Pithypike's Complete LSAT Study Guide Forum

[Mr. Berns]

Not sure if this has been mentioned in the thread (it is quite a bit of internets real estate to cover), but what exactly should be the benefit of repeating LG sections? I like this specific exercise, but I just wanted to know how the experts think it actually ought to work. Clearly, it is not a matter of fully remembering a previous LG when you redo it. Should you: a) Vaguely recall how to set up the game and answer the questions, or b) Not really remember very much but develop a subconscious familiarity with all or most of the tricks LSAC has up its sleeve. Maybe the answer is actually something else, but I'm just really curious how other people have benefited from repeating LG sections.

[jjleague]

Does it matter which year version of the 10 actual books you buy? There seem to be several versions out there but if they all cover the same questions 7-38, then why spend the money on the new versions.

I am just now gearing up for the Feb 2010 LSAT.

Thanks in advance

[nodummy]

Hello...

Would you please provide a more detailed explanation of where all of these practice LG's are coming from. I have "10 Actual Tests," "10 More Actual Tests," and the "Next 10" tests in addition to tests 39-45, which were given to me randomly. If these practice LG's (which we sort into individual categories and copy three times, correct?) are coming from these "Real/Actual" tests, how do you know which kind of game you're dealing with in the practice test without actually starting to work the problem?

Thanks, any info would be great.

[casper13]

Hello...

Would you please provide a more detailed explanation of where all of these practice LG's are coming from. I have "10 Actual Tests," "10 More Actual Tests," and the "Next 10" tests in addition to tests 39-45, which were given to me randomly. If these practice LG's (which we sort into individual categories and copy three times, correct?) are coming from these "Real/Actual" tests, how do you know which kind of game you're dealing with in the practice test without actually starting to work the problem?

Thanks, any info would be great.

they are from the first 3 PT books that you have, and the classifications system used is from powerscore in the back of the LGB.

[pithypike]

Hello...

Would you please provide a more detailed explanation of where all of these practice LG's are coming from. I have "10 Actual Tests," "10 More Actual Tests," and the "Next 10" tests in addition to tests 39-45, which were given to me randomly. If these practice LG's (which we sort into individual categories and copy three times, correct?) are coming from these "Real/Actual" tests, how do you know which kind of game you're dealing with in the practice test without actually starting to work the problem?

Thanks, any info would be great.

they are from the first 3 PT books that you have, and the classifications system used is from powerscore in the back of the LGB.

If you have the older version of the LGB, newer classifications can be found on the PS website.

[nodummy]

Thanks

[nodummy]

A few questions here regarding Pithypike's study guide.

First off, Pithy lists the LG and LR sections out of order with respect to their appearance in the actual Bibles. For example, the Main Point section is chapter 5 but Pithy has it listed in month 2 behind other sections that come later. Is there a reason to study the material in a different order than how it's presented in the actual bible? Does it matter?

Also, I'm trying to decide an actual day study plan. Meaning, how many hours per day to devote to studying LG's vs. LR questions and material vs. RC stuff. I have roughly about three hours a day to devote to studying between now and Decmeber. Does anyone have an actual daily study regiment idea?

And one more thing. I never took an actual practice (placement) test to determine my "cold" LSAT score. I took a shorter test, untimed, that was provided by Kaplan and scored much differently than the actul LSAT with fewer questions. Would you recommend taking a practice test before proceding with more studying? Or should I just wait until the end of month one as Pithy suggests?

Thank you all very much for the help--I greatly appreciate your suggestions.

[jitsrenzo]

Pithypike,

I just want to thank you for this terrific guide. I canceled in October '08, but after using your guide and focusing intensely for a few months, I started practicing at 176-180 as soon as I was done with the review (months 1-2) and began to do full PTs. I scored in that practice range in June. Thank you so much.

[nodummy]

A few questions here regarding Pithypike's study guide.

First off, Pithy lists the LG and LR sections out of order with respect to their appearance in the actual Bibles. For example, the Main Point section is chapter 5 but Pithy has it listed in month 2 behind other sections that come later. Is there a reason to study the material in a different order than how it's presented in the actual bible? Does it matter?

Also, I'm trying to decide an actual day study plan. Meaning, how many hours per day to devote to studying LG's vs. LR questions and material vs. RC stuff. I have roughly about three hours a day to devote to studying between now and Decmeber. Does anyone have an actual daily study regiment idea?

And one more thing. I never took an actual practice (placement) test to determine my "cold" LSAT score. I took a shorter test, untimed, that was provided by Kaplan and scored much differently than the actul LSAT with fewer questions. Would you recommend taking a practice test before proceding with more studying? Or should I just wait until the end of month one as Pithy suggests?

Thank you all very much for the help--I greatly appreciate your suggestions.

[Kulax22]

Would you recommend taking a practice test before proceding with more studying? Or should I just wait until the end of month one as Pithy suggests?

Do pikes sh** in rivers, or wherever they live?

Yeah you really should take a practice test asap. Why not? There are soooo many to do, you don't need to worry about wasting one.

You should determine how you'd REALLY do on the LSAT today. That means 5 sections and strictly timed. Right?

[basicgrey7]

How do you know which ones on amazon are the right ones? Everyone keeps saying the orange book, but the mastery i saw on ebay was blue.

[jdsingar]

Is http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... ition=used the right Kaplan Mastery book to use? It's certainly the cheapest available which makes me a bit skeptical.

[Eric_Arthur_Blair]

Does anyone know where I can find the type of games in each "Next 10" book without checking each game? I have the LR Bible from Powerscore, but as far as I can tell it doesn't have the types grouped and identified the same way it does for each PrepTest in the LG Bible.

Thanks!

[lawschoollll]

where do you guys get all the PTs? i have the "10 more actual official;" are they all in these books?

also, some advice would be helpful: i just completed a powerscore class (just took the sept lsat but will be retaking since i completely bombed the 4th lg - don't know why, think i mis-diagrammed a rule), and in their "supplement" book there were a lot of full, standalone sections that i did. obviously, i will inevitably encounter these sections when i am doing more tests, and i am afraid it is either a) a waste of time or b) going to give me falsely high expectations... or both. anyone have this experience?

[Eric_Arthur_Blair]

where do you guys get all the PTs? i have the "10 more actual official;" are they all in these books?

also, some advice would be helpful: i just completed a powerscore class (just took the sept lsat but will be retaking since i completely bombed the 4th lg - don't know why, think i mis-diagrammed a rule), and in their "supplement" book there were a lot of full, standalone sections that i did. obviously, i will inevitably encounter these sections when i am doing more tests, and i am afraid it is either a) a waste of time or b) going to give me falsely high expectations... or both. anyone have this experience?

You can get all the most recent PTs from the LSAC website shop section, they are $8 a piece.

[lawschoollll]

where do you guys get all the PTs? i have the "10 more actual official;" are they all in these books?

also, some advice would be helpful: i just completed a powerscore class (just took the sept lsat but will be retaking since i completely bombed the 4th lg - don't know why, think i mis-diagrammed a rule), and in their "supplement" book there were a lot of full, standalone sections that i did. obviously, i will inevitably encounter these sections when i am doing more tests, and i am afraid it is either a) a waste of time or b) going to give me falsely high expectations... or both. anyone have this experience?

You can get all the most recent PTs from the LSAC website shop section, they are $8 a piece.

oh awesome. guess that's pretty intuitive. thanks dude

[jjleague]

Check Amazon and Alibris for used PT's. That is where I got most of mine. They are about half the price. Also try to get the three 10 Actual series and the Kaplan Mastery.

[Eric_Arthur_Blair]

Check Amazon and Alibris for used PT's. That is where I got most of mine. They are about half the price. Also try to get the three 10 Actual series and the Kaplan Mastery.

I haven't decided if Kaplan Mastery is necessary yet. I am doing pretty well without it so far. Do you think it makes that big of a difference?

[FreeGuy]

There are brand-new copies for around $20 here (in the 3rd listing). If it can help you refine your technique enough to get even one more question right on test day, why wouldn't you get it?

[Eric_Arthur_Blair]

There are brand-new copies for around $20 here (in the 3rd listing). If it can help you refine your technique enough to get even one more question right on test day, why wouldn't you get it?

Good point. I tend to think, though, that the refining technique can be learned without it. I honestly don't want to mix explanations or even have too many books to be deriving information from. But you could be right. I think I'll wait a few weeks and if my PT scores aren't where I want them to be I'll look into getting it.

Did you use it?

[FreeGuy]

I didn't use it for the explanations AT ALL. I just found it helpful to have the questions already broken down by type and divided by difficulty for me.

[Eric_Arthur_Blair]

I didn't use it for the explanations AT ALL. I just found it helpful to have the questions already broken down by type and divided by difficulty for me.

Nice. Are they all from real LSATs?

[FreeGuy]

Yes

[GMUPatriot86]

I just wanted to say thanks to Pithypike for this study guide. When I first took the LSAT last December I had only read some Kaplan and Princeton Review books and taken a few practice tests. Without the rigorous study and practice of this guide I scored slightly lower than my PT average and got a 158. After following the study guide all summer my practice scores went up considerably. I scored a 168 on my retake in September.

Hope this gives confidence to all who are wondering whether or not to follow this study guide when retaking.

[nightinGail]

Thanks Pithypike! I took the Kaplan prep course (before I found this helpful forum and realized it is despised) but at least I have all the Kaplan books now including the Mastery book. I'm gearing up for the December LSAT and while I don't have the full three months to do your version I have already been studying and from here on out I will take your advice I just wish I had found this sooner!!

Now off to buy the other books you recommend