The Official September 2016 Study Group - WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS Forum

[meeseeks]

I went -3 total in LR on the June test. Averaged around a -2 on my PTs

I love you










LOVE

Was that some not so subtle sarcasm Mikey?

No sarcasm. The 'LOVE' at the end was an emphasis btw

Nah but on a real note bro, I wish I had gotten your score! Either way, we're all going to kill it this September.

Fo sho! And thanks man! We just got to keep the positive energies flowing

[nerdylsat]

.

[Mikey]

Wow oh wow. Decided to drill 10 easy level Main Point/Conclusion questions just because and this is how it went..

10/10 -- 9:50 mins

There was one that I was a bit iffy on with 2 answer choices but spent an extra 20ish seconds on that question and got the right answer. Slowly gaining my confidence back after bombing June's take, nonetheless.

[Alexandros]

Hate quote trees, but too lazy to learn how to shorten them.

No real question type stands out, normally just get tripped up by a couple high lvl questions every time and go with the "trap" answer instead of the right one. I have a tendency to finish LR with over 5 minutes to spare so i guess I'll try reading stems, and see if that helps. if not maybe its just a tiny gap in my fundamentals that messes with me

If the harder LR questions (high level) are the issue, I've read another poster (forgot which thread) say that he made his own LR sections with the harder LR questions ONLY. This is what got him through the harder questions. I didn't do this, though I kind of regret it, but I do think it can be a way to do better on them.

That's a really good idea. I've thought about doing that but it would take a fair bit of effort putting it all together. it also seems like doing a question first is a prerequisite for identifying it as particularly difficult?

[Mikey]

Hate quote trees, but too lazy to learn how to shorten them.

No real question type stands out, normally just get tripped up by a couple high lvl questions every time and go with the "trap" answer instead of the right one. I have a tendency to finish LR with over 5 minutes to spare so i guess I'll try reading stems, and see if that helps. if not maybe its just a tiny gap in my fundamentals that messes with me

If the harder LR questions (high level) are the issue, I've read another poster (forgot which thread) say that he made his own LR sections with the harder LR questions ONLY. This is what got him through the harder questions. I didn't do this, though I kind of regret it, but I do think it can be a way to do better on them.

That's a really good idea. I've thought about doing that but it would take a fair bit of effort putting it all together. it also seems like doing a question first is a prerequisite for identifying it as particularly difficult?

Well from my understanding of when I read that posters post, he took all of the questions from like 11-20(roughly) from several PTs and just went from there. I'll try to look for that post later and I'll quote it in here to see if he can give some advice as to how exactly he did this approach!

[Alexandros]

Hate quote trees, but too lazy to learn how to shorten them.

No real question type stands out, normally just get tripped up by a couple high lvl questions every time and go with the "trap" answer instead of the right one. I have a tendency to finish LR with over 5 minutes to spare so i guess I'll try reading stems, and see if that helps. if not maybe its just a tiny gap in my fundamentals that messes with me

If the harder LR questions (high level) are the issue, I've read another poster (forgot which thread) say that he made his own LR sections with the harder LR questions ONLY. This is what got him through the harder questions. I didn't do this, though I kind of regret it, but I do think it can be a way to do better on them.

That's a really good idea. I've thought about doing that but it would take a fair bit of effort putting it all together. it also seems like doing a question first is a prerequisite for identifying it as particularly difficult?

Well from my understanding of when I read that posters post, he took all of the questions from like 11-20(roughly) from several PTs and just went from there. I'll try to look for that post later and I'll quote it in here to see if he can give some advice as to how exactly he did this approach!

Ahh, gotcha! Thanks!

[Burt Macklin]

In on this thread for the learnings and whatnot. Also here to make sure there isn't any funny business going on.

[Alexandros]

5 games, 28 min, -2.
6 games, 28 min again for 5 of them (forgot to time for the first one), -2.

Still making easily preventable mistakes from misreading / not glancing at other options.

Other than games -
2 LR sections (lollll)
5 RC passages (3 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon) -1. Timing okay for the afternoon, not so much for the morning.

- My LR isn't as solid as I'd hoped. Need to get this under control. Might still consider ordering one of the "by type" books for this.
- I've vowed to do at least one full section of something in the morning, right after waking up, before coffee, every day. I need to train my brain to be able to perform well in less-than-ideal conditions.
- Major timed RC drilling in the morning, due to the above-mentioned reasons.
- Definitely need to continue doing at least some of each of the three sections every day, or things unravel.

Annnd it's quarter to 11. Time flies.

[Mikey]

Ok guys, I found the post I was talking to you guys about for the harder LR questions. I feel like it's pretty detailed but if Mithun would like to give more advice on it, that would also be great!

What might be more useful to you, however, if you're trying to get good at tackling difficult LR questions in general, is to go through the preptests/practice sections you've finished and start with question 15. As you've probably heard, LR sections increase in difficulty as you get later in the section. I'd say q15/16 onward is where you start to see the upper tier of difficulty - more convoluted stimuli, denser answer choices, knottier arguments to break down.

During my last few weeks of prep, I used to compile the last 10 questions in different LR sections and treat those like individual sections themselves. I think that boosted my confidence and endurance quite a bit. It's easy to get lax when it comes to the easy LR questions, but these "super-sections" forced me to stay hyper-focused the entire time.

You have to be on alert for the smallest details with hard LR questions, but it's useful to have that approach to all LSAT questions in general. It's not easy, but once I switched back from these super sections to regular LR sections, I found them much less taxing to go through.

[Alexandros]

Ok guys, I found the post I was talking to you guys about for the harder LR questions. I feel like it's pretty detailed but if Mithun would like to give more advice on it, that would also be great!

What might be more useful to you, however, if you're trying to get good at tackling difficult LR questions in general, is to go through the preptests/practice sections you've finished and start with question 15. As you've probably heard, LR sections increase in difficulty as you get later in the section. I'd say q15/16 onward is where you start to see the upper tier of difficulty - more convoluted stimuli, denser answer choices, knottier arguments to break down.

During my last few weeks of prep, I used to compile the last 10 questions in different LR sections and treat those like individual sections themselves. I think that boosted my confidence and endurance quite a bit. It's easy to get lax when it comes to the easy LR questions, but these "super-sections" forced me to stay hyper-focused the entire time.

You have to be on alert for the smallest details with hard LR questions, but it's useful to have that approach to all LSAT questions in general. It's not easy, but once I switched back from these super sections to regular LR sections, I found them much less taxing to go through.

Thanks so much for finding the post! That looks like a fantastic strategy. Look forward to trying it.

[Mikey]

Thanks so much for finding the post! That looks like a fantastic strategy. Look forward to trying it.

For sure, no prob! I'm going to be implementing this approach as well. I got slightly better at the harder LR questions, but there's definitely room for improvement!

[34iplaw]

Only got to four of the RC passages today. I'll do two plus some LR and games tomorrow.

I was unseated from my Testmasters vocab quiz rank. I had to reclaim my position in the single digits.

Going to try and get actual sleep tonight.

Buonanotte mia bellisime stelline

Disclaimer: I don't speak Italian...I just string together words I know...so...grammar need not apply.

[olikatz]

Just wondering what's a normal speed to read through the PS Bibles? I just finished LR Bible and I realized I was averaging 25 pages/ hour. Also I will get started on LG Bible and wanted to know if the material will be a little more mild than LR? I frequently found myself re-reading material from LR in the beginning

[Deardevil]

Just wondering what's a normal speed to read through the PS Bibles? I just finished LR Bible and I realized I was averaging 25 pages/ hour. Also I will get started on LG Bible and wanted to know if the material will be a little more mild than LR? I frequently found myself re-reading material from LR in the beginning

Took me two weeks to read the LRB and one for the LBG.
The former definitely has more text, but that's expected.
For games, it's all diagramming (and fun).

[Barack O'Drama]

Just wondering what's a normal speed to read through the PS Bibles? I just finished LR Bible and I realized I was averaging 25 pages/ hour. Also I will get started on LG Bible and wanted to know if the material will be a little more mild than LR? I frequently found myself re-reading material from LR in the beginning

I guess it depends on where you are starting from and if you are drilling after each chapter.

For me, I read through the LRB in about 2.5 weeks.(This included drilling after every chapter) The LGB took me about a week to get through half, with drilling. I haven't really finished it because I am using The LSAT Trainer and MLSAT in conjunction with 7Sage. So I only consult the Bibles when I am looking for another perspective.

All-in-all I think you can comfortably get through one per week.

[proteinshake]

finally managed to wake up early (6:45). heading to the gym in a bit then studying for the rest of the day before my off day tomorrow

[carasrook]

I have a theory about what happened to me on test day, and even if it isn't 100% of the reason I bombed, I think I can move on and come to accept it now.

I lost 25 points on this test (ugh, punch in the gut) - 22 of those were in the first three sections (my fourth section was experimental). If I could know my experimental section score, I could prove this theory, but I think the reason I lost more points than usual in my first section (LR) was a mix of the fact that proctors were talking behind me and also because I was nervous/it was the first section/etc. I suppose this means I need to do more warm-up the morning of next time.

Then, for some reason, I bombed games. I knew it the day of the test, I didn't even get to five questions and had to guess. This is coming from someone who usually never went more than -2 in any games section. Something I *have* always struggled with, however, was timing. I usually only just finish when time is called. I really need to solidify my skills in games and get to a point where I can finish them with time remaining.

Then, the fact that I bombed games got into my head for the third section, which is likely why I underperformed on that LR section as well.

Then, after the break, I did better on RC than I ever have in PTs.

It's hard for me to not think about how this might happen again, so any advice is welcome. I have a study plan, but here's my question: is doing the same thing and hoping for different results a marker of insanity? Like, does anyone think I should take a class?

[Mikey]

I have a theory about what happened to me on test day, and even if it isn't 100% of the reason I bombed, I think I can move on and come to accept it now.

I lost 25 points on this test (ugh, punch in the gut) - 22 of those were in the first three sections (my fourth section was experimental). If I could know my experimental section score, I could prove this theory, but I think the reason I lost more points than usual in my first section (LR) was a mix of the fact that proctors were talking behind me and also because I was nervous/it was the first section/etc. I suppose this means I need to do more warm-up the morning of next time.

Then, for some reason, I bombed games. I knew it the day of the test, I didn't even get to five questions and had to guess. This is coming from someone who usually never went more than -2 in any games section. Something I *have* always struggled with, however, was timing. I usually only just finish when time is called. I really need to solidify my skills in games and get to a point where I can finish them with time remaining.

Then, the fact that I bombed games got into my head for the third section, which is likely why I underperformed on that LR section as well.

Then, after the break, I did better on RC than I ever have in PTs.

It's hard for me to not think about how this might happen again, so any advice is welcome. I have a study plan, but here's my question: is doing the same thing and hoping for different results a marker of insanity? Like, does anyone think I should take a class?

I don't think you should take a class. From what I remember you were PTing in the low 170's, correct? You know your shit, so I don't think it's really necessary. Though I sound kind of like a hypocrite for saying this, since I did just buy one of 7sage's curriculum's last night, but mostly just to help me brush up on things and see new LR q type approaches. If something like that is what you were referring to, it might not be a bad idea, but not an actual in-person course or a live online course since I know you KNOW this test.

Your theory about why you under performed could be true. I too was shaky and nervous during my first 2 sections, and I even knew that I most likely blew those sections (LG-LR). How did you go about learning the games? Did you use a book or did you just go right into doing them?

[Mikey]

Also, Good morning beautiful peeps! I woke up pretty early today for my days off, but fuck it I'm just ready to dive into some LSAT materialzzz.

Have a good day all!

[Hennessy]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

[carasrook]

I have a theory about what happened to me on test day, and even if it isn't 100% of the reason I bombed, I think I can move on and come to accept it now.

I lost 25 points on this test (ugh, punch in the gut) - 22 of those were in the first three sections (my fourth section was experimental). If I could know my experimental section score, I could prove this theory, but I think the reason I lost more points than usual in my first section (LR) was a mix of the fact that proctors were talking behind me and also because I was nervous/it was the first section/etc. I suppose this means I need to do more warm-up the morning of next time.

Then, for some reason, I bombed games. I knew it the day of the test, I didn't even get to five questions and had to guess. This is coming from someone who usually never went more than -2 in any games section. Something I *have* always struggled with, however, was timing. I usually only just finish when time is called. I really need to solidify my skills in games and get to a point where I can finish them with time remaining.

Then, the fact that I bombed games got into my head for the third section, which is likely why I underperformed on that LR section as well.

Then, after the break, I did better on RC than I ever have in PTs.

It's hard for me to not think about how this might happen again, so any advice is welcome. I have a study plan, but here's my question: is doing the same thing and hoping for different results a marker of insanity? Like, does anyone think I should take a class?

I don't think you should take a class. From what I remember you were PTing in the low 170's, correct? You know your shit, so I don't think it's really necessary. Though I sound kind of like a hypocrite for saying this, since I did just buy one of 7sage's curriculum's last night, but mostly just to help me brush up on things and see new LR q type approaches. If something like that is what you were referring to, it might not be a bad idea, but not an actual in-person course or a live online course since I know you KNOW this test.

Your theory about why you under performed could be true. I too was shaky and nervous during my first 2 sections, and I even knew that I most likely blew those sections (LG-LR). How did you go about learning the games? Did you use a book or did you just go right into doing them?

I waaas talking about an in-person course, but I've been kicking around the idea of purchasing one of the 7Sage packages too. Which one did you purchase/do you like it?

[carasrook]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

sup!!! congrats on scoring your target, btw

[34iplaw]

Good morning all. Going to do some RC and games today.

edit: I guess it's easier to address my questions on reading comp passages over the phone, so I'll be doing that today or tomorrow.

[Mikey]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

HENNNNYYYYYYY!!!!

[proteinshake]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

HENNNNYYYYYYY!!!!

ITS LIT