on personality, but I found that carving out time to watch my favorite shows during the week (Modern Family, Masterchef, and Suits) really helped relieve my stress from work and studying. I also wouldn't bust my ass during the weekdays around work - I had a set drilling schedule that took up 1-2 hours of time split between morning and evening and spent the rest away from the LSAT.

I did turn some of my free time into reading nonfiction. At the beginning of my PTs, when I constantly lost focus, I found reading in blocks of 35 minutes really helped my focus and stamina.

I also wouldn't discount the value of TLS. Seeing everyone post their PT scores motivated me to PT. Seeing people talk about drilling throughout the week motivated me to drill. Talking with people here kept my resolve up. At least for me, particularly doing a retake, TLS users are the only people who actually understood what I'm doing and why and were definitely the only people who could commiserate with my complaints and worries.

lawjag2015 · Post by **lawjag2015** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:38 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

I prepared the way everyone tells you not to: just PTs, no review (almost), but, for some reason I kept on PTing above 170, so I thought there was no need to change my ways. Because I was PTing high, I started building up a regime of getting up early, running, lifting, eating the same thing. But, I am sort of obsessive compulsive, so I felt compelled to do it every day, and missing anything out of my routine affected me, made me tense and nervous. It was very draining. I am going to workout, maybe run too, but, I am setting my OCD aside.

secadc11 · Post by **secadc11** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:39 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Same here. After taking it twice already, I've decided to go pretty relaxed into the December exam. Work out when I can, eat healthy-ish but indulge too, and really focus on my weak areas without a ton of PTs since I've already gone through so many. I really was incredibly burned out the two weeks before the Sept LSAT and I think that hurt me. Like many of you mentioned, I felt awesome during the test but realize now that was just another manifestation of the anxiety I was feeling.

AOT · Post by **AOT** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:40 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Yeah, I agree. The worst bit of the September LSAT for me was the nerves I had built up. I was so anxious the day before and that morning that I couldn't eat at all and my stomach was going crazy. Getting into the exam, the adrenaline propped me up for the first two sections, but after I felt they had gone well (and they did!) my body basically gave out. Third section before the break I couldn't concentrate at all, was hungry and headachey and generally disengaged, and that's the section that cost me.

This time round I'm going to be suuuper chill. I think, Grey, from what you've said you also have a perfectly OK score to fall back on so that should ease the stress in itself

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:11 am

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:52 am

Yeezus · Post by **Yeezus** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:57 am

smccgrey wrote: Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Yeah I agree with you. I'm considering taking less PTs but blind reviewing the ones I do take, and just going into the December test like I have nothing to lose.

KanGaHru · Post by **KanGaHru** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:57 am

smccgrey wrote:
alloverthat wrote: This time round I'm going to be suuuper chill. I think, Grey, from what you've said you also have a perfectly OK score to fall back on so that should ease the stress in itself
Yeah and so do you! Honestly I think that will help me a lot - I'm probably just going to take 3 or 4 PTs before the test and drill a bit to keep it fresh. Still haven't decided between Dec and Feb though!

Grey did you underperform a lot? I finally was consistently hitting low 170s and got a 167 on the test. Im a splitter too so that score will not do at all.

KanGaHru · Post by **KanGaHru** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:03 am

YeezusPiece wrote:
smccgrey wrote: Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?
Yeah I agree with you. I'm considering taking less PTs but blind reviewing the ones I do take, and just going into the December test like I have nothing to lose.

Completely agree with the nothing to lose attitude.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:05 am

hetookmetoamovie · Post by **hetookmetoamovie** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:45 am

smccgrey wrote:
mornincounselor wrote:BTW I'm implementing some of what a recent 180 taker suggested and eliminating all TV, internet videos, non-productive bullshit. Reading non-fiction, informative podcasts (any Serial fans in the house?) daily cardio and regulating my sleep pattern and eating habits. Also probably spending a lot less time on here.

I treated the first take like a challenge, this time it's a fucking war. Note the tar.
Personally - and I'm sure this varies for everyone depending on personality - I think the fact that I was intense about scheduling and diet and sleep made it worse for me. I built it up so much in mind, that even though I felt great and wasn't really nervous, I was probably a bit too tense. I wanted that 180 TOO much and I had spent SO MUCH TIME preparing myself that I might have put more pressure on myself than was necessary.

Anyone else?

Yes! I'm going to try to be more moderate with my lifestyle this time around. I think being overly regimented last time ended up cutting out a lot of my more natural (i.e., established) ways of coping with and relieving stress. In a way, it's kind of helpful that the holidays are coming up, so I'll be forced to be social and eat a ton of buttery goodness (what?).

But I'm with you, MC: Serial is SO addictive.

niceone7 · Post by **niceone7** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:04 pm

lawjag2015 wrote:
niceone7 wrote:Do any of you have recommendations on study schedules from now until the December test date?
If you're a retaker: Figure out your weakness from the last exam and attack that as its the easiest gain.

First Timer: Not sure if you have enough time.

Yea, I'm a re-taker, and I will try that strategy. Thanks!

rbrown0824 · Post by **rbrown0824** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:14 pm

Does anyone know/have any advice on the relevance of PT's 1-39? Im trying to develop a strategy because i have all available tests, but i took 52-72 in the weeks leading up to September, and I drilled 40-51. I havent touched most of the earlier tests but i know that it has evolved somewhat in recent years. Just looking for some insight on the best use of my materials going forward

KanGaHru · Post by **KanGaHru** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:14 pm

smccgrey wrote:
KanGaHru wrote: Grey did you underperform a lot? I finally was consistently hitting low 170s and got a 167 on the test. Im a splitter too so that score will not do at all.
I was averaging 176 and got a 171 - obviously not terrible, but I was particularly disappointed because of the stupid LR mistakes I made.

LR was the final nail in my lsat coffin as well. I was averaging -1 each lr section and had my worst LR section ever of -6. 171 should let you breathe a little at least. 172 seems to be the magic number for me. Hope you get that 176+! I would die of happiness.