The Official June 2015 Study Group Forum

ccordero · Post by **ccordero** » Sun May 10, 2015 8:50 pm

msp8 wrote:
ccordero wrote:I took PT44 today and got the following:
RC: -7
LR: -6
LG: -0
LR: -4

Pretty disappointed in my RC score, but I feel somewhat happy with the story it tells. 5 out of the 7 wrongs in that section was due to the fact that I didn't finish answering the questions for the last passage. I was -2 up until the final passage, which I think is pretty good! If I can keep that up, and just work on speed, I should be golden.

I'm still struggling on LR sections. It looks like I still do poorly on Sufficient/Necessary assumption and Identify the Flaw questions the most. I'm also getting 0% on parallel (flaw) questions. At this point, I might just circle D for these parallel (flaw) questions and move on. They're too time consuming.

LG is surprisingly easy. I usually finish with 1-5 minutes to spare. Not sure what happened, but things are just clicking.
ccordero, we seem to have similar strengths/weaknesses. What's your process for approaching parallel flaw?

not much of an approach, but i try to identify the logical structure of the stimulus into some kind of A --> B --> C format and then pair that up with each of the answer choices by identifying their logical structures too, sometimes keying into specific keywords that I'm not really sure about.

honestly, I have no idea how to go about these questions in a systematic way. recently i've just been circling a random answer and moving on, avoiding the time trap.

msp8 · Post by **msp8** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:00 pm

Have you drilled that question type?

I focus in on key words (most, some) first. Then work on the conditional logic. I'm sure it doesn't matter which one you focus on first. But I think if you build up your skill at quickly scanning ACs for key words, you'll be able to eliminate 3 ACs really fast. Then it won't seem like nearly the time sink that it is.

It's still a long Q-type, certainly, but I've improved that type (finally) after a lot of practice. All to say: don't give up on it. You'll be able to turn it into a strength with enough practice.

The Abyss · Post by **The Abyss** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:06 pm

msp8 wrote:Have you drilled that question type?

I focus in on key words (most, some) first. Then work on the conditional logic. I'm sure it doesn't matter which one you focus on first. But I think if you build up your skill at quickly scanning ACs for key words, you'll be able to eliminate 3 ACs really fast. Then it won't seem like nearly the time sink that it is.

It's still a long Q-type, certainly, but I've improved that type (finally) after a lot of practice. All to say: don't give up on it. You'll be able to turn it into a strength with enough practice.

I agree with looking for certain key words. If you have a stim with all universal qualifies, then you can immediately get rid of ACs with most/some/many/few/etc. There is usually 1 or 2 ACs that can be eliminated with this alone.

ccordero · Post by **ccordero** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:23 pm

The Abyss wrote:
msp8 wrote:Have you drilled that question type?

I focus in on key words (most, some) first. Then work on the conditional logic. I'm sure it doesn't matter which one you focus on first. But I think if you build up your skill at quickly scanning ACs for key words, you'll be able to eliminate 3 ACs really fast. Then it won't seem like nearly the time sink that it is.

It's still a long Q-type, certainly, but I've improved that type (finally) after a lot of practice. All to say: don't give up on it. You'll be able to turn it into a strength with enough practice.
I agree with looking for certain key words. If you have a stim with all universal qualifies, then you can immediately get rid of ACs with most/some/many/few/etc. There is usually 1 or 2 ACs that can be eliminated with this alone.

What do you do if there aren't any (all/some/most) to key in on?

The Abyss · Post by **The Abyss** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:35 pm

ccordero wrote:
The Abyss wrote:
msp8 wrote:Have you drilled that question type?

I focus in on key words (most, some) first. Then work on the conditional logic. I'm sure it doesn't matter which one you focus on first. But I think if you build up your skill at quickly scanning ACs for key words, you'll be able to eliminate 3 ACs really fast. Then it won't seem like nearly the time sink that it is.

It's still a long Q-type, certainly, but I've improved that type (finally) after a lot of practice. All to say: don't give up on it. You'll be able to turn it into a strength with enough practice.
I agree with looking for certain key words. If you have a stim with all universal qualifies, then you can immediately get rid of ACs with most/some/many/few/etc. There is usually 1 or 2 ACs that can be eliminated with this alone.
What do you do if there aren't any (all/some/most) to key in on?

Go to the logic. Luckily most parallel reasoning questions use fairly simple logic structures, but they are tremendous time sinks. Some ACs will just "feel" wrong because of illegal reversal/negation.

whacka · Post by **whacka** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:58 pm

calmike · Post by **calmike** » Mon May 11, 2015 1:58 am

Took December 2008 preptest

Score= 170

LR= -10 (2.9,16,17,21,24,25) (3.9,15,21,22)
LG= -1 (1.14)
RC= 0

I bought Manhattan LSAT Logical Reasoning book to master the Assumption questions family. I need to improve in Necessary assumptions and strenghtening to score higher! I am trying to reach as close as possible to 180 for the June test. Should I hire a tutor?

Smallville · Post by **Smallville** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:58 am

RZ5646 wrote:
nlee10 wrote:
RZ5646 wrote:So now you get a notification when someone quotes you... that's new I guess
oh really?
Yep... see?

now does RZ get 2 notifications and nlee 1 since theres 2 Rz quotes???!!!?!?! Things I need to know

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Mon May 11, 2015 12:58 pm

calmike wrote:Took December 2008 preptest

Score= 170

LR= -10 (2.9,16,17,21,24,25) (3.9,15,21,22)
LG= -1 (1.14)
RC= 0

I bought Manhattan LSAT Logical Reasoning book to master the Assumption questions family. I need to improve in Necessary assumptions and strenghtening to score higher! I am trying to reach as close as possible to 180 for the June test. Should I hire a tutor?

nah, just drill LR using the Cambridge packets and maintain your LG/RC scores.

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:42 pm

Clyde Frog · Post by **Clyde Frog** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:22 pm

zacboro wrote:Hello hello hello everyone!!!

For those of you who don't know me I was a Febber who underperformed. I signed up for June shortly after Feb score release and disappeared from the face of TLS. UNTIL NOW ... In March I took a PT and haven't looked at anything since. Started back up today.

I took PT 19 today as a four section PT to reintroduce myself to LSAT. 5 or 6 section PTs start Wednesday.

Results of 19:
LG: -1
LR1: -0
RC: -5
LR2: -3
Scaled: 172

Honestly really excited with these results. I'm aiming for a 170+ so getting this with 4 weeks of prep left feels awesome!

Really going old school there

msp8 · Post by **msp8** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:27 pm

Good job, zac! Nice to see you back.

I took PT 11 today.

NL2424 · Post by **NL2424** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:36 pm

Clyde Frog · Post by **Clyde Frog** » Mon May 11, 2015 8:40 pm

zacboro wrote:Hey you too! And all the familiar faces ITT.

And yeah Clyde, I don't want to go this far back but I've exhausted recent PTs except the 3 most recent, which I'm saving for the week before game day.

No problem with older tests. I always found the longer stimulus early tests harder than the newer ones.

RareExports · Post by **RareExports** » Mon May 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Officially registered and checking in. 169 on Sept 2014 and really hoping to crack 170 on this retake.

BasilHallward · Post by **BasilHallward** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:06 pm

Checking in as well. 162 in December. Pushing for a 170 in June. PTing at 165-169 currently.

179orBust · Post by **179orBust** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:27 pm

Do any of you think taking the same test a second time---a few hours after original take with time constraints--- is helpful?

ccordero · Post by **ccordero** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:32 pm

179orBust wrote:Do any of you think taking the same test a second time---a few hours after original take with time constraints--- is helpful?

I usually only re-review the questions that I got wrong. I think that if you can remember how a logic game works and remember the key inferences that make it really easy, you're not doing yourself any favors by re-doing the test.

The Abyss · Post by **The Abyss** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:35 pm

Clyde Frog wrote:No problem with older tests. I always found the longer stimulus early tests harder than the newer ones.

Off topic, but the mix of your username and avatar now has a weird mix of the Artemis Clyde Frog Wild Wild West song and the Cleveland tourism song repeating in my head. Weird and kind of entertaining.

Sherlock1122 · Post by **Sherlock1122** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:36 pm

Hi Everyone,

First time checking in for the June test (4 weeks away). Took my first PT in over a couple of months today (I had canceled my feb score).

It was pT 67 OCT 2012: 172 (LR -6, LG -1, RC -1)

I mainly had trouble with stamina and a few brutal assumption questions. I'm starting to study full time again and will be checking in at least a few times a week. Hope studying is going well for you all.

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:50 pm

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RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Mon May 11, 2015 10:59 pm

gamerish wrote:If anyone knows, when withdrawing from a test date you choose the "Registration Refund" option, correct? I'd just shift the registration over to October but it's not available yet and I don't want to miss the withdrawal deadline and get shafted out of one of my takes.

ETA: Ew. Not a fan of the new layout.

ETA 2: Ugh. I only get $50 back? Well that sucks.

1. Just wait until October is available. I think it costs $80 to switch.

2. You can change the layout back to normal in the User Control Panel "global settings" section.

jumbocolumbo · Post by **jumbocolumbo** » Mon May 11, 2015 11:52 pm

msp8 wrote: I don't think I have much of a distinctive method for either. I've spent far too much time reading about others' methods, or from 'professionals' on their methods, that I've wound up with some mishmash.

I do follow the pretty generic attack on LR Qs of determining the argument core, etc., and I'm far quicker at scanning ACs to see quickly dismiss 3 of them in a matter of seconds -- without reading the full sentence. (I note in the margin whenever I select an AC w/o reading any other AC -- relying on just scanning them. So far, I've done this 35ish times and was wrong to have done it only once, and that one time was question #23 on a test. I don't know if this is what most people do, but it's a change I've only recently implemented; in the past, I'd quickly read and dismiss every AC.) So I recognise structure pretty well, and can prephrase much better having done a lot more tests, but that's just practice -- and stuff that you're familiar with already, I'm sure.

On RC: I do try to read for structure a lot more. I rarely underline; only when I'm having concentration issues (which, unfortunately, still happen). I do remind myself to think about why the author is telling me each piece of information, how it relates to the larger argument, and I try to ignore minute details -- I'm good at finding things quickly in the passage when I need to return.

So, yeah, I'm sure this wasn't terribly helpful stuff as it's mostly regurgitated from here/books.

I have heard a lot of this before. However, seeing as how you're scoring on average several points above me, I'm trying to figure out what I need to change to claw my way to where you are haha. So your feedback is much appreciated.

jumbocolumbo · Post by **jumbocolumbo** » Mon May 11, 2015 11:55 pm

RZ5646 wrote: 1. Just wait until October is available. I think it costs $80 to switch.

2. You can change the layout back to normal in the User Control Panel "global settings" section.

Bailing on my sinking June aspirations just got so much easier.

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Tue May 12, 2015 12:45 am

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