The Official June 2016 Study Group Forum

[pretzeltime]

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.

lols I am TERRIBLE with names

Also why is it that PLL Aria and GoT Arya look so much alike and have the same name

this confuses me

[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.

lols I am TERRIBLE with names

Also why is it that PLL Aria and GoT Arya look so much alike and have the same name

this confuses me

I'm not sure, but I AM sure that there has to be a connection there somewhere.

[carasrook]

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

ya we only had like 5 real contributors today, i'm disappointed

[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

ya we only had like 5 real contributors today, i'm disappointed

yeah those 180 aspirations died pretty quickly

sigh

[somethingElse]

Womp

[HaveMercy]

.

[somethingElse]

Anyone have any good advice towards tackling Main Point questions? I usually try to explain to myself what the passage is about after reading it, but they still seem to mess me up.

1) Underline the conclusion.

2) Pick the answer choice that rephrases that conclusion.

Seriously that is basically it. In order to get to one, ask yourself 'What is this paragraph trying to convince me of?'

[forum_user]

Anyone have any good advice towards tackling Main Point questions? I usually try to explain to myself what the passage is about after reading it, but they still seem to mess me up.

1) Underline the conclusion.

2) Pick the answer choice that rephrases that conclusion.

Seriously that is basically it. In order to get to one, ask yourself 'What is this paragraph trying to convince me of?'

Nah fam they mean for RC.

My approach is always to pick the answer choice that summarizes the whole passage while also indicating the author's view (like, if there's one sentence at the end that says "But I believe all of this is irrelevant because we're going to die some day" the main point would have to indicate that somehow). Same with introductory paragraphs. Like for the wampum beads RC from PT76, I'm pretty sure the correct answer involved a nod to the fact that Europeans used them as currency even though that wasn't what they were for.

The other thing I do is to try to quickly ask myself--what would this passage be about if this were the main point? This really quickly helps me eliminate trap answers. So if the passage is about this one really good bridge builder in the late 19th century and there's a main point AC that's something like "19th century bridge building techniques can serve as a guide for modern-day engineers" there's no way this could be a correct answer without like significant mention of how these techniques are applicable to today.

[forum_user]

Also a big trap they use is to really completely summarize just one paragraph, and while it's a good summary, it almost never indicates the main point so stay away from those.

[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

ya we only had like 5 real contributors today, i'm disappointed

yeah those 180 aspirations died pretty quickly

sigh

RIP 180

[somethingElse]

Oh wow, I'm dumb. Lol.

Okay for RC main point questions, the main thing to look for is an AC that encapsulates the entire passage while ALSO focusing on the main point. Let's say the first half of it was saying that Theory X is the currently accepted theory for A. Then, the second half of the passage is the author arguing that Theory Y is much better. TCR for the MP question will be something like, "Despite Theory X being the standard Theory for explaining A because B, C, E, Theory Y actually does a better job because F, G.

Basically all incorrect answer choices will do one or more of the following:

1) Describe part of the passage incorrectly (i.e. the answer choice will say something that the passage contradicts).

2) Describe something that the passage doesn't mention at all.

3) Only talks about one (small) portion of the passage.

[Mikey]

Oh wow, I'm dumb. Lol.

Okay for RC main point questions, the main thing to look for is an AC that encapsulates the entire passage while ALSO focusing on the main point. Let's say the first half of it was saying that Theory X is the currently accepted Theory for A. Then, the second half of the passage is the author arguing that Theory Y is much better. TCR for the MP question will be something like, "Despite Theory X being the standard Theory for explaining A because B, C, E, Theory Y actually does a better job because F, G.

Basically all incorrect answer choices will do one or more of the following:

1) Describe part of the passage incorrectly (i.e. the answer choice will say something that the passage contradicts).

2) Describe something that the passage doesn't mention at all.

3) Only talks about one (small) portion of the passage.

This helps, thanks! Do you have any general advice/tips for staying focused during very boring and dense passages?

[Redsfan320]

I mentioned this morning I might do a LG section. Someone here mentioned 77, said it was hard so would be good practice, I said to myself "Well let's avoid that one then, I need to get some confidence back," so I did a random one- PT 71's. Went -7 so the confidence thing was a fail. Timing was good even, I'm just still not making all the connections I need to on the setup before rushing into questions. I think I feel, subconsciously, like I have to keep moving through questions for the sake of time, even though consciously I know that I'll actually save time by making all the necessary inferences at the setup stage. Very frustrating. Oh well. All done with prep now. Test center is 90 minutes away! so I'm driving up the night before and staying at a nearby hotel so I can just relax Mon. morning instead of worrying about navigating my way from one spot in the middle of nowhere in Ohio to another spot in the middle of nowhere in Ohio.

Also, this thread creates a strong desire for pretzels.

320

[Mikey]

Also, this thread creates a strong desire for pretzels.

Because pretzels are dabes

[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

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

That's an awesome idea and will definitely be trying it. Thanks!

[somethingElse]

Oh wow, I'm dumb. Lol.

Okay for RC main point questions, the main thing to look for is an AC that encapsulates the entire passage while ALSO focusing on the main point. Let's say the first half of it was saying that Theory X is the currently accepted Theory for A. Then, the second half of the passage is the author arguing that Theory Y is much better. TCR for the MP question will be something like, "Despite Theory X being the standard Theory for explaining A because B, C, E, Theory Y actually does a better job because F, G.

Basically all incorrect answer choices will do one or more of the following:

1) Describe part of the passage incorrectly (i.e. the answer choice will say something that the passage contradicts).

2) Describe something that the passage doesn't mention at all.

3) Only talks about one (small) portion of the passage.

This helps, thanks! Do you have any general advice/tips for staying focused during very boring and dense passages?

Hmm that's though. On a very broad level, meditation is perfect for that but it's too late to really get any benefit. I've heard that people like to consciously find SOME aspect of the passage that interests them even a little bit, but to me that sounds like you could end up lying to yourself. Idk though I haven't really tried that one.

I guess what could help is like making sure you're actively reading, i.e. you're coming up with/prephrasing answer choices as you go along. Things like what the author is arguing for, what views are being brought up/discounted, etc. Even if the content is boring, the structure could be "interesting" and regardless, the structure is going to be very important for getting questions right.

[rnoodles]

A little birdie told me we have some little liars in this thread!

#TeamAria #TeamTroianiiWithAPersonalityLLC #TeamAliS1-4,S7

[somethingElse]

A little birdie told me we have some little liars in this thread!

#TeamAria #TeamTroianiiWithAPersonalityLLC #TeamAliS1-4,S7

Yes! Back to discussing PLL.

Noodles, Pretzeltime's favorite PLL so far is "Ariel." But as you can see there's obviously some potential there. She knows who she likes the most even if she doesn't know her name.

[Mikey]

Oh wow, I'm dumb. Lol.

Okay for RC main point questions, the main thing to look for is an AC that encapsulates the entire passage while ALSO focusing on the main point. Let's say the first half of it was saying that Theory X is the currently accepted Theory for A. Then, the second half of the passage is the author arguing that Theory Y is much better. TCR for the MP question will be something like, "Despite Theory X being the standard Theory for explaining A because B, C, E, Theory Y actually does a better job because F, G.

Basically all incorrect answer choices will do one or more of the following:

1) Describe part of the passage incorrectly (i.e. the answer choice will say something that the passage contradicts).

2) Describe something that the passage doesn't mention at all.

3) Only talks about one (small) portion of the passage.

This helps, thanks! Do you have any general advice/tips for staying focused during very boring and dense passages?

Hmm that's though. On a very broad level, meditation is perfect for that but it's too late to really get any benefit. I've heard that people like to consciously find SOME aspect of the passage that interests them even a little bit, but to me that sounds like you could end up lying to yourself. Idk though I haven't really tried that one.

I guess what could help is like making sure you're actively reading, i.e. you're coming up with/prephrasing answer choices as you go along. Things like what the author is arguing for, what views are being brought up/discounted, etc. Even if the content is boring, the structure could be "interesting" and regardless, the structure is going to be very important for getting questions right.

Yeah, i try my best to actively read but I find myself zoning out when it comes to passages that have to do with like art history, haha. Thanks for the advice!

[pretzeltime]

guyssss I am having a fortuitous evening

I just got off the train right where my testing center is (I forgot it's right there, but there it was!) so I looked at it and told it I was gonna make it my bitch then kept walking. and then i stumbled upon a Swiss pretzel bakery and they had a massive party pretzel that I wish we could share!!!!

So I got a pretzel for dinner. Not what my body needs but I knew I had no option other than to lean into this good juju.

Headed off to my favorite band's concert, have a lovely evening yall!!!

(PS dont point out to me that none of these occurrences were particularly notable or good luck. I am superstitious shhhh)

[pretzeltime]

A little birdie told me we have some little liars in this thread!

#TeamAria #TeamTroianiiWithAPersonalityLLC #TeamAliS1-4,S7

Yes! Back to discussing PLL.

Noodles, Pretzeltime's favorite PLL so far is "Ariel." But as you can see there's obviously some potential there. She knows who she likes the most even if she doesn't know her name.

Im bad with names!!!!

PLL has been a godsend during this last pre-LSAT week. Such a good escape

[Rupert Pupkin]

Oh wow, I'm dumb. Lol.

Okay for RC main point questions, the main thing to look for is an AC that encapsulates the entire passage while ALSO focusing on the main point. Let's say the first half of it was saying that Theory X is the currently accepted Theory for A. Then, the second half of the passage is the author arguing that Theory Y is much better. TCR for the MP question will be something like, "Despite Theory X being the standard Theory for explaining A because B, C, E, Theory Y actually does a better job because F, G.

Basically all incorrect answer choices will do one or more of the following:

1) Describe part of the passage incorrectly (i.e. the answer choice will say something that the passage contradicts).

2) Describe something that the passage doesn't mention at all.

3) Only talks about one (small) portion of the passage.

This helps, thanks! Do you have any general advice/tips for staying focused during very boring and dense passages?

Hmm that's though. On a very broad level, meditation is perfect for that but it's too late to really get any benefit. I've heard that people like to consciously find SOME aspect of the passage that interests them even a little bit, but to me that sounds like you could end up lying to yourself. Idk though I haven't really tried that one.

I guess what could help is like making sure you're actively reading, i.e. you're coming up with/prephrasing answer choices as you go along. Things like what the author is arguing for, what views are being brought up/discounted, etc. Even if the content is boring, the structure could be "interesting" and regardless, the structure is going to be very important for getting questions right.

Yeah, i try my best to actively read but I find myself zoning out when it comes to passages that have to do with like art history, haha. Thanks for the advice!

I always had a similar issue, but what I started doing, which helps is: Start every passage with the mindset that you are going to learn something new and by reading actively, this newly gained knowledge will benefit you somehow in the future. Maybe I will impress someone by knowing about some painting or artist..etc --> It sounds kinda weird, but it definitely is just a mental game. I try to make it seem as interesting as possible and tell myself that this is teaching me something that will benefit me sometime in the future.

[Mikey]

I always had a similar issue, but what I started doing, which helps is: Start every passage with the mindset that you are going to learn something new and by reading actively, this newly gained knowledge will benefit you somehow in the future. Maybe I will impress someone by knowing about some painting or artist..etc --> It sounds kinda weird, but it definitely is just a mental game. I try to make it seem as interesting as possible and tell myself that this is teaching me something that will benefit me sometime in the future.

Thanks, I will definitely keep this in mind!

[Redsfan320]

Does anyone know for sure if it's okay to print the admit. ticket (with picture) in B&W? I can't find anything either way on the lsac site about it. Without a color printer at home, I'd have to go to a library or something. I'm just paranoid, figured maybe someone here knew.

320

[beenoparte125]

174 on PT 77 just now... confidence booster for sure... gonna drill lightly this weekend... ayyyyyy