The Official June 2014 Study Group Forum

[10052014]

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[Straw_Mandible]

Really nice feeling right now. I was reading a lesson in the Trainer, doing some drills, and taking notes on them during review. I look down at my clock and see I have been sitting in the library for 3 hours without having a break. I was thinking to myself that I am probably getting close towards my 1.5 hour break soon. I get lost in the studying mindset.

Haha, definitely not the worst problem to have! I'm very jealous that you have a solid 3 hour window in your Monday. I've been struggling to carve out intermittent 20 minute drill sessions! Maybe I'll stop sleeping and just drink coffee/synchro all day instead. That should be sustainable, no?

[10052014]

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[alexrodriguez]

jaylawyer,

are you drilling through the Cambridge packets timed?

how many questions do you do in each set? how much time

7sage is big on 10 questions in 15 minutes

[Louis1127]

Louis: I think eventually conditional logic can and should become second nature, and you will not have to write everything out. But if you're finding it tough to keep the valid inferences in your head right now, the diagramming should help solidify those instincts.

Thanks, Straw. Hopefully I'll be able to understand those conditionals so well that I don't have to always diagram them as I am now.

And Walt: must feel good bud! I hope to be at that point some day myself

[10052014]

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[alexrodriguez]

I applaud your effort. As soon as I finish my 16 week study schedule I'm going drill all the LR questions from all the packets. I should have started a long time ago.

In two days I've gone through 2 weeks of the schedule.

Jaylawyer,

Have you gone through the Manhattan LR guide or looked through any of the LSAT Trainer stuff?

I just don't want you to waste all that effort going through all those questions without a solid foundation.

I saw your comment in the LSAT Trainer thread. I've forgotten that you've already drilled RC and LG. How comfortable are you in those areas? I feel like your hundreds of hours ahead of me. It's good to know though. Makes me want to work harder.

[Gamecock15]

I'm on a budget and I have limited time to buy any LSAT study materials. (I'm only in the US until January 15 and shipping to France is extremely expensive.) Thus, I don't have time to really try lots of different things out. I kind of have to figure out what I'm going to use while I'm here in the states for the next couple of weeks.

I noticed that the Powerscore Bibles have editions that came out in 2013 and 2008. The 2013 version costs $40, whereas the 2008 version costs $8... Does anyone have any experience with both? Would it really make that big of a difference to use the 2013 version versus the 2008 version?

[politibro44]

Question on how everyone is drilling LR. Do you simply read a section in Manhattan and then do ALL of the corresponding Cambridge questions for that question type?

For example, I'm finishing up NA and SA section in Manahttan and want to drill those question types. Drilling all the SA's seems to be no problem, only 58 questions in Cambridge 1-38. However, the NA has like 227 questions. Do you drill all the questions (227 + 58) before moving on to the next chapter (identify the flaw)? Or is it better to spread these out over a couple of days while moving onto other questions types? So I would be reading sections on another questions type but then drilling questions from the previous section and that section.

I'm leaning towards the first method, but wanted to hear what other people have been doing and what they find most effective.

[philly93]

i created a thread for this but figured since a lot of you guys are using the trainer I could get help here too.


hey y'all,

i am currently going through lesson 5 of the trainer and have a question on what I should be getting out by the end of the lesson. I got the 2 "process in action" questions wrong when I did them myself. While doing the questions, I wrote down my train of thought on a separate sheet of paper to see where I got things wrong. I got the first 3 steps correct; that is i was able to define what the job at hand was, i was able to isolate the main point + support to form the argument, and I was able to find what was wrong with the answer choice using the "taken for granted" or "fails to consider" techniques. However, as I went through the answer choices I ended up choosing the wrong one. I noticed the next few chapters were dealing with question types and therefore I was wondering what exactly I was supposed to take out of lesson 5. should i stop right now and go back and do the drills in the chapter again and make sure I get the answers right or move on because the upcoming chapters deal with the types of questions and themes dealing with LR questions?

[alexrodriguez]

I'm on a budget and I have limited time to buy any LSAT study materials. (I'm only in the US until January 15 and shipping to France is extremely expensive.) Thus, I don't have time to really try lots of different things out. I kind of have to figure out what I'm going to use while I'm here in the states for the next couple of weeks.

I noticed that the Powerscore Bibles have editions that came out in 2013 and 2008. The 2013 version costs $40, whereas the 2008 version costs $8... Does anyone have any experience with both? Would it really make that big of a difference to use the 2013 version versus the 2008 version?

You're going to have to spend some money my dude. Buy the LSAT Trainer, 10 New LSATs and the Cambridge Packets.

http://www.amazon.com/Actual-Official-P ... +new+lsats

http://www.amazon.com/The-LSAT-Trainer- ... +new+lsats

http://www.cambridgelsat.com/bundles/

[alexrodriguez]

Question on how everyone is drilling LR. Do you simply read a section in Manhattan and then do ALL of the corresponding Cambridge questions for that question type?

For example, I'm finishing up NA and SA section in Manahttan and want to drill those question types. Drilling all the SA's seems to be no problem, only 58 questions in Cambridge 1-38. However, the NA has like 227 questions. Do you drill all the questions (227 + 58) before moving on to the next chapter (identify the flaw)? Or is it better to spread these out over a couple of days while moving onto other questions types? So I would be reading sections on another questions type but then drilling questions from the previous section and that section.

I'm leaning towards the first method, but wanted to hear what other people have been doing and what they find most effective.

I haven't actually drilled from Cambridge yet, but your first idea seems better in my opinion.

Going through the entire book first and then drilling after wouldn't be so bad either. The book does have a few questions for you to drill. Not a lot, but its something. Either way it won't matter. What matters is that you do something.

[alexrodriguez]

i created a thread for this but figured since a lot of you guys are using the trainer I could get help here too.


hey y'all,

i am currently going through lesson 5 of the trainer and have a question on what I should be getting out by the end of the lesson. I got the 2 "process in action" questions wrong when I did them myself. While doing the questions, I wrote down my train of thought on a separate sheet of paper to see where I got things wrong. I got the first 3 steps correct; that is i was able to define what the job at hand was, i was able to isolate the main point + support to form the argument, and I was able to find what was wrong with the answer choice using the "taken for granted" or "fails to consider" techniques. However, as I went through the answer choices I ended up choosing the wrong one. I noticed the next few chapters were dealing with question types and therefore I was wondering what exactly I was supposed to take out of lesson 5. should i stop right now and go back and do the drills in the chapter again and make sure I get the answers right or move on because the upcoming chapters deal with the types of questions and themes dealing with LR questions?

just keep going.. I got one of those questions wrong as well...

what's important is that you understand why you got it wrong

and plus... the first lesson is just the introduction. I think the entire flaw section ends with lesson 9. there's a lot more to learn! I especially liked all those lessons. I hope you do as well.

[Gamecock15]

I'm on a budget and I have limited time to buy any LSAT study materials. (I'm only in the US until January 15 and shipping to France is extremely expensive.) Thus, I don't have time to really try lots of different things out. I kind of have to figure out what I'm going to use while I'm here in the states for the next couple of weeks.

I noticed that the Powerscore Bibles have editions that came out in 2013 and 2008. The 2013 version costs $40, whereas the 2008 version costs $8... Does anyone have any experience with both? Would it really make that big of a difference to use the 2013 version versus the 2008 version?

You're going to have to spend some money my dude. Buy the LSAT Trainer, 10 New LSATs and the Cambridge Packets.

http://www.amazon.com/Actual-Official-P ... +new+lsats

http://www.amazon.com/The-LSAT-Trainer- ... +new+lsats

http://www.cambridgelsat.com/bundles/

Yeah, I know I have to spend some money, unfortunately. I did buy the Trainer already. Ordered it a couple of days ago. I guess I should be thankful that I got the LSAT fee waiver, so I've already saved money.

So, you think the Trainer is a good enough standalone source? I've read a lot about it, but wasn't sure if I should just use it or add in other books with it.

[alexrodriguez]

Yeah, I know I have to spend some money, unfortunately. I did buy the Trainer already. Ordered it a couple of days ago. I guess I should be thankful that I got the LSAT fee waiver, so I've already saved money.

So, you think the Trainer is a good enough standalone source? I've read a lot about it, but wasn't sure if I should just use it or add in other books with it.

I think the Trainer will suit you well. Go through the sixteen week study schedule.

Also go to the LSATblog website and buy one of his study schedules.

Once you start going through these different schedules you will find out where your major weaknesses are and you can probably just address those problems for free without a book.

I'd go with some books though. I have like 25 books in my room related to the LSAT. and I have Cambridge questions and I have a full access account to 7sage.

You should think of this as an investment.

I also got a fee waiver for the LSAT. I'm broke as hell, but I know the importance of this test.

[alexrodriguez]

The LSAT is more than just a test. It's an all out battle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48UPvSV5GsA

[Bosh]

(TL;DR some exercises and concepts to help you ace RC)

You're suffering from a combination of timing anxiety and misplaced priorities in the section. Here are 7 pieces of advice to get you started with RC. They won't solve all of your issues, but they'll solve most of them:

1) EXERCISE: First start by training yourself to find the Big Picture. Practice reading the intro paragraph and the 1st paragraph of each sentence for the gist, and then try to figure out what each paragraph is going to be about. ALWAYS read the intro paragraph and the 1st sentences before diving into the rest- once you have a big picture view, it's really easy to skim the rest of the junk. As you get better at this, start training yourself to guess where the author's main idea will be located so you know which paragraph to read more carefully and which ones are junk.

2) CONCEPT: Every passage on the LSAT is about one of four things: someone's theory/belief, a debate between multiple perspectives, something significant someone has done, or a problem/phenomenon (these days- mostly problem). Start trying to figure out which of these scenarios you're in when you read for the Big Picture- it makes it easier to get past the details and get to what matters. This is the true scope of the passage- make identifying it your first goal when you skim the intro and 1st sentences. (For example: a passage about dead dolphins and a researcher's hypothesis about why they died is really about the hypothesis- NOT the dolphins. It's a theory passage. Focus on the hypothesis, ignore dolphin crap)

3) CONCEPT: Once you know which of those passages you're in, all you have to do is find the author's opinion of that scope. That gives you the main idea, and the primary purpose. Broadly speaking, an author can either be pro, con, or neutral (if neutral, the main idea is just a description of the scope). If the author is con, be on the lookout for an alternative perspective (which then becomes the main idea). Once you have main idea, you can answer at least half of the questions in most passages. (It is the single most important concept you're tested on) THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU LEAVE A PASSAGE IS THE AUTHOR'S MAIN IDEA AND WHAT EACH PARAGRAPH DOES. THE REST IS MOSTLY JUST CLOGGING UP YOUR BRAIN.

4) EXCERCISE: The RC section assigns 6-8 questions per passage. Once you subtract your standard big picture questions like main idea, organization of passage, etc. most passages are left with 4-5 questions. On average, a passage is testing you on 5 or 6 sentences. The rest is utter garbage that doesn't matter. You have to read these passages KNOWING that most of what you see is never going to show up in the questions. Of those 4-5 questions, most of them are incredibly obvious about where in the passage they're coming from. Go flip through some passages you've never read and try to answer some of the questions- using their clues to take you back to the passage for the answer. You'll be shocked at how many you can answer VERY quickly. So there's no reason to try to read a passage by memorizing every little thing mentioned- most of the questions will tell you exactly where to go later.

5) EXERCISE: When you review a passage, ALWAYS mark where in the passage all of the correct answers came from while you're doing it. Then go back over the passage and figure out why they tested what they tested, how you could have known those were going to be tested, and what you focused on that ended up being worthless (and how you could've known it was worthless). This is the single most important thing you can do when reviewing RC.

6) CONCEPT: The LSAT RC section is testing you on your issue spotting skills. The parts of the passage they draw on for questions are incredibly predictable. Here's your cheat sheet:

When you're reading a passage, if you run into a sentence that matches one of the following criteria, then you are likely to be tested on it:
1) Someone's Opinion (They'll test A's opinion over someone else's opinion if they have to choose)
2) Contrast between two things (especially between opinions)
3) An Emphasized Detail (either set off by a phrase like "For Example", is a proper name or noun, or something that supports the A's opinion directly)

If it doesn't fall into one of those categories, it's not going to matter.

7) CONCEPT: You can predict which sections of a passage you'll be tested on, but you can't predict HOW you'll be tested on it. For example, the LSAT may choose to test you on an example used to back up the author's main idea. They could test you in the following ways:
1) The passage states which of the following about <example>? (testing you on the example itself)
2) Describe the role the example played in the passage. (describing what it DOES, not what it IS)
3) The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements about the example: (really testing you on the A's opinion)
etc

Each of these questions requires a different reading of that part of the passage. So don't waste your time reading the crap carefully the first time. Just mark where it is, figure out the main idea and what each paragraph is doing, and move along. You can be the person who understands every piece of the passage better than everyone in the room, but that doesn't mean you're going to be able to answer the questions. Wait until a question directs you back to a piece of the passage before you read it carefully. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS IS THE MAIN IDEA. YOU MUST WALK AWAY KNOWING THE MAIN IDEA WELL BEFORE GOING TO THE QUESTIONS.

You internalize all of this, and you're going to solve 75% of your problems.

I just found this post by KDLMaj and figured it is quite helpful for anyone trying to improve RC.

[WaltGrace83]

In a way, I am glad Christmas is over. I was with family for two straight days and had very very very little time for the LSAT. Today I will be working all day at my part time retail job. I'm itching for some more LSAT and I'll return again full force tomorrow.

[cavalier2015]

first post and checking in for the june 2014 LSAT! with my christmas money i have purchased the LSAT trainer and i have been given Blueprint LG and Powerscore LG from a friend. i am on lesson 5 of the trainer and hope to have the book completed by jan ending. really looking forward to posting in this thread and on these boards a LOT!

[MauveT-Rex]

I hope everybody had a great Christmas, now put down the eggnog and get back to work. The LSAT has been kicking my ass for a while now, but this time it's personal, it's time for revenge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdnspCpi9QI

[cavalier2015]

i just completed a drill after finishing up Lesson 6 of the trainer. This drill was 7 problems from PT 53 that had "piece is not a puzzle" flaw. I got 5/7 correct. I am calling it a day but i want to get advice on how to review these tomorrow morning? The trainer doesn't come with answer solutions so i am not sure if my method of thought is appropriate for the ones i got right or wrong!

[rebexness]

i just completed a drill after finishing up Lesson 6 of the trainer. This drill was 7 problems from PT 53 that had "piece is not a puzzle" flaw. I got 5/7 correct. I am calling it a day but i want to get advice on how to review these tomorrow morning? The trainer doesn't come with answer solutions so i am not sure if my method of thought is appropriate for the ones i got right or wrong!

Try looking up the individual questions on Manhattan's forums.

[cavalier2015]

i just completed a drill after finishing up Lesson 6 of the trainer. This drill was 7 problems from PT 53 that had "piece is not a puzzle" flaw. I got 5/7 correct. I am calling it a day but i want to get advice on how to review these tomorrow morning? The trainer doesn't come with answer solutions so i am not sure if my method of thought is appropriate for the ones i got right or wrong!

Try looking up the individual questions on Manhattan's forums.

does it utilize the same teaching techniques as what the trainer uses?

[rebexness]

i just completed a drill after finishing up Lesson 6 of the trainer. This drill was 7 problems from PT 53 that had "piece is not a puzzle" flaw. I got 5/7 correct. I am calling it a day but i want to get advice on how to review these tomorrow morning? The trainer doesn't come with answer solutions so i am not sure if my method of thought is appropriate for the ones i got right or wrong!

Try looking up the individual questions on Manhattan's forums.

does it utilize the same teaching techniques as what the trainer uses?

Mike Kim (trainer) developed part of Manhattan's program.
The forums are really just tutors and students discussing the questions/answers and different methodology. Its all user input, so the helpfulness for each particular question varies.

[cavalier2015]

i just completed a drill after finishing up Lesson 6 of the trainer. This drill was 7 problems from PT 53 that had "piece is not a puzzle" flaw. I got 5/7 correct. I am calling it a day but i want to get advice on how to review these tomorrow morning? The trainer doesn't come with answer solutions so i am not sure if my method of thought is appropriate for the ones i got right or wrong!

Try looking up the individual questions on Manhattan's forums.

does it utilize the same teaching techniques as what the trainer uses?

Mike Kim (trainer) developed part of Manhattan's program.
The forums are really just tutors and students discussing the questions/answers and different methodology. Its all user input, so the helpfulness for each particular question varies.

gotcha thank you. do you know if the cambridge packets have the LR breakdown similar to the trainer and if those come with explanations?