October 2010 Test Prep Forum

[luxxe]

I know it's still a bit early, but is anyone else worrying about this test? I mean I'm studying and doing practice tests, but occasionally I get hit with a wave of "OMG IT'S ONE WEEK/MONTH (whatever) CLOSER TO OCTOBER. GAH." I really wish I could quit my day job so I could study full time and worry less, but then I wouldn't be able to pay bills. Alas :-/

In other, unrelated, news: I found out my brother and his wife are expecting their first baby!

aw, congratulations!!

i freaked out when i realized i had less than five months. i have been mitigating that stress by watching season after season of buffy on netflix. PRODUCTIVE, let me tell ya.

[brickman]

for what it's worth, my approach is to realize that you have a plan, accepting the belief that steady studying will produce results, researching areas where you have trouble, working through your particular issue areas. The amount of mental energy spent worrying and causing yourself enormous emotional distress over the test doesn't seem to be worth it when so many other steps have to be taken towards preparation.

Realize that worrying doesn't have a place in studying, only studying has a place in studying.

[DC_Sportsfan21]

hey, just joined and I too will be most likley taking the October test. Will probably start prep in mid June

[Camron]

I am also in for October. Wrote it this Feb, did crappy AGAIN and will write it my last time this fall. Last LSAT I got owned by the LG (alot of wierd hybrids, going to see how the June LSAT plays out before I worry about that) and by the RC passage (two of them and I got lazy/distracted during the actual graded one). Going to follow the study guide in this forum this time and give myself the full 4 months to prep and hopefully get a 170!

[Jonathan Weizmann]

Hi all

Happy to see that I am not as early as I thought
gr8 to read your intakes - much needed help

[musicfor18]

Hi everyone. I'm planning to take the LSAT for the 2nd time this October. I took it in first in Feb 2009 and scored 167. I got into some good schools this year (but not quite T14), but am forced to put off enrollment for one year for medical reasons. So, I decided I might as well try to get a few more points.

I was planning to take a prep course (probably Testmasters), but a few people have told me the courses are more effective if you're starting with a lower score (150s) and trying to get into the 160s. Thoughts?

[WhatSarahSaid]

Hi everyone. I'm planning to take the LSAT for the 2nd time this October. I took it in first in Feb 2009 and scored 167. I got into some good schools this year (but not quite T14), but am forced to put off enrollment for one year for medical reasons. So, I decided I might as well try to get a few more points.

I was planning to take a prep course (probably Testmasters), but a few people have told me the courses are more effective if you're starting with a lower score (150s) and trying to get into the 160s. Thoughts?

The opinion around these parts is that LSAT classes can't teach you anything that you can't get out of prep books and focused self-study, and I'm inclined to agree with it. A 167 indicates that you have a pretty good grip on the test, so I probably wouldn't advise a class unless you know you can't motivate yourself to self-study (which, if true, you should probably change) and you have the money to throw around.

Which sections of the test did you struggle the most with? The place to start is identifying your weaknesses (taking a few practice tests will help narrow this down, especially because February '09 was a while ago) and focusing on those.

[musicfor18]

Unfortunately, the Feb 2009 test was undisclosed, so I have no idea even how many questions I answered incorrectly, much less which ones. I think my biggest challenge is concentration and timing.

[nonpareilpearl]

Unfortunately, the Feb 2009 test was undisclosed, so I have no idea even how many questions I answered incorrectly, much less which ones. I think my biggest challenge is concentration and timing.

Does anyone know why they don't release the Feb tests (as a general rule)?

[LSAT Blog]

Anecdotal evidence suggests LSAC reuses North American February exams for:

-international administrations (those outside North America)

-Sabbath-observer administrations

-cases like this past February, when the LSAT was postponed in several parts of the Northeast US due to weather. They wouldn't simply give the same LSAT that had been given on the originally-scheduled day, so they used various unreleased exams they'd saved up for the various makeup dates.

-Steve

[kineticx]

well, I just turned down an internship offer, so I guess that means I've committed my summer to the LSAT. I'm thinking of starting a study regimen next week; I took a cold diagnostic in January -- a pitiful 155. We'll see how it goes!

[LSAT Blog]

Don't be worried about the 155. An cold diagnostic doesn't mean too much.

Logic (especially Logic Games) can seem like a foreign language at first.

Without any training, you probably wouldn't do too well on a diagnostic in Aramaic (assuming you don't speak it already).

Same goes for the LSAT. I'd recommend doing some serious prep before taking a serious measurement where you stand.

There's no reason you can't go up 10-15 points and beyond. These boards are full of great advice and folks willing to help you get there.

[Sandro]

I wouldnt even want to imagine what I got on my cold diagnostic - if I'm missing 9 now on LG when im hitting 168...

I would say my cold diagnostic would be 150ish, probably less. I studied for a very short time and got a 157 in Sep 09, and now have taken a couple more PTs with just reviewing them and scoring in the mid/high 160s....

[acadec]

178 cold; average hasn't changed much since. But then, I haven't really done anything to make it change, other than take more tests.

[Canarsie]

Hi everyone, I'm new. I'm taking the LSAT this October because I was abroad for the Spring semester and couldn't prepare adequately for the June exam. Not sure how I'm going to prepare yet but I think I will buy some practice tests this week and begin. Only 133 days haha...

[brickman]

Hey everybody, I'm studying for the Oct LSAT and am finishing up my second week of studying based on the following plan:

http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/5- ... -plan.html

I am getting in about 15-18 hours a week studying while (unfortunately) working a full time job (no, I won't accept suggestions to quit). Come The last week of August I'll be able to study full time, and it's looking like I'm going to be able to study ~350 hours by October 9th when all is said and done. Despite the potentially sufficient number of hours studied, it is the pace and style of studying that concerns me.

As an example, today I took and reviewed logic games on a question by question (and answer by answer basis) and definitively proving that the right answer is right and the wrong answer is wrong. So far I've spent about 4 hours today doing this. I ask myself what inferences need to be made, when to stop making inferences, and what is important to consider. I am certain that gaining a firm understanding of games is important, but I wasn't sure if I am just being excessively slow in my approach and whether or not the amount of hours that I will have logged by October will be enough given the style of my studying.

Any comments, suggestions, or criticisms are appreciated.

[luxxe]

is anyone else doing pithypike's method for LG? i am & it is helping tremendously (i've been consistently getting -0), but i am doing pt 35 game 4 (questions 18-23) right now & doing horribly. would anyone who has done it be willing to help me with numbers 18, 19, 22, & 23?

[lebob]

is anyone else doing pithypike's method for LG? i am & it is helping tremendously (i've been consistently getting -0), but i am doing pt 35 game 4 (questions 18-23) right now & doing horribly. would anyone who has done it be willing to help me with numbers 18, 19, 22, & 23?

the wording in the game sounds kinda weird, but it's really pretty simple.

the key to that game is the specialty rule.

share specialty = can't share the same year, can't come 1 year before, can't go one year after

just from using those restrictions, you'll really be able to make a nearly complete chart of where everyone can and can't go

just from looking at the top 2 rules, you see that M goes in 1993, and then M, O, and T share specialties. that's huge, because you know that O and T need to be nowhere near M, and O and T can't be near each other either. MOT will always be separated from each other.

that's a starting point, i hope that helps

[ksimon2007]

Hey guys I am planning to prep with a Powerscore course from June to August. I will be interning during this period of time. Any tips on how to get the most of the course? With two months in between the time I finish the class and the test, I planned to look through the powerscore logic games bible and what not in order to "stay on my feet."

[ltrutledge]

Hey everyone! I'm as of right now registered for the June test... 8 days... I didn't start studying until mid-April and my diagnostic was 160. After a powerscore course (doing all of the homework and going to all of the classes), I've seen no score increase. RC is holding me back big time. I feel woefully unprepared for June... I'm debating whether I should take June AND October or just reschedule for October. I'm shooting for 170. I think I'll take a practice test tomorrow and see where I am and make a decision. BUT I feel like now I know EXACTLY what I need to work on for October. Soooo hello everyone!

[hotdog123]

I had surgery last week and it's still lingering, I can't focus and I'm still drifting in and out with pain pills.

Seriously frustrating that I can't even crack a book and study right now.

[mikehoe]

my debate is whether i should quit my second job to give myself study time.

[Cambridge LSAT]

is anyone else doing pithypike's method for LG? i am & it is helping tremendously (i've been consistently getting -0), but i am doing pt 35 game 4 (questions 18-23) right now & doing horribly. would anyone who has done it be willing to help me with numbers 18, 19, 22, & 23?

To elaborate on lebob's reply, there are only three solutions to this game.
(LinkRemoved)

[TMT90]

Hey everyone! I'm also aiming for the Oct 2010 (or Dec 2010 LSAT) though preferably i'd rather take it in October to avoid meshing the LSAT with final exams. This will be my first time taking the real LSAT. I took a cold diagnostic a few days ago and I scored 157, so my goal is atleast 167+ to be competitive for my top choices. If I get in the 170s+ I think I might die of shock.

I began really studying yesterday when I read through a section on LG in a crappy prepbook (do not buy sparknotes!) I did 6 games, 2 of which I scored 100% and the others missing 6 questions total. My PS bibles will be arriving Thursday along with 30 PTs, so I will definitely be hitting up Kinkos in the mean time making copies of all the games I have already.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress!

[thegrayman]

Does anyone know the time of day that the October LSAT is given?