The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

[sunnew]

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[nlee10]

Hi guys- planning on taking it this June (and October if necessary), applying in the fall. I've not really started studying- over a year ago I took my diagnostic, a 165, and 3-4 PTs over the following two-ish weeks, ranging from 165-172. I then stopped, and decided to give it another year before taking the LSAT. I'm just now starting to get back into studying, and am hoping to be ready for June. I've taken two PTs over the past two weeks, both 165s, and have been drilling logic games. I have the Cambridge packets/PTs, and would prefer to not buy any other materials.
My plan, starting May 1st, is to just go through the Cambridge packets over the next two weeks with a PT thrown in at the end of each week. After that, I'm planning on just taking PTs every other day or so, starting with 4 section ones and moving to 5 section, and occasionally taking them in crowded/loud/busy areas. I'll also take at least one or two extra long tests, maybe eight sections or so, to build up my endurance, which, judging from the two PTs I've just taken, are my biggest weakness. I'll keep on with the PTs and blind review until the test.
My question is- considering I'm starting from a relatively good place, is there anything wrong with the above plan, if my goal is a 173? Is it a risk to go forward like this? Should I buy other study materials and learn the methods they teach, rather than this self-taught way of learning? If anyone has any input, that would be great, and sorry for the long post.

I mean if you have time to make this your full time job sure 5 weeks can be enough time. Are you already close to -0 on LG?

[sunnew]

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[RZ5646]

Hi guys- planning on taking it this June (and October if necessary), applying in the fall. I've not really started studying- over a year ago I took my diagnostic, a 165, and 3-4 PTs over the following two-ish weeks, ranging from 165-172. I then stopped, and decided to give it another year before taking the LSAT. I'm just now starting to get back into studying, and am hoping to be ready for June. I've taken two PTs over the past two weeks, both 165s, and have been drilling logic games. I have the Cambridge packets/PTs, and would prefer to not buy any other materials.
My plan, starting May 1st, is to just go through the Cambridge packets over the next two weeks with a PT thrown in at the end of each week. After that, I'm planning on just taking PTs every other day or so, starting with 4 section ones and moving to 5 section, and occasionally taking them in crowded/loud/busy areas. I'll also take at least one or two extra long tests, maybe eight sections or so, to build up my endurance, which, judging from the two PTs I've just taken, are my biggest weakness. I'll keep on with the PTs and blind review until the test.
My question is- considering I'm starting from a relatively good place, is there anything wrong with the above plan, if my goal is a 173? Is it a risk to go forward like this? Should I buy other study materials and learn the methods they teach, rather than this self-taught way of learning? If anyone has any input, that would be great, and sorry for the long post.

You have a decent diag, so if you actually do 20 PTs between now and June you should be able to reach 173. The trouble is actually forcing yourself to do that much studying. This may sound like a humblebrag, but getting high scores early on can actually be harmful because it reduces your motivation. I got 174 on my third PT and it destroyed my motivation to study, and now I'm postponing to October after having wasted the last several months doing basically nothing.

My diagnostic was 164 and I thought the books I bought were mostly useless. The LG Bible was helpful, but that's because I was truly terrible at LG. I read Manhattan, the Trainer, and the Superprep on LR and learned maybe 5 things from the combined 1500 pages. If I were you, I'd definitely do the self-study option and not waste time or money on books.

[nlee10]

I mean if you have time to make this your full time job sure 5 weeks can be enough time. Are you already close to -0 on LG?

I should have the time- worst case scenario, I'll be working maybe 30 hours a week.
For the two tests, I went -0 and -3 (due to time) on LG. Drilling recently has been going really well, though- rarely going more than -1 in sets of four games. LR is my biggest weakness, looking back at the two tests, with RC being -3 and -4.

I'd check out the Manhattan LR book for improving on LR. Supplement with the Cambridge packets and it's possible to improve. Your LG and RC is pretty good at this point already so keep maintaining and work on LR (since it's half of your score).

[sunnew]

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[Rigo]

I guess I'll start drilling like I'd planned, and if my LR doesn't start to improve, buy the Manhattan book.
Thanks guys

Manhattan LR is worth it.

[Rigo]

Oh & sup RZnumbers.
How you doin?

[RZ5646]

Oh & sup RZnumbers.
How you doin?

I'm hanging in there. Just finished up with school so that's nice. I found a nice place to live and I haven't starved to death lol. Looking forward to a relaxed but productive summer.

Gonna start prepping again on Monday with LG, and then once I get back to school and start that fellowship I'll begin PTing at a rate of 2 per week, exposing myself to as much material as possible. I've changed my goal back to 180.

[whacka]

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[nlee10]

Is there any recorded info on test-day slump? I know it'd be just anecdotal, but I feel like an aggregation of anecdotal evidence might be useful. Like people score an average of 5 lower than their average PT or something.

Me. 6ish points below my average in Feb.
A combination of test day nerves (especially my first time) and getting sick the week of probably contributed.

[The Abyss]

Is there any recorded info on test-day slump? I know it'd be just anecdotal, but I feel like an aggregation of anecdotal evidence might be useful. Like people score an average of 5 lower than their average PT or something.

I'm sure that's been compiled somewhere on this site, but from what I've seen one can expect to score 3 or 4 points lower than what they're PTing at. Obviously this isn't true for everyone, but I think it is safe to say that you should be PTing 3 or 4 points higher than your goal in order to achieve that goal. I personally dropped 9 points from my PT average last December. Very frustrating to say the least.

[nlee10]

Is there any recorded info on test-day slump? I know it'd be just anecdotal, but I feel like an aggregation of anecdotal evidence might be useful. Like people score an average of 5 lower than their average PT or something.

I'm sure that's been compiled somewhere on this site, but from what I've seen one can expect to score 3 or 4 points lower than what they're PTing at. Obviously this isn't true for everyone, but I think it is safe to say that you should be PTing 3 or 4 points higher than your goal in order to achieve that goal. I personally dropped 9 points from my PT average last December. Very frustrating to say the least.

I recall you doing pretty well in Feb. What were some changes while you were studying for Feb? Or was it more of a mental thing?

[The Abyss]

Is there any recorded info on test-day slump? I know it'd be just anecdotal, but I feel like an aggregation of anecdotal evidence might be useful. Like people score an average of 5 lower than their average PT or something.

I'm sure that's been compiled somewhere on this site, but from what I've seen one can expect to score 3 or 4 points lower than what they're PTing at. Obviously this isn't true for everyone, but I think it is safe to say that you should be PTing 3 or 4 points higher than your goal in order to achieve that goal. I personally dropped 9 points from my PT average last December. Very frustrating to say the least.

I recall you doing pretty well in Feb. What were some changes while you were studying for Feb? Or was it more of a mental thing?

I didn't take the February test, but did post often in the study thread because lots of you folks had good advice. I think my performance in December can be attributed to two things, 1) Psyched myself out, text anxiety, etc. and 2) not having a complete mastery of the test. I studied and PTed, but not enough to make sure that my PT results weren't just a matter of luck or an easy PT. Essentially the sample size was too small to really say that I was averaging a certain score. I'm taking the LSAT for the final time in October, and some of the changes I'm making are, 1) drilling a whole lot more (3 months dedicated to only drilling), 2) reviewing my work in much greater detail, and 3) taking many more PTs to better understand we're I really stand and what I need to focus on.

As far as the test anxiety goes, I think the best way to deal with it is to be confident in your knowledge of the test. I used to hate speaking in front of people, but one way I got over that anxiety of speaking to a group or class was to be super prepared and confident that I knew everything about what I was presenting. Anxiety was severely reduced as a result. Repetition helps too.

[RZ5646]

Tried to make a poll to see how many people are defecting to the October camp, but it wouldn't work for some reason. Anyway, I feel like a lot of us are postponing.

[whacka]

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[RZ5646]

There are also people who score 5 points higher on test day. I'd say that you are more likely to underperform than beat your PT average, but that's basically the extent of what you can know about this because there aren't any real studies.

It's all about mental discipline anyway. There's no good reason why someone would underperform on test day if they've been practicing with a large number of PTs... it's all psychological.

[Rigo]

Yeah test day drops will never be compiled as more than just anecdotes. I think people tend to overstate their "average" PT scores anyways, so grey day is more so a rude awakening to not be lazy.

[Albus Dumbledore]

After reading all these posts about test day slump, I am now feeling utterly dejected. I'm going to go eat some chocolate to make myself feel better.

[TheWalkingDebt]

I think a lot of people struggle with test-day anxiety. You have to be able to frame it as "this is just the same thing I've been doing but in a different location" and actually fake yourself into believing it.

[Clyde Frog]

Take some l-theanine for test anxiety. Believe me, it works.

[Gluteus]

Strengthen/weaken are the only assumption family question that I don't get right 95%+ of the time. It's rage inducing.

Today's assumption family drilling:
97.29% accurate without including strengthen/weaken (mostly weaken)
88.5% when strengthen/weaken is included

Sample size: 104 questions

[Gluteus]

Gonna try to drill some basic ordering/basic grouping games while listening to random shit on YouTube

I already spent 5 focused hours studying today so I can justify to myself doing this completely counterproductive nonsense

[gamerish]

Post removed...

[TheProdigal]

Back for real this time, amidst the flaming wreckage of my cycle.