The Official February 2016 Study Group Forum

[Bhaal]

If it's not futile for 2015-2016 applications, count me in the study group. The December test just fell apart in the final section for me; not good.

[WorthlessDegree]

I don't know why, but getting sequencing under 8 minutes and -0 seems to be the biggest challenge for me.

[josh9308]

dat feel when you think you did really well on the PT, but turns out you didn't........

[WorthlessDegree]

Y'all, I just had a complete breakdown while taking a PT.

I drilling LG all week, and was feeling pretty good. Then I take the PT, and get clobbered. Like, I had no idea how to do any of it. I snap my pencil in frustration halfway through, and literally couldn't finish the PT I was so frustrated with myself. Like, I had a meltdown.

What's really frustrating is I thought I had conquered LG, and then the new tests are destroying me. Any tips?

[StopLawying]

Y'all, I just had a complete breakdown while taking a PT.

I drilling LG all week, and was feeling pretty good. Then I take the PT, and get clobbered. Like, I had no idea how to do any of it. I snap my pencil in frustration halfway through, and literally couldn't finish the PT I was so frustrated with myself. Like, I had a meltdown.

What's really frustrating is I thought I had conquered LG, and then the new tests are destroying me. Any tips?

Never stop in middle of a practice test. I know it's frustrating, but you gotta keep moving forward. Remember that it's just a practice test; the only score that will ever count is the test you take in Feb. See what happened, why you had problems completing these games, and fix these mistakes. After every practice test I write up what I did wrong and specific areas where I need to improve. This has helped immensely.

Also maybe the games were just difficult. Which PT was this?

[WorthlessDegree]

Y'all, I just had a complete breakdown while taking a PT.

I drilling LG all week, and was feeling pretty good. Then I take the PT, and get clobbered. Like, I had no idea how to do any of it. I snap my pencil in frustration halfway through, and literally couldn't finish the PT I was so frustrated with myself. Like, I had a meltdown.

What's really frustrating is I thought I had conquered LG, and then the new tests are destroying me. Any tips?

Never stop in middle of a practice test. I know it's frustrating, but you gotta keep moving forward. Remember that it's just a practice test; the only score that will ever count is the test you take in Feb. See what happened, why you had problems comp



Yeah, I know that was a bad idea. It's the only time it's ever happened-- I just had a breakdown.

I think I'm just much weaker on LG than I thought. Debating on delaying until June.

[WorthlessDegree]

Y'all, I just had a complete breakdown while taking a PT.

I drilling LG all week, and was feeling pretty good. Then I take the PT, and get clobbered. Like, I had no idea how to do any of it. I snap my pencil in frustration halfway through, and literally couldn't finish the PT I was so frustrated with myself. Like, I had a meltdown.

What's really frustrating is I thought I had conquered LG, and then the new tests are destroying me. Any tips?

Never stop in middle of a practice test. I know it's frustrating, but you gotta keep moving forward. Remember that it's just a practice test; the only score that will ever count is the test you take in Feb. See what happened, why you had problems comp



Yeah, I know that was a bad idea. It's the only time it's ever happened-- I just had a breakdown.

I think I'm just much weaker on LG than I thought. Debating on delaying until June.

[Echoduck]

It looks like I will be retaking in February. I have been getting a lot of waitlists this cycle.

[galadriel3019]

Y'all, I just had a complete breakdown while taking a PT.

I drilling LG all week, and was feeling pretty good. Then I take the PT, and get clobbered. Like, I had no idea how to do any of it. I snap my pencil in frustration halfway through, and literally couldn't finish the PT I was so frustrated with myself. Like, I had a meltdown.

What's really frustrating is I thought I had conquered LG, and then the new tests are destroying me. Any tips?

Be glad it happened now. As frustrating as it is, you are getting use to the feeling of intense uncertainty. Come test day, you will be better equipped to stem the tide of panic emotions because you've felt it before. Yes you may feel like you wasted a test, but really it's just another part of your training. You're getting use to it now so this type of thing will hopefully not bother you as much later. Take a day off maybe and just move on.

[lawat43]

Just registered for the Feb 2016 LSAT. I'm excited but need a little guidance. I'm 43 and no stranger to tests. Should I go to the bookstore and grab an LSAT prep book, or something else? Thanks!

[Li'l Sebastian]

Just registered for the Feb 2016 LSAT. I'm excited but need a little guidance. I'm 43 and no stranger to tests. Should I go to the bookstore and grab an LSAT prep book, or something else? Thanks!

Hi! Welcome!

Be wary of bookstore prep guides. There are a lot out there that are particularly notorious ones out there.

I'd use amazon because you can find the best deals there, and also you can see how highly rated the material is.


First and foremost you need material (usually large workbooks) on each section
Reading Comp
Logical Reasoning
And Analytical Reasoning (AKA Logic Games)

Then you need a packet of 10 Practice Tests.


Learn the material in the workbook of your choice, then start drilling timed sections from the tests you bought, and intermix in full length tests as you go through each of these steps.

You should take a minimum of 6-8 timed full length tests before your day of.

And that concludes my quick and dirty study outline.

[lawat43]

Just registered for the Feb 2016 LSAT. I'm excited but need a little guidance. I'm 43 and no stranger to tests. Should I go to the bookstore and grab an LSAT prep book, or something else? Thanks!

Hi! Welcome!

Be wary of bookstore prep guides. There are a lot out there that are particularly notorious ones out there.

I'd use amazon because you can find the best deals there, and also you can see how highly rated the material is.


First and foremost you need material (usually large workbooks) on each section
Reading Comp
Logical Reasoning
And Analytical Reasoning (AKA Logic Games)

Then you need a packet of 10 Practice Tests.


Learn the material in the workbook of your choice, then start drilling timed sections from the tests you bought, and intermix in full length tests as you go through each of these steps.

You should take a minimum of 6-8 timed full length tests before your day of.

And that concludes my quick and dirty study outline.

That's great advice, thanks for the info! People have mentioned 7sage, an online resource. Any thoughts on this of other online study sites?

[Li'l Sebastian]

That's great advice, thanks for the info! People have mentioned 7sage, an online resource. Any thoughts on this of other online study sites?

There's lot of disagree on what's the best but you should make sure you find the one that works best for you.

[strawf1000]

Hi everyone!

So I took the October (165) and December LSATs. Really thinking I bombed the December LSAT so I'll take it one last time in February.

I took the December 2001 test today and got a 168, I usually practice on more recent tests but I have done all of them and want to exercise on new material. Usually (from what I've gathered) the older tests are easier than the newer ones. Is that really the case? Should I knock a couple points of my score?

Thanks! And good luck!

[lawat43]

Hi everyone!

So I took the October (165) and December LSATs. Really thinking I bombed the December LSAT so I'll take it one last time in February.

I took the December 2001 test today and got a 168, I usually practice on more recent tests but I have done all of them and want to exercise on new material. Usually (from what I've gathered) the older tests are easier than the newer ones. Is that really the case? Should I knock a couple points of my score?

Thanks! And good luck!

Did you not feel comfortable applying with a score of 165? That doesn't sound too bad unless you're shooting for Yale or something. Just curious. I have just started studying for the Feb exam and this will be my first (and hopefully only time) I take the test.

[Li'l Sebastian]

Hi everyone!

So I took the October (165) and December LSATs. Really thinking I bombed the December LSAT so I'll take it one last time in February.

I took the December 2001 test today and got a 168, I usually practice on more recent tests but I have done all of them and want to exercise on new material. Usually (from what I've gathered) the older tests are easier than the newer ones. Is that really the case? Should I knock a couple points of my score?

Thanks! And good luck!

You really shouldn't focus on your score regardless of the test. The older test aren't that different. You should focus on your intersection scores. If you're missing a lot in LR that's going to be constant regardless of the test. Until you actually take the test your focus should be on improving not on trying to achieve a certain score (source: intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation theory).

Your practice test scores don't matter at all when you're prepping until the day before you take the actual test, whether or not you're hitting the score band you need or if you need to withdraw, and the day after you get your score, was your game day score lower than your practice test average, if yes than retake.

Other than those two days you shouldn't think about a score. You should think about your section performance. A low score in games is going to translate to a low score in games on any test old or new. Same with LR and RC.

So to answer your questions TL;DR

The old test are gonna be very indicative of what you can and should improve.

You shouldn't knock your score down, you should ignore it all together (statistically speaking it's all just noise and random fluctuation until you get enough samples to draw adequate conclusions from anyways).

[Li'l Sebastian]

Did you not feel comfortable applying with a score of 165? That doesn't sound too bad unless you're shooting for Yale or something. Just curious. I have just started studying for the Feb exam and this will be my first (and hopefully only time) I take the test.

This is a test where even a 3-point increase has an exorbitant value(thousands of dollars at the minimum).

If you can do better you should.
You're probably making more money right now per hour of working on this test than you'll ever make working. Use this time.

[lawat43]

Did you not feel comfortable applying with a score of 165? That doesn't sound too bad unless you're shooting for Yale or something. Just curious. I have just started studying for the Feb exam and this will be my first (and hopefully only time) I take the test.

This is a test where even a 3-point increase has an exorbitant value(thousands of dollars at the minimum).

If you can do better you should.
You're probably making more money right now per hour of working on this test than you'll ever make working. Use this time.

Good to know, thanks! Bought the Princeton Review study guide and ordered some stuff from LSAC so I'll be studying hard for that 180

[strawf1000]

Hi everyone!

So I took the October (165) and December LSATs. Really thinking I bombed the December LSAT so I'll take it one last time in February.

I took the December 2001 test today and got a 168, I usually practice on more recent tests but I have done all of them and want to exercise on new material. Usually (from what I've gathered) the older tests are easier than the newer ones. Is that really the case? Should I knock a couple points of my score?

Thanks! And good luck!

Did you not feel comfortable applying with a score of 165? That doesn't sound too bad unless you're shooting for Yale or something. Just curious. I have just started studying for the Feb exam and this will be my first (and hopefully only time) I take the test.

I applied to some schools already but I just want to improve as much as I can, hopefully get some $ and aim for better schools. Good luck!

[strawf1000]

Hi everyone!

So I took the October (165) and December LSATs. Really thinking I bombed the December LSAT so I'll take it one last time in February.

I took the December 2001 test today and got a 168, I usually practice on more recent tests but I have done all of them and want to exercise on new material. Usually (from what I've gathered) the older tests are easier than the newer ones. Is that really the case? Should I knock a couple points of my score?

Thanks! And good luck!

You really shouldn't focus on your score regardless of the test. The older test aren't that different. You should focus on your intersection scores. If you're missing a lot in LR that's going to be constant regardless of the test. Until you actually take the test your focus should be on improving not on trying to achieve a certain score (source: intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation theory).

Your practice test scores don't matter at all when you're prepping until the day before you take the actual test, whether or not you're hitting the score band you need or if you need to withdraw, and the day after you get your score, was your game day score lower than your practice test average, if yes than retake.

Other than those two days you shouldn't think about a score. You should think about your section performance. A low score in games is going to translate to a low score in games on any test old or new. Same with LR and RC.

So to answer your questions TL;DR

The old test are gonna be very indicative of what you can and should improve.

You shouldn't knock your score down, you should ignore it all together (statistically speaking it's all just noise and random fluctuation until you get enough samples to draw adequate conclusions from anyways).

Thanks for all this good advice. I tend to fluctuate around 166-170 (top). I think your approach is very clever, I like to achieve a certain score but I always end up missing one section (sometimes RC or LG). Should focus on that.

I like the statistics part: haven't done enough tests to conclude, very true.

Well, thanks for your feedback, lets keep on grinding until Feb 6th!

[ColonizeMars]

Hello to all from the June 2016 takers cult. Hows your prep going?

[lurker816]

Checking in for real. Had to bail on October due to some craziness at work/realized I'm probably in everywhere I'm going to be with my numbers & I guess have nothing to lose from this other than 175 bucks. HERE'S TO RELEARNING THIS DAMN TEST IN SIX WEEKS AFTER THREE MONTHS OFF. Hopefully the breather was just what I needed...?

[josh9308]

I want to do very bad things to people who blatantly have their volume audible on their computer in a quiet-only section of the library.

[RamTitan]

Hey, I'm currently deciding between taking the Feb. or the June test; I made a topic, but haven't gotten many answers, so I thought I'd post here.

I've been studying about 8-10 hours a week since late May. I was unemployed in the summer, so I spent that time learning the concepts of the LSAT with the occasional practice test. Then, once I started working full-time, I did a section of LR, RC, or AR at lunch and then a practice test every other weekend. I worked my way from 146 to 170, and was feeling confident. However, starting last week I began intense prep by taking 3 practice tests a week and reviewing the tests. My most recent scores have been 171, 171, 166, 167, and 170. I don't feel burnt out (in fact, my stamina has been great), but I'm wondering if this cramming is detrimental? For example, I used to miss zero questions on AR, but now I miss 1-3, have been stuck in the 2-5 range for LR for quite sometime, and went from missing 2-4 on RC to missing 6-7. Should I postpone the test to June, and instead take a practice test every single weekend, especially since I won't enroll in law school till fall of 2017 anyways?

P.S. I want to score 175-180, but I'm worried that I've reached my natural ability on the test

I'd love some input!

[WorthlessDegree]

Debating whether or not to take in February. I'm powering through the Logic Games and seeing big improvements, but I'm worried I'll finish my drilling right before test day, and not have much time for full length PT's.