June 2011 Study Group Forum

[geverett]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

[theaether]

TITCR. Not even a question really. You go hard like this will be the only chance you have. And what's the worst that can happen? A retake? The only downside to taking in June is the slight chance of a retake, and with where you're at right now I think waiting till Oct would be a mistake imo. The pressure will be triple if you wait. You're in a groove and you have ~30 days. Kill it

Also, 21 may be a bit much in 30 days (would be for me), but you know your limits.

Thanks for this. I've decided to do 17 PTs, throwing out 4 of them for being really old, like PT12-PT18 old. Going arrr-in...

[Strange]

I felt totally burnt out last night, so I'm taking today and tomorrow off. It sucks, because I work full time so they aren't really days off, but it's the best I can do. I can't take a weekend day off because I need to use those to take PT's. I plan on doing 44 and 51 this weekend to kick off the final month.

[99.9luft]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

Good luck, buddy, we'll miss you.

I,too, am not scoring in the 175 realm, but since I quit my job and have really nothing to do in these 30 days but PT, review, and work out, I have no right to postpone. After I finish the remaining 11 PTs and review all the wrong ones, I will murder the June test.

Let's do this. To the mid-170s and to an lsat-free summer, bitches!!!

[Ssushi]

Thanks for the great advice man. One thing I've noticed is that when I do a problem, I don't have much trouble with most of the questions and can get it down to about 6 minutes now. However it is the last two problems in every game that are the most difficult and I usually miss one of the two and instead of finishing the game in 6 or 7 minutes it takes me 10 or more if I attempt to do the last two problems. Usually the questions are so complex I have to diagram a whole number of possible solutions which takes time and is inaccurate because I invariable forget a rule.

Some end game questions do require new diagrams, but not all. You might have an inefficient approach - hard to say without watching you in action. But, as for the last part, that's a careless error and you should focus on cleaning those up. When you make one, re-do the game (there's that same advice again) so that the error gets unstuck. Bad habits take a while to undo.

Also how would you suggest approaching Must Be True questions. I realize I'm missing these ones a lot because I often view them as Could Be True questions, and then I find the solution works, but doesn't necessarily have to be true. Again a lot of the problem is that I fail to see the proper inferences. I'm almost always able to tell what Must Be False because I understand the NOT LAWS, but i have trouble identifying what must be true unless it's blatantly obvious.

For Must be true, if there's no new condition, you should be able to determine the answer from your initial diagram and a bit of thought. Often the answer is a "duh!" one, so be lazy and defer judgment on complex answers as you look for the easy one. For conditional questions, your work with the new rule should generally take you all the way to the answer, or at least close.

I'm guessing these are things that just click after repetition?

That's true for cleaning up certain things and pacing, but if you're approaching the questions through trial and error, etc., you want to change your approach in a more fundamental manner.

Thanks for all your help man, i think I'm finally making it over the hump. I now spend much more time diagramming and it's really paying off. I did about 4 games this afternoon and they took about 10/11 min apiece but i didn't miss a question.

One thing i noticed, and I'm not sure if this is a general rule or just a coincidence, is that if i have to guess and check on the 2nd or 3rd question in the Game, then my original diagram is not complete. The LGB didn't mention this but do you know if this is a general rule? On the 4th game I realized i could not do question 3 with my current diagram without guessing and checking and I went back and realized i missed a few inferences. Is this a strategy I should use?

[gaud]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

Good luck, buddy, we'll miss you.

I,too, am not scoring in the 175 realm, but since I quit my job and have really nothing to do in these 30 days but PT, review, and work out, I have no right to postpone. After I finish the remaining 11 PTs and review all the wrong ones, I will murder the June test.

Let's do this. To the mid-170s and to an lsat-free summer, bitches!!!

+1; lol

[jim-green]

a) Burn through remaining 21 PTs in the next 30 days and try to destroy June
b) Mellowed out 8-12ish PTs in the next 30 days with around 2-3 timed sections on non-PT days, possibly cancelling or maybe even SCORING June, and then deciding whether or not to retake
c) Direct postponement to Oct. It's eating at me...

Whatever you do, make sure you leave time for a retake in your present admissions cycle. Don't count on a single take. Last yr, I prepped and prepped and kept postponing till I was perfect, and then fell ill the day before the test and bombed. So retake for me. Can happen to the best of ya. Also, unplanned test room mishaps. Your PT average is not a guarantee of test day.

[Manhattan LSAT Noah]

One thing i noticed, and I'm not sure if this is a general rule or just a coincidence, is that if i have to guess and check on the 2nd or 3rd question in the Game, then my original diagram is not complete. The LGB didn't mention this but do you know if this is a general rule? On the 4th game I realized i could not do question 3 with my current diagram without guessing and checking and I went back and realized i missed a few inferences. Is this a strategy I should use?

The LGB flawed? Impossible and heretical.

It sounds like using the 2nd or 3rd question to check your diagram is working for you so stick with it. But, your goal is to pass that litmus test most of the time (i.e. not missing major inferences at the get go). Start noticing what sort of inferences you're not making on your first crack at the diagram. In general, most people don't do enough front end work on games (a few do too much), so I'd swing that way for a few days and than ratchet back a bit. The danger you'll have to ratchet back from is the idea that you have to nail every single inference or else you can't do well on LGS. That's definitely not true, and I think some LSAT gurus make folks feel that way by showing each and every inferential nook and cranny for a game and indirectly suggest students should have figured those out too. But, you're far away from that danger for the time being, so head that way for now.

[Manhattan LSAT Noah]

For the Sunday at 4:30 group, here's the assignment:

LR (inferences)
PT29, S1, Q6
PT32, S1, Q11
PT29, S1, Q18
PT31, S2, Q15

RC (comparative passages)
June 2007, S4, P2 (not in the Next 10, but you can get this through the LSAC site, or the Manhattan LSAT Resources Page)

Have fun!

[Eichörnchen]

Ehh...so guys with our test date I think that the general consensus is that we can expect our scores around the 25th, am I right? Cause my mom just emailed me "something to look forward to" - she booked a vacation for the whole family from the 19th-25th. It's lovely of her, but I think travelling to meet the fam, then spending a week all together doing the 'family activities' and sharing hotel rooms could be taxing on a good week, let alone when I am expecting the email any second (or worse, get it during and have zero privacy to check and celebrate/mourn (I hope the former) on my own). why that week?? Whyyyyy...

[gaud]

Ehh...so guys with our test date I think that the general consensus is that we can expect our scores around the 25th, am I right? Cause my mom just emailed me "something to look forward to" - she booked a vacation for the whole family from the 19th-25th. It's lovely of her, but I think travelling to meet the fam, then spending a week all together doing the 'family activities' and sharing hotel rooms could be taxing on a good week, let alone when I am expecting the email any second (or worse, get it during and have zero privacy to check and celebrate/mourn (I hope the former) on my own). why that week?? Whyyyyy...

LOL I'm in the same boat, except it's with my gf's family that I've never met. We are flying out on the 1st of July and I was trying to explain to her that it will either be a good or bad vacation hah

[jim-green]

Thanks for posting these for Sundays, since I have no access to FB.

For the Sunday at 4:30 group, here's the assignment:
LR (inferences)
PT29, S1, Q6
PT32, S1, Q11
PT29, S1, Q18
PT31, S2, Q15

[Manhattan LSAT Noah]

Thanks for posting these for Sundays, since I have no access to FB.

For the Sunday at 4:30 group, here's the assignment:
LR (inferences)
PT29, S1, Q6
PT32, S1, Q11
PT29, S1, Q18
PT31, S2, Q15

how do you survive?

[jim-green]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

You joining the Oct grp thread, Gev? I hope you'll still study with us. I learned a lot from you. And the continued study will probably be good for you...at a lower intensity.

[jim-green]

Thanks for posting these for Sundays, since I have no access to FB.

For the Sunday at 4:30 group, here's the assignment:LR (inferences)

how do you survive?

It's easy. I have no friends.

[99.9luft]

Ehh...so guys with our test date I think that the general consensus is that we can expect our scores around the 25th, am I right? Cause my mom just emailed me "something to look forward to" - she booked a vacation for the whole family from the 19th-25th. It's lovely of her, but I think travelling to meet the fam, then spending a week all together doing the 'family activities' and sharing hotel rooms could be taxing on a good week, let alone when I am expecting the email any second (or worse, get it during and have zero privacy to check and celebrate/mourn (I hope the former) on my own). why that week?? Whyyyyy...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VTTgoIk84vc/T ... BDates.png

Yup, it looks like it will be on the 25th, which is a Saturday this year.

[privatemf]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

You joining the Oct grp thread, Gev? I hope you'll still study with us. I learned a lot from you. And the continued study will probably be good for you...at a lower intensity.

I agree with you. I want to wait until October, but I fear I would losst the early admission chance. I have improved a lot but I am still not performing well when timed. I begin to make stupid errors.

[seanPtheB]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

You joining the Oct grp thread, Gev? I hope you'll still study with us. I learned a lot from you. And the continued study will probably be good for you...at a lower intensity.

I agree with you. I want to wait until October, but I fear I would losst the early admission chance. I have improved a lot but I am still not performing well when timed. I begin to make stupid errors.

IMO, you shouldn't take this test until you have reached your max potential (or your goal if you have a certain number in mind), no matter when you're signed up. I remember reading a big thread on this topic a while back and plenty of people were saying if you think you can up your score 1 point from June to October you should wait.

[jim-green]

Yea I am taking the test in October.

You joining the Oct grp thread, Gev?

I agree with you. I want to wait until October, but I fear I would losst the early admission chance.

if you think you can up your score 1 point from June to October you should wait.

I understand the 1 pt comment, but make sure to add in all the factors into your calculation - how many points are you likely to improve by Oct, early admissions consideration, how much more can you study, how many fresh PTs do you have left, will other family or school or professional considerations intervene in summer, chance of illness in Oct, travel prior to October, will the 1 pt matter to your target schools, could you fall a few pts in Oct due to burnout or getting sick of LSAT,...

[tmon]

Just wanted to drop in and say best of luck to everyone persevering to June as I've officially changed to October. I admire everyone's commitment, envy everyone's chance for an lsat-free summer, and I'm sure you're going to rock the test! I've improved to a truly surprising extent, and just know that I can keep it going and consistently stay in the 170s with some more practice.

You've all been a great motivation to keep going and I hope you get a 180 and don't have to think about this monster after your scores are in.

[theaether]

SuperPrep A
LR: -4
PT22.1 LR: -1
RC: -5
LG: -1
LR: -0

91/101 --> 169

Lowest scaled score since January(!!), but for some reason I felt good about this test. Why? Because I bombed RC when I normally don't (usually -1 to -2 there). I felt immense time pressure after dawdling on passage 1. Another reason for the positive outlook is I got like my 3rd ever -0 LR section, and it was in the last section of the test. The -1 in the experimental LR is encouraging too, for LR is where my greatest weaknesses lie.

The continuing -1 in every single LG section is really pesky though. Getting rid of that would help a lot.

[Ssushi]

FML I'm on break from practice test 32 (with LG 38 as experimental) and i just had to guess on 9 out of 24. It's an experimental section but still, i don't know what is up with these 30 games but i cant do them to save my life.

[Strange]

Is it a consideration that you should "save" some fresh PT's just in case you do it in October? I have about 14 left and I was planning on using them all. I'm averaging 2 points away from my goal so I was hoping to make a big final push

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Yea I am taking the test in October. I need to get in mid to high 170s to overcompensate for my weak GPA from 5 years ago. I'm shooting for the top and no matter what the outcome I just want to know that I achieved my full potential. I think I can confidently say that if I hold off until October.

You joining the Oct grp thread, Gev? I hope you'll still study with us. I learned a lot from you. And the continued study will probably be good for you...at a lower intensity.

I agree with you. I want to wait until October, but I fear I would losst the early admission chance. I have improved a lot but I am still not performing well when timed. I begin to make stupid errors.

IMO, you shouldn't take this test until you have reached your max potential (or your goal if you have a certain number in mind), no matter when you're signed up. I remember reading a big thread on this topic a while back and plenty of people were saying if you think you can up your score 1 point from June to October you should wait.

A 1 point gain in October isn't worth waiting imo. If you bomb October then you are screwed for EA/ED and will have to retake Dec., which means losing out on $$$$ and waiting a year. I haven't really understood the 'wait till Oct' for ppl who haven't already taken the LSAT once. If you bomb in June you are in the exact same position as you would be in taking the first time in October because it's known schools aren't averaging (save HYS). I think taking in June for those who are somewhat liking their PT scores and haven't already sat once is a smart decision. If you do great, heck ya. If you don't, what's the big deal? You sit in October and destroy it with your new found confidence from already sitting in on a real LSAT.

[Eichörnchen]

Ok, so I just took my first PT in weeks. The verdict is uncool:

RC: -3
LR1: -4
LRExp: -2
LR2: -1
LG: -3

Raw 89
Scaled: 169

So I'm happy with the best LG yet (although with a grain of salt because my timer messed up and I got an extra minute and a half. Grr. I wanted to take this PT to get an accurate diagnosis on my current LG level) But -4 on LR1?? WTF? So apparently if I do a little better in one section, I will do worse in others to keep me out of the 170s. Cool. And the test had an experimental put in automatically, so I did not choose to do three LRs in a row. I'm not that crazy about LR.