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Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 4:36 pm
by Nailjohnj
I'm taking the LSAT in June, so I put together this plan and I wanted everyone's input on it. Keep in mind that I do work 45-55 hours a week.
Monday/ Wednesday - Practice Test 6:00 PM - 8:45 PM
Tuesday/ Thursday - Work problems I missed over lunch; Studying from 8-9 PM (studying is broken up 3 weeks games, 3 weeks reasoning, 3 weeks reading, 1 week writing)
Friday- off (gotta have a social life)
Sat - Studying for the first 6 weeks, morning practice test last 4
Sun - Studying/ reviewing problems
Any thoughts/ comments/ ideas? I need to get enough practice in to raise my score 10-15 points (I'm currently at 158). Thanks for the look.
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:44 pm
by shoop
If you get into that last 3 weeks of reading study and realize you're worse at it than can possibly be fixed in 3 weeks, you're fucked. You may also lose some of the gains you made in games and reasoning because you studied them early and then it doesn't seem you're going to work on them much in the last 3-6 weeks.
I also contest your assertion that you "gotta have a social life." I've been studying for this shit every night, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, for 2 months. You either want to get your dream score or you don't. Your social life is screwed anyways when you get to law school (and if it's not, then your grades are screwed instead), so might as well get used to it now.
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:48 pm
by rando
don't study for the writing section
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:54 pm
by amolson04
I really think you need to do more than 4 full-length practice tests. Part of the trick to the LSAT is developing the mental stamina to be able to work quickly and accurately for a sustained period of time. I think I did more like 12 full-length practice tests. I would be doing at least one per week between now and test time - and make sure you get the actual past LSATs from LSAC, not simulated ones published by testing companies. Fwiw, I raised my score from 164 to 171.
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:02 pm
by pinkzeppelin
amolson04 wrote:I really think you need to do more than 4 full-length practice tests. Part of the trick to the LSAT is developing the mental stamina to be able to work quickly and accurately for a sustained period of time. I think I did more like 12 full-length practice tests. I would be doing at least one per week between now and test time - and make sure you get the actual past LSATs from LSAC, not simulated ones published by testing companies. Fwiw, I raised my score from 164 to 171.
His plan includes a practice test every Monday and Wednesday, too. So that's 24 total.
I think a previous poster is correct with the writing thing--don't study for that. There's little evidence that it makes any difference in applications.
Also, I would split the studying into 1 week sections, like 1 week games, next week LR or something, to combat forgetfulness
Finally, You should allot more time for your practice tests. Allotting 2:45 implies you're probably taking 4 sections with some extra time for each (or a break in between). You should really take practice tests just as they are administered on test day, with 5 sections. Take 3 back to back, with practically no break in between. Take a break for about 10 minutes, and then take 2 more back to back.
Hope that helps
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:24 pm
by Nailjohnj
His plan includes a practice test every Monday and Wednesday, too. So that's 24 total.
I think a previous poster is correct with the writing thing--don't study for that. There's little evidence that it makes any difference in applications.
Also, I would split the studying into 1 week sections, like 1 week games, next week LR or something, to combat forgetfulness
Finally, You should allot more time for your practice tests. Allotting 2:45 implies you're probably taking 4 sections with some extra time for each (or a break in between). You should really take practice tests just as they are administered on test day, with 5 sections. Take 3 back to back, with practically no break in between. Take a break for about 10 minutes, and then take 2 more back to back.
Hope that helps
Yea, I'm planning on two-three a week until the test date. I wasn't necessarily planning on just doing games the first three, lr the second, etc.,but more of a building process. I can see that cycling it though would make better sense, like you said, fighting forgetfulness.
And it's not so much the social life I'm saving, as much as it is a relationship. Gotta make at least a little time for that. I'll wait for law school to screw that one up.
Thanks for the advice. Time to get to work.
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:47 pm
by FuManChusco
Dean Pless from UI said the writing section is completely worthless. It can only be a negative and that's if you either don't do it, write something stupid and irrelevant, or draw something. Don't spend any time studying for it, but take it seriously on test day and give it your best effort.
Honestly, if you want to improve to the 168-173 region, you're going to have to make drastic improvements. I would suggest taking it in October if you don't feel comfortable at the end of May. 6 weeks with a full time job is going to make it difficult. I set my my goal at 173+ with a 169 diagnostic (did it after I finished the LGB so it wasn't completely cold) and I started studying in January. It's very difficult to improve when you're aiming above 165. 1 question can make or break you sometimes. Good luck.
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:48 pm
by cahesu
That's nothing. Check out this schedule:
S04 PURDUE 3:30pm NBC
S11 MICHIGAN 3:30pm NBC
S18 @ Michigan St. TBA
S25 STANFORD 3:30pm NBC
O02 @ Boston College TBA
O09 PITTSBURGH 3:30pm NBC
O16 WESTERN MICHIGAN 2:30pm NBC
O23 @ Navy (NJ) TBA
O30 TULSA 2:30pm NBC
N13 UTAH 2:30pm NBC
N20 ARMY (Yankee Stadium) 7pm NBC
N27 @ Southern Cal TBA
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:50 pm
by AllBusiness
rando wrote:don't study for the writing section
Re: Does this seem like a strong schedule?
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:44 pm
by amolson04
oh duh, it would help if i could read
