The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[bleakchimera2]

Today, preptest B: 173

LR1: -0
LG: -9 <-lol
RC: -2
LR2: -0

Logic games, man. It's legitimately the only thing I've been drilling for weeks, and not only is it not improving, it seems to be getting worse. Beyond frustrating.

Hugs and motivation to all, June is almost upon us.

What's your thought-process like when approaching LR / RC question?

I'm going to direct you to WaltGrace on this one... Much better advice to be had from him and most other people on this board. If I'm being completely honest with you I don't have a thought process for LR/RC. In fact, the less I'm concentrating on thinking and focusing on the sections, the better I do. LR especially is the section I just kind of let my brain relax on. So basically, do not take my nonadvice.

[alexrodriguez]

I think it's a good idea to watch this video every now and then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhzNSPiqO0M

[alexrodriguez]

level 4's be getting simple!

[sabzdee]

Just took preptest 33:

LR: -4
RC: -4
LR: -3
LG: -1

-12, 171

This was my second full PT. I picked up 7 points on LGs but I lost 5 on LR, which is a big disappointment. Stayed at -4 for RC. I think my biggest obstacle is mental fatigue at this point. I missed 3 of the last 5 RC questions and I find it really hard to concentrate at the end of sections and I usually spend the last minute or two resting instead of looking over my work. I'm guessing just continuing to do PTs is the only way to build mental endurance...

[10052014]

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[alansadler]

Does anyone here do/want to do a group PT review? I've been taking 2-3 a week (I'm doing 47 next) and would love to have people to review with. My range right now is about 170-175, but I feel like I may be plateauing a little bit, so if anyone is in a somewhat similar position, it would be cool to do a skype session with a few people.

[knowyourself]

I'm going to direct you to WaltGrace on this one... Much better advice to be had from him and most other people on this board. If I'm being completely honest with you I don't have a thought process for LR/RC. In fact, the less I'm concentrating on thinking and focusing on the sections, the better I do. LR especially is the section I just kind of let my brain relax on. So basically, do not take my nonadvice.

Believe it or not, that was my exact assumption on how you were going to answer my question. I've studied my patterns and I do better on sections/questions where I let my brain relax. This is probably because by letting your brain relax, you are easily able to separate feelings from facts, you are more easily able to think before you act - in lsat words, you aren't making assumptions too quickly. Additionally, you're able to keep an open mind: you may prefer one shade over another, but that doesn't necessarily cancel out the other.

[Louis1127]

The games section in PT 27 is absolutely brutal. The first sequencing game takes more time than you think, game 4 is easy, but then you have a grouping game that is not overly difficult but sucks up time AND snakes and lizards.

Tomorrow I'll be taking my first PT since starting drilling by type mostly untimed at the beginning of this year (Jan 1). I will let everyone know how I do! Whether I'm satisfied or depressed, I'll be drinking afterwards

[dardardelight]

Stuck in the high 160's because my RC is really bringing me down I'm telling myself to be patient, but I really have to start reviewing my tests better and more honestly . 22 Practice Tests to go between now and June 9th .. I'm afraid to plateau around the high 160's . Gotta stay motivated

PT 45
Score: 167
LR -4
RC -8
LG -0 (great news -- 2nd test in a row with -0 LG )
LR -3

I know the 7sage memorization method, and I know to read for structure. I can't seem to get a good grasp on RC though. Any advice?? Anybody have any ways of picking up the trick answer choices? I'm a little worried considering the word on the street is that RC has gotten harder in recent years.

[WaltGrace83]

Stuck in the high 160's because my RC is really bringing me down I'm telling myself to be patient, but I really have to start reviewing my tests better and more honestly . 22 Practice Tests to go between now and June 9th .. I'm afraid to plateau around the high 160's . Gotta stay motivated

PT 45
Score: 167
LR -4
RC -8
LG -0 (great news -- 2nd test in a row with -0 LG )
LR -3

I know the 7sage memorization method, and I know to read for structure. I can't seem to get a good grasp on RC though. Any advice?? Anybody have any ways of scoping out trick answer choices? I'm a little worried considering the word on the street is that RC has gotten harder in recent years.

I admittedly suck at RC - but I also haven't really started practicing yet. I will tell you though that I am actually looking at it slightly differently then you are. I am not going to take this test until I feel that I can get -0 on every section (not saying that I feel I will but that I feel like I can). Maybe it might help a bit if you really tried to get you -3/-4s on LR to -0? Feeling super super super confident on LR and knowing that RC is your only weakness may make RC seem less daunting because its mastery won't be the difference between a high 160s and low 170s score, but rather, a low 170s score and a high 170s score.

Disclaimer: my advice could suck but I am just telling you how I am feeling about RC.

[dardardelight]

I mean, you're absolutely right WaltGrace -- that was my goal at the start: to own LG and LR and just do as best as I can with RC, knowing that it's my weakest section. But I really can't help but overthink a couple LR answer choices or make a stupid mistake ; I'm having a rough time getting to that -0 mark

Maybe I should use this time to just drill more LR and read MLSAT book for LR . I still want to go with my PT schedule and take about two a week. I'd get too nervous knowing that I've had a long break between PT's, but that's just for me. It's different for you because you haven't really started with the intensive PT'ing, I suppose.

Thanks for the advice -- We got this

[alexrodriguez]

I just scored a 153 on PT 42.

I'm seriously worried for myself.

I had -14 in one LR section. WTF

[alexrodriguez]

I just scored a 153 on PT 42.

I'm seriously worried for myself.

I had -14 in one LR section. WTF

It was all timing issues in LR.

I'm going through them now and realizing this. I hadn't really planned on taking this PT today. It was kind of spur of the moment and my score reflects this.

[jk148706]

I just scored a 153 on PT 42.

I'm seriously worried for myself.

I had -14 in one LR section. WTF

Louie, man, stop with the PTs. Start reviewing vigorously. Like intensely. Then go through the trainer and manhattan LR again. Then drill. Then review. Then take it when u are ready man. You've put in too much effort to get mid150s in June. You owe it to yourself to dominate this test when u are ready.

[Clyde Frog]

I just scored a 153 on PT 42.

I'm seriously worried for myself.

I had -14 in one LR section. WTF

Louie, man, stop with the PTs. Start reviewing vigorously. Like intensely. Then go through the trainer and manhattan LR again. Then drill. Then review. Then take it when u are ready man. You've put in too much effort to get mid150s in June. You owe it to yourself to dominate this test when u are ready.

Agree. You need to start from square one. Taking new PTs isn't going to help if your approach is wrong.

[alexrodriguez]

I'm going through these LR questions and I can immediately get the correct answer upon reviewing them.

I think under timed conditions my mind is racing and isn't thinking as clearly as it should.

I don't think I need to start from square one. I have a pretty solid foundation. I just need to think faster on my feet.

I'm taking PT 43 untimed today to see if this theory is true.

[WaltGrace83]

I'm going through these LR questions and I can immediately get the correct answer upon reviewing them.

I think under timed conditions my mind is racing and isn't thinking as clearly as it should.

I don't think I need to start from square one. I have a pretty solid foundation. I just need to think faster on my feet.

I'm taking PT 43 untimed today to see if this theory is true.

I don't think "thinking faster" is really a thing. Sure, you might have anxiety that could hinder your performance. But being hindered to a -14 in LR is more than a timing issue, if such a thing exists at all. Just relax, man. Take a deep breath.

It took me 5 full days to review PT39. Not saying that this is what YOU should be doing or what even anyone else should be doing, but I am just saying that I think I learned more from those 5 days of review than actually taking it.

EDIT: no one here believes that you are a 150s scorer. Do yourself a favor and really step back and try to understand what you are doing wrong. Your approach is probably wrong. If you have "timing issues" it is probably due to spending too much time focusing on the wrong things.

[santoki]

I'm going through these LR questions and I can immediately get the correct answer upon reviewing them.

I think under timed conditions my mind is racing and isn't thinking as clearly as it should.

I don't think I need to start from square one. I have a pretty solid foundation. I just need to think faster on my feet.

I'm taking PT 43 untimed today to see if this theory is true.

I don't think "thinking faster" is really a thing. Sure, you might have anxiety that could hinder your performance. But being hindered to a -14 in LR is more than a timing issue, if such a thing exists at all. Just relax, man. Take a deep breath.

It took me 5 full days to review PT39. Not saying that this is what YOU should be doing or what even anyone else should be doing, but I am just saying that I think I learned more from those 5 days of review than actually taking it.

EDIT: no one here believes that you are a 150s scorer. Do yourself a favor and really step back and try to understand what you are doing wrong. Your approach is probably wrong. If you have "timing issues" it is probably due to spending too much time focusing on the wrong things.

Agreed. Don't be discouraged! I think you need to focus less on the score itself and focus more on the material. The score will follow, I promise... (I'm speaking to myself here, too)

June is not the end all, be all!

Chillax and have fun learning

[WaltGrace83]

Have you considered using a tutor also? If I were you, I would just STOP and go through the Trainer and Manhattan simultaneously again. I would go through them slowly. You've burned through a lot of material so revisit all your old questions. Read the stimulus. Separate the premises from the conclusions. Write down an anticipated answer. Look for the wrong answers and explain why they are wrong. Look for the right answer and explain why it is right. Then look at that same question again and ask, "what can I learn from this question and these answer choices?"

I have revisited old questions time and time again. It is a fun exercise because (1) sometimes I will revisit old questions and think "how the hell did I think that was right." and (2) it makes you more aware of the actual learning process. You are not so focused on getting the question right or wrong as you are on the actual process. After all, you've gotten the question right or wrong before so you aren't looking for validation.

[charlesriver]

Have you considered using a tutor also? If I were you, I would just STOP and go through the Trainer and Manhattan simultaneously again. I would go through them slowly. You've burned through a lot of material so revisit all your old questions. Read the stimulus. Separate the premises from the conclusions. Write down an anticipated answer. Look for the wrong answers and explain why they are wrong. Look for the right answer and explain why it is right. Then look at that same question again and ask, "what can I learn from this question and these answer choices?"

I have revisited old questions time and time again. It is a fun exercise because (1) sometimes I will revisit old questions and think "how the hell did I think that was right." and (2) it makes you more aware of the actual learning process. You are not so focused on getting the question right or wrong as you are on the actual process. After all, you've gotten the question right or wrong before so you aren't looking for validation.

Great advice. If only I had this kind of advice before I exhausted all my fresh materials. Now I am in an awkward position to get an accurate sense of my performance. WHAT DO I DO...

[10052014]

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[santoki]

June is not the end all, be all!

Chillax and have fun learning

If we think this going into the test (that June is the only time I can take it), will this negatively effect the score?

Well I think if you build it up in your own mind that this is the one, this is it, and it's super important, you might be prone to panicking on the exam. It's hard to say it'd negatively affect your score, but I think, again, you'll be vulnerable to a mental breakdown that could be key on the exam.

When I took it in October, I couldn't stop thinking about my RC section (4) while taking LR2 (section 5), and I got the last 8 questions of the test wrong. I really think it's because I didn't treat the exam like a PT.

But who knows, really??

[BaberhamLincoln]

This is prob an extremely noob question but...if I wanna review how I did on the June 2013 LSAT I took, how do I do this?

I assume I can look up my answers and such on LSAC?

[rebexness]

This is prob an extremely noob question but...if I wanna review how I did on the June 2013 LSAT I took, how do I do this?

I assume I can look up my answers and such on LSAC?

Unfortunately, unless you printed it, that stuff disappears after 6 months.

[10052014]

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