The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:27 am

gamerish wrote:Yeah, I'm not taking in June. It feels horrible to finally say it definitively but there's just no way.

How's your LG?

TheWalkingDebt · Post by **TheWalkingDebt** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 12:19 pm

PT 40 today. So we've lost some more souls to October?

biggestlawman · Post by **biggestlawman** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 12:34 pm

TheWalkingDebt wrote:PT 40 today. So we've lost some more souls to October?

I am a floater. Interested in taking the LSAT when I am fully prepared with October being the deadline.

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 1:14 pm

RZ5646 wrote:
gamerish wrote:Yeah, I'm not taking in June. It feels horrible to finally say it definitively but there's just no way.
How's your LG?

(hopes it's awful)

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 1:42 pm

Post removed...

biggestlawman · Post by **biggestlawman** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:35 pm

Slacked a lot over the weekend. Trying to get back in it today!

Shakawkaw · Post by **Shakawkaw** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:42 pm

Rigo wrote:
RZ5646 wrote:
gamerish wrote:Yeah, I'm not taking in June. It feels horrible to finally say it definitively but there's just no way.
How's your LG?
(hopes it's awful)

Trouble maker!

Blueprint Ben · Post by **Blueprint Ben** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:45 pm

JackelJ wrote:"Oh yeah, that answer seems to work, even though I don't know what I'm looking for and haven't explicitly identified the flaw" is a great way to tackle the hardest strengthen/weaken questions

LJL

Yeah, RZ#s, finding the flaw is literally the only effective way to move into the answer choices on a weaken question. If you don't have a precise understanding of the gap between premise/conclusion, you will definitely not be able to decide which AC weakens and which ACs strengthen or have no effect on the argument. A "gist" is almost never going to cut it.

Finding the flaw =/= prephrasing. But you're right that trying to prephrase weaken questions is generally a dumb idea.

biggestlawman · Post by **biggestlawman** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:51 pm

How important is the ability to categorize the flaw from the preparation point of view? I think it adds to the understanding, but I find it very hard at times.

RZNumbers · Post by **RZNumbers** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:52 pm

RZNumbers · Post by **RZNumbers** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:56 pm

Blueprint Ben · Post by **Blueprint Ben** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 2:57 pm

biggestlawman wrote:How important is the ability to categorize the flaw from the preparation point of view? I think it adds to the understanding, but I find it very hard at times.

Can you explain what you mean by categorize?

RZ# is right that there are often multiple flaws in the more difficult questions, but you should be able to clearly identify at least one reason why the support does not guarantee the conclusion. And you can think of it in different ways. Our favorite LSAT guru Mike Kim suggests using the phrases "fails to consider" and "takes for granted" as jumping-off points. In most cases, the argument will both fail to consider something and take something for granted, depending on how you look at it. I think having a flexible view of the flaw--being able to see it from many different angles--is the best way to prepare to evaluate the answer choices.

biggestlawman · Post by **biggestlawman** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:22 pm

BP Ben wrote:
biggestlawman wrote:How important is the ability to categorize the flaw from the preparation point of view? I think it adds to the understanding, but I find it very hard at times.
Can you explain what you mean by categorize?

RZ# is right that there are often multiple flaws in the more difficult questions, but you should be able to clearly identify at least one reason why the support does not guarantee the conclusion. And you can think of it in different ways. Our favorite LSAT guru Mike Kim suggests using the phrases "fails to consider" and "takes for granted" as jumping-off points. In most cases, the argument will both fail to consider something and take something for granted, depending on how you look at it. I think having a flexible view of the flaw--being able to see it from many different angles--is the best way to prepare to evaluate the answer choices.

BPB, I am in complete agreement with you, and I tried to impart the same understanding to the aggrieved party, i.e., Gamebitch, only to be quacked at by Mr. Numbers.

Well, by categorization I mean the platonic categorization.

equang · Post by **equang** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:36 pm

I am getting more Weaken wrong than anything else it seems, while averaging overall -2 per LR section. Anyone else here aiming for T5?

TheWalkingDebt · Post by **TheWalkingDebt** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:05 pm

Whoops, apparently I've taken PT 40 before. Improved over the previous take. Had no idea I had taken it. Hit 170 on the timed take, over 162 on the previous.

ETA: Normally I'd BR today/tomorrow, but I think I will just take another PT tomorrow.

biggestlawman · Post by **biggestlawman** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:07 pm

equang wrote:I am getting more Weaken wrong than anything else it seems, while averaging overall -2 per LR section. Anyone else here aiming for T5?

Me! And a lot others!

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:16 pm

Post removed...

equang · Post by **equang** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:23 pm

gamerish wrote:
equang wrote:I am getting more Weaken wrong than anything else it seems, while averaging overall -2 per LR section. Anyone else here aiming for T5?
The NYU shade is real.

I just threw a number on there to mean some group considered as "top schools". Right now I attend a public university and I am greatly annoyed by the lack of study space in the overcrowded libraries. I'll definitely think about making visits to NYU/ Berkeley if I am accepted.

bnssweeney · Post by **bnssweeney** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:26 pm

Is RC still haunting anyone even after 3+ months of prep....??

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:22 pm

Post removed...

JackelJ · Post by **JackelJ** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:23 pm

bnssweeney wrote:Is RC still haunting anyone even after 3+ months of prep....??

I just went -9 on the RC section of PT 68 lol

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:50 pm

equang wrote:
gamerish wrote:
equang wrote:I am getting more Weaken wrong than anything else it seems, while averaging overall -2 per LR section. Anyone else here aiming for T5?
The NYU shade is real.
I just threw a number on there to mean some group considered as "top schools". Right now I attend a public university and I am greatly annoyed by the lack of study space in the overcrowded libraries. I'll definitely think about making visits to NYU/ Berkeley if I am accepted.

1. NYU is private.
2. Lack of study space is a non-factor. Cost and employment prospects are the only things that matter.

Tycho · Post by **Tycho** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:11 pm

Well, finally forced myself to take my first timed PT since my diagnostic (157) in early Feb.

PT 39 Timed: 168 / BR: 176 (!)

LG: -6 (-2)
LR1: -3 (-1)
RC: -4 (-1)
LR2: -3 (-2)

Overall, not terrible for my second ever timed PT (and an 11 point improvement over my diagnostic). Really botched one of the games because I drew an incorrect inference (flew through it in BR). A few other silly mistakes. Honestly, I wasn't too jazzed about it right after I took it but felt a bit better after scoring it. Seems as though I'm catching most of my mistakes, but not all. Will review more in-depth. Was pleased with LR, although will push for better.

bnssweeney · Post by **bnssweeney** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:52 pm

JackelJ wrote:
bnssweeney wrote:Is RC still haunting anyone even after 3+ months of prep....??
I just went -9 on the RC section of PT 68 lol

Took the exact same PT today and did about the same so right there with ya

appind · Post by **appind** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:26 pm

bnssweeney wrote:
JackelJ wrote:
bnssweeney wrote:Is RC still haunting anyone even after 3+ months of prep....??
I just went -9 on the RC section of PT 68 lol
Took the exact same PT today and did about the same so right there with ya

still haunting. hard for me to understand how some can finish rc well taking only about six min per passage.