Real LSAT studying Forum

[sfoglia]

I don't bubble. Idk where id get a scantron from so that I could bubble.

Make sure it's an official Scantron (copyright), the exact format that LSAC uses. You don't want to be practicing filling in bubbles that are smaller or larger than the real thing on test day. That could severely impact your speed.










Kidding, of course.

[Valamar]

Right now I'm studying with a partner 5 days a week, we do a 4 section timed PT every day for 4 days plus one day of review. Right now we are taking sort of a break between sections to mark the section and discuss questions we got wrong/found challenging. Starting next week in August we will be ramping up to 6 days a week (5 PTs + review), then starting 5 section PTs in September. Hopefully this will be a good way to become acclimatized with "game-day" conditions by Sept 27th. Have not planned for any 8 section drills but have heard from many people that this is very effective, what do you guys think?

[HRomanus]

Right now I'm studying with a partner 5 days a week, we do a 4 section timed PT every day for 4 days plus one day of review. Right now we are taking sort of a break between sections to mark the section and discuss questions we got wrong/found challenging. Starting next week in August we will be ramping up to 6 days a week (5 PTs + review), then starting 5 section PTs in September. Hopefully this will be a good way to become acclimatized with "game-day" conditions by Sept 27th. Have not planned for any 8 section drills but have heard from many people that this is very effective, what do you guys think?

Oh my God. What are your typical scores and score breakdowns?

[Valamar]

We've been at it for just over a month now, for the last two weeks I've been consistently in the 179-180 range but I expect this to take a dip once we start adding in the extra section, splits are usually RC 0-2, AR 0-1, LR 0-2

[HRomanus]

We've been at it for just over a month now, for the last two weeks I've been consistently in the 179-180 range but I expect this to take a dip once we start adding in the extra section, splits are usually RC 0-2, AR 0-1, LR 0-2

That is incredible. Props on your intelligence and dedication.

[slexisl1024]

FWIW I 'cheated' by only taking 4 sections, taking breaks between every section, and not bubbling for all but like 2 PTs and scored 1 point lower than my average on test day.

It didn't feel a whole lot different to me, I don't get the 'mental stamina' concerns.

That being said, it wouldn't hurt to try and replicate the test day experience as much as possible. However, I think the most important thing by far is getting use to the timing conditions of the individual sections. If you start at a high diagnostic, I think you should constrain yourself to 35 minutes a section from the beginning of your studying.

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[Valamar]

Haha well I'm not doing anything else this summer so I am able to dedicate 100% of my time to this test (including secondary tasks like establishing a good workout routine and healthy sleep cycle, I find that going for a nice run or swim right before sitting down for my daily PT really helps with concentration). Oh and also lurking this site, always open to swapping and learning new strategies with my fellow TLSers

[Gray]

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[fra]

Haha well I'm not doing anything else this summer so I am able to dedicate 100% of my time to this test (including secondary tasks like establishing a good workout routine and healthy sleep cycle, I find that going for a nice run or swim right before sitting down for my daily PT really helps with concentration). Oh and also lurking this site, always open to swapping and learning new strategies with my fellow TLSers

So jealous....

Right? For me it came down to choosing two of the following three:
1. adequate sleep
2. healthy diet and scheduled exercise
3. occasional LSAT studying

I chose 1 (sometimes) and 3, and chocolate chips eaten straight out of the bag taste so good that they almost deaden the sadness of giving up 2.

Congrats Valamar - on the great scores and the awesome study schedule. You're going to do great!

[Gray]

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[chem]

I'm scoring 175-179 and I'm sort of doing test conditions:
Always in library
No breaks at all
Using an analog watch, no timer
Bubbling in answers on scantron, not checking anything until I'm completely done

My plan is to add the fifth section as soon as I feel 100% comfortable with all question types, so that my prep can become more about endurance and comfort than anything else, then maybe try to make it significantly harder with 32 minutes per section and a total of 6.

I have a shitty GPA to compensate for, so I'm really gunning for as close to 180 as possible. Unfortunately I work FT so I don't get as much prep time as I'd like.

Are we the same person?

I've been doing consistent 175-180 with sort of test day conditions.
I bubble intermittently. I bubbled for my first 180 several tests ago, and haven't done it since out of pure laziness.
I use the 7sage virtual proctor and analog watch.
Always 35 minutes or less per section.
On weekends I try to sit down and do 4 sections without a break, my plan is to ramp it up to two exams back to back the month of the exam.
I do my exams at home right now, planning on moving them to the library (actual testing room if possible) the month of the exam. A benefit of doing them at home is that there are way more distractions at home than I anticipate there being under actual testing conditions, I can't imagine that my jerk cat sitting on the questions and chewing on the end of my pencil while I try to diagram a logic game is inflating my practice score.

Maybe I'll do a test under strict exam conditions this weekend and report back.

TCR

[Gray]

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[LeNut]

I scored in the 170s on the June 2013 test. Gradually worked up from 4 section to 6 section timed PTs and then ramped back down to 4 sections about 2 weeks prior to the real test. Never used an analog watch though. Doesn't everyone get a timer displayed on an overhead projector during the real test?

[Causidicus]

I scored in the 170s on the June 2013 test. Gradually worked up from 4 section to 6 section timed PTs and then ramped back down to 4 sections about 2 weeks prior to the real test. Never used an analog watch though. Doesn't everyone get a timer displayed on an overhead projector during the real test?

What!?!? I didn't get a overhead timer wtf. That sounds like it would seriously help. I mean knowing the exact second when the section ends would be huge. (Assuming you're describing a digital countdown timer type thing and not just a clock..)

[fra]

How does one go about figuring out what room the test is in? I would love to do this because I'm already taking PTs on campus, but all LSAC tells me right now is the school.

I know people who have taken the LSAT and other various standardized tests at my location and they have always been in the same room. If you are taking at a university you might be able to guess at the room by asking the law students there where they took the MPRE.

[Atmosphere]

I don't bubble. Idk where id get a scantron from so that I could bubble.

1. Download the 2007 June LSAT
2. Print multiple copies of the scantron page
3. ????
4. Profit

[CincinnatusND]

Even as someone who will ready admit my own neuroticism, going to the testing location to practice seems so over-the-top to me. So do 6 section PT's tbh.

Edit: bubbling, on the other hand is something you should absolutely practice. I made so many bubbling mistakes in the early stages of my prep, I'm glad I figured that out before test day. Also, bubbling affects your timing.

[Gray]

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