JUNE 2013 Study Group / Study Partner Thread Forum

[wtrc]

my PTs are all over the place--low to high 170s. One was a 168 just last week.
i usually just get tired during the test, and make silly mistakes.
im hoping test anxiety will pull me through.

congrats to all of those who are PTing closely at your target range though!!!!!

I have had problems with test fatigue too. I have heard of people doing 6 section PTs to condition themselves but have not tried it. Has anyone?

I have. 6th section is tough, especially if I do a half or full warm-up untimed section before I start. 5 sections sucks, and when I took this in 2011, I had issues when I was studying (I only took like ~6 PT's though). One test day itself, the adrenaline was enough to keep me going until the 5th section ended (and it was RC!!! )

[lawschoolplease1]

my PTs are all over the place--low to high 170s. One was a 168 just last week.
i usually just get tired during the test, and make silly mistakes.
im hoping test anxiety will pull me through.

congrats to all of those who are PTing closely at your target range though!!!!!

I have had problems with test fatigue too. I have heard of people doing 6 section PTs to condition themselves but have not tried it. Has anyone?

i've tried it.
the problem is, i know it's the section I added in, and have trouble treating it the same. (Terrible, i know)

[sublime]

..

[SteelPenguin]

I wasn't able to get as much studying in as I'd like today, and I'll be off to work shortly. However, I'm very happy with the results.

LGs: Retakes, but haven't seen them since October or November

PT 54: -0 (six minutes remaining)
PT 55: -1 (ran out of time on last question, got to it with 2-3 minutes remaining but kept messing up diagrams)
PT 57: -0 (finished just in time, last two problems took a while)

[TheMostDangerousLG]

One test day itself, the adrenaline was enough to keep me going until the 5th section ended (and it was RC!!! )

Similar experience. I never take five or six section tests; I find it more efficient to just focus on one PT at a time without cannibalizing others. But I don't take a break between sections three and four. I was slightly concerned about this going into the test, but between adrenaline and the ten minute break before the last two sections, test fatigue was not an issue.

[Ambitious1]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

[NoodleyOne]

my PTs are all over the place--low to high 170s. One was a 168 just last week.
i usually just get tired during the test, and make silly mistakes.
im hoping test anxiety will pull me through.

congrats to all of those who are PTing closely at your target range though!!!!!

I have had problems with test fatigue too. I have heard of people doing 6 section PTs to condition themselves but have not tried it. Has anyone?

i've tried it.
the problem is, i know it's the section I added in, and have trouble treating it the same. (Terrible, i know)

Best way is to take two PTs back to back with no break (for 8 sections total).

BTW... slacking on prep "because it doesn't count" as in for experimental sections and such is silly... none of this counts right now. Slacking only hurts your prep.

[SteelPenguin]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

I've been frustrated on days where I haven't been able to get much or any studying in, but I'm pretty sure they've been important breaks from studying.

[NoodleyOne]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

This close, if you're PTing over your target, I recommend slowing down a bit at this point. If you're not, then keep going as usual, but if you can rest up and just use this time to stay sharp, I think you'll be in great shape come test day.

[objection_your_honor]

Noodley - should I take (repeat) PTs on Saturday and Sunday before the Monday test? What did you do?

[Chambo]

Took 68 Today

RC: -3 (time)
LR: -1 (2 minutes left)
LG: -0 (experimental, finished with 10 minutes left)
LR: -2 (time)
LG: -1 (time)

94/175

RC felt REALLY shaky, and more than a few 50/50s fell my way. Will definitely review and drill this weekend.

LR felt tougher than usual, but about on par for what I've seen in the mid-to-high 60s PTs. Key for me seems to be staying aggressive and staying on pace early in the section. Manhattan's methods are definitely helping me improve from where I was. I went back and changed an answer from correct to incorrect in LR 2, which is a bummer.

LG: I crushed the first three games, and got to game 4 with like 15 minutes left. Boy was that one a toughie. I was pretty gassed at that point, and had to guess on one last 50/50, which I got wrong. Lots of plugging and chugging involved, but it was a good section on the whole because I flew through the earlier games.

This was my last completely fresh PT. I did about the same as I have on the re-takes. This is a confidence boost, definitely. I'm going to try easing into the last week and not overloading myself. Review, light drilling, and sleep being the focus on my off days.

[westjr]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

This close, if you're PTing over your target, I recommend slowing down a bit at this point. If you're not, then keep going as usual, but if you can rest up and just use this time to stay sharp, I think you'll be in great shape come test day.

What qualifies as PTing over the target? I'm shooting for 175+, and last 10 have been:

PT 43, 174
PT 44, 174
PT 46, 176
PT 54, 177
PT 60, 176
PT 61, 180
PT 62, 175
PT 63, 173
PT 64, 178
PT 59, 175

All fresh tests that I've never seen before. So, I get my target about half the time, but I've fallen below 175 several times. I just can't seem to improve at all anymore. I've been roughly in this range the whole time I've been studying.
I know you scored a 179 on your retake. Were you scoring that consistently, or were you falling below on some?

[patfeeney]

I didn't take a PT today, but I started drilling today after a two-day hiatus (13 hour work day followed by 21st birthday. Rumspringa!)

Anyhoo, I spent the past day reading Manhattan's RC book. I just took the RC section in PT 49
A miraculous -1.

I could attribute it to the two day break, but at the same time this was my first time incorporating an entirely foreign test-taking approach. I'm planning to take at least a handful of extra sections before I call it quits for the evening.

I just wanted to point out that the Manhattan book actually really helped, imo, so thanks, you guys.

EDIT: I took the RC section in PT 48. Not so hot, at -5. However, all but one of those wrong questions belonged to a single passage, the third one about Native Canadian cultural property rights, that I realize I failed to comprehend completely. I thought I had, but I in fact skipped over some significant information.
On a positive note, I took this section after hearing its 4th passage (on early embryonic polarity) is legendarily difficult, and I managed to come out unscathed from that one.

[mvonh001]

Took PT 63 today and got a 164, but I bombed RC. I got -10 which is unheard of for me in the past 2 weeks. Idk what the fuck the first passage was about as i got 1-5 all wrong.

LG was ok (-3) 1 was a simple fuck up.

LR was a bit of a bitch -6 total.
-- I realized that I need to allow myself to eliminate all of the wrong answers before i pick a right answer, as I was reviewing I would constantly pick the right answer without looking it up.
--I need to stick to what I know, and that is, if the answer is too extreme eliminate it, if it is too broad eliminate it, if it shows tendency eliminate it, if it show the incorrect quantifier eliminate it, and if it has nothing to do with the stimulus eliminate it (did i miss any?)

After spending 7 hours in the library today with PTing and the subsequent review I have determined that I need to get my 1-14 questions down so Im gonna drill cambridge easy questions tomorrow, with some hard ones mixed in, and then I'm going to drill 1 section of LR from PT 62, and 1 section of LR from PT 59, and I'm going to warm up with repeating PT 68 LR untimed. I am going to postpone the PT that was scheduled for tomorrow for Sunday and then Tuesday Thursday and Saturday I'm going to take PT's...

Wish me luck.

[NoodleyOne]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

This close, if you're PTing over your target, I recommend slowing down a bit at this point. If you're not, then keep going as usual, but if you can rest up and just use this time to stay sharp, I think you'll be in great shape come test day.

What qualifies as PTing over the target? I'm shooting for 175+, and last 10 have been:

PT 43, 174
PT 44, 174
PT 46, 176
PT 54, 177
PT 60, 176
PT 61, 180
PT 62, 175
PT 63, 173
PT 64, 178
PT 59, 175

All fresh tests that I've never seen before. So, I get my target about half the time, but I've fallen below 175 several times. I just can't seem to improve at all anymore. I've been roughly in this range the whole time I've been studying.
I know you scored a 179 on your retake. Were you scoring that consistently, or were you falling below on some?

You're within your score band. I'd suggest slowing down a bit and PT less frequently, and maybe take the time to instead go over some systematic things (do some drilling and talk yourself through your method over and over again). Take a couple more (two weeks left or one?), but I'd say no more than 2/3 a week, and definitely take the day before the test off/light. You're scoring close to where you want... Now's the time to make sure you're mentally prepared for test day, rather than just PT after PT.

Noodley - should I take (repeat) PTs on Saturday and Sunday before the Monday test? What did you do?

Shit no. That sounds awful. Maybe, MAYBE on Saturday, but I think the time would be best served doing what I said above.

And good luck guys. You've prepped well, you know this stuff cold... just be ready and come test day knock it cold. I'm cheering for you. In a few weeks all you'll have to worry about is your PS and getting your rec letters.

[CardozoLaw09]

You've prepped well, you know this stuff cold

Exactly what we need to remember on test day.

[Ambitious1]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

This close, if you're PTing over your target, I recommend slowing down a bit at this point. If you're not, then keep going as usual, but if you can rest up and just use this time to stay sharp, I think you'll be in great shape come test day.

Goal is 170 or above. My PTs in order:

165, 168, 168, 177, 170, 171, 167 in order. I honestly have no idea where I stand right now with this test. I am a retaker of 159 and while I know I've made some significant strides since February, the 160s scores scare me. Sadly, today is probably the last "day off" i think I can afford to take until the test. Even the day before I'll try to crank out an LG section and some brief LR drilling.

[Ambitious1]

Taking today off so I don't go crazy. Burnout has been real lately.

I've been frustrated on days where I haven't been able to get much or any studying in, but I'm pretty sure they've been important breaks from studying.

Yeah I pretty much have to force the issue. I didn't want to take today off. Particularly since I still have some of my PT from yesterday to review. But I just woke up out of bed today and felt like I didn't have it. Mind wasn't there. Need to regather today and get back to it tomorrow.

[isuperserial]

Took the June 2010 Test

Raw Score: 87/99, LSAT Score: 170

Section 1 LR: -3
Section 2 LG: -1
Section 3 LR: -5 O_o
Experimental LR: -1
Section 5 RC: -3

Beat 170 again!!!



I needed this after those shenanigans yesterday.

Past PTs from most recent to least: 167, 171, 171, 169, 169, 164, 159, 163

Taking the proctored test with Testmasters tomorrow!

[objection_your_honor]

Congrats!

[MKX]

Well drilling out of my mind, reviewing, pts have been rising but yet to hit 170 which is what I am aiming for. Taking 2 pts monday 2 Thursday and 1 Saturday. I am seeing where I make my mistakes and learning from them so I've made massive improvement. Hoping these next few tests are 170s

[mvonh001]

Well drilling out of my mind, reviewing, pts have been rising but yet to hit 170 which is what I am aiming for. Taking 2 pts monday 2 Thursday and 1 Saturday. I am seeing where I make my mistakes and learning from them so I've made massive improvement. Hoping these next few tests are 170s

I hear ya. Are you going to review your back to backs tuesday and wednesday? or you gonna back to back your reviewing?

[MKX]

Well drilling out of my mind, reviewing, pts have been rising but yet to hit 170 which is what I am aiming for. Taking 2 pts monday 2 Thursday and 1 Saturday. I am seeing where I make my mistakes and learning from them so I've made massive improvement. Hoping these next few tests are 170s

I hear ya. Are you going to review your back to backs tuesday and wednesday? or you gonna back to back your reviewing?

Pt. Review. Work out. Pt. Review. That's the plan. Meals between the pt and review.

[jad0re]

edit

[CardozoLaw09]

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG I fking hate LSAT I can't deal with this anymore life's too short for this shit omg help im burning out

Edit: Just realized I have the first post on page 180 (please let this be a sign!)