June 2011 Study Group Forum

[theaether]

i just reviewed today's poor PT and found a great number of non-worthwhile mistakes. Got a question wrong because I didn't read "EXCEPT," just immediately jumped in looking for a way to resolve the paradox. Got a question wrong in RC because I thought it was asking for the purpose of the first paragraph's sentences, not the second. Got another Q wrong in RC because of not seeing the word "EXCLUDE." Shit like this just popped up everywhere lol.

i'm going to quit this thread until the test. thanks to everyone that helped and good luck

[soj]

i just reviewed today's poor PT and found a great number of non-worthwhile mistakes. Got a question wrong because I didn't read "EXCEPT," just immediately jumped in looking for a way to resolve the paradox. Got a question wrong in RC because I thought it was asking for the purpose of the first paragraph's sentences, not the second. Got another Q wrong in RC because of not seeing the word "EXCLUDE." Shit like this just popped up everywhere lol.

i'm going to quit this thread until the test. thanks to everyone that helped and good luck

Tough when that happens. It just happened to me on an RC review.

Good luck on the test!

180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180 180

[minnbills]

i just reviewed today's poor PT and found a great number of non-worthwhile mistakes. Got a question wrong because I didn't read "EXCEPT," just immediately jumped in looking for a way to resolve the paradox. Got a question wrong in RC because I thought it was asking for the purpose of the first paragraph's sentences, not the second. Got another Q wrong in RC because of not seeing the word "EXCLUDE." Shit like this just popped up everywhere lol.

i'm going to quit this thread until the test. thanks to everyone that helped and good luck

Happened to me too on my last PT.

Luckily it's an easy fix!

[soj]

I don't know what it is with doing review drills, but I am way more prone to silly mistakes such as misreading when I'm doing an RC section the second time. I'm hoping it's due to a lack of intensity and a false sense of security caused by the familiarity of the passage, and not any relapse in my ability to focus and pay due attention to detail.

RC review

Code: Select all

PT April Today
32  -4    -1
33  -2    -3
34  -4    -2
36  -3    -1

God, I hate the Lamarckian evolution passage (-2 again!).

Resolution: I'm going to start waking up at 10am tomorrow, and by next week I'll start waking up at 9am. Starting June 7, I'll go back to waking up after 1pm.

[maxpower430]

I don't know what it is with doing review drills, but I am way more prone to silly mistakes such as misreading when I'm doing an RC section the second time. I'm hoping it's due to a lack of intensity and a false sense of security caused by the familiarity of the passage, and not any relapse in my ability to focus and pay due attention to detail.

RC review

Code: Select all

PT April Today
32  -4    -1
33  -2    -3
34  -4    -2
36  -3    -1

God, I hate the Lamarckian evolution passage (-2 again!).

Resolution: I'm going to start waking up at 10am tomorrow, and by next week I'll start waking up at 9am. Starting June 7, I'll go back to waking up after 1pm.

i've encountered similar difficulties when redoing games or rc sections too, i think it is b/c as you said, there's a false sense of security, but also i would want to avoid using anything i remembered from the first time, which makes thing more difficult (i.e. secondguessing tcr b/c "remember it" vs getting to it based on the passage etc). i wouldn't worry about it too much tho, esp if you're doing well on newer, fresh pts.

[bball1997]

PT 51 today with 7.4 exp

LR1: 25/25
RC: 25/28
LR (exp): 24/25
LR2: 24/25
LG: 22/22
Raw: 96/100
Scaled: 178

Had trouble concentrating the whole test and kind of figured this would be a score which I could use to motivate myself into spending more time studying, and then I tie my personal best. With the exception of RC (which I had to rush because of time) I guess how I feel is fairly irrelevant to how well I actually do.

[minnbills]

You guys are kicking some serious ass. It gives me hope.

[mickeyD]

After my PT11 debacle I decided to take a few days off. Once finals ended I started going on 12 hour/day studying tears, and slowly my LR scores began to drop (-3, -7, -10). Really freaked out on Saturday's -10 LR bomb, especially when I looked at the questions that I missed after the test and just didn't understand them. Had I really made no progress?

After two full days off of no prep, I looked at the questions today and they all made sense. Looking back it's easy to see that my brain was just jammed from so much prep. For the past six months I had never done more than 2 PTs a week, so I don't understand why I thought that 1 PT/day was a good idea.

I feel a lot better now. I'm going to toss out that crazy schedule I had planned for the last 2 weeks (12 PTs in 14 days ) and just keep doing what I've always done- it's gotten me very far and I was very pleased with my scores until Saturday.

Congrats to soj and cold on your 180s, that's amazing! Hoping to join the club at some point, preferably on the test I'm taking the Monday after next.

[bball1997]

After my PT11 debacle I decided to take a few days off. Once finals ended I started going on 12 hour/day studying tears, and slowly my LR scores began to drop (-3, -7, -10). Really freaked out on Saturday's -10 LR bomb, especially when I looked at the questions that I missed after the test and just didn't understand them. Had I really made no progress?

After two full days off of no prep, I looked at the questions today and they all made sense. Looking back it's easy to see that my brain was just jammed from so much prep. For the past six months I had never done more than 2 PTs a week, so I don't understand why I thought that 1 PT/day was a good idea.

I feel a lot better now. I'm going to toss out that crazy schedule I had planned for the last 2 weeks (12 PTs in 14 days ) and just keep doing what I've always done- it's gotten me very far and I was very pleased with my scores until Saturday.

Congrats to soj and cold on your 180s, that's amazing! Hoping to join the club at some point, preferably on the test I'm taking the Monday after next.

I've always found that I don't do very well either when I'm not taking any breaks. I just can't handle more than 3-4 full lengths a week (with a couple of sections on off days if I'm feeling up to it). Any more and I just can't pick up any new information and the scores I get start to plummet like you were experiencing.

[UnamSanctam]

Congrats to soj and cold on your 180s, that's amazing! Hoping to join the club at some point, preferably on the test I'm taking the Monday after next.

"He speaks for all of us"

/Cowbell skit

[soj]

Good to see you back, Mickey!

Having recently redone Historical Sociology (38), Lamarckian Evolution (34), and Puerto Rican Code-Switching (43), I've confirmed once again that those three are my least favorite RC passages of all time. However, I keep going back and forth on the specific ranking. Groupthink (54) is up there, too.

[seanPtheB]

After my PT11 debacle I decided to take a few days off. Once finals ended I started going on 12 hour/day studying tears, and slowly my LR scores began to drop (-3, -7, -10). Really freaked out on Saturday's -10 LR bomb, especially when I looked at the questions that I missed after the test and just didn't understand them. Had I really made no progress?

After two full days off of no prep, I looked at the questions today and they all made sense. Looking back it's easy to see that my brain was just jammed from so much prep. For the past six months I had never done more than 2 PTs a week, so I don't understand why I thought that 1 PT/day was a good idea.

I feel a lot better now. I'm going to toss out that crazy schedule I had planned for the last 2 weeks (12 PTs in 14 days ) and just keep doing what I've always done- it's gotten me very far and I was very pleased with my scores until Saturday.

Congrats to soj and cold on your 180s, that's amazing! Hoping to join the club at some point, preferably on the test I'm taking the Monday after next.

Wow, only after reading this post have I really realized how much of a lurking fan I am of this group. I was literally on the edge of my seat hoping to God you weren't going to say you were postponing lool. I cannot wait to read the success stories from you guys after you slay this beast.

[soj]

I was literally on the edge of my seat hoping to God you weren't going to say you were postponing lool

+1

Pro tip: two opponents of a viewpoint means two people on the same side of the debate opposing a certain viewpoint. Not two opposing sides of a debate.

Fool me once ...

PT30
LG: -2 (in April: -2)
LR1: -1 (in April: -5)
RCe (PT38): -1 (in April: -7)
RC: -2 (in April: -4)
LR2: -0 (in April: -2)

Annoyed that I managed to get a question wrong in LR1 that I got right in April. Also, LGowned again. I don't know why, but LG30 just seems to have my number. Pleased with RC.

[99.9luft]

I really need to warm up for more than 5 questions before I start the PT.

PT 36 today was 'meh.' -9/172. Got one wrong on the LG bus game but that's not nearly as bad as my un-warmed up LR1 on which i went -4.

Brought back some 30s PTs i did in January, as you see. Will be alternating between the 30s and 50s until the test day.

[Strange]

Would you guys do a timed section to warm up on test day, or just a couple games and LR questions. I find I don't really focus or take anything seriously unless its timed. I've been "warming up" with the experimental since I always tack that on first as Manhattan suggests, but I know I can't really have that mindset when I'm taking the real test.

[OhOkay]

Would you guys do a timed section to warm up on test day, or just a couple games and LR questions. I find I don't really focus or take anything seriously unless its timed. I've been "warming up" with the experimental since I always tack that on first as Manhattan suggests, but I know I can't really have that mindset when I'm taking the real test.

I think I will do a timed mix -- two games, one RC section, and 10 LR q's in 35 mins. Then have a cup of tea and head to the test center.

Btw, for those who are re-taking -- when you took the test, did your proctors require you to stay in the room during the break after section 3?

[crumpetsandtea]

Btw, for those who are re-taking -- when you took the test, did your proctors require you to stay in the room during the break after section 3?

Nope.

[maxpower430]

ugh feels like one step forward, two steps back with my pts...

pt 54
RC: -2 (finally the dreaded groupthink passage, only went -1 there as well as with the mud drilling passage)
RCe: -0 (also the famous talk story passage haha, some wtf moments in there as well but overall not awful)
LR1: -3 (feel like i gave away 2 points here, can't complain about #24 (just a bizarre question) and i got lucky on #23. gonna have to review this one a lot)
LG: -1 (finally a LG section w/o stupid mistakes tho arguably the one i got wrong i should have gotten, but i'll take it at this point haha)
LR2: -4 (really unhappy about this too, got 3 in first 16 wrong, and misread 23)

Raw: 91
Scaled: 170

I'm just getting a little bit frustrated b/c i know i have the potential to go -0 or -1 on LR, but then meltdowns like these make me worry. generally i felt pressed for time, and the questions weren't quite clicking like they have before. maybe it's b/c i took two days off? guess i'll find out tomorrow when i tackle pt 56. just wish i could achieve a little more consistency overall.

[99.9luft]

Would you guys do a timed section to warm up on test day, or just a couple games and LR questions. I find I don't really focus or take anything seriously unless its timed. I've been "warming up" with the experimental since I always tack that on first as Manhattan suggests, but I know I can't really have that mindset when I'm taking the real test.

I don't think i like the big gap between breakfasting+doing questions and getting to take the exam. This gap can be 2-3 hours and I see almost no point in warming up so far in advance. My plan is likely this: eat, drive, sit in the car + warm up untimed for 30mins. Head into the building, check in, and bring 1-2 pages of LR there (the wait could be another 30 mins until you are seated). After this warmup, i'll probably turn off my mind, relax, and float downstream...

It is not dying, it is not dying
Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining
That you may see the meaning of within
It is being, it is being

That love is all, that love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing
That ignorance and hate may moum the dead
It is believing, it is believing
But listen to the color of your dream
It is not living, it is not living
Or play the game existance to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning,
Of the beginning, of the beginning,
Of the beginning, of the beginning,
of the beginning...

[Cartman]

PT 62 (Dec 2010) is a really tough test. I finally went over it again timed and pretty much the only good thing about it is the curve. I had a much better handle on the games, but I had my worst raw score in a long time. The LR, for whatever reason, just wasn't clicking for me. A lot of questions I had a hard time grasping. I'll be going over it again nice and slow and see if the wording was tricky or if it was something else. Good luck to anyone taking this one in the near future but if you see a drop in raw score, I honestly think the test itself was just a beast. Looking to redeem myself on 58 in a few days.

I just took 62 timed and got obliterated, it was incredibly discouraging. Unfortunate, too, because I had been in the 170's (admittedly though with the older tests from the second of the 3 "10" books). I honestly hope that you're right and it is just the test. The curve was incredibly generous, though, probably to make up for the difficulty of the test.

Normally, LR is far and away my best section with -2 to -3 roughly on each. I got -5 on both sections. Normally, I finish with 3+ minutes to spare. Both sections I ran out of time on, costing me a couple questions in each case.

LG, to the contrary, is easily my worst...and this test was no exception. -6 made a big fat frowny face .

I sat for the October '10 test, and prior to that my RC scores weren't great either (-7ish). Recently, on all the older preptests my RC had improved dramatically to around -2 or -3. On 62, it went back down to -7.

Such sad face.

I hope this is not indicative of the newer tests in general. I had been doing mainly older preptests and had been doing so well; to change to a newer one and to do so horribly is discouraging. Anyone care to comment? Perhaps 62 really is just a beast?

[mickeyD]

Phew.

PT58:
LR1: -2
RC: 0
LG: 0
LR2: -1
Raw: -3
Scaled: 178

Best raw ever, best scaled ever!

This thing was packed with sufficient/necessary assumption Q's (my kryptonite) and for some reason, paradox questions. I hate the necessary Q's where TCR is both sufficient and necessary, always makes me second guess myself. Still, happy with LR, 2/3 wrong ACs were ones I debated between, and the other was some paradox Q about salt intake that I would have no chance at in any lifetime.

Two in-out games in LG, love it. Game 2 reminded me very much of friends in photographs, which helped a lot. Experienced my first of those "what rule would have the same effect" questions, I imagine on a more difficult game those could cause a lot of problems.

Great confidence booster, I can now put the PT11 disaster behind me. I'm actually glad it happened because it was a much needed reality check, I was definitely going to burn out with the schedule I had set for myself. 4-5 PTs max over the next few days, extensive review, and LR drilling to work on my pacing. I would kill to be just 1 minute faster in LR.

[soj]

Yes!! That is awesome, congrats! So late at night, too.

I hope I can keep up this streak tomorrow when I take 47 or 52. Haven't decided which.

[Eichörnchen]

Phew.

PT58:
LR1: -2
RC: 0
LG: 0
LR2: -1
Raw: -3
Scaled: 178

Best raw ever, best scaled ever!

This thing was packed with sufficient/necessary assumption Q's (my kryptonite) and for some reason, paradox questions. I hate the necessary Q's where TCR is both sufficient and necessary, always makes me second guess myself. Still, happy with LR, 2/3 wrong ACs were ones I debated between, and the other was some paradox Q about salt intake that I would have no chance at in any lifetime.

Two in-out games in LG, love it. Game 2 reminded me very much of friends in photographs, which helped a lot. Experienced my first of those "what rule would have the same effect" questions, I imagine on a more difficult game those could cause a lot of problems.

Great confidence booster, I can now put the PT11 disaster behind me. I'm actually glad it happened because it was a much needed reality check, I was definitely going to burn out with the schedule I had set for myself. 4-5 PTs max over the next few days, extensive review, and LR drilling to work on my pacing. I would kill to be just 1 minute faster in LR.

Yay Mickey! Nice work! You're gonna kill it in June.

[tcliff]

PT 62 (Dec 2010) is a really tough test. I finally went over it again timed and pretty much the only good thing about it is the curve. I had a much better handle on the games, but I had my worst raw score in a long time. The LR, for whatever reason, just wasn't clicking for me. A lot of questions I had a hard time grasping. I'll be going over it again nice and slow and see if the wording was tricky or if it was something else. Good luck to anyone taking this one in the near future but if you see a drop in raw score, I honestly think the test itself was just a beast. Looking to redeem myself on 58 in a few days.

I just took 62 timed and got obliterated, it was incredibly discouraging. Unfortunate, too, because I had been in the 170's (admittedly though with the older tests from the second of the 3 "10" books). I honestly hope that you're right and it is just the test. The curve was incredibly generous, though, probably to make up for the difficulty of the test.

Normally, LR is far and away my best section with -2 to -3 roughly on each. I got -5 on both sections. Normally, I finish with 3+ minutes to spare. Both sections I ran out of time on, costing me a couple questions in each case.

LG, to the contrary, is easily my worst...and this test was no exception. -6 made a big fat frowny face .

I sat for the October '10 test, and prior to that my RC scores weren't great either (-7ish). Recently, on all the older preptests my RC had improved dramatically to around -2 or -3. On 62, it went back down to -7.

Such sad face.

I hope this is not indicative of the newer tests in general. I had been doing mainly older preptests and had been doing so well; to change to a newer one and to do so horribly is discouraging. Anyone care to comment? Perhaps 62 really is just a beast?

I'm in a very similar situation to you. I've been scoring in the upper 170s recently, and I took PT62 yesterday and scored a 167. Except for one, all my previous PTs had been older (I did do good on the one other recent one I took, though). My RC is a section I never really worked on my technique, but I usually get -0/-1. I got -7 here. LR is usually my strong suit, and it was here, but it was still a major drop from my -0/-1 to -3 and -4. LG, -5, entirely because of running out of time (finishing the last five problems after the test I got them all right.

I also did really poorly on the experimental section from an old test, so I'm hoping that might be indicative of this test being a fluke. I did take four days off between this and my last PT, and I hadn't eaten properly yesterday. Anyways, I totally feel your pain.

PT tomorrow morning will hopefully help me asses the damage. Also hopefully some exercise tonight will get me focused again.

[tcliff]

Also I'm having trouble understanding #24 from the first LR section. If any could help me out with an explanation I'd greatly appreciate it.