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

[Deardevil]

Do you just need to eyeball for the conclusion before you read the rest of the stimulus? It seems hard to get the conclusion without reading the rest of the stimulus...

Oh, no. I read the entire thing. It's just that I underline relevant things along the way.
It's sort of like a LG setup in which I gather the premise(s) and conclusion in order to be ready for the question.
It could be that I'm a novice reader (I often find it difficult to get a passage if it's not read out loud).
Therefore, if I can't make noise during an actual test, I might as well underline or circle stuff to retain information.

More often than not, the conclusion should come naturally. Unless it's a dense stimuli that also has subsidiaries.
If you're not supplied with a "thus" or "therefore," you would then need to weigh it with the other sentences to isolate the conclusion.

[Mikey]

Guys, idk why I'm just feeling so motivated to destroy this test. I guess after being highly disappointed with my June score after 5 months of prep, I just figured FUCK THE LSAT, and I don't want it to get in the way of something that I really want to do. I liked the time off during the wait period though, gave me a break from this shit which I think cleared my mind a lot and some how I am able to more quickly understand arguments in LR, unlike before when I would find myself like "wot" after some questions.

[Alexandros]

Today, thus far -
5 grouping games - whopping 39 minutes (yikes) - -1 because I accidentally skipped over a question. Think I would've gotten it fine if I hadn't, though.
The set I bombed last night - -0 this time. Need to remember to make those inferences in advance, be efficient, and attempt to verify answers.
Another set of 4 - another longer than usual time (but not over 35 min - -0
And set of 5 - 35 min - -1. I'm pretty sure I've gotten this question wrong every time I've attempted this game (the one with the strand of colored beads) due to being unable to figure out which of two answers is right and picking the wrong one. I must be missing something here.

RC - 2 passages, -1 ( ) but ok timing-wise, then promptly realized I'd run out of RC in the pack I was using. Noooo.

LR - -3 !!!!
So this is a problem. Going to be prioritizing LR big time for the next few weeks.
Current game plan:
- Purchase one of the by type books for LR
- Make sets of the most difficult questions and drill those.
- Go back through Manhattan LR starting at the beginning.
Any other ideas, anyone?

Feeling pretty shaky about all three sections and not near as confident as I was a few weeks ago. I guess I'll take a PT tomorrow, but I don't have very high expectations (considering how little time I've devoted to the LSATs due to moving, etc., the amount of LG sections that I've bombed lately, and the fact that I can no longer logically reason.) But every PT is useful. I just hope it a low score won't shoot down my motivation.

This evening - More RC, probably another set of LG, and review the first few chapters of Manhattan LR.

[Alexandros]

Guys, idk why I'm just feeling so motivated to destroy this test. I guess after being highly disappointed with my June score after 5 months of prep, I just figured FUCK THE LSAT, and I don't want it to get in the way of something that I really want to do. I liked the time off during the wait period though, gave me a break from this shit which I think cleared my mind a lot and some how I am able to more quickly understand arguments in LR, unlike before when I would find myself like "wot" after some questions.

GOOD FOR YOU. And glad to hear you're coming out of the wait period clear-headed, rather than worn-out and discouraged.

Letting the LSAT get in the way of what you want in life isn't worth it. Let's do this.

[imran.malek]

Today, thus far -
5 grouping games - whopping 39 minutes (yikes) - -1 because I accidentally skipped over a question. Think I would've gotten it fine if I hadn't, though.
The set I bombed last night - -0 this time. Need to remember to make those inferences in advance, be efficient, and attempt to verify answers.
Another set of 4 - another longer than usual time (but not over 35 min - -0
And set of 5 - 35 min - -1. I'm pretty sure I've gotten this question wrong every time I've attempted this game (the one with the strand of colored beads) due to being unable to figure out which of two answers is right and picking the wrong one. I must be missing something here.

RC - 2 passages, -1 ( ) but ok timing-wise, then promptly realized I'd run out of RC in the pack I was using. Noooo.

LR - -3 !!!!
So this is a problem. Going to be prioritizing LR big time for the next few weeks.
Current game plan:
- Purchase one of the by type books for LR
- Make sets of the most difficult questions and drill those.
- Go back through Manhattan LR starting at the beginning.
Any other ideas, anyone?

Feeling pretty shaky about all three sections and not near as confident as I was a few weeks ago. I guess I'll take a PT tomorrow, but I don't have very high expectations (considering how little time I've devoted to the LSATs due to moving, etc., the amount of LG sections that I've bombed lately, and the fact that I can no longer logically reason.) But every PT is useful. I just hope it a low score won't shoot down my motivation.

This evening - More RC, probably another set of LG, and review the first few chapters of Manhattan LR.

Have you tried going through the collections of question types and drilling those individually (one timed, and then once blind review after)?

I liked Mike Kim's one http://www.thelsattrainer.com/trainer-q ... kdown.html

[Mikey]

Guys, idk why I'm just feeling so motivated to destroy this test. I guess after being highly disappointed with my June score after 5 months of prep, I just figured FUCK THE LSAT, and I don't want it to get in the way of something that I really want to do. I liked the time off during the wait period though, gave me a break from this shit which I think cleared my mind a lot and some how I am able to more quickly understand arguments in LR, unlike before when I would find myself like "wot" after some questions.

GOOD FOR YOU. And glad to hear you're coming out of the wait period clear-headed, rather than worn-out and discouraged.

Letting the LSAT get in the way of what you want in life isn't worth it. Let's do this.

Thanks! What really got me on test day was nerves, therefore slowing me down and making me lose focus A LOT. Even when I was doing PT or individual sections, I would still get nervous because I knew I was timing myself. So the thought and pressure of being timed gets to me, but when I do an individual question and time myself, I can usually do it quick and around the normal time it takes for each question so like 1:00 to 1:30. Shit, sometimes I can even do it in like 45/50 seconds depending on the easiness of the question, but the time pressure just messes with me, even though I know I can do it. So I gotta work on that! Haha.

[imran.malek]

Today I'm finally buckling down and doing some massive RC drilling. Going to drill 10 games, timed, and then type out the answers and explanations to each one I get wrong.

I will not let 1/4 of this test ruin the other 3/4.

Do you mean like type out your method of getting to the right answer so you can keep it in your head?

[20170322]

Today I'm finally buckling down and doing some massive RC drilling. Going to drill 10 games, timed, and then type out the answers and explanations to each one I get wrong.

I will not let 1/4 of this test ruin the other 3/4.

Do you mean like type out your method of getting to the right answer so you can keep it in your head?

Typing the question, the right answer, my incorrect answer, and why the correct answer is correct.

[imran.malek]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

[Mikey]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

I do by question type when drilling. There's some people who don't do this though, and they just do a full section and blind review it.

[20170322]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

I do by question type when drilling. There's some people who don't do this though, and they just do a full section and blind review it.

I started untimed, 1 by 1. Then timed, 1 by 1. Now I do packets of 4, shooting for under 30 minutes.

[Mikey]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

I do by question type when drilling. There's some people who don't do this though, and they just do a full section and blind review it.

I started untimed, 1 by 1. Then timed, 1 by 1. Now I do packets of 4, shooting for under 30 minutes.

My issue is that I know how to do the games, I just can't do them fast enough to have at least a bit of time before the section is up. I'd really like to get to that point, just like you in which you can do 5 games in the amount they give you to do 4

[Deardevil]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

It's probably a better idea to drill by question type to get more in tune with the many types.
However, you soon realize that not every type will appear as often as assumptions, flaws, and parallel reasoning,
and they tend to be the hardest. MBT, strengthen, weaken... Those should be easy when they do surface.
I'd either drill by type on just the most difficult, then "wing" the rest on PTs.
I'm currently drilling old sections (SuperPrep's PTs A, B, and C) to harden myself for the contemporaries.

The first was killer because it was, after all, my first. Results were -12 and -10 on LR, then -6 and -7 after going through explanations.
I went through the ones I got wrong again just now and understood 95%, I would say; there's still the occasional stumper.
I'm a bit more comfortable with LR since the first drill.
Came into the next two sections with -7 and -12 (this section was pretty rough).
Will probably redo them just to regain some confidence before moving on; just didn't get around to it today. :\

[imran.malek]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

It's probably a better idea to drill by question type to get more in tune with the many types.
However, you soon realize that not every type will appear as often as assumptions, flaws, and parallel reasoning,
and they tend to be the hardest. MBT, strengthen, weaken... Those should be easy when they do surface.
I'd either drill by type on just the most difficult, then "wing" the rest on PTs.
I'm currently drilling old sections (SuperPrep's PTs A, B, and C) to harden myself for the contemporaries.

The first was killer because it was, after all, my first. Results were -12 and -10 on LR, then -6 and -7 after going through explanations.
I went through the ones I got wrong again just now and understood 95%, I would say; there's still the occasional stumper.
I'm a bit more comfortable with LR since the first drill.
Came into the next two sections with -7 and -12 (this section was pretty rough).
Will probably redo them just to regain some confidence before moving on; just didn't get around to it today. :\

Are the older tests generally harder then the newer ones?

[20170322]

How do you guys approach drilling? Do you just pick a section from a PT and go through it, or do you drill per different question types?

It's Ramadan right now (over this Wednesday though!) so mustering up the stamina to take a full length 5 section PT has been tough (need...water), but I still need to study and hit problems hard so little "sprints" are more realistic.

I do by question type when drilling. There's some people who don't do this though, and they just do a full section and blind review it.

I started untimed, 1 by 1. Then timed, 1 by 1. Now I do packets of 4, shooting for under 30 minutes.

My issue is that I know how to do the games, I just can't do them fast enough to have at least a bit of time before the section is up. I'd really like to get to that point, just like you in which you can do 5 games in the amount they give you to do 4

I was the same way. Literally just keep doing them over and over and over. It's the only way.

[20170322]

.

[imran.malek]

Headache won't stop so now I'm getting shitfaced. Lesson: don't stop drinking caffeine.

I cut out caffeine the first day after the June test - the first week was one of the most miserable weeks of my life, but you bounce back ... and sleep better than ever!

You got this!!

[Deardevil]

Are the older tests generally harder then the newer ones?

Not necessarily, but it's generally recommended to save newer ones for PTs.
The older ones are different in that they don't have comparative reading and, from what I hear,
contain more perplexing language when it comes to LR? I believe the modern LG is a lot easier, though.
The SuperPrep has some crazy games, and these tests are from a decade ago, so there's that.

[Barack O'Drama]

Headache won't stop so now I'm getting shitfaced. Lesson: don't stop drinking caffeine.

Yeah, have some drinks, relax, chill, and get a good rest tonight. I hope you feel better soon!

[Mikey]

Have you played the new update for the division?

[Barack O'Drama]

Are the older tests generally harder then the newer ones?

Not necessarily, but it's generally recommended to save newer ones for PTs.
The older ones are different in that they don't have comparative reading and, from what I hear,
contain more perplexing language when it comes to LR? I believe the modern LG is a lot easier, though.
The SuperPrep has some crazy games, and these tests are from a decade ago, so there's that.

Yeah, I think the consensus is that the LR is a bit easier insofar as the language but I wouldn't say easier. The modern LGs are about the same, maybe a bit easier because they seem to use less types and variations of games--so I've heard. I also heard RC is a bit more challenging.

All-in-all, I don't think there is a negligible difference in the level of difficulty of the LSAT over the past 20 years or so. I also tend to believe that people think the more recent are simpler because they have practiced on the older ones first, and thus, are just better at the LSAT now. Haven't taken full timed test since my diagnostic, so these are just speculations...

[Alexandros]

Today, thus far -
5 grouping games - whopping 39 minutes (yikes) - -1 because I accidentally skipped over a question. Think I would've gotten it fine if I hadn't, though.
The set I bombed last night - -0 this time. Need to remember to make those inferences in advance, be efficient, and attempt to verify answers.
Another set of 4 - another longer than usual time (but not over 35 min - -0
And set of 5 - 35 min - -1. I'm pretty sure I've gotten this question wrong every time I've attempted this game (the one with the strand of colored beads) due to being unable to figure out which of two answers is right and picking the wrong one. I must be missing something here.

RC - 2 passages, -1 ( ) but ok timing-wise, then promptly realized I'd run out of RC in the pack I was using. Noooo.

LR - -3 !!!!
So this is a problem. Going to be prioritizing LR big time for the next few weeks.
Current game plan:
- Purchase one of the by type books for LR
- Make sets of the most difficult questions and drill those.
- Go back through Manhattan LR starting at the beginning.
Any other ideas, anyone?

Feeling pretty shaky about all three sections and not near as confident as I was a few weeks ago. I guess I'll take a PT tomorrow, but I don't have very high expectations (considering how little time I've devoted to the LSATs due to moving, etc., the amount of LG sections that I've bombed lately, and the fact that I can no longer logically reason.) But every PT is useful. I just hope it a low score won't shoot down my motivation.

This evening - More RC, probably another set of LG, and review the first few chapters of Manhattan LR.

Have you tried going through the collections of question types and drilling those individually (one timed, and then once blind review after)?

I liked Mike Kim's one http://www.thelsattrainer.com/trainer-q ... kdown.html

Thanks!! I did use the Trainers q breakdown when I was going through the schedule (modified version cause I didn't have 51-71 with me at the time). It was very helpful but I found it impossible to time for multiple questions while flipping pages to find questions (I'm sure I could have done something creative like sticky notes to easy the process though idk)
Then I started hitting 0/-1 fairly consistently and naively thought it was a done deal and I could abandon by type drilling. (Haha...)
Just ordered Manhattans by type for the 40s though (also man if this is what it says it is DAMN what a gem. Cannot remember who suggested that now but tysm!!) so hopefully I'll be able to drill by type + time efficiently and make some progress.

[20170322]

Lol, taking the next 4 days off to visit family. Definitely being a lazy bum this week.

[Mikey]

Lol, taking the next 4 days off to visit family. Definitely being a lazy bum this week.

You're avoiding burn out, so you're good! Have a good time and enjoy!

[34iplaw]

Sat down at Starbucks to do half the games. Definitely need to make sure I don't take as long of a break. I wasn't overly happy with the results, so I'm going to run through them all again tomorrow timed, and untimed afterwards, prior to reviewing the 7sage.

October 2010

That game is terrible. It just wrecked me... I think I was on a roll with games I kind of was just more getting very intuitively and that one was just like a brick wall after having done 10 immediately before in a single sitting. Missed something like 5 questions overall [3 on that last stupid game...but I just think I sort of gave up halfway through], but every single one of those questions should be an absolute gimme.