The Official February 2015 Study Group Forum

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:26 pm

nlee10 wrote:
peppermint wrote:On my PT break right now. I'm so hungry. Quick question: what do y'all normally eat during break? Since it's a month away from the exam, I figure I should start thinking about stuff like this.

ETA- nlee, get out of my head! We're both thinking about food, haha #stresseating
LOL. #twinning.

But I was thinking maybe like one of those cliff bars. It has enough sugar to fuel me for the last 2 sections.

Haha every1 on their break... Should a got to the library earlier n coulda been closer to our schedule :p 40 was sight... Pt 67 game 4... Screw that thing man

uorbulldog · Post by **uorbulldog** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:51 pm

nlee10 wrote:
peppermint wrote:On my PT break right now. I'm so hungry. Quick question: what do y'all normally eat during break? Since it's a month away from the exam, I figure I should start thinking about stuff like this.

ETA- nlee, get out of my head! We're both thinking about food, haha #stresseating
LOL. #twinning.

But I was thinking maybe like one of those cliff bars. It has enough sugar to fuel me for the last 2 sections.

Almonds and pretzels

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:55 pm

Post removed...

stray · Post by **stray** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:57 pm

I bought a banana and chocolate energy bar for DEC. Its so funny walking out the room and standing around and everyone is just quiet and nervously eating.

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:28 pm

zacboro wrote:Done with prep for this week, rest tomorrow (and maybe try to do Pepper's yoga suggestions) and PT 52 on Monday. Today I did 3 LR sections back to back and I went -3 (-1 BR), -1 (-1 BR), and -3 (-2 BR). Not too shabby! My overall averages for this week were:
LG: -1
LR: -2.4
RC: -5

My goals for next week's averages are:
LG: less than -1
LR: -2
RC: -4

I hate how bad my RC is but in other news I'm seeing a lot of improvement in LR! And my LG skills are almost completely perfected.
PS- just wanted to give a shoutout to all of you on the forum! I love being able to check in and chat about LSAT stuff that no one else in my life cares about/understands.

not even 2:30 and ur done with ur prep????? lol come on, take a nice break and hit it again later

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:33 pm

Post removed...

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:36 pm

gamerish wrote:Rando question to distract from studying: Is anyone considering taking part in a dual/joint degree program or a study abroad when they get to LS? Columbia's JD/LLB looks super cool to me. I know someone who did their JD/LLM at LSE and he thought highly of the program.

the thought of it is cringing lol LS + Other school, no thnx

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:36 pm

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:43 pm

zacboro wrote:
Jgoods wrote: not even 2:30 and ur done with ur prep????? lol come on, take a nice break and hit it again later
Hey now I started at 9:30 and went all the way through! Slow and steady, slow and steady.

we're not 3months out anymore

kang · Post by **kang** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:51 pm

nlee10 wrote:On break with PT 40. I can't wait to finish this test because I'm out of groceries and am in dire need of food.

Good luck with your PT!!!

zacboro wrote:Done with prep for this week, rest tomorrow (and maybe try to do Pepper's yoga suggestions) and PT 52 on Monday. Today I did 3 LR sections back to back and I went -3 (-1 BR), -1 (-1 BR), and -3 (-2 BR). Not too shabby! My overall averages for this week were:
LG: -1
LR: -2.4
RC: -5

My goals for next week's averages are:
LG: less than -1
LR: -2
RC: -4

I hate how bad my RC is but in other news I'm seeing a lot of improvement in LR! And my LG skills are almost completely perfected.
PS- just wanted to give a shoutout to all of you on the forum! I love being able to check in and chat about LSAT stuff that no one else in my life cares about/understands.

What do you think was the most helpful for your LR improvement??

Just finished taking PT71! Scored a 170!!! [i admit that the generous curve of -14 played a huge part in breaking my plateau :/]

LR: -2
LG: -3
LR: -3
RC: -6

That RC score is killing me!!!

helppppp!

sfoglia · Post by **sfoglia** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:02 pm

Well, I'm feeling pretty stressed out, guys.

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:05 pm

sfoglia wrote:Well, I'm feeling pretty stressed out, guys.

sfogs! hows it going? don't stress, I'm sure you're gunna 180 this test!

stray · Post by **stray** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:07 pm

Good shit, Zac and Kang. Scores looking solid with a month out.
Feel you both on RC.

Going to retake Dec 2014 (i cancelled) RC today I think. Send prayers.

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:12 pm

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:13 pm

sfoglia wrote:Well, I'm feeling pretty stressed out, guys.

FOGS WUT UP GURL

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:24 pm

Donashimen · Post by **Donashimen** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:44 pm

kang wrote:
nlee10 wrote:On break with PT 40. I can't wait to finish this test because I'm out of groceries and am in dire need of food.
Good luck with your PT!!!

zacboro wrote:Done with prep for this week, rest tomorrow (and maybe try to do Pepper's yoga suggestions) and PT 52 on Monday. Today I did 3 LR sections back to back and I went -3 (-1 BR), -1 (-1 BR), and -3 (-2 BR). Not too shabby! My overall averages for this week were:
LG: -1
LR: -2.4
RC: -5

My goals for next week's averages are:
LG: less than -1
LR: -2
RC: -4

I hate how bad my RC is but in other news I'm seeing a lot of improvement in LR! And my LG skills are almost completely perfected.
PS- just wanted to give a shoutout to all of you on the forum! I love being able to check in and chat about LSAT stuff that no one else in my life cares about/understands.
What do you think was the most helpful for your LR improvement??

Just finished taking PT71! Scored a 170!!! [i admit that the generous curve of -14 played a huge part in breaking my plateau :/]

LR: -2
LG: -3
LR: -3
RC: -6

That RC score is killing me!!!

helppppp!

I am curious how you were able to increase your LR score as well and I would also love any help int he RC section too please!

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:49 pm

kang · Post by **kang** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:55 pm

sfoglia wrote:Well, I'm feeling pretty stressed out, guys.

You got this!!! Just think of it this way, you still have over 30 days to increase your score!

stray wrote:Good shit, Zac and Kang. Scores looking solid with a month out.
Feel you both on RC.

Going to retake Dec 2014 (i cancelled) RC today I think. Send prayers.

Thanks Stray and good luck!! If you have a good tip on RC, please let me know!!

zacboro wrote:I'd say honestly just practice and BR are helping me. When there's a question that I still don't understand after BR I find all online explanations for it so I can tackle it better the next time. Also I don't drill by type, I just do whole sections. I finally understand what people mean when they say "the more you do the better you get at recognizing patterns and identify TCR." I'd really just say practice and overemphasis on review or wrong answers. And READING COMPREHENSION IS ABSOLUTELY EVIL. Let me know if you find any good strategies. PLEASE.

and vice versa!!!

& Yeah, I totally know what you mean. I think the key is actually being able to recognize the patterns so that you have extra time for the harder questions, but I have yet to get a -1 on an LR section... teach me your ways!! haha

In your opinion, in the LR section, if you find an answer that you believe is correct would you just choose it and move on? I know you shouldn't do this for the RC section, but I feel like for the LR section if you recognize the patterns well enough you should be able to choose confidently without eliminating the rest? What do you think?

I'm kind of disappointed with my RC score... I'm contemplating whether or not I should just focus my energy on doing really well/ mastering the other sections and hope that at worst I get a -6 on the RC section? I know that's risky, but I don't know what else to do

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:58 pm

Went out to do some grocery shopping and now BR'ing. Feeling pretty good so far on LR1 and LG.

peppermint · Post by **peppermint** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:11 pm

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:16 pm

stray · Post by **stray** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:19 pm

Here is my advice, maybe it can help someone:

I usually go perfect on LR or -1 for test (in which case I run out of time and miss that last question) and this is all because of intensive review of each LR question. During review, read the stimulus closely and carefully. Then be able to say why each answer choice is wrong or right - pretend like you are writing an explanations book or teaching it to someone. If you cant tell them why an AC is wrong then look up explanations from Manhattan forums. Almost to a point where you memorize each LR question. This touches on recognizing patterns that everyone talks about - when doing a new question you think about similar questions (the patterns of past LR questions) and use it to answer the new ones.

For example, I remember a point where I struggled on weakening/strengthen questions that involved studies. Here is one example:

The argument was similar to structure to this:

There has been 2 studies and there is a correlation that If you use a night lamp you become blind. Therefore, if you use a night lamp it is likely you will be blind (obviously the question was much more dense and confusing but this is for an example)

Which one weakens?

There was an answer choices that I thought for sure was correct, something like:
In another study, there was several instances of people using a night lamp and not being blind.

I didnt even think much about it, chose it, and moved on. Then later while reviewing I realized that just because there are counter instances to the correlation doesnt really weaken the correlation, because a correlation allows instances where the two events dont occur together. So I basically memorized the question structure and am now always wary of words like "many", "few", "several" when it concerns correlation in a weaken/strengthen question. So I think recognizing patterns like this is important to obtain to near perfect LR. Also the correct answer was something like " the two studies did not examine enough children to make a causal relationship". THis might seem obvious to many of us now who are deep in their prep, but the incorrect answer just appealed to me more. But now I'm always on the lookout for answer choices that nullify the study results (as a correct answer to a weaken question) because I know it is bound to come up again.

TL:DR - dont half ass the review. Spend 10 minutes on a question if you need it to completely understand it. Use what you learned for the new questions.

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 8:19 pm

PT 40 Notes:
Took this while recovering from a cold. Felt fine the first 2 sections but all of sudden started feeling congested (think stuffy nose/constant sniffles) during Section 3 & 4.

LR1: 23/25
LG: 23/23 (my first perfect LG ever! Although I'll have to say this LG appeared to be easier than normal.

)
LR2: 21/26
RC: 21/27
For a lovely score of 169!