February 2012 LSAT Study Group Forum

[062914123]

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[lhess218]

I took a BP class and use their LG method, and just recently finished PT 57 (mauve dinosaurs).

I went from an average of -12 (my first diagnostic) to -3 on PT 57 (and only one *really dumb* mistake on mauve dinosaurs).

Point is, stop freaking out so early in the class. Do your homework and take a break. I took a two week break because of some personal crises, and my accuracy improved significantly.

Thanks for the advice, it's good to hear. I know I'm kind of overreacting, but I'm starting to feel time pressure... the LSAT is so close and everyone in this thread is already so far into their studying

The best advice I can give you is to not get behind in the homework. The first book is easy, the books after that.... not so much. BP does a really good job with lots of drilling, and it picks up a lot in the last book or two. I'm finishing the final book right now, and doing Cambridge drilling/older PTs to patch up trouble spots and sections. Once January hits, I'll be doing entire PTs more consistently but for now, I want to do really specialized studying.

[Gisney]

@Gisney

Don't feel bad at your drop in score range, as Eich mentioned earlier it happens to everyone.

Honestly, I think it was taking a break in you getting sick. The brain was used to the LSAT intake, and it got confused with the abrupt stop so it slowed down. The same thing happened to me this week, I've been in the 170+ range and took 2 days off this week (they weren't consecutive though) and I immediately dropped down into the 160s range.

I wouldn't worry, just get back into the LSAT mode and you should be fine! It's more important that you took care of your health, and got better so you can give your LSAT prep 100%!

Thanks for the kind words That is what I hoping happened. I just want to be pting in the upper 170s before the big day. well 60 days to get there!

[062914123]

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[Gisney]

I mentioned Ivy grad because I figure most people on this thread are either Ivy grads or top 25. So I thought I was in very familiar company. I guess I was wrong. Thanks for the heads up though.

I can't speak for others, but I am not. Sorry to make you have to fraternize with the hoi polloi.

+1


So I just took my diagnostic with BP and scored well on everything... until I hit Logic Games, which DECIMATED me. How are you guys missing so few? What are your preferred methods e.g. Powerscore? TIA

If you do not want to use Powerscore then try Manhattan LSAT. It is shorter and just as good in my opionion.

Beyond that I cannot advocate enough Pikeys method. It is amazing practice and you can finally see all the advice come together.

[willwash]

I mentioned Ivy grad because I figure most people on this thread are either Ivy grads or top 25. So I thought I was in very familiar company. I guess I was wrong. Thanks for the heads up though.

I can't speak for others, but I am not. Sorry to make you have to fraternize with the hoi polloi.

+1


So I just took my diagnostic with BP and scored well on everything... until I hit Logic Games, which DECIMATED me. How are you guys missing so few? What are your preferred methods e.g. Powerscore? TIA

If you do not want to use Powerscore then try Manhattan LSAT. It is shorter and just as good in my opionion.

Beyond that I cannot advocate enough Pikeys method. It is amazing practice and you can finally see all the advice come together.

I've done reams and reams of LG and power score's LG method is the closest to what I have developed independently for myself (I never used a "method" type of study guide.

[anteater1]

Any word on an Orange County, CA study group? Sorry for the re-post haven't got any interest.

[willwash]

Just did some LG drills. Fuck preptest 18. I got -1 and missed the last question because I misread associates as assistants. They're not supposed to do shit like that: Larry, Leroy, Leonard and Lawson run a race and stuff like that.

I call bullshit.

[chem!]

Just did some LG drills. Fuck preptest 18. I got -1 and missed the last question because I misread associates as assistants. They're not supposed to do shit like that: Larry, Leroy, Leonard and Lawson run a race and stuff like that.

I call bullshit.

My personal favorite LG names were on PreptTest 29. Gimena, Holly, Iyanna, Kate, Leung, Nate, Oscar, Pedro and Saul. I couldn't even sort at first b/c of the damned names. I don't know why, they just threw me. I hate crap like that.

[princeR]

Just did some LG drills. Fuck preptest 18. I got -1 and missed the last question because I misread associates as assistants. They're not supposed to do shit like that: Larry, Leroy, Leonard and Lawson run a race and stuff like that.

I call bullshit.

My personal favorite LG names were on PreptTest 29. Gimena, Holly, Iyanna, Kate, Leung, Nate, Oscar, Pedro and Saul. I couldn't even sort at first b/c of the damned names. I don't know why, they just threw me. I hate crap like that.

what? Just use the first letter... I think the one with 4 L names is MUCH tougher.

[chem!]

Just did some LG drills. Fuck preptest 18. I got -1 and missed the last question because I misread associates as assistants. They're not supposed to do shit like that: Larry, Leroy, Leonard and Lawson run a race and stuff like that.

I call bullshit.

My personal favorite LG names were on PreptTest 29. Gimena, Holly, Iyanna, Kate, Leung, Nate, Oscar, Pedro and Saul. I couldn't even sort at first b/c of the damned names. I don't know why, they just threw me. I hate crap like that.

what? Just use the first letter... I think the one with 4 L names is MUCH tougher.

I do use the letters, it just completely tossed me for some reason. It's not logical, it's just the way it hit me. I was just all "WTF? I don't need diversity in my LG, just give me the damned information." I agree, 4 L's is bullshit. It's hard enough without that in the mix.

[lhess218]

Attention:

I will be baking the cake from PT 54 for the holidays. I will post pictures when I'm done.

[Eichörnchen]

Attention:

I will be baking the cake from PT 54 for the holidays. I will post pictures when I'm done.

I like you already.

[nsaini]

Hi guys!

I just started studying for LSATs again since my semester is now finished. I have one solid month to dedicate to this before school starts again! I did my first diagnostic in September and completely gave up at the first LG section. Since then, I've spent about 3 full weeks drilling them. I still have hybrid to learn, but so far I think I finally got the hang of them I did my first actual preptest last night since september and happy to report that I averaged around -2/-4 for each section. I have not studied LR or RC yet but I have my materials and books ready.

I'm getting a little nervous now though because all of you are so far ahead! I'm learning a lot from you all and hoping I'll get better *fingers crossed*

[062914123]

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[swordsman1]

Working through flu for the last couple days.....this is a crucial exam! Good luck to all!

[Gisney]

Took SuperPrep A today

LR1: -1
RC: -1
LG: -1
LR2: -0

Raw: 98
Scaled: 178

Awesome! Not really going to take this as a regular PT. I don't think I am at this score level yet but what a confidence booster!

The language in this test was a lot clearer than regular PTs which made LR and RC easier. Plus the RC topics were more interesting and thus easier to pay arrention.

Well on to SP B Thursday and I will do C Friday

[willwash]

What exactly are the LSAT SuperPreps? I hear about them all the time, but I don't actually know what they are.

EDIT: Oh, and of course, congratu-effing-lations on the 178!

[ngogirl]

What exactly are the LSAT SuperPreps? I hear about them all the time, but I don't actually know what they are.

EDIT: Oh, and of course, congratu-effing-lations on the 178!

Seriously! You go Gisney!!

The superpreps are the only released February preptests, their from the 90s.

[Gisney]

What exactly are the LSAT SuperPreps? I hear about them all the time, but I don't actually know what they are.

EDIT: Oh, and of course, congratu-effing-lations on the 178!

They are 3 prep tests made by LSAT put out by lsac.org. So supposedly they are three old lests just like any other preptest. The bonus is they come with complete explinations of right and wrong answers for each question. You can buy the book on amazon or lsac.org

also thanks!

[Gisney]

What exactly are the LSAT SuperPreps? I hear about them all the time, but I don't actually know what they are.

EDIT: Oh, and of course, congratu-effing-lations on the 178!

Seriously! You go Gisney!!

The superpreps are the only released February preptests, their from the 90s.

Scooped!

also thanks ngogirl!

[swordsman1]

Small bits from me: Did PT7 Section '1' LR: -2.

Will be doing a lot more now!

[swordsman1]

What exactly are the LSAT SuperPreps? I hear about them all the time, but I don't actually know what they are.

EDIT: Oh, and of course, congratu-effing-lations on the 178!

Seriously! You go Gisney!!

The superpreps are the only released February preptests, their from the 90s.

Scooped!

also thanks ngogirl!

Excellent! I need to get to 178 fast!

[outlookingin]

Took SuperPrep A today

LR1: -1
RC: -1
LG: -1
LR2: -0

Raw: 98
Scaled: 178

Awesome! Not really going to take this as a regular PT. I don't think I am at this score level yet but what a confidence booster!

The language in this test was a lot clearer than regular PTs which made LR and RC easier. Plus the RC topics were more interesting and thus easier to pay arrention.

Well on to SP B Thursday and I will do C Friday

Damn Gisney you wrecked it!! I just read all of the posts that I had missed over the past four days or so (kinda been buckling down on a personal LR journey). Sorry about you getting sick man that sucks. I am looking at a much more pleasant but equally score-damaging hiatus for Christmas break, probably about 10 days without much LSAT in there (girlfriend's Dad is coming in town and we're traveling around the country).

Wow man really impressed with this performance though. As for everyone else, keep it up.

Bee, I'm pretty sure you'll be fine, all that lurking is making you really efficient at studying, I bet, so you'll get to cut out some of the time wasting that the rest of us might have engaged in.

I saw the discussion about your score progression, Willwash, and yeah I agree with Eich. It doesn't make it any easier to handle emotionally though because the nature of this LSAT business is that we always want to be going up, and even weeks of hard work don't automatically translate into score improvements. I saw somewhere that the climb up from the 98th percentile (that's like 167, right?) is like murder. And I am feeling that right now, too.

Still, I'm really proud of where I am going with LR. I read that guy TLS1776's advice, and it was amazing--he said that as his studying progressed, he totally stopped looking at prep books and started spending all of his time with preptests, going over them and making his own assessments. I'm doing that now. In fact, I spend equal amounts of time going over sections as I do taking them (as in 3.5 hours of timed sections to about that same amount for review of those sections). I'm going to resume prep testing soon, so we'll see how all of this goes, but like I said I feel strong.

Good luck all, keep up the fight!

[outlookingin]

Hey, hope everyone's studying is going well. I just PTed for the first time in months, so here's how it went:

PT 47 -

LR1/2: -0
RC: -4
LG: -3 (My worst section, so I am OK with this for now)

raw 93/scaled 173.

Seething with jealousy at your LR score. HOW DID YOU DO THAT!?!?! I'm still banging my head against the book over here. I'll PT soon though, looking to take a modern test (50+) for the first time.

Well, I should preface by saying that LR has always come pretty naturally for me (thankfully!). It just "clicks" with me, at least more than the other sections. If I remember correctly though on my diagnostic I had somewhere around -4 per section, so I have improved. I haven't done any books or drilling up until this point. I just started the LRB and after reading the first chapter, I did Cambridge's Most Strongly Supported packet. I've gone -0 in an LR section somewhere around 6 times, but I think this is my first -0 overall, so that made me very happy, especially considering in the past I seemed to make up for a -0 in one LR by doing worse than average in the other. So, I think that drilling helps, at least in that it keeps me used to doing LR.

My biggest piece of advice, and this goes for all sections, would be to not get too caught up in all the strategy guides. I learned LR by doing it - slowwwwly. I would do it, and then reread each question and focus on the ones I got wrong especially. Make sure you can articulate why you got it wrong, and why TCR is correct. Eventually, you really get to know the test which is hugely important. I also think it's better to be flexible and to ultimately have your own methods. I'm glad I did LR holistically at first, and I wish I had had the confidence to take that route in LG a little bit more. I'm trying to rectify that now.

Cool thanks for the wise words--slow and steady wins the race. Yeah I thought I was a natural at LR too and for some reason decided that I would just "go real fast" and hope to power through into -0 or -1 range. I also think you're right about about articulating my own reasons for understanding why TCR is good, how the Q is similar to other questions, and identifying patterns. I read on this other thread that this one test taker started seeing the LR questions like tiny little LG games, where the patterns just started falling out. I am getting there, I can feel it!!