Diagnostic fluctuations & proctored test anxiety Forum

[christinalsat]

Signed up to take the Feb. 6th LSAT. Taking the Testmasters course and scored a 159 on their first proctored diagnostic back in early December. I sneaked in a timed diagnostic (June 04) last weekend at home and scored a 166. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I took Testmaster's second proctored (October 08) diagnostic this Saturday and dropped down to a 154.

Our instructor tells us that it's normal to dip down on the second diagnostic, but I think I dipped down for a different reasons than the ones she provided. It wasn't timing or applying new theories -- I simply psyched myself out. There was something about having a test proctor that just made me freak out and miss questions that I never would've missed otherwise. Usually I get 2-5 wrong on LR, 5-10 wrong on LG (still working on it, I know), and 2-5 wrong on RC. On Saturday's diagnostic though I got 13 wrong on the first LR section alone -- most of which I immediately understood once I reviewed the test and a record 12 wrong on LG. I also ran out of time on both LR sections, which has never been an issue for me -- not even on my first cold diagnostic.

Does anyone have suggestions on closely imitating a proctored setting? Getting rid of these nerves before test date? I've been nervous before tests, but it's never affected my focus like this. Really clueless as to how to address this.

I thought I could aim for a 170 after the 166 last week. Is that realistic anymore?

[vivalalsat]

http://www.simugator.com/lsat-prep.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4948066_reduce- ... xiety.html

http://www.lsac.org/SpecialInterests/mi ... on-faq.asp , specifically:

The best way to avoid test anxiety is to prepare thoroughly for the LSAT by familiarizing yourself with the types of questions on the test and by taking disclosed (previously administered) tests. Take the entire test—not just a few sections at a time—under actual timed conditions.

[allison34363]

I think pacing is pretty important. For LR, after question 10 I know I should be exactly 10 minutes into the section, and if I can't abide by this rule then I will skip the questions that are slowing me down and go back to them.

[vivalalsat]

I think pacing is pretty important. For LR, after question 10 I know I should be exactly 10 minutes into the section, and if I can't abide by this rule then I will skip the questions that are slowing me down and go back to them.

I guess on the last logic game so I can do better on the other three.

[blhblahblah]

All this means is that you need to habituate to the proctored enviroment.