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

[Barack O'Drama]

Good morning fellow LSAT-ers,

Today I am going to be grinding hard to make up for being busy with other things yesterday. I've realized that I've been spending too much time on just games, and need to incorporate the other sections in more. So I am going to follow the 12 Week LSAT Trainer schedule and supplement it as needed with my MLSAT books/7Sage LG explanation. I feel like I got caught up in quantity vs. quality and bought my way into thinking if I read every prep book under the sun, I would master the test. While I have improved, I think I really need some structure for these last 11 or so weeks. Outside of the Trainer Schedule, I am going to drill from the Cambridge packets as I've been doing. The good news is, because I have gone through some of The Trainer before, I will easily be able to do the first 3 weeks of work before this week is over. I really only read the LR sections) It also only takes up ~12 hours/week, so it leaves plenty of time for me to drill additional materials, and consult the MLSAT/Powerscore books as needed.

As someone with anxiety, I think it is a good idea to get some semblance of structure. I think it will also help me balance each section the way I should have been all along.

Good luck today everybody!!

[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?

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?

I spoke with another user via PM and I came to the conclusion that for me the best option was Ultimate. I have only gone through their Main point and MSS lessons, but it's ok so far. He goes very into detail when explaining a question, which is what I really like. I'm waiting until I reach the RC lessons to really dig deep into my weaknesses. FUCK RC

[Mikey]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

HENNNNYYYYYYY!!!!

ITS LIT

tru tru

[20170322]

For those of you looking for motivation, watch this. Replace inches with points.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7XvqNh9o98

[Deardevil]

For those of you looking for motivation, watch this. Replace inches with points.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7XvqNh9o98

I vibe with this; good speech.

[20170322]

Starting to make some serious improvements with my RC. My only concern is that, once I blow through the drilling material, there will be very little to practice with. I redo logic games constantly, but it seems less helpful to redo RC.

[Barack O'Drama]

For those of you looking for motivation, watch this. Replace inches with points.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7XvqNh9o98

The points we need are everywhere around us! Thanks for this, Tort. Good stuff.

[Doubting Law]

anyone here read the question stems for LR first? Never tried it, wondering if anyone has an opinion

I never read the stems first and I never really go more than -3 across both LR sections in a PT.

I read the stems first and underline the question type. i.e. if its main conclusion or necessary assumption I'll underline those words in the stem.

[usaorbust]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

[Deardevil]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

You should time yourself at some point. Starting out, it's not recommended.
Only when you're absolutely comfortable should you begin timing.

[34iplaw]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

I think that should depend how early on you are and your accuracy. I don't think you should be worried about speed if you are below 90% accuracy untimed. I did OK on my diagnostic for LR [average -4 or -5 per section which is a carry over from just being a fairly strong reader with no prep in logic], so, to prep, I am going through Testmasters homework and I try to understand why every wrong answer is wrong and every right answer is right. I mark for answer choices that can be eliminated for being a logical fallacy [i.e. incorrect reversal, incorrect negation, etc.] I make sure to see that my suspicions about a IR, IN, etc. are correct. Early on, I think you have to work on accuracy and confidence.

[proteinshake]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

I don't time myself because you'll know when you're taking too long to solve a problem. if you keep pausing and having to rethink the question, you're taking too long.

[Barack O'Drama]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

I don't time myself because you'll know when you're taking too long to solve a problem. if you keep pausing and having to rethink the question, you're taking too long.

Yeah, I generally take this approach. I save timing for full-time practice tests. If you are having timing trouble, though, maybe you could try to time yourself to see where you're at. If you are taking 45 minutes to do 20 questions, you may need to work on timing, but when learning the q types, don't worry too much about time.

[Doubting Law]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

When I first started with LR I didn't time it. After I understood the basics of each question type and what to look for I started drilling the sections under timed conditions.

[Mikey]

Do you all time your drilling for LR or do you just work through the problems and review?

If you're just starting out, don't time yourself. You must understand the concepts first before you start timing yourself

[Hennessy]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

sup!!! congrats on scoring your target, btw

Thank you!

I know I can do better, just nerves killed my Section 1 - it was games -4, which I nearly always go -0 in on PT, maybe -1. If I can maintain my other sections (or maybe get a little better at LR), get a little more practice bubbling quickly, and take a more chill approach to the test, I'm thinking +170.

What about you? Do you have a revised approach?

[20170322]

Y'all, I am hardcore struggling with RC. Like, it's the only section I worry about anymore, and I can't seem to get it right.

[Mikey]

Starting to make some serious improvements with my RC. My only concern is that, once I blow through the drilling material, there will be very little to practice with. I redo logic games constantly, but it seems less helpful to redo RC.

What PT range are you drilling from?

[carasrook]

Checking in for that relaxed retake

sup!!! congrats on scoring your target, btw

Thank you!

I know I can do better, just nerves killed my Section 1 - it was games -4, which I nearly always go -0 in on PT, maybe -1. If I can maintain my other sections (or maybe get a little better at LR), get a little more practice bubbling quickly, and take a more chill approach to the test, I'm thinking +170.

What about you? Do you have a revised approach?

Trying to work on one - I'm like 100% sure I just had a very bad day. I need to work on NOT letting that happen again, but tbh I feel like my skills are there, maybe just need some fine tuning

[Mikey]

BRO, I saw this picture earlier and the first thing that popped in my head was your username, haha!

[+] Spoiler

[Barack O'Drama]

BRO, I saw this picture earlier and the first thing that popped in my head was your username, haha!

[+] Spoiler

Haha!! I'm saving that pic in case I want to change my tar in the future

[20170322]

Starting to make some serious improvements with my RC. My only concern is that, once I blow through the drilling material, there will be very little to practice with. I redo logic games constantly, but it seems less helpful to redo RC.

What PT range are you drilling from?

1-38, and then using the rest as full PT's. TBH, I may run out of all prep material by August, but I'm fine with redoing PTs.

[Alexandros]

For those of you looking for motivation, watch this. Replace inches with points.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7XvqNh9o98

HELL YES.

[RamTitan]

Starting to make some serious improvements with my RC. My only concern is that, once I blow through the drilling material, there will be very little to practice with. I redo logic games constantly, but it seems less helpful to redo RC.

What PT range are you drilling from?

1-38, and then using the rest as full PT's. TBH, I may run out of all prep material by August, but I'm fine with redoing PTs.

Redoing RC passages even 4x helped me out a lot. That's how you really start to see the structure of a passage.

[34iplaw]

Two RC passages to start the day. Just reviewed one and submitting questions for review on the first. Onto the next two.

June 2004 1-5 [5/5]
September 1995 1-8 [8/8]