October 2012 Retakers Forum

[NoodleyOne]

Is there any trend in questions you're getting wrong? I'd figure out why I am missing what I am missing before continuing to drill. If its just focus or dumb mistakes, still worth taking the time to be sure.

[99.9luft]

Is there any trend in questions you're getting wrong? I'd figure out why I am missing what I am missing before continuing to drill. If its just focus or dumb mistakes, still worth taking the time to be sure.

You're right, I examined yesterday's batch and re-did most of the games and it is silly stuff most of the time (only sometimes improper/inefficient set up before diving into the questions)

So, no major trend. My plan is to finish off drilling all the 90s LGs as well those in the PT30s by the end of this week.

In the next 2 months, on rest days in between PTs, I will re-do the imperfect games (not whole sections, since mostly if i get it right the first time, I'll get it right again).

[MauveT-Rex]

No excuses! GET TO WORK!

No wiser words could be written.

[theprophet89]

Hey all, been posting in the October 2012 write thread but figured this was more appropriate for my progress posts.

I wrote February 2012 and cancelled. I was ill-prepared and was facing a situation where a high 150 would be the best I did. Diagnosed at a 157 and have since hit 161 since the start of July. So far this month I've read the LRB and LGB, written a couple preptests (161 and 157), and hit personal records for combined LR score (-14) and RC score (-5) on a test. I've decided to re-drill LG since I learned it in January then neglected it so badly (was at sub -3 levels) as well as drill RC hopefully down to the -3 range. My goal is 170+ by October, and currently LR is my only truly scary obstacle in getting there... I can't seem to break -5 on a section .

73/101 is my current best, aiming for 101/101 by October (90+ more realistically). 161 to 173+ in two months... possible? I won't be PTing again till September; going to spend August drilling hard. Come to think of it I might start PTing late August, but its all theory at this point.

[TheThriller]

Very heavy week with summer finals but got through Velocity LR. Im glad to say that it solidified my reasoning a bit and have been averaging -2 per section, as opposed to June where I was averaging -4.

Starting Velo RC at the end of the week

[99.9luft]

What are the key differences between Velocity and the MLSAT guides?

[chem!]

What are the key differences between Velocity and the MLSAT guides?

I'm still figuring that out myself.

[99.9luft]

What are the key differences between Velocity and the MLSAT guides?

I'm still figuring that out myself.

Please let me know when you do...I have only seen a couple of Dave's videos and they are decent. I like MLSAT a lot and have done their guides several times. Not sure if it's worth shelling out more $$ for Velocity...for some reason i think it'll be largely the same.

[Micdiddy]

OMG you guys, do not follow my lead when it comes to re-studying. I've barely looked at the LSAT since June.
At this pace, I may get two diagnostics in before Oct. I hope they're good ones at least.

[espressocream]

Micdiddy:

No excuses! GET TO WORK!

[052220151]

PTs delivered! Apparently god doesn't hate me too much. That or the ups guys are wizards at cleaning up train derailments.

Anyways, I took the testmasters course prior to the June administration and I think it did wonders for me as far as learning how to handle the lsat. But the manhattan bundle seems super legit for folks tryin to push past 170. So far I definitely recommend them!

Im going to pound out some more of the manhattan prep this week and then back to back prep tests this weekend. Wish me luck!

[Easy-E]

Oh hey guys. I tried and I tried but I just can't take the 169 from October. My GPA blows (3.1) and NYC is the goal, so I gotta man up and do this shit a third time . I don't plan on starting until September, and then after a week or so of warming back up, it's gonna be nothing but full timed PTs and 2 days of extremely in-depth review. Probably include some RC drilling as well, since its the only section I actually have a good amount of unused material.

[Eberry]

sss

[Honey_Badger]

I decided to purchase Cambridge RC 1-20 because I had a sneaking suspicion that I could isolate why I can't seem to leave RC without dropping at least -2, and generally between -3 and -5.

The primary suspect is Natural Sciences. Obviously, a topic as fun as science deserves at least 1 section.

Anyway, I've pushed through 16 RC passages in the past few days (2 easy passages and 2 'difficult' passages from each type). I thoroughly looked over the results this morning before work. (Times are min:sec and rounded up to the nearest :15 second mark)

-0, -0, -0, -0 in Humanities. (Average time: 7:45)
-0, -1, -0, -1 in Law. (Average time: 8:15)
-0, -0, -0, -2 in Social Sciences. (Average time: 7:45)
-1, -2, -2, -3 in Natural Sciences. (Average time: 9:30)


After discovering this alarming, yet somewhat unsurprising, result, I looked back at some of the previous RCs from PTs I completed and realized that this isn't new. I seem to especially suck when the Natural Sciences section occurs at or near the end of the section (i.e. 3rd or 4th).

Any ideas on a possible adjustment/fix? I have an annotation method that I am not willing to part with, but any idea is more than welcome.

Awesome analysis--I admit I never thought at looking at RC subjects specifically since RC tends to be easier for me, but I'm going to try this.
Also, your 'tar makes me smile, Eberry. Happy little trees....

[NoodleyOne]

At the library, printing PTs and pissing off all the other bitches at the printer. 12c per 2-sided page is fucking robbery, btw.

[espressocream]

At the library, printing PTs and pissing off all the other bitches at the printer. 12c per 2-sided page is fucking robbery, btw.

Bf who is a TA ftw.
You should get one.

[NoodleyOne]

At the library, printing PTs and pissing off all the other bitches at the printer. 12c per 2-sided page is fucking robbery, btw.

Bf who is a TA ftw.
You should get one.

I'm going to make some calls. 20 bucks for 10 PTs is a little much.

[espressocream]

After using the LRB for two administrations, and now switching over to Manhattan.

omgyouguise. Manhattan is awesome.

Everything has been clicking and it's so much of an easier read than LRB.


Just wanted to note that.

Hope you guys are studying hard.
xoxo

[MikeTZ]

spam

[seacow]

Started my prep today with 8 RC passages.

Completely revised my annotation method for Oct. Instead of the profoundly complex - but taught as exact science - Kaplan annotation method, I have switched to the following:

1. On the left side of the passage, bracketing lines and jotting down what their function was in the passage, such as: example (ex), illustration (ill), argument in favor ("check"), argument against (x), and background info (bg).

2. Bracketing within the text itself the "big time sentences" (thesis statements or subsidiary conclusions)

That's it.

I feel like this suits me much better than the frantic annotation I used to do. I am learning more and more these days that the best LSAT strategy for you is not always the one that is most popular.

I got -6 overall (but probably a few minutes over in terms of time), but I am overall pretty confident that I can perform a little better on RC this time around. Hell, If I could even get -6 on 4 passages on test day I'd be a happy man!

[2012Lsatscore]

Did a bunch of RC drills timed and untimed.

Areas of Focus:
-Reading proactively
-Using the method of circling keywords and writing shorthand MPs
of each paragraph in the margin (Kaplan's method?)
-Using Velocity's method of predicting the answer before looking at the choices (in my head instead of on a sticky note.)

I think I am starting to get the hang of proactive reading. I am making the transition from content reading to structure reading. It will take a while to smooth out my worn in bad habits, but I think I'm starting to master RC.

[99.9luft]

Oh hey guys. I tried and I tried but I just can't take the 169 from October. My GPA blows (3.1) and NYC is the goal, so I gotta man up and do this shit a third time . I don't plan on starting until September, and then after a week or so of warming back up, it's gonna be nothing but full timed PTs and 2 days of extremely in-depth review. Probably include some RC drilling as well, since its the only section I actually have a good amount of unused material.

Good job on the 169, still. hopefully our curve is going to be at least -11 instead of the POS you guys got in June. So, welcome back. Any retaking advice? My plan is to PT 40-66 and drill 90s LG and everything in the PT 30s. Thoughts?

[Eberry]

Good job on the 169, still. hopefully our curve is going to be at least -11 instead of the POS you guys got in June. So, welcome back. Any retaking advice? My plan is to PT 40-66 and drill 90s LG and everything in the PT 30s. Thoughts?

I'm still not over this yet.

[Eberry]

I decided to purchase Cambridge RC 1-20 because I had a sneaking suspicion that I could isolate why I can't seem to leave RC without dropping at least -2, and generally between -3 and -5.

The primary suspect is Natural Sciences. Obviously, a topic as fun as science deserves at least 1 section.

Anyway, I've pushed through 16 RC passages in the past few days (2 easy passages and 2 'difficult' passages from each type). I thoroughly looked over the results this morning before work. (Times are min:sec and rounded up to the nearest :15 second mark)

-0, -0, -0, -0 in Humanities. (Average time: 7:45)
-0, -1, -0, -1 in Law. (Average time: 8:15)
-0, -0, -0, -2 in Social Sciences. (Average time: 7:45)
-1, -2, -2, -3 in Natural Sciences. (Average time: 9:30)


After discovering this alarming, yet somewhat unsurprising, result, I looked back at some of the previous RCs from PTs I completed and realized that this isn't new. I seem to especially suck when the Natural Sciences section occurs at or near the end of the section (i.e. 3rd or 4th).

Any ideas on a possible adjustment/fix? I have an annotation method that I am not willing to part with, but any idea is more than welcome.

Awesome analysis--I admit I never thought at looking at RC subjects specifically since RC tends to be easier for me, but I'm going to try this.
Also, your 'tar makes me smile, Eberry. Happy little trees....

"I'm gonna give that little tree a friend..." -Always nice to meet another fan of great art!

I'd be interested to see what you find, honey. Post your findings here, if you don't mind, or PM me, if you'd prefer.

I have tomorrow off. I think I might break into my LR studying. Has anyone noticed any quantifiable score change drilling question types? If so, I'd be grateful if you shared it here.

[sama]

Fortunately, retaking the oct one gives a lot of time to study so I think its beneficial if you can be disciplined in the summer, but retaking it again in december doesnt make as much sense because of the time gap being so close.