The Official September 2016 Study Group - WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS Forum

[Mikey]

Ok so I just did 2 RC passages that were somewhat challenging and I did them untimed.

1st: 6/7
2nd: 7/8

I made every effort to understand each viewpoint as best as I could and summarized each paragraph in my head. Now I'm convinced that it's timing that is my issue and not the actually understanding and info retention of the actual passages. Any advice for timing?

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Try not to rush yourself. Settle into a leisurely pace that you would use to read a magazine article. That helped me tremendously and, ironically, made me much faster.

For sure! How long do you usually take with reading the passages? As well as how long do you spend on questions? If you know your individual times for them.

Afraid I don't dude. Sorry.

It's all good. Do you usually finish RC sections on time or early?

[speedwagon]

Can we talk about Q27 on the RC section of PT65?! What election analogy is equivalent to the thistle eradication process described in the passage?! WHO DOES THIS. For my extra section I did a RC section that asked me to compare something about Maxine Hong Kingston's writing to cotton fibers. WHY LSAC GODS WHY.

(This was going to be a picture of an anti-thistle sign but I can't figure out how to make that happen right now and I have to go review how I made a dumb error in a basic sequencing game. Use your imagination.)

[PhiladelphiaCollins]

Finally at a stage where I'm BRing above 170 consistently, so that's a good sign. I finally broke the 165 mark 2 weeks ago, going 167, and then 166 last Saturday. I usually go one PT a week and then BR it then drill during the week (since I work FT), but because of Labor Day I wrote another test Monday...163. Oh well, just a blip for now, hoping to crack 170 for real this Saturday!!

As an aside, I started a new FT job with a pretty outgoing culture about a month ago. I've gone out with these guys a few times, and had a real good time but damn, am I running out of excuses for why I won't be able to drink/go out the next two weeks. I've thought about just dropping the LSAT bomb to some of my managers, but I really don't want to open that can of worms for the next 8+ months.

[proteinshake]

so I've taken 17 PTs, most of which are recent, and all but 2 are 5/5 difficulty. since 7Sage difficulty is determined by how many questions users miss, RC must be (comparatively) extremely hard for LSAT takers in general (unless LSAC just makes RC harder on purpose).

[speedwagon]

And, in other news, I officially made my first bubbling error. If there is one thing I have learned in this process, it is that arrogance has no place in my life whatsoever.

PT65: 166: logic games continue to kick my ass (-8 - I screwed up my setup for the TV show game) with LR not far behind, (-5, -7) almost entirely necessary assumptions/weaken the arguments (which makes sense, if you try to solve the problem by flipping to weaken.) I already got the PS LR bible from the library and I am just going to have to keep drilling these questions. Thank you, RC, for at least making me feel there is some hope yet.

[appind]

And, in other news, I officially made my first bubbling error. If there is one thing I have learned in this process, it is that arrogance has no place in my life whatsoever.

PT65: 166: logic games continue to kick my ass (-8 - I screwed up my setup for the TV show game) with LR not far behind, (-5, -7) almost entirely necessary assumptions/weaken the arguments (which makes sense, if you try to solve the problem by flipping to weaken.) I already got the PS LR bible from the library and I am just going to have to keep drilling these questions. Thank you, RC, for at least making me feel there is some hope yet.

you're one of the lucky ones who can ace RC. i think lsat is a test where if one can ace RC, then one can certainly improve other sections well enough to make mid 170s.

edit: double post

[speedwagon]

And, in other news, I officially made my first bubbling error. If there is one thing I have learned in this process, it is that arrogance has no place in my life whatsoever.

PT65: 166: logic games continue to kick my ass (-8 - I screwed up my setup for the TV show game) with LR not far behind, (-5, -7) almost entirely necessary assumptions/weaken the arguments (which makes sense, if you try to solve the problem by flipping to weaken.) I already got the PS LR bible from the library and I am just going to have to keep drilling these questions. Thank you, RC, for at least making me feel there is some hope yet.

you're one of the lucky ones who can ace RC. i think lsat is a test where if one can ace RC, then one can certainly improve other sections well enough to make mid 170s.

I appreciate hearing this. Right now I am feeling like LR is killing me and I just cannot find the key yet. Hopefully I will and it will all unlock from there.

[appind]

And, in other news, I officially made my first bubbling error. If there is one thing I have learned in this process, it is that arrogance has no place in my life whatsoever.

PT65: 166: logic games continue to kick my ass (-8 - I screwed up my setup for the TV show game) with LR not far behind, (-5, -7) almost entirely necessary assumptions/weaken the arguments (which makes sense, if you try to solve the problem by flipping to weaken.) I already got the PS LR bible from the library and I am just going to have to keep drilling these questions. Thank you, RC, for at least making me feel there is some hope yet.

you're one of the lucky ones who can ace RC. i think lsat is a test where if one can ace RC, then one can certainly improve other sections well enough to make mid 170s.

I appreciate hearing this. Right now I am feeling like LR is killing me and I just cannot find the key yet. Hopefully I will and it will all unlock from there.

looks like my edit went kinda simultaneous with your post.

can you describe your RC approach?
65 RC is kinda tough.

[Instrumental]

PT65 RC roasted me harder than most do. Agreed about the dumb analogies. They definitely go out of their way to make the most unintuitive, awkward analogies possible.

[speedwagon]

Part of it - the lucky part at this point that can't be replicated - is that I was an English major lo those many years ago and since then I have spent a lot of time working with texts in various ways (as a grantwriter understanding guidelines and writing, as a blogger/journalist distilling technical information and re-explaining it) which means that I've built good fast-but-accurate muscles over time and have a lot of practice holding information in my head and navigating to check against a text. I don't have time trouble which means I usually have time to get back to the ones I'm unsure about.

I think this kind of practice - summarize and regurgitate - is essential to my success. I am a really active underliner because it helps me focus and it means I can find quickly key words - any time the text says "but" or indicates the author thinks something is interesting, important negations, names, definitions that are subjective. Honestly I don't spend a ton of time trying to understand deeply the meaning of everything as much as make sure I know what the main arguments are and know where physically (via underlining) the key points are that they are gonna care about (turns in the logic, things that are or aren't important.) I can't imagine this works for everyone but I can trust my "find it quick" skills and once I understand the main argument(s) and/or the topic at hand I go into the questions so that I have more time to do the specific tasks they need.

I am not sure how helpful this is outside of the kind of training I've had, but hopefully it's something.

ETA: if it is helpful I can write out my process for one of the sections - lmk. It's not gonna be any 7sage level anything, but it'll be how I go into it.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Part of it - the lucky part at this point that can't be replicated - is that I was an English major lo those many years ago and since then I have spent a lot of time working with texts in various ways (as a grantwriter understanding guidelines and writing, as a blogger/journalist distilling technical information and re-explaining it) which means that I've built good fast-but-accurate muscles over time and have a lot of practice holding information in my head and navigating to check against a text. I don't have time trouble which means I usually have time to get back to the ones I'm unsure about.

I think this kind of practice - summarize and regurgitate - is essential to my success. I am a really active underliner because it helps me focus and it means I can find quickly key words - any time the text says "but" or indicates the author thinks something is interesting, important negations, names, definitions that are subjective. Honestly I don't spend a ton of time trying to understand deeply the meaning of everything as much as make sure I know what the main arguments are and know where physically (via underlining) the key points are that they are gonna care about (turns in the logic, things that are or aren't important.) I can't imagine this works for everyone but I can trust my "find it quick" skills and once I understand the main argument(s) and/or the topic at hand I go into the questions so that I have more time to do the specific tasks they need.

I am not sure how helpful this is outside of the kind of training I've had, but hopefully it's something.

ETA: if it is helpful I can write out my process for one of the sections - lmk. It's not gonna be any 7sage level anything, but it'll be how I go into it.

I take a very similar approach and am an active reader as well. I tend to note key words and such in LR too. It helps me focus on the language presented and deeply analyze it.

[studyingeveryday]

One of my biggest problems with RC is the questions that require me to know details that I end up being unable to find quickly or being unable to find at all (nerves? I think I panic) and then I can't answer the question correctly.

I've just started a strategy where I skim slowly through the passage and really try to concentrate so I'm actively looking, and then just answer the question the best I can--but anyone have any other strategies or tips for answering questions with obscure details?

[speedwagon]

One of my biggest problems with RC is the questions that require me to know details that I end up being unable to find quickly or being unable to find at all (nerves? I think I panic) and then I can't answer the question correctly.

I've just started a strategy where I skim slowly through the passage and really try to concentrate so I'm actively looking, and then just answer the question the best I can--but anyone have any other strategies or tips for answering questions with obscure details?

I seriously start by looking for words with the same length and starting letter. Maybe that sounds ridiculous but ((made up statistic that is more than 50%)) of words are identifiable, or close, this way. This feels like the kind of thing that could really mess someone up but I almost think of it by shape. Skimming (and underlining!) power forever.

[Rupert Pupkin]

School started this week for me and I have a very tough schedule. Gotta make sure I stay ontop of prep and school.. Gotta keep grinding. Almost there- I am taking a PT tomorrow morning at 8ish.

[Rupert Pupkin]

One of my biggest problems with RC is the questions that require me to know details that I end up being unable to find quickly or being unable to find at all (nerves? I think I panic) and then I can't answer the question correctly.

I've just started a strategy where I skim slowly through the passage and really try to concentrate so I'm actively looking, and then just answer the question the best I can--but anyone have any other strategies or tips for answering questions with obscure details?

Some people say it slows them down and don't like it, but having your own method of annotating is the best way to do that. I circle an impactful phrase, underline a key work and next to a paragraph write a word/two to describe whats going on in that area. IT creates a map for me and I have found that I am successful finding what I need to in the passage.

One of my biggest problems with RC is the questions that require me to know details that I end up being unable to find quickly or being unable to find at all (nerves? I think I panic) and then I can't answer the question correctly.

I've just started a strategy where I skim slowly through the passage and really try to concentrate so I'm actively looking, and then just answer the question the best I can--but anyone have any other strategies or tips for answering questions with obscure details?

I seriously start by looking for words with the same length and starting letter. Maybe that sounds ridiculous but ((made up statistic that is more than 50%)) of words are identifiable, or close, this way. This feels like the kind of thing that could really mess someone up but I almost think of it by shape. Skimming (and underlining!) power forever.

Speedwagon- when you say skimming for the same length and starting letter- are you saying that you compare that 'word' from the Q-stem and then obviously look for something similar in the passage?

[speedwagon]

One of my biggest problems with RC is the questions that require me to know details that I end up being unable to find quickly or being unable to find at all (nerves? I think I panic) and then I can't answer the question correctly.

I've just started a strategy where I skim slowly through the passage and really try to concentrate so I'm actively looking, and then just answer the question the best I can--but anyone have any other strategies or tips for answering questions with obscure details?

I seriously start by looking for words with the same length and starting letter. Maybe that sounds ridiculous but ((made up statistic that is more than 50%)) of words are identifiable, or close, this way. This feels like the kind of thing that could really mess someone up but I almost think of it by shape. Skimming (and underlining!) power forever.

Speedwagon- when you say skimming for the same length and starting letter- are you saying that you compare that 'word' from the Q-stem and then obviously look for something similar in the passage?

Yep, exactly. I look for the word first and go from there. So far, so good - not always, but often. I think of it like reading microfiche* or trying to find a keyword on a webpage while scrolling fast. Find the target, then synthesize the context.

* lol

[appind]

Part of it - the lucky part at this point that can't be replicated - is that I was an English major lo those many years ago and since then I have spent a lot of time working with texts in various ways (as a grantwriter understanding guidelines and writing, as a blogger/journalist distilling technical information and re-explaining it) which means that I've built good fast-but-accurate muscles over time and have a lot of practice holding information in my head and navigating to check against a text. I don't have time trouble which means I usually have time to get back to the ones I'm unsure about.

I think this kind of practice - summarize and regurgitate - is essential to my success. I am a really active underliner because it helps me focus and it means I can find quickly key words - any time the text says "but" or indicates the author thinks something is interesting, important negations, names, definitions that are subjective. Honestly I don't spend a ton of time trying to understand deeply the meaning of everything as much as make sure I know what the main arguments are and know where physically (via underlining) the key points are that they are gonna care about (turns in the logic, things that are or aren't important.) I can't imagine this works for everyone but I can trust my "find it quick" skills and once I understand the main argument(s) and/or the topic at hand I go into the questions so that I have more time to do the specific tasks they need.

I am not sure how helpful this is outside of the kind of training I've had, but hopefully it's something.

ETA: if it is helpful I can write out my process for one of the sections - lmk. It's not gonna be any 7sage level anything, but it'll be how I go into it.

helpful stuff

how much time do you take on average to read the passage, and time to do questions, respectively? do you have recording of you taking a not-seen-before tough passage or rc section under timed conditions?

i once saw a recording of a 7sage instructor doing an fresh-PT's LR section in test conditions and that was useful and educational. i think he finished the section in like 18 mins.

[galeatus]

I think I have the Yips on RC - drilled 15 Humanities passages, can't even consistently get to -1 on any of them. It just seems that every single fucking question has two identically attractive a/c and every question is basically a coin flip.

I'd like to think that I'm getting burnt out but I've already taken last night off and it hasn't helped, guess I'm just gonna have to power through it and find what's wrong.

[Instrumental]

Kinda dwelling on how I should approach the final couple weeks of studying. Should I take a break from all the PTing I've been doing. Right now I have a PT (78)scheduled the day before the exam which is how I've been practicing thus far (PTs scheduled on Friday and Saturday). Part of me thinks that if I take a few days off, I'll regress further, part of me thinks it's exactly what I need to get my scores back up to where they peaked. Oh well, I'm taking PT68 tomorrow regardless. I wonder if I can do it at my test center. Hmm.

[appind]

I don't get how some people who took the test in Sept'14 could have gone -0 in LR. That's pt-73 and a few qs in its LR1 are seriously pretty strange.

i just BR'd the section and I think i still went -2.

[Shemp]

PT 14 tonight, -3 RC for a 178. And -2 on the RC from PT 70 that I used as an experimental. I'm a little salty about it.

[Mikey]

PT 14 tonight, -3 RC for a 178. And -2 on the RC from PT 70 that I used as an experimental. I'm a little salty about it.

What do you do for RC? Do you just read it with no annotating? Minimal annotating?

[Alexandros]

Part of it - the lucky part at this point that can't be replicated - is that I was an English major lo those many years ago and since then I have spent a lot of time working with texts in various ways (as a grantwriter understanding guidelines and writing, as a blogger/journalist distilling technical information and re-explaining it) which means that I've built good fast-but-accurate muscles over time and have a lot of practice holding information in my head and navigating to check against a text. I don't have time trouble which means I usually have time to get back to the ones I'm unsure about.

I think this kind of practice - summarize and regurgitate - is essential to my success. I am a really active underliner because it helps me focus and it means I can find quickly key words - any time the text says "but" or indicates the author thinks something is interesting, important negations, names, definitions that are subjective. Honestly I don't spend a ton of time trying to understand deeply the meaning of everything as much as make sure I know what the main arguments are and know where physically (via underlining) the key points are that they are gonna care about (turns in the logic, things that are or aren't important.) I can't imagine this works for everyone but I can trust my "find it quick" skills and once I understand the main argument(s) and/or the topic at hand I go into the questions so that I have more time to do the specific tasks they need.

I am not sure how helpful this is outside of the kind of training I've had, but hopefully it's something.

ETA: if it is helpful I can write out my process for one of the sections - lmk. It's not gonna be any 7sage level anything, but it'll be how I go into it.

I take a very similar approach and am an active reader as well. I tend to note key words and such in LR too. It helps me focus on the language presented and deeply analyze it.

^ same here. You summed it up really well.

[Alexandros]

Thinking about maybe being luxurious and getting a cab for test day? So I don't have deal with walking a bunch + crowded subway, etc. Then again, the traffic in downtown is terrible because of the construction so I really don't know how long it would take.

Also, where are y'all planning on doing your warm-up? At/in vicinity of TC or before you leave?

[Mikey]

Thinking about maybe being luxurious and getting a cab for test day? So I don't have deal with walking a bunch + crowded subway, etc. Then again, the traffic in downtown is terrible because of the construction so I really don't know how long it would take.

Also, where are y'all planning on doing your warm-up? At/in vicinity of TC or before you leave?

Go for it. I'm taking my test at my college and I know I'd be exhausted if I had to commute normally with all the walking and bus transferring ( I walk about 25 mins to catch a 2nd bus after the first). I'm driving on test day and I know the area around my school well so parking shouldn't be an issue.

Warm up will be done at home after beak daft for me.