The Official September 2014 Study Group Forum

WaltGrace83 · Post by **WaltGrace83** » Sat May 10, 2014 9:38 am

mornincounselor wrote:Is anyone else going through the Sufficient Assumption packet? I find a number of correct choices use the phrase "at least some."

Are you sure you aren't talking about NECESSARY assumptions? Sufficiency would almost never happen with the phrase "at least some."

BillPackets · Post by **BillPackets** » Sat May 10, 2014 11:30 am

Does anyone know what all question types from the Cambridge packets align with chapter 10 of MLSAT? It seems like main conclusion does, but I can't figure out if they're grouping more into that section that Cambridge breaks up into more question types.

Edit: for LR

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Sat May 10, 2014 11:33 am

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Toby Ziegler · Post by **Toby Ziegler** » Sat May 10, 2014 5:13 pm

I went through chapter 16 in the trainer today. The "What's wrong" exercise is extremely beneficial. IMHMFO

LinksDair818 · Post by **LinksDair818** » Sat May 10, 2014 6:23 pm

One thing I have noticed while doing LG games is that on "which of the following could be true" questions, most of the times the answer tends to include the least restrictive variable/wildcard. Now, that is not to say that every could be true question does this, but it does help in deciding which answer choice to check first. Then, I will reset to top of the answer choices and work from there.

I was wondering if this is something many of you do as well. It seems to be common sense, but before I started focusing on establishing this habit I would just race through the answer choices from top to bottom. Any thoughts

BillPackets · Post by **BillPackets** » Sat May 10, 2014 6:33 pm

LinksDair818 wrote:One thing I have noticed while doing LG games is that on "which of the following could be true" questions, most of the times the answer tends to include the least restrictive variable/wildcard. Now, that is not to say that every could be true question does this, but it does help in deciding which answer choice to check first. Then, I will reset to top of the answer choices and work from there.

I was wondering if this is something many of you do as well. It seems to be common sense, but before I started focusing on establishing this habit I would just race through the answer choices from top to bottom. Any thoughts

I'm not sure how wise that strategy is. Maybe others would disagree with me.

Typically on could be trues, I draw the scenario they present, then see what rules the given scenario triggers. Depending on the level of complexity of the scenario, I draw two game boards. Then I see what could be true.

And sometimes it turns out that you don't even need to draw out a game board bc the scenario obviously triggers a rule that makes the answer obvious. Then I'm like why didn't I look at the answer choices before wasting my time.

mrhaart · Post by **mrhaart** » Sun May 11, 2014 3:02 pm

LinksDair818 wrote:One thing I have noticed while doing LG games is that on "which of the following could be true" questions, most of the times the answer tends to include the least restrictive variable/wildcard. Now, that is not to say that every could be true question does this, but it does help in deciding which answer choice to check first. Then, I will reset to top of the answer choices and work from there.

I was wondering if this is something many of you do as well. It seems to be common sense, but before I started focusing on establishing this habit I would just race through the answer choices from top to bottom. Any thoughts

I picked this mini strategy up from the 7Sage LG videos, where he talks about "floaters" (the variables with no corresponding rules attached to them) and how they often (but of course, not always) play a role in "could be true/false" questions.

If it's a local/specific "could be true/false" question starting with, "If A places 4th and B etc..." I'll usually draw a new diagram, applying the new scenario to the initial diagram, and then look for any floaters in the answer choices.

This works nicely for the "Must be True/False" questions as well -- except in reverse - the answers often lie in the variables that are already defined through the rules or inferences and the wrong answer choices will deal with the "floaters" (because they are most "free" to go in more places).

It's little strategies like this that I wish I had in my arsenal during my first take -- it trims off seconds, but can ultimately end up saving a ton of time overall.

GauchoMarx · Post by **GauchoMarx** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:35 pm

PT 69:
LR: -2
LG: -0
RC: -4
LR2: -5
Raw score: 89
Reported score: 170

My second PT and a 2 point improvement from my diagnostic. Excited about the -0 on games. A couple frustrating mistakes on the last two sections, and I'm having trouble understanding why some of my LR answers are incorrect. Hopefully finishing up the Powerscore LR Bible and drilling more question types will help me resolve some of the issues.

I probably should have done a 5th section, but the new Game of Thrones episode couldn't wait.

Toby Ziegler · Post by **Toby Ziegler** » Mon May 12, 2014 12:10 am

GauchoMarx wrote:PT 69:
LR: -2
LG: -0
RC: -4
LR2: -5
Raw score: 89
Reported score: 170

My second PT and a 2 point improvement from my diagnostic. Excited about the -0 on games. A couple frustrating mistakes on the last two sections, and I'm having trouble understanding why some of my LR answers are incorrect. Hopefully finishing up the Powerscore LR Bible and drilling more question types will help me resolve some of the issues.

I probably should have done a 5th section, but the new Game of Thrones episode couldn't wait.

That's awesome! I can't speak for everyone, but you are way ahead of where I am at right now.

BillPackets · Post by **BillPackets** » Mon May 12, 2014 12:24 am

Toby Ziegler wrote:
GauchoMarx wrote:PT 69:
LR: -2
LG: -0
RC: -4
LR2: -5
Raw score: 89
Reported score: 170

My second PT and a 2 point improvement from my diagnostic. Excited about the -0 on games. A couple frustrating mistakes on the last two sections, and I'm having trouble understanding why some of my LR answers are incorrect. Hopefully finishing up the Powerscore LR Bible and drilling more question types will help me resolve some of the issues.

I probably should have done a 5th section, but the new Game of Thrones episode couldn't wait.
That's awesome! I can't speak for everyone, but you are way ahead of where I am at right now.

I haven't even worked up enough guts to take a PT.

That is an awesome score. Congrats!

mrhaart · Post by **mrhaart** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:09 pm

For those of you more familiar with LR question types than I -- What Question Types would these LR question stems indicate?

1.) "Which one of the following propositions is most precisely exemplified by the situation presented above?"

2.) "The statements above best illustrate which one of the following generalizations?"

3.) "The information above provides the most support for which one of the following propositions?"

4.) "The cases described by the psychologist illustrate each of the following generalizations EXCEPT:"

Thanks

WaltGrace83 · Post by **WaltGrace83** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:04 pm

mrhaart wrote:For those of you more familiar with LR question types than I -- What Question Types would these LR question stems indicate? Stems are not always formulaic. Sometimes you actually have to look at the answer choices or the stimulus to REALLY understand with some of the weirder ones. Sometimes, they don't even really fit a precise "mold" and they are, in some ways, their own distinct question type. There is one on PT39 that I remember that is like this off the top of my head

1.) "Which one of the following propositions is most precisely exemplified by the situation presented above?"

2.) "The statements above best illustrate which one of the following generalizations?"

3.) "The information above provides the most support for which one of the following propositions?"

4.) "The cases described by the psychologist illustrate each of the following generalizations EXCEPT:"

Thanks

These all look like Principle questions to me.

GauchoMarx · Post by **GauchoMarx** » Tue May 13, 2014 5:59 pm

Thanks Bill and Toby (definitely my favorite character in West Wing, btw).

My goal is to be PTing in the mid- to high-170s come September. I'll be working full-time over summer so I'll have to find the motivation to study after coming home from work, but thankfully my school won't have started the new year yet when the test date rolls around so the LSAT can be my primary academic focus.

I also need to work on controlling my pen-spinning addiction. I dropped my pen about 5 times during the latest PT.

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Wed May 14, 2014 3:00 pm

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Toby Ziegler · Post by **Toby Ziegler** » Wed May 14, 2014 3:00 pm

GauchoMarx wrote: I also need to work on controlling my pen-spinning addiction. I dropped my pen about 5 times during the latest PT.

I hear you on this. Perhaps the most damaging bi-product of debate (emphasis on perhaps).
I also hope to be PT'ing in the mid to high 170's come September. Hopefully my pace will increase when this semester ends in July. I try to give ~23 hours to study per week now, but it invariably turns into 17-20. My summer, as opposed to yours will be less busy, so I hope to be through all the guides/drilling/etc. and on to full PT's come July 15-ish.

Yeah Toby is for sure my favorite character. Josh Lyman is a close second, though!

BlueSamurai · Post by **BlueSamurai** » Wed May 14, 2014 6:28 pm

Checking in once again! Started studying for the LSAT earnestly today....did problem sets for Main Point/Main Conclusion and Most Strong Supported question types, only had trouble on the hardest questions, and have started to see the things I really need to focus on. MSS questions are so detailed and one word can change the whole meaning, but practice makes perfect!

PatObrien1523 · Post by **PatObrien1523** » Thu May 15, 2014 2:53 am

Does anyone have any opinions on online courses? I have trouble organizing and sticking to study plans, and think that an online course like the Manhattan one mentioned earlier would help me stay on task. Is it worth the money, and what is the best one? Thanks

WaltGrace83 · Post by **WaltGrace83** » Thu May 15, 2014 9:40 am

PatObrien1523 wrote:Does anyone have any opinions on online courses? I have trouble organizing and sticking to study plans, and think that an online course like the Manhattan one mentioned earlier would help me stay on task. Is it worth the money, and what is the best one? Thanks

Manhattan was GREAT. I did their online course last summer. I actually preferred online courses over in-person courses.

BillPackets · Post by **BillPackets** » Thu May 15, 2014 9:52 am

PatObrien1523 wrote:Does anyone have any opinions on online courses? I have trouble organizing and sticking to study plans, and think that an online course like the Manhattan one mentioned earlier would help me stay on task. Is it worth the money, and what is the best one? Thanks

We just discussed this ITT. I think Christine laid down a good rule with something like...if you work well independently, self driven, don't need much guidance, can stick to a plan, etc., then you can probably self study. If you have problems with some of those things, then a class could be good.

Self study for the LSAT also requires some resiliency because you're going to get beat up and pissed off for awhile.

GauchoMarx · Post by **GauchoMarx** » Thu May 15, 2014 2:20 pm

mornincounselor wrote: Do you mean pencil?

I've actually been doing all my studying with pens, though I know I should make the switch to pencils to better simulate actual test conditions. I just prefer pens so much more

Toby Ziegler wrote: Yeah Toby is for sure my favorite character. Josh Lyman is a close second, though!

My second favorite would have to be Duke Law School alumnus Sam Seaborn

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Thu May 15, 2014 4:06 pm

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el madrileno · Post by **el madrileno** » Thu May 15, 2014 8:16 pm

Checking in.

lawschoolhopeful15 · Post by **lawschoolhopeful15** » Thu May 15, 2014 9:10 pm

Checking in! I have been reading through LSAT prep materials for a while but I officially start prepping this week. Going to go with the LSAT blog 3 month plan plus I purchased the Cambridge packets as well as prep tests 39-70. Good luck everyone!

BillPackets · Post by **BillPackets** » Thu May 15, 2014 10:09 pm

mornincounselor wrote:Well I finished up the Required Assumption packet today. I just got done making flashcards out of the 30 questions I wasn't completely sure of. Going to run through these a few times, they combine them with the tagged Sufficient Assumption cards I have.

I have two more games in the Advanced Linear packet will be completing these today and running through the entire packet again to see if I've actually learned anything.

What are your flash cards like ?

mornincounselor · Post by **mornincounselor** » Thu May 15, 2014 10:16 pm

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