The Official September 2016 Study Group - WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS Forum

[Barack O'Drama]

Another wonderful day of prep... Wow! I don't think I have done anything fun this summer at all.

I have to say, I am really enjoying the 7Sage Starter curriculum! (Haven't gotten that far in yet, but so far, so good.) It is really forcing me to take a very formulaic approach to logical reasoning, which is really helping me nail that section. Took another practice section and went -5. Not bad because I usually miss 6-7 on LR per section. I easily could have went -4 However, I skipped a question, and when I came back to it I didn't re-read the stimulus correctly.

Seeing tangible progress on this test is a really great feeling! If I can get LR down a little bit more and nail grouping games, I will be scoring in the ~165 range quite soon! Then the 170s will seem much more reachable.

[20170322]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

[34iplaw]

Quick question for anyone involved in TestMasters...


Why am I having so much trouble with the homework for Sufficent-Nesseasry relationships - the focus is on diagramming the stim, then reading the stem and answering the questions, but I'm left trying to do way too muc, confused by how to approach the question and almost feel like I'm doing much worse already than going into the class (specifically limited to sufficient-necessary questions)

I feel like Lesson 1 should be one of the easier ones for obvious reasons but I just dont know.... would someone, anyone mind throwing some advice my way.

Thanks

I'm in it. Going to Lesson 6 in a little bit. I don't think it is the easiest one by any means. I've been scoring really high on the homeworks, and, looking back, I'm going to go over that a bit more once I'm caught back up. Use academic support.

[Alexandros]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

Damn, CONGRATS

[Barack O'Drama]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

Killing it Sweet! Good job!

[Mikey]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

BEAST

[34iplaw]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

BEAST

[20170322]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

BEAST

Haha, this cracked me up.

[Mikey]

,

[34iplaw]

Welp, three class week is about to start with lesson 6. Time to go get my overpriced salad from Chopt and head to class... Managed to catch up on LR...probably have a full day or so of RC to catch up on.

This is going to be a really long week. Going to post some "what I must do" by days again so that I make sure I am on top of getting fully caught up before Saturday. Hopefully, lesson 6 homework isn't ridiculous [it's 120 pages, so I'm not optimistic.]

[CoGar]

Quick question for anyone involved in TestMasters...


Why am I having so much trouble with the homework for Sufficent-Nesseasry relationships - the focus is on diagramming the stim, then reading the stem and answering the questions, but I'm left trying to do way too muc, confused by how to approach the question and almost feel like I'm doing much worse already than going into the class (specifically limited to sufficient-necessary questions)

I feel like Lesson 1 should be one of the easier ones for obvious reasons but I just dont know.... would someone, anyone mind throwing some advice my way.

Thanks

I'm in it. Going to Lesson 6 in a little bit. I don't think it is the easiest one by any means. I've been scoring really high on the homeworks, and, looking back, I'm going to go over that a bit more once I'm caught back up. Use academic support.

Nice, nice i remember you telling me this a couple weeks ago.. Thanks for that, it was just alot of new stuff being thrown at me contradicting with my more inherent or natural way of solving things, but its coming together.

In regards to explanations, how do you like the course explanations? Personally I'm more comfortable with LSAT Hacks but i'm making the transition.

[YupSports]

Just finished up PT 45 - an interesting observation at the end of this post.

LR1: - 8
RC: -4
LG: -1
LR2: -3

Score: 167

I just could not get my brain moving on the first LR section. 5 minutes was called towards the end and I missed the last 4 by trying to go too quickly (not including the 1 I missed by running out of time). I then proceeded to finish the other LR section before 5 minutes was even called...

This was my first PT in almost a month - perhaps that had something to do with this.

we got the same score. I got wrecked by the Hippocratic Oath passage.

Yeah, it was rough.

I haven't looked at what I missed, but I wasn't as firm on my answers as usual.

the fish abnormalities question was KILLER (LR)

Taking a small break after BR'ing this one.

The wording on this makes it about as close to a trick question as one will find on the LSAT.

Also, proteinshake: absolutely get a job in sales. I currently work full-time in sales and let me tell you the things it teaches you will prove invaluable for Law School and life in general. The ability to understand peoples actual wants and needs versus what they say they want is an invaluable skill.

[proteinshake]

Just finished up PT 45 - an interesting observation at the end of this post.

LR1: - 8
RC: -4
LG: -1
LR2: -3

Score: 167

I just could not get my brain moving on the first LR section. 5 minutes was called towards the end and I missed the last 4 by trying to go too quickly (not including the 1 I missed by running out of time). I then proceeded to finish the other LR section before 5 minutes was even called...

This was my first PT in almost a month - perhaps that had something to do with this.

we got the same score. I got wrecked by the Hippocratic Oath passage.

Yeah, it was rough.

I haven't looked at what I missed, but I wasn't as firm on my answers as usual.

the fish abnormalities question was KILLER (LR)

Taking a small break after BR'ing this one.

The wording on this makes it about as close to a trick question as one will find on the LSAT.

Also, proteinshake: absolutely get a job in sales. I currently work full-time in sales and let me tell you the things it teaches you will prove invaluable for Law School and life in general. The ability to understand peoples actual wants and needs versus what they say they want is an invaluable skill.

yeah on 7Sage it said like 15% or something got it right.

and yes I hope I get something in sales. my friends who currently work in sales love their jobs and I feel like the skills you gain are much better than being a paralegal or something.

[proteinshake]

just finished up the second LR section from PT 20 (4/5 difficulty)

-2

the Must Be True and Logically Complete q's I missed are literally the hardest MBT and LC q's I've ever seen. still glad I went -2 on a section that had an unusually large amount of tricky problems.

[20170322]

What are y'all doing as we get closer to the test? Increasing prep? Decreasing? New methods? The same?

Worried about peaking now and declining as we move closer.

[YupSports]

What are y'all doing as we get closer to the test? Increasing prep? Decreasing? New methods? The same?

Worried about peaking now and declining as we move closer.

4 - 5 PTs with full BR - Analyze Weaknesses - Drill Weaknesses - Repeat

Probably a break-week somewhere in there as well.

[20170322]

What are y'all doing as we get closer to the test? Increasing prep? Decreasing? New methods? The same?

Worried about peaking now and declining as we move closer.

4 - 5 PTs with full BR - Analyze Weaknesses - Drill Weaknesses - Repeat

Probably a break-week somewhere in there as well.

4-5 PT's a week???

Even as someone who likes to overdo prep, that sounds like too much.

[PhiladelphiaCollins]

What are y'all doing as we get closer to the test? Increasing prep? Decreasing? New methods? The same?

Worried about peaking now and declining as we move closer.

Right now I'm trying to drill at least a section of LR, RC and LG each a day with full B.R. along with re-doing 3/4 old games and 3-4 new ones. Then a PT on Friday/Saturday. I'll probably ramp it up to 2 PTs a week once it gets to August.

I haven't taken a full PT in a solid 3 weeks since my Hindenburg of a 156, but I'm finally at a point where I'm hitting around a 20 on each section. Obviously totally different drilling that vs. doing it in a PT but it really helps to see the fundamentals coming together.

[Mikey]

bruh, i freaking love pickles

Might do some LG drilling in a bit

[YupSports]

What are y'all doing as we get closer to the test? Increasing prep? Decreasing? New methods? The same?

Worried about peaking now and declining as we move closer.

4 - 5 PTs with full BR - Analyze Weaknesses - Drill Weaknesses - Repeat

Probably a break-week somewhere in there as well.

4-5 PT's a week???

Even as someone who likes to overdo prep, that sounds like too much.

I didn't phrase this correctly .

I usually wait to Analyze and Drill until after 4 to 5 PTs - my actual pacing of PTs is only 2 a week.

This is just kind of the "chunk" I keep repeating.

Sorry for the confusion!

[proteinshake]

how much do you all usually drill in a typical day? how many sections/questions/etc?

[YupSports]

how much do you all usually drill in a typical day? how many sections/questions/etc?

Luckily, I have the advantage of possessing the Cambridge packets.

If I'm drilling question types I'll usually do about 25. 5 warm-ups from the beginning of the packet and then 20 questions from the near-back of the packet (the more difficult ones). I'll keep doing the ones I miss every day until I can write out why the right answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong.

I have a spreadsheet that tracks what sections I've "used" for drilling. I'll just pick one that I haven't done and do that section timed. If the section is LG (which I don't drill anymore) I use the 7Sage method; so I could be doing the same games for several days in a row. If the section is LR/RC I treat it like typical Blind Review. I try to limit myself to a maximum of 1 section a day, unless I did really well and thus reviewing is a breeze, then I might squeeze in 2 in a day.

I also keep all of the LR and RC questions/passages that were super difficult for me in a binder for later review when I need a break from PTing.

Note: If I am redoing questions from a previous day, that in the new days' drilling allotment.

[20170322]

how much do you all usually drill in a typical day? how many sections/questions/etc?

Luckily, I have the advantage of possessing the Cambridge packets.

If I'm drilling question types I'll usually do about 25. 5 warm-ups from the beginning of the packet and then 20 questions from the near-back of the packet (the more difficult ones). I'll keep doing the ones I miss every day until I can write out why the right answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong.

I have a spreadsheet that tracks what sections I've "used" for drilling. I'll just pick one that I haven't done and do that section timed. If the section is LG (which I don't drill anymore) I use the 7Sage method; so I could be doing the same games for several days in a row. If the section is LR/RC I treat it like typical Blind Review. I try to limit myself to a maximum of 1 section a day, unless I did really well and thus reviewing is a breeze, then I might squeeze in 2 in a day.

I also keep all of the LR and RC questions/passages that were super difficult for me in a binder for later review when I need a break from PTing.

Note: If I am redoing questions from a previous day, that in the new days' drilling allotment.

Straight up, owning the Cambridge Packets has added a solid 5 points to my score.

Also, you should know, your avatar made me watch Glengarry Glen Ross.

[Justice4Birdperson]

Just took PT 50.

PT 50
Conditions: Taken around 11 after a long warmup section, big breakfast, and coffee. 5-section, 7sage proctored.
RC: -2
LR1: -1
LG: -0
LR2: -0
Raw: 97

Scaled: 179


Very happy that I'm starting to get in this range consistently. Noticing that my incorrect answers are almost universally in the first half of the test, so I think I may start taking an even longer warmup section before PT's.

Have fun paying full tuition @ Cooley, slacker.

[Justice4Birdperson]

Oh my goodness, people. This question [stem]...

[+] Spoiler

M: It's almost impossible to find a person between ages 85 and 90 who primarily uses the left hand.
Q: 70-90 years ago, children were punished for using their left hands to eat or to write and were forced to use right hands.

Q’s response serves to counter any use by M of the evidence about 85 to 90 year olds in support of which one of the following hypotheses?

(A) Being born right-handed confers a survival advantage.
(B) Societal attitudes toward handedness differ at different times.
(C) Forcing a person to switch from a preferred hand is harmless.
(D) Handedness is a product of both genetic predisposition and social pressures.
(E) Physical habits learned in school often persist in old age.

At first, it seemed straightforward, and I went with E,
then realized "school" isn't mentioned, so it might actually be B or D, but even those don't cut it.
This is one of those extremely rare cases of terribly worded STEMS. Tell me this is not on the LSAT...

[+] Spoiler

Weird question but I'd think of it as M giving support, Q pointing out a flaw between the support and an unknown conclusion, and the actual question asking the test taker to give the correct conclusion that the support COULD be used for. My thought process is:
A seems plausible
B is definitely wrong since the support given by M has nothing to do with societal attitudes
C is also irrelevent. Nothing M says has anything to do with that.
D is wrong because M doesn't talk about societal pressures at all
E is probably the trick answer. Like you said, neither M nor Q mention school. Plus M doesn't seem to be hinting towards answer choice E.

So I'm left with A. Could M use their statement to support A? I think so. If you put them together it would be like

M: It's almost impossible to find a person between ages 85 and 90 who primarily uses the left hand. Therefore being born right-handed confers a survival advantage.
Q [pointing out the flaw in reasoning]: 70-90 years ago, children were punished for using their left hands to eat or to write and were forced to use right hands.

Seems like an argument that made up people would have on an LR question. I'd go with A.