The Official June 2016 Study Group Forum

[Mikey]

go to the liquor store and get supplies for Monday night.

THIS

[pretzeltime]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

I somewhat recently started skipping more Qs on LG and coming back to them, like substitution questions and others that are meant to be a time suck.

This strategy works pretty well because it helps me a LOT to get through to game 4 and know what I am working with -- the difficulty of the rest of the games and if there are any super hard games that require more time.

So, yeah, I do this and I typically get max 2 wrong on LG, more like 1 or 0 usually.

Not sure if it's advisable to be switching up your strategy at this stage in the game though.

[somethingElse]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

IMO that is a personal thing with the main factor being how you are with timing. I think even with 170 + scorers there are people who use up all 35 minutes for each section and others who finish in 30. If you're one of the former, skipping and coming back to a tough LRquestion might be good. If the latter, I'd say it would be better to do your best on it and then make sure and check your work on it before time runs out.

I was never a fan of skipping an entire game or passage though. Or like skipping a question in G1 and then coming back to it after finishing the other games. Would take you time to remember all the nuances of that game again, etc.

[longpig]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

I just try to skim over the AC's to see if there's anything that's a pretty obviously good guess. Sometimes those questions aren't actually that hard. But sometimes they are. I just try to be aware of if they are sucking up my time.

To weigh in on taking it easy this weekend... I also have one PT left (76). Almost wanna take it just to have something to do besides worry about Monday lol.

[CPA-->JD]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

I somewhat recently started skipping more Qs on LG and coming back to them, like substitution questions and others that are meant to be a time suck.

This strategy works pretty well because it helps me a LOT to get through to game 4 and know what I am working with -- the difficulty of the rest of the games and if there are any super hard games that require more time.
.

This is what my thinking is as well. Part of the challenge for me on a new PT is that I don't know what is coming which leads to rushing and careless errors. I can still achieve my goal of 170 even if I miss a couple but, obviously, not if I run out of time on game 4 and miss 3-4 questions on that.

Either way I think it is helpful to plan out different potential scenarios that may happen on the test and how you will respond. For example, what will you do if game 2 is a random game you haven't seen before? What will you do if question 5 on LR is a hard parallel reasoning question? Etc

[forum_user]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

I somewhat recently started skipping more Qs on LG and coming back to them, like substitution questions and others that are meant to be a time suck.

This strategy works pretty well because it helps me a LOT to get through to game 4 and know what I am working with -- the difficulty of the rest of the games and if there are any super hard games that require more time.
.

This is what my thinking is as well. Part of the challenge for me on a new PT is that I don't know what is coming which leads to rushing and careless errors. I can still achieve my goal of 170 even if I miss a couple but, obviously, not if I run out of time on game 4 and miss 3-4 questions on that.

Either way I think it is helpful to plan out different potential scenarios that may happen on the test and how you will respond. For example, what will you do if game 2 is a random game you haven't seen before? What will you do if question 5 on LR is a hard parallel reasoning question? Etc

Having a strategy in mind is a great idea--I think SomethingElse mentioned like typing out a list of things you'll do on test day, because putting stuff like that in writing helps you keep it in mind on test day.

That said, I'm not a fan of skipping questions, but if you were to skip one I'd highly recommend bubbling in your best guess first. I feel like that's the way bubbling errors happen. Though, I guess that is assuming you bubble one at a time like I do.

[emkay625]

go to the liquor store and get supplies for Monday night.

THIS

It is an excellent distraction. Also I did not do that my first take, and did on my second take. Underperformed on my first take and got the score I needed on my second take. So, ya know, it's science.

[Mikey]

go to the liquor store and get supplies for Monday night.

THIS

It is an excellent distraction. Also I did not do that my first take, and did on my second take. Underperformed on my first take and got the score I needed on my second take. So, ya know, it's science.

Test makers better not make an LR flaw question for the correlation between drinking and your score because there are no flaws, HA.

[mb1018]

Incredibly bored at work, so I'll de-lurk as well. Feeling fairly confident about Monday; last six practice tests have been 174-177. My plan is a bit of work tonight, one more practice test Saturday, and then a day and a half of relaxation.

That said, I've now convinced myself that I won't be able to fall asleep Sunday night. I have a history of insomnia, and I'm worried that I'll be in a place where (either stress-induced or psychosomatic) it will doom my chances. Any tips?

[somethingElse]

Incredibly bored at work, so I'll de-lurk as well. Feeling fairly confident about Monday; last six practice tests have been 174-177. My plan is a bit of work tonight, one more practice test Saturday, and then a day and a half of relaxation.

That said, I've now convinced myself that I won't be able to fall asleep Sunday night. I have a history of insomnia, and I'm worried that I'll be in a place where (either stress-induced or psychosomatic) it will doom my chances. Any tips?

Get plenty of exercise that day (Sunday), don't eat anything within ~2 hours of going to bed, no screens within an hour or so of going to bed and no caffeine after noon.

[lawpro82]

Do any of you + - 170ish scorers have a plan if get stuck on a question what do in terms of skipping/guessing? If you are 7 minutes into game 1 and there is a substitution question, do you try to solve it without knowing what the next 3 games are like or is it an effective strategy to skip it?

I somewhat recently started skipping more Qs on LG and coming back to them, like substitution questions and others that are meant to be a time suck.

This strategy works pretty well because it helps me a LOT to get through to game 4 and know what I am working with -- the difficulty of the rest of the games and if there are any super hard games that require more time.
.

This is what my thinking is as well. Part of the challenge for me on a new PT is that I don't know what is coming which leads to rushing and careless errors. I can still achieve my goal of 170 even if I miss a couple but, obviously, not if I run out of time on game 4 and miss 3-4 questions on that.

Either way I think it is helpful to plan out different potential scenarios that may happen on the test and how you will respond. For example, what will you do if game 2 is a random game you haven't seen before? What will you do if question 5 on LR is a hard parallel reasoning question? Etc

Having a strategy in mind is a great idea--I think SomethingElse mentioned like typing out a list of things you'll do on test day, because putting stuff like that in writing helps you keep it in mind on test day.

That said, I'm not a fan of skipping questions, but if you were to skip one I'd highly recommend bubbling in your best guess first. I feel like that's the way bubbling errors happen. Though, I guess that is assuming you bubble one at a time like I do.

I do every question that starts with "if" first in a game and then tackle the rest of the questions that don't start with "if" (after I do the very first, "list" question, which I do as I'm checking off each rule I'm eliminating an answer choice...that way, once I have my diagram setup, I have question one done)

The reason I do "if" questions first, is that it allows me to build a few hypotheticals as I'm answering questions, so when I get to questions that require more time, I've already familiarized myself enough with the game, and half the time, I already have the answer just by looking at my already constructed hypotheticals

Not to 1-up anybody, but I always get -0 and finish games in about 25 minutes using this strategy

[mb1018]

Incredibly bored at work, so I'll de-lurk as well. Feeling fairly confident about Monday; last six practice tests have been 174-177. My plan is a bit of work tonight, one more practice test Saturday, and then a day and a half of relaxation.

That said, I've now convinced myself that I won't be able to fall asleep Sunday night. I have a history of insomnia, and I'm worried that I'll be in a place where (either stress-induced or psychosomatic) it will doom my chances. Any tips?

Get plenty of exercise that day (Sunday), don't eat anything within ~2 hours of going to bed, no screens within an hour or so of going to bed and no caffeine after noon.

I know that's sound advice, and thanks. The idea of exercise and no Diet Coke are almost to terrible to contemplate, but I guess it's just one day.

[forum_user]

Not to 1-up anybody, but I always get -0 and finish games in about 25 minutes using this strategy

Yeah well I always gain a bonus point and finish games in 24 minutes so HA

[etramak]

178 on PT 75 retake

That window glass passage is the bane of my existence. The scale is particularly cruel on this one imo. Three or four really tricky LR questions, the window passage, and the fourth logic game that isn't really hard but sort of different make this one of the more difficult PTs for me. Probably would've been in the 170-172 range had I not recognized some answers from the last time I took this.

[carasrook]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

[pretzeltime]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

[somethingElse]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

Who's your fave and least fave PLL so far?

[carasrook]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

.

[carasrook]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

Who's your fave and least fave PLL so far?

i recognize this wasn't for me, but...
fave: ezra fitz
least fave: toby cavanaugh
(i watched like the first 2 seasons a loong time ago)

[pretzeltime]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

Who's your fave and least fave PLL so far?

Omg great question. Well, can't say that I really love any of them.

I relate to Ariel the most because I similarly thought I was a 30 year old trapped in a teenage body when I was in high school (it was kind of true) and as a result had some inapprop liasons with older men (DONT QUOTE THIS I GUESS). I didn't wear miniskirts and heels tho, blech. Of course the plot line with Ezra would be kinda fucked in real life (technically, completely fucked) but I am suspending all reality and qualms and tbh I enjoy it. These girls be getting statutorily raped all the time! Well I guess make-out-statutorily-raped which isn't rape.

In season 1 at least they are all ridiculous caricatures of actual humans so it's hard to relate to any of them. But it's soap opera deliciousness.

Least fave is probably Emily as I find all of her story lines boring AF.

Who is YOUR fave? As of season 1 at least, no spoilies. Alison?!!

[pretzeltime]

in 45 minutes i'll be done with work...and the next time i'll be at work.... the LSAT will be over...

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee. Except a bit longer than 45.

I just recycled all of the LSAT materials scattered around my office, so weird

Who's your fave and least fave PLL so far?

i recognize this wasn't for me, but...
fave: ezra fitz
least fave: toby cavanaugh
(i watched like the first 2 seasons a loong time ago)

I like that you just picked dudes.

Yeah, not down with either Cavanaugh

Ezra's a hot creep

[pretzeltime]

AND FOR ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT US DERAILING THE LSAT CONVERSATION, WE ARE DOING THIS TO GET TO 180 AND YOU SHOULD BE THANKING US

[forum_user]

AND FOR ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT US DERAILING THE LSAT CONVERSATION, WE ARE DOING THIS TO GET TO 180 AND YOU SHOULD BE THANKING US

thank you

[pretzeltime]

AND FOR ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT US DERAILING THE LSAT CONVERSATION, WE ARE DOING THIS TO GET TO 180 AND YOU SHOULD BE THANKING US

thank you

your welcs f_u

[somethingElse]

Fair enough choices for fave male PLLers, carasook. Pretzel, I'm disappointed. Her name is totes ARIA not ARIEL!! THIS IS NOT DISNEY CHANNEL, IT'S ABC FAMILY (now known as Freeform)!

But great choice because Aria season 1 is pretty much impossible to top. Emily indeed is very boring and many believe that she does not even have a personality.

My fave is Allison overall, but Aria season 1 is for sures the best as far as a PLL for a season goes. Least fave for me is Hanna.