How do you time yourself on test day? Forum

[thatsnotmyname]

I've been using the timer on my digital watch to pace myself during the practice tests. However, you can only use analog watches at the test center. I just don't feel like an analog watch is nearly as effective because I don't know exactly how much time I have left (and time is a big issue for me, especially on LG). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but does anyone know a more effective way of timing yourself on test day than looking at an analog watch? I really just wish we could use digital timers.

[CyLaw]

I've been using the timer on my digital watch to pace myself during the practice tests. However, you can only use analog watches at the test center. I just don't feel like an analog watch is nearly as effective because I don't know exactly how much time I have left (and time is a big issue for me, especially on LG). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but does anyone know a more effective way of timing yourself on test day than looking at an analog watch? I really just wish we could use digital timers.

Before each section I set my watch to 11:25, so that 12:00 was the end of the section. I found it pretty effective for timing my test. I would recommend practicing with an analog watch instead of a digital watch, just to get use to it.

[jpSartre]

I've been using the timer on my digital watch to pace myself during the practice tests. However, you can only use analog watches at the test center. I just don't feel like an analog watch is nearly as effective because I don't know exactly how much time I have left (and time is a big issue for me, especially on LG). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but does anyone know a more effective way of timing yourself on test day than looking at an analog watch? I really just wish we could use digital timers.

Before each section I set my watch to 11:25, so that 12:00 was the end of the section. I found it pretty effective for timing my test. I would recommend practicing with an analog watch instead of a digital watch, just to get use to it.

Nice.

[rocross1]

I bought some of those 3m sticky tags that you use to hang stuff on the wall with and used one to tag my analog watch to the desk at the lsat test site. I set my watch on noon and then pulled the stop/adjustment out and when the section began I pushed it in and checked it periodicaly obviously at 12:35 time was up and I just repeated this for each section-I asked the administrators and they had no problem with this.

[kazu]

same here... I set my watch at 12:00 at the beginning of each section so I knew time was up at 12:35. You should really practice doing this while prepping, though, so you can get used to it.

edit for typo

[vanwinkle]

I did the "set a watch to 12:00" thing. The setting it to 11:25 idea is brilliant, though.

[PoliticalJunkie]

Chrono..

[billyez]

..Trigger?

I used both a digital and analog watch during practice tests. What you do is start both at the same time, turn the digital clock away and use the analog clock during the test. At first you can cheat and look at the digital watch a couplfe of times, but you really should get used to only using the analog. Emulate testing conditions and all that.

[jpSartre]

No es legal. Solomente analogo

[los blancos]

Chrono..

+1, worked well for me.

[ZombiesAhead]

If you've been using a digital timer, test day will catch you off guard. For me at least, even an analog watch set to 12.00 isn't enough if you're trying to pace yourself into the last minute or so. I'm going chrono for February.
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[thatsnotmyname]

Hey guys. This might be a strange question, but I just bought a chronograph as I previously did not have an analog watch at all. It has three subdials like the watch diagrammed here: http://www.fossil.com/wcsstore/Fossil/i ... 0-FS00.pdf

The chronograph feature only uses the minutes and seconds subdials and I can reset those to zero. However, I have no idea what this 24-hour subdial is there for because I can't reset it or move it or do anything with it. Is it just there for aesthetics?

I know this post doesn't really have anything to do with the LSAT but not knowing what the last subdial is for is really annoying me.

[aether]

I used both a digital and analog watch during practice tests. What you do is start both at the same time, turn the digital clock away and use the analog clock during the test. At first you can cheat and look at the digital watch a couplfe of times, but you really should get used to only using the analog. Emulate testing conditions and all that.

+1

That's exactly what I did. Set a digital kitchen timer to 35 minutes but turned it away so I couldn't see the countdown; then took the test with the same analog watch I used for the real thing. When the kitchen timer went "ding", I pretended it was saying "put down your pencils".

This trains you to be ready for the unpredictable LSAT end-of-test timing so you don't get caught with unbubbled questions.

[neimanmarxist]

I used both a digital and analog watch during practice tests. What you do is start both at the same time, turn the digital clock away and use the analog clock during the test. At first you can cheat and look at the digital watch a couplfe of times, but you really should get used to only using the analog. Emulate testing conditions and all that.

+1

That's exactly what I did. Set a digital kitchen timer to 35 minutes but turned it away so I couldn't see the countdown; then took the test with the same analog watch I used for the real thing. When the kitchen timer went "ding", I pretended it was saying "put down your pencils".

This trains you to be ready for the unpredictable LSAT end-of-test timing so you don't get caught with unbubbled questions.

+1. I used one of those watches with a second dial on the exterior. We used to call them "scuba diving watches." . I marked the "35" notch in red, and I would turn the "0" of the external dial to where the minute hand was when each section began. Whenever the testing started I just had to look at how close the minute hand was to the red notch on the external dial.

[jl2032]

I did the 11:25 thing during test day... but the proctor at my site kept stealing my watch from me to check the time... very annoying to have to keep explaining to her that it wasn't displaying the actual time and super unprofessional on her part...

[Woozy]

I guess I'm in the minority - I didn't use a watch for the test. I timed myself during PTs, but once I had a feel for the pace I needed I found that not knowing how much time was left made me work faster and stay focused. Having the fear that time could be up at any second from question 5 onward lit a fire under me. Maybe it won't work that way for you, but try it out during a PT or two and see what happens.

[cdnguy]

i was lucky enough to have a digital clock in the room.

[monkeymm]

can we use Ana-Digi Dual Time Watch at a test?

[ogman05]

can we use Ana-Digi Dual Time Watch at a test?

No just get a chronograph watch

[monkeymm]

can we use Ana-Digi Dual Time Watch at a test?

No just get a chronograph watch

this one looks pretty cool. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... R&v=glance

[CyLaw]

can we use Ana-Digi Dual Time Watch at a test?

If it has any digital screen on it, you can not use it.

[trutherd]

I did the "set a watch to 12:00" thing. The setting it to 11:25 idea is brilliant, though.

I'll do you one better: start it at 6:00, then at 6:30 you have a 5 minute warning AND you get a final warning that's easy to see at a glance when the hands cross each other

I've been prepping for way too long now...