The Official February 2015 Study Group Forum

[nlee10]

So when do you guys plan to stop studying? I'm thinking Wed is gonna be my last day although I'm going to be tempted as heck to studying on Thursday.

A lot of people are studying all week including Friday and taking Thursday off.

[ticklemesilly]

So when do you guys plan to stop studying? I'm thinking Wed is gonna be my last day although I'm going to be tempted as heck to studying on Thursday.

A lot of people are studying all week including Friday and taking Thursday off.

Lol, we are joking here, right?

[leslieknope]

Nope, BP Ben told us to and ITT we do what BP Ben says.

(also I stopped studying Thursday last time and my worst section on my actual test was the first one, so I think doing some light studying Friday would help. also I would bring a rabbit foot to the test center at this point if I thought it would make a difference, aka I'll try anything)

[ticklemesilly]

Nope, BP Ben told us to and ITT we do what BP Ben says.

(also I stopped studying Thursday last time and my worst section on my actual test was the first one, so I think doing some light studying Friday would help. also I would bring a rabbit foot to the test center at this point if I thought it would make a difference, aka I'll try anything)

Hmm....I assume BP Ben is a TLS poster who did really well on the LSAT? Conventional wisdom has always advised taking the day before the LSAT off. It's interesting to hear a different opinion.

I actually took 4 days off last LSAT and under performed. I felt like I wasn't in the LSAT groove because I had essentially lounged around for half a week doing nothing.

[CambrianExplosives]

Nope, BP Ben told us to and ITT we do what BP Ben says.

(also I stopped studying Thursday last time and my worst section on my actual test was the first one, so I think doing some light studying Friday would help. also I would bring a rabbit foot to the test center at this point if I thought it would make a difference, aka I'll try anything)

Hmm....I assume BP Ben is a TLS poster who did really well on the LSAT? Conventional wisdom has always advised taking the day before the LSAT off. It's interesting to hear a different opinion.

I actually took 4 days off last LSAT and under performed. I felt like I wasn't in the LSAT groove because I had essentially lounged around for half a week doing nothing.

Okay, let's clear some things up. First of all, BPBen is from Blueprint LSAT so he has a lot of advice on the LSAT.

But, what I really wanted to clear up is what was actually said so there's no confusion. The conventional wisdom is to take the day before off as you say. However, Ben believes that its better to take the day before the day before the test off (So Thursday in this case) and then do light studying the day before (I believe he suggested one full section of each untimed). His belief is that not doing anything the day before makes it so you have a harder time starting up at the beginning and that some light work the day before keeps you in the test mindset better (along with a warmup the day of).

What he said, iirc, is to definitely not do a hard study the day before and to definitely take a day off before the test. He just suggests Thursday for the day off.

[ticklemesilly]

Nope, BP Ben told us to and ITT we do what BP Ben says.

(also I stopped studying Thursday last time and my worst section on my actual test was the first one, so I think doing some light studying Friday would help. also I would bring a rabbit foot to the test center at this point if I thought it would make a difference, aka I'll try anything)

Hmm....I assume BP Ben is a TLS poster who did really well on the LSAT? Conventional wisdom has always advised taking the day before the LSAT off. It's interesting to hear a different opinion.

I actually took 4 days off last LSAT and under performed. I felt like I wasn't in the LSAT groove because I had essentially lounged around for half a week doing nothing.

Okay, let's clear some things up. First of all, BPBen is from Blueprint LSAT so he has a lot of advice on the LSAT.

But, what I really wanted to clear up is what was actually said so there's no confusion. The conventional wisdom is to take the day before off as you say. However, Ben believes that its better to take the day before the day before the test off (So Thursday in this case) and then do light studying the day before (I believe he suggested one full section of each untimed). His belief is that not doing anything the day before makes it so you have a harder time starting up at the beginning and that some light work the day before keeps you in the test mindset better (along with a warmup the day of).

What he said, iirc, is to definitely not do a hard study the day before and to definitely take a day off before the test. He just suggests Thursday for the day off.

Thanks! This is a super helpful summary.

[CambrianExplosives]

Thanks! This is a super helpful summary.

No problem. I just didn't want you to get the impression the best thing to do was study hard on Friday. I think that would sabotage you. I'm hoping for great scores for everyone ITT.

[ticklemesilly]

Thanks! This is a super helpful summary.

No problem. I just didn't want you to get the impression the best thing to do was study hard on Friday. I think that would sabotage you. I'm hoping for great scores for everyone ITT.

Haha well since LSAC equates tests rather than curves them, ditto. I hope we all get 180s. But y'all gotta apply next cycle alright? Don't want to compete with a bunch of 180s for scholly money, lol

In all seriousness thanks for the advice. I think I'll do a round of my best section on Friday just to feed my ego.

[mcleemz]

I had an epiphany in December and decided I wanted to go to law school and that I was going to take the test in February. (Originally I was going to go to Wisconsin, which has an April 1 application deadline and accepts the February test. I know now this was a dumb plan and I'm not even considering going there anymore, but too late to postpone!) Anyway, I did LG bible and PTs 62-71, plateauing at 166, then took a break and ordered another book of PTs 52-60. On my last 7 or so tests, including a "real" one at Princeton Review, I've consistently scored between 169-173. I'm worried, though: the last few tests on which I've done well enough for T10 schools have not been the most recent ones.

I'm doing PTs 72 & 73 Tuesday/Wednesday, so I'll have more recent tests. And I don't get test anxiety, so I'm pretty sure my PT scores will hold. Still, not achieving this results on the most recent PTs has me a little nervous. Do you think I can read anything into this?

Also, yeah, the "mirrors" reading comp on PT 71 was complete and utter crap

[CambrianExplosives]

I had an epiphany in December and decided I wanted to go to law school and that I was going to take the test in February. (Originally I was going to go to Wisconsin, which has an April 1 application deadline and accepts the February test. I know now this was a dumb plan and I'm not even considering going there anymore, but too late to postpone!) Anyway, I did LG bible and PTs 62-71, plateauing at 166, then took a break and ordered another book of PTs 52-60. On my last 7 or so tests, including a "real" one at Princeton Review, I've consistently scored between 169-173. I'm worried, though: the last few tests on which I've done well enough for T10 schools have not been the most recent ones.

I'm doing PTs 72 & 73 Tuesday/Wednesday, so I'll have more recent tests. And I don't get test anxiety, so I'm pretty sure my PT scores will hold. Still, not achieving this results on the most recent PTs has me a little nervous. Do you think I can read anything into this?

Also, yeah, the "mirrors" reading comp on PT 71 was complete and utter crap

As someone who started really getting into LSAT prep late in the game myself I'm not one to judge. However, most people take a lot more time to get their scores where they want them to be. At this point you have a couple of options.

1) You can still back out now. It will blow the $170, but you will not use one of your three takes and you won't have the score reported (obviously).
2) You can take the test on Saturday and see how you feel with it. If you feel like you blew it you can cancel your scores (You have six days as per http://www.lsac.org/jd/help/faqs-lsat). In this case you lose the $170, and use one of your three takes but your score is never reported. Most schools (especially in the T14) take the higher of scores though so reporting a lower one isn't the end of the world always. Still you may end up needing to explain it if there's a lot of disparity.
3) You can take the test and let the scores report.

Personally, no matter what you do I would not use 72 and 73 now. There is a good chance you will feel like you want to take this test in June and you may want some of those newer tests for practicing that. If you haven't done 74 yet then I would at least save one of those two so you have two left. In other words you can do 72 now and save 73 and 74 for later.

Honestly, I think there's a distinct possibility that you will score lower than you want. It's not impossible and if you do take it then taking it without nerves will definitely help. And it's certainly possible that you will do great. However, if you take it and don't get where you want to then you absolutely need to not be discouraged by it. Getting where you are in that little time is great and you could make great strides between now and June.

As I say, I'm looking at taking the test with little prep compared to a lot of people here so I can't judge at all. Just some things to keep in mind.

[leslieknope]

I had an epiphany in December and decided I wanted to go to law school and that I was going to take the test in February. (Originally I was going to go to Wisconsin, which has an April 1 application deadline and accepts the February test. I know now this was a dumb plan and I'm not even considering going there anymore, but too late to postpone!) Anyway, I did LG bible and PTs 62-71, plateauing at 166, then took a break and ordered another book of PTs 52-60. On my last 7 or so tests, including a "real" one at Princeton Review, I've consistently scored between 169-173. I'm worried, though: the last few tests on which I've done well enough for T10 schools have not been the most recent ones.

I'm doing PTs 72 & 73 Tuesday/Wednesday, so I'll have more recent tests. And I don't get test anxiety, so I'm pretty sure my PT scores will hold. Still, not achieving this results on the most recent PTs has me a little nervous. Do you think I can read anything into this?

Also, yeah, the "mirrors" reading comp on PT 71 was complete and utter crap

As someone who started really getting into LSAT prep late in the game myself I'm not one to judge. However, most people take a lot more time to get their scores where they want them to be. At this point you have a couple of options.

1) You can still back out now. It will blow the $170, but you will not use one of your three takes and you won't have the score reported (obviously).
2) You can take the test on Saturday and see how you feel with it. If you feel like you blew it you can cancel your scores (You have six days as per http://www.lsac.org/jd/help/faqs-lsat). In this case you lose the $170, and use one of your three takes but your score is never reported. Most schools (especially in the T14) take the higher of scores though so reporting a lower one isn't the end of the world always. Still you may end up needing to explain it if there's a lot of disparity.
3) You can take the test and let the scores report.

Personally, no matter what you do I would not use 72 and 73 now. There is a good chance you will feel like you want to take this test in June and you may want some of those newer tests for practicing that. If you haven't done 74 yet then I would at least save one of those two so you have two left. In other words you can do 72 now and save 73 and 74 for later.

Honestly, I think there's a distinct possibility that you will score lower than you want. It's not impossible and if you do take it then taking it without nerves will definitely help. And it's certainly possible that you will do great. However, if you take it and don't get where you want to then you absolutely need to not be discouraged by it. Getting where you are in that little time is great and you could make great strides between now and June.

As I say, I'm looking at taking the test with little prep compared to a lot of people here so I can't judge at all. Just some things to keep in mind.

This is good advice.

Regarding the differences between recent PTs and older ones, consensus is that LG is getting harder/trickier, but LR and RC are staying roughly the same aside from some structural changes (for instance, it used to be that the first 10 LR questions were always pretty easy. That's not really true anymore). I find the LG part is definitely true for me. If you plan on saving 72 for a retake, I recommend drilling some of the older pattern games. 72 had one that I found really hard, since I haven't drilled weird game types in months, and though no weird game types turned up on 73 and 74, it never hurts to be vigilant.

[Smallville]

As I say, I'm looking at taking the test with little prep compared to a lot of people here so I can't judge at all. Just some things to keep in mind.

yeah you do too good for being such a newbie around here! lol
but

This is good advice.

It might be best to do the most recent retake you have (unless you like very recent just did it, then the closest to it) so you don't just remember everything, but it allows you to feel good and won't hit your confidence really

also, sooo many lurkers popping up this last week O.o
get some sleep people, idk what time zone y'all in but don't wanna be up late night b4 test so shouldn't be up late this week either

[NL2424]

..

[msp8]

Does anyone else get annoyed when you do really well on one PT? I feel like, "Why couldn't this have been the test I took?"

I just did PT 68 and went RC:-1 LR:-0/-4 and LG:-0

Seriously. If the test on Saturday went like that I would be sooooooo happy.

I do this all the time! I just did this with 67. Why didn't I think to take the LSAT in October 2012, dammit?

67 killed me w/ RC. I actually found that to be the toughest RC passages.

[NL2424]

..

[msp8]

I'm halfway through my BR of PT 67 RC section. IT IS TERRIBLE. The first passage went fine but this second passage was brutal. I went -4 in BR on this passage alone. This is effing brutal.

I went -3 on the 2nd passage (on BR I did better, but the test itself felt awful).

The first passage was a breeze to read, but I found the Qs tough. I missed 1.

[NL2424]

..

[Dr. Nefario]

Is it over yet?

[ticklemesilly]

PT 72 was brutal. I was consistently scoring low to mid 170s and I took that practice test almost right before the real test and got a 162 (after 2 months of studying, that was lower than my Dec 2012 first official score of 166). If you are going to do a PT right before a real test, do #73 and just review the games from PT 72 in case they pull that crap again. Because PT 72 will likely destroy your confidence like it did a lot of people. The games were seriously messed up.

[Shakawkaw]

RE: the BP Ben hive mind mentality: keep in mind that what works for one person might not work for all of you... I was cringing while I was reading some of the posts ITT about listening to his advice. For some TLSers, they score their highest when they take a few days - a week off of prep. Some TLSers have to keep their prep consistent and don't taper off. You should already know what works best for you with the months you've all been pouring over these forums and your books studying. You all know the test. You all know your own bodies and minds. Crush it, Febbers!

That said, no disrespect to you, BP Ben. We're on the same page, pedagogically. The LSAT is like a Homeric epic. Open to interpretation, long and harrowing, but a celebrated accomplishment once it's done. I have faith in all of you.

Also, I've started having LOLSAT nitemares again. *giggle giggle*

[kang]

Is it a good idea to take PT74 tomorrow? lol I saved the most recent to take closest to the test date. But I don't want to crush my ego...

[Shakawkaw]

Is it a good idea to take PT74 tomorrow? lol I saved the most recent to take closest to the test date. But I don't want to crush my ego...

How have your last 5 PTs been, and when did you take them? It might be worth your while to retake one you've already done and take PT 74 in sections. If you're looking for the morale boost, of course.

[kang]

Is it a good idea to take PT74 tomorrow? lol I saved the most recent to take closest to the test date. But I don't want to crush my ego...

How have your last 5 PTs been, and when did you take them? It might be worth your while to retake one you've already done and take PT 74 in sections. If you're looking for the morale boost, of course.

Sounds like a good idea! thanks

My average for the past 5 PTs is 168. I know that you should expect to score lower than your average and my goal is 170+. So I'll definitely need the morale boost. Ahhh!

[Shakawkaw]

Is it a good idea to take PT74 tomorrow? lol I saved the most recent to take closest to the test date. But I don't want to crush my ego...

How have your last 5 PTs been, and when did you take them? It might be worth your while to retake one you've already done and take PT 74 in sections. If you're looking for the morale boost, of course.

Sounds like a good idea! thanks

My average for the past 5 PTs is 168. I know that you should expect to score lower than your average and my goal is 170+. So I'll definitely need the morale boost. Ahhh!

Have you taken any in the 70s yet? I'm assuming you have. What have you scored on those? You definitely want to be scoring a few points above your goal, to account for the notorious test day drop.

[kang]

Is it a good idea to take PT74 tomorrow? lol I saved the most recent to take closest to the test date. But I don't want to crush my ego...

How have your last 5 PTs been, and when did you take them? It might be worth your while to retake one you've already done and take PT 74 in sections. If you're looking for the morale boost, of course.

Sounds like a good idea! thanks

My average for the past 5 PTs is 168. I know that you should expect to score lower than your average and my goal is 170+. So I'll definitely need the morale boost. Ahhh!

Have you taken any in the 70s yet? I'm assuming you have. What have you scored on those? You definitely want to be scoring a few points above your goal, to account for the notorious test day drop.

I took PT 71 and 73 and scored 170 and 167... lol So I'm not scoring above my goal...