June 2011 Study Group Forum

[jim-green]

LR PT59 S3 #16. Let us negate Ans D. If there are some other people without the mutation who can still get periodontitis, then it cannot be eliminated simply by the new drug. Hence, Ans D must be correct. Where is my thinking flawed?

Is the Sunday 4:30 pm group mtg in the MLSAT room?

[pkpop]

Is the Sunday 4:30 pm group mtg in the MLSAT room?

I *think* there will be an instructor (Brian maybe?) coming into the meeting tonight at 8pm. This will be the LAST official Sunday meeting since I don't believe meeting the night before the test is really needed.

The instructor should be going over last minute test tips, advice, and just general positivity for those of us left in the group. Feel free to stop by, get those last minute questions asked, and eliminate that last bit of uncertainty before the madness begins.

[jim-green]

Is the Sunday 4:30 pm group mtg in the MLSAT room?

I *think* there will be an instructor (Brian maybe?) coming into the meeting tonight at 8pm. This will be the LAST official Sunday meeting since I don't believe meeting the night before the test is really needed.

Thanks, PK! By the way, have you done the LR question in PT59 S3 #16?

[Ginj]

PT 60 done.

LR1: -6 ( , though can possible be contributed to lackluster warm-up)
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -0

Scaled: 173.

Celebratory beer now in hand.

[soj]

PT62
LRe (PT24 S2): -1
RC: -2
LR1: -2
LG: -2
LR2: -1
Raw: -7
Scaled: 176

Cold, it looks like you thought exactly the same thing I did.

I'm a little disappointed with the raw score, but it's a tough test, so I'm still feeling good. A 176 would still be a dream come true (literally ... my life is so sad ).

The LG disaster is unacceptable. I skipped two questions in the stained glass game and had time to do only one of them at the end. I also made a stupid mistake in the third game. No excuses.

RC felt medium-hard, but I handled it really well. I felt good about it, though I knew it wasn't going to be a -0.

LRe was easy; LR1 and LR2 were hard, with LR1 being the slightly tougher one.

I took the last two exams in a different location that's more similar to my testing location than my bedroom. And this time I actually took it in the presence of others working quietly in the room, though they weren't taking a PT. I think the new location helped more than hurt.

The other smart thing I did was leaving the answer key in my room. Walking home, I thought about whether I would cancel a test that went the way it did. I remembered doing poorly on LG, but I know most of the time if I bomb an LG, it's likely to be a tough LG section that comes with a generous curve. So I would make a cancellation decision based on how I felt about LR and RC. LR felt tough but RC felt pretty good. I knew I was going to get 1-2 wrong in LG, 1-2 wrong in RC, and 0-5 wrong in LR. (The -0 LR would be unlikely unless LRe wasn't experimental. Of course, it was, but I wouldn't know.) The worst case scenario would be pretty bad, but I think I can usually assume a very tough LG section would likely be accompanied by a generous curve.

In my 60-PT experience, when I do poorly, I invariably do poorly in both LR and RC (though how I feel about it isn't always 100% correlated with how I do). Therefore, I probably wouldn't cancel. And good thing, too, since I'd be pissed if I canceled a 176.

I have a lot of review to do today, but I'm also feeling pretty good. Things are falling into place. I'm not expecting a 180, so I'm not afraid to skip a few questions or get a few wrong. I just need to approach the test with the same moderate level of anxiety and intensity with which I approached the past two PTs.

[jim-green]

Ugh, so pissed right now. It seems like even on a different PT/break schedule, I still underperform every four PTs.
PT47
Scaled: 170

Interestingly, I got 165 on this, so I don't think it is an easy one, even though it is in the 40s. Congrats on your 176 on PT62. I have heard it is a tough one because of the LGs.

[minnbills]

Tried to take PT 57 today.

Froze up on Mauve, ended up only finishing the first two questions of the fourth game. I went -2 not including the missed four. At that point I just decided to scrap the test and study that section, given my -0 to -2 roll on LG over the past few months. Once I got things under control, redid my diagrams and all that things sort of came together. So I decided to push on and try the 2nd section: LR. Bombed it going -5.

3 of those mistakes were easily correctable, two were just genuinely difficult questions.

I was so angry I just stopped taking the test. My confidence is blown at this point.

Something similar happened last october before the test. My response was to ramp it up, I ended up succumbing to the stress and bombed the real thing. Not sure what I should do now. I know that I'm capable of getting that 170 but things vary so much. Anyone else going through something similar?

Don't dwell too much on the dino game. It's an anomaly. Besides, thoroughly reviewing the section should make you better prepared for such a difficult game than you were today. Review your LR mistakes, take a day off, and come back strong. Don't let a single aberration undermine your work.

Thanks, I just finished reviewing that LR section, it was a tough one. I'm going down to the library to finish the last two sections shortly. Tomorrow I'm going to drill 4 sections of logic games- ones I've already taken.

I feel like the Mauve breakdown was a fluke. I panicked and deviated from my usual system. I also missed the "two dinosaurs must be mauve" condition for about 4 minutes, which was a huge mistake. The bright side is that I would rather have made this kind of mistake now than on the 6th. Sort of a wake-up call to arms.

[colforbin]

Anyone have some insight on PT 54, RC, Q25. It's the passage about groupthink and my question is about conformity.

First of all, I can't seem to find anywhere in the text that references "conformity" which seems strange. I'm not used to lsat questions throwing around synonyms. I see how E could be correct, but doesn't it require a few leaps? Lines 5-7 seem to offer support for E, and say that in low cohesive groups, compliance likely occurs via fear. But does fear based cohesion = psychological pressure to conform?

I chose C out of POE and lines 40-52. Did this question trip up anyone else? There isn't a thread for this q on manhattan lsat forums, which is why I'm posting here.

Thanks.

[Strange]

PT 60 done.

LR1: -6 ( , though can possible be contributed to lackluster warm-up)
LG: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -0

Scaled: 173.

Celebratory beer now in hand.

I just took this:

PT60

LR1: -1
LR2: -2
RC: -5
LG: -3

I thought the questions for the RC was really hard. How did you get -0? I still got the 170 so I'm happy, but I was hoping I'd be averaging in the 171-173 range just to be safe.

[jim-green]

PT60
I thought the questions for the RC was really hard. How did you get -0? I still got the 170 so I'm happy, but I was hoping I'd be averaging in the 171-173 range just to be safe.

I agree. The RC of PT60 destroyed my confidence before my 1st real take of the LSAT and I ended up doing poorly on the real thing. Don't let this happen to you. I felt both PT59/PT60 are hard RCs.

[iphone7]

So I've change my schedule. I'm going to take pts 59-62 between now and test day (Tests on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday), using pt 57 as the experimentals. Now I'm deciding the order in which I should take them. I'd like to take the easiest one of the four closest to test day (Friday), and the other three in relative order of difficulty from easier to hardest on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. So my question is, in your experience, what is the order of difficulty in these four tests? Thanks.

[soj]

59 and 62 have more generous curves than 60 and 61 do. I haven't taken 59 or 61, but 59 apparently has tough RC. 62 has tough LG/LR. 60 is probably the most normal of the four, with no section that stands out as particularly easy or particularly hard.

57 has tough LG and RC. Don't put 57 LG or RC as an experimental on your last exam.

[Strange]

Here's my log of the last five tests, going back to 5/15

PT48: 169
PT57: 173
PT61: 172
PT62:169
PT60: 170

Just an awkward position for me right now. My expectations and goals have continually been raised ever since I started studying in March. Before I was aiming for high-160's, then the goal became 170. Now, I'm not totally sure I'd be happy with a 170. I might take PT's 58 and 59 in the coming week just to see if I can boost my confidence a little more. Maybe the last couple RC sections were just harder, but I feel like I've lost some of the rhythm I used to have with RC that made my scores so good on those sections.

[coldshoulder]

PT 62
RC: -0
LR: -1
LG: -0
LR: -2
LG: -0 (exp)

-3, 98/101, 180

Hell yeah! I loved the RC for this section, and I will say the third game was hard.
LR was rough, I'm glad for the generous curve that allowed a -3 180.

[soj]

Wow, congrats! That's gotta feel good. I agree, I really liked RC in this one. It wasn't easy but it never felt random or out of reach the way RC sometimes does.

[jim-green]

Wow, I guess you've outpaced everyone else on this forum. Congrats! Is this a retake for you? I've never seen anyone get so many 180s in a row on PTs.

PT 62
RC: -0
LR: -1
LG: -0
LR: -2
LG: -0 (exp)

-3, 98/101, 180

Hell yeah! I loved the RC for this section, and I will say the third game was hard.
LR was rough, I'm glad for the generous curve that allowed a -3 180.

[crumpetsandtea]

GRATS Cold!! I've heard some turrible things about 62, so the fact that you aced it has GOT to be a great sign.

Taking 62 tomorrow, took 60 yesterday:

LR1: -2
LG: -0
LR2: -2
RC: -2
Raw: 94 // Scaled: 176

This is the FIRST TIME I've missed less than 3 RC questions on 2 tests in a row since I took 29/30 I'm SUPER PLEASED!!! My LR fell just a tad bit (2 less missed Qs and I was in 179/180 range!!! >_<) but I'm going to review the LRB and go through the Manhattan Guide again this week to refresh my memory.

Also I have a question I had trouble with during review, if any of y'all want to help me out: You can see which question it is here (RC Q labeled in red)

[minnbills]

Just went -5 on an other LR section. Reviewed it immediately and my jaw dropped over the mistakes I was making.

Am I just burnt out? This happened last time I was studying for the LSAT, my reaction was to take more and more PTs to try to power through the difficulty. Maybe I should just check out for a day or two? How do you get yourself out of a mental funk like this?

[crumpetsandtea]

Just went -5 on an other LR section. Reviewed it immediately and my jaw dropped over the mistakes I was making.

Am I just burnt out? This happened last time I was studying for the LSAT, my reaction was to take more and more PTs to try to power through the difficulty. Maybe I should just check out for a day or two? How do you get yourself out of a mental funk like this?

This def might be burnout IMO. The same thing happens to me, and when I take a day or two off my score jumps back up. I know it's hard to let it go and relax this close to the test, but seriously there's a reason why most people say you shouldn't PT at least 2 days before the test. Most people (not all) will need some time between PTs in order to score as high as possible.

[minnbills]

Just went -5 on an other LR section. Reviewed it immediately and my jaw dropped over the mistakes I was making.

Am I just burnt out? This happened last time I was studying for the LSAT, my reaction was to take more and more PTs to try to power through the difficulty. Maybe I should just check out for a day or two? How do you get yourself out of a mental funk like this?

This def might be burnout IMO. The same thing happens to me, and when I take a day or two off my score jumps back up. I know it's hard to let it go and relax this close to the test, but seriously there's a reason why most people say you shouldn't PT at least 2 days before the test. Most people (not all) will need some time between PTs in order to score as high as possible.

Yeah I think I'm going to have to take some time off. I've been studying for this test for a year at this point. I know what I need to know. It's so frustrating though.

It's counerintuitive to walk away for a bit. If it were anything else I would just power my way through it, it seems like the logical response.

[coldshoulder]

Thanks guys! I hadn't seen the test before so it definitely feels good. RC is just feeling great lately.

[crumpetsandtea]

Yeah I think I'm going to have to take some time off. I've been studying for this test for a year at this point. I know what I need to know. It's so frustrating though.

It's counterintuitive to walk away for a bit. If it were anything else I would just power my way through it, it seems like the logical response.

Hahaha I guess this is one time where my splitter-habits come in handy...I'm the type who has to push myself just to do the 3 PTs/week I'm doing now, so 'taking a few days off' is like a get out of jail free card for me

But yeah at this point, we have a week...tell yourself that the best thing you can do to help yourself isn't to try and 'learn' more, that's not happening in 7 days. The best help you can get is good sleep, relaxation, confidence...all the little mental things that can trip you up on the day of the test.

[soj]

Study plan till 6/6

5/30: LR review marathon (going over all 329 LR Qs I got wrong or almost got wrong)
5/31: full break
6/1: full break
6/2: PT59 + review
6/3: PT61 + review
6/4: full break
6/5: full break
6/6: 180 on PT63

Already started the LR marathon a few days ago, and doing a bit more tonight so it's not overwhelming tomorrow.

I'm on pace to have a fully typed out list of ~340 questions and detailed explanations. Maybe I should publish it in a book.

[pkrtbx]

PT49

LG -2
LRe -1
LR1 -1
RC -1
LR2 -1

Raw 95 Scaled 175

Two of my LR errors were from forgetting the EXCEPT in the question stem!! A little unsettling at this point in the game... Also, does anyone have any tricks for Parallel Flaw questions? I finished LR early and even spent a fair amount of time symbolizing the stem and answer choices, was confident in my answer and still got it wrong. It is driving me insane.

[mickeyD]

EPIPHANY ALERT!

So this whole time, timing in LR has been a difficult struggle. Every time I've had to move at a frantic pace to finish in time, and never get to check any of my answers. Literally every PT I finish the last question with no more than a few seconds to spare. This has been very consistent over about the last 10 PTs. My LR scores have been all over the place, anywhere from -3 total to -10.

Today I read that thread about "voicing" while you read, and realized that I had been doing it more and more lately in an attempt to better comprehend the stimulus. It never really helped, but I just kept doing it anyway, I guess maybe it made me feel better. I literally even would mouth the words as I read, often times muttering the faintest voice out loud.

Today I thought that maybe it slowed me down and started practicing LR without "voicing." I've never really "voiced" when I read so I don't know why I started doing it. I've read long books for leisure all my life and of course I don't mouth 500 page books. I practiced it while drilling to make sure I wasn't losing any comprehension, and then tried a 35 minute LR section. Not only did I only miss 1 of 26 questions, but I finished the section with 10 minutes to spare. I couldn't believe it when I checked my watch.

I know it's really risky to change something up like this so close to the exam, but in all honesty its really just going back to what I've done my whole life and removing some bad habit I developed. About to focus on eliminating "voicing" for my last 3 PTs this week. Even if my scores don't change, no longer being terrified of running out of time will do a lot for my confidence.