October 2010 Test Prep Forum

[akili]

Do you guys have any recommendations for prepclasses? I will most likely be in Seattle (U-District area) to take it and I'm debating between Testmaster, Powerscore or Kaplan/Princeton. I'm kind of leaning towards Powerscore, but I have the Bibles and plan on studying/working through them earlier this summer. Have you guys heard good reviews about any of these?

[Gemini]

Do you guys have any recommendations for prepclasses? I will most likely be in Seattle (U-District area) to take it and I'm debating between Testmaster, Powerscore or Kaplan/Princeton. I'm kind of leaning towards Powerscore, but I have the Bibles and plan on studying/working through them earlier this summer. Have you guys heard good reviews about any of these?

I can't say anything for Princeton but omg Kaplan SUCKS. That whole "they're only aiming to get you into the 160's" is TRUE. I regret taking this course. I heard GREAT things about Powerscore and Testmasters though!

In some good news today in my personal study journey, I took the RC section timed from PT 20. Got 24/26. Whoo hoo!

[tomwatts]

Do you guys have any recommendations for prepclasses? I will most likely be in Seattle (U-District area) to take it and I'm debating between Testmaster, Powerscore or Kaplan/Princeton. I'm kind of leaning towards Powerscore, but I have the Bibles and plan on studying/working through them earlier this summer. Have you guys heard good reviews about any of these?

I'm a Princeton Review teacher, so if there's anything you want to know about our program, feel free to ask me. (And it'd probably offend most Princeton Review teachers to hear us spoken of in the same breath as Kaplan. We're not the same.)

[akili]

Do you guys have any recommendations for prepclasses? I will most likely be in Seattle (U-District area) to take it and I'm debating between Testmaster, Powerscore or Kaplan/Princeton. I'm kind of leaning towards Powerscore, but I have the Bibles and plan on studying/working through them earlier this summer. Have you guys heard good reviews about any of these?

I'm a Princeton Review teacher, so if there's anything you want to know about our program, feel free to ask me. (And it'd probably offend most Princeton Review teachers to hear us spoken of in the same breath as Kaplan. We're not the same.)

Sorry! I only grouped them together because they are both well-known by lay-people (aka my mother) because of SAT tutoring (at least for her).

Do you feel like the Princeton Review courses could take people from a 160 (PT avg: 165) to the 170s? Are the strategies that different from what is taught at the other courses? Would you recommend doing one-on-one tutoring if I have the money?

[tomwatts]

Do you feel like the Princeton Review courses could take people from a 160 (PT avg: 165) to the 170s?

Yes. Princeton Review teachers scored in the 170's, so your teacher should be able to tell you how it is done. I scored a 180 using our methods.

Are the strategies that different from what is taught at the other courses?

Are they that different? Probably not. Are they somewhat different? Yes. Better? Well, I happen to think so.

Would you recommend doing one-on-one tutoring if I have the money?

Hmm. There's not a simple answer. Tutoring is a lot more targeted (you work on exactly your own personal strengths and weaknesses), and there's obviously a lot more specific individual feedback. The course is very comprehensive, though. Depends on your exact circumstances.

[cherryalamode]

Hey, I'd recommend not to do the tutor thing until you know where your weaknesses are. it's a waste of money to get a tutor from the beginning. Familiarize yourself with all the material. Study your strengths and weaknesses. If there are a few things in particular you need to work on, and you'd like a tutor, I'd advise you to get one only then.

Anyway, how goes it fellow October-takers?

[akili]

Hey, I'd recommend not to do the tutor thing until you know where your weaknesses are. it's a waste of money to get a tutor from the beginning. Familiarize yourself with all the material. Study your strengths and weaknesses. If there are a few things in particular you need to work on, and you'd like a tutor, I'd advise you to get one only then.

Anyway, how goes it fellow October-takers?

Haha I'm a retaker, so I'm very aware of where my weaknesses are. (damn you, Logic Games)

[NYCG8TR]

Well, after being waitlisted by my safety school today, I am now a part of this group. This is my third and last time taking the exam. The first two times I used Kaplan and I scored the same both times. I think this time I am going to go with Testmasters or Powerscore and then follow that up with some personal tutoring. I totally struggle with LG's and am very inconsistent with RC.
I'll probably take one PT a week until June when I begin taking the course...I really hope this works.

[cherryalamode]

I'm also a third timer. And that is SO scary. Literally the LAST chance. Im trying to not let my nerves get the best of me.

I have decided to do my own studying. The only bad thing here is that I'm in Europe for 35 days. I'll be touring, so no time to buckle down and study (except maybe on the bus). I don't want to take any heavy LSAT book but I also want to keep LSAT in my thoughts.

What do you think I should do? make copies of like, 20 pages of each section?

[nonpareilpearl]

I'm also a third timer. And that is SO scary. Literally the LAST chance. Im trying to not let my nerves get the best of me.

Is there a limit to how many tests you can take, or a limit to how many you can taken in a given time period? Or is it just that it doesn't "look good" to take more than three exams?

[cherryalamode]

If I recall correctly, LSAC rules are that you can only take the test 3 times in 2 years... I may not be recalling correctly lol. You can take it a 4th time, but you must have a law school petition for you to do so. From what I hear, it's pretty easy to do so.

But EVERY SINGLE test you take after the FIRST is looked upon worse and worse.

So if you have a 170 3rd time and someone else has a 170 1st time, all else being equal, then the person who takes it only once would probably be chosen over you. But if someone has a 169 1st time and you a 170 3rd time, you MIGHT have the edge there. This is ONLY in regards to schools that take the highest score. For the ones who don't, you're SOL, lol.

[jpSartre]

But EVERY SINGLE test you take after the FIRST is looked upon worse and worse.

So if you have a 170 3rd time and someone else has a 170 1st time, all else being equal, then the person who takes it only once would probably be chosen over you. But if someone has a 169 1st time and you a 170 3rd time, you MIGHT have the edge there. This is ONLY in regards to schools that take the highest score. For the ones who don't, you're SOL, lol.

This seems like a remarkable instance of someone trying to pass their intuition off as speculation.

[cherryalamode]

Well my reasoning makes sense to me. I've heard similar situations that seem to strengthen my point. No you don't have to take my word for it. But I've picked up a few things from many people over the years. I may be wrong, but I think this is the way it works for schools who take the highest scores.

At the very least, I know for a fact that taking the test more than once is not looked upon very well. HYS, for example, rarely accepts people with more than one score.

[Slimpee]

Hey hey!

Me too!

I started April 2. This will be my THIRD and LAST time taking the test so I'm way too familiar with it lol.

I haven't touched the LSAT since September 26, 2009, where I got a 163.

I took my first PT on friday and I got a 165. What's up with THAT?

Are we twins? I, too, have taken it twice already and scored a 163 in Sept. I scored 164 in June and I know i'm capable of higher so i'm considering re-taking and re-applying this fall (only if I don't get into my top choice, however)...

[Gemini]

Hey hey!

Me too!

I started April 2. This will be my THIRD and LAST time taking the test so I'm way too familiar with it lol.

I haven't touched the LSAT since September 26, 2009, where I got a 163.

I took my first PT on friday and I got a 165. What's up with THAT?

Are we twins? I, too, have taken it twice already and scored a 163 in Sept. I scored 164 in June and I know i'm capable of higher so i'm considering re-taking and re-applying this fall (only if I don't get into my top choice, however)...

Yay, hi!!! Yes, we are definitely capable of scoring high on this test. At this point, we know it well, so all we really need to do is practice, practice, practice!

[cherryalamode]

This thread has died! Let's keep it alive!!!

I'm looking for some advice. I'm going to be away from home for a month and don't want to carry around heavy, fat LSAT books with me, but I also don't want to lose an entire month. What should I do?

[tomwatts]

PDFs?

[quasi-stellar]

I decided to pussy out on June which makes this to be my thread.

The reason for this strategic decision is that I want to hit the test once with ALL I got and as of now I am way behind as far as practice tests and my games are still weak.
Taking October test will allow me to take twice as many preptests (i want to do every single one of them), rather than just get 162 or something now and retake anyway.

Does any one know how to cancel a registration that was given for free (i got fee waivers)? They only seem to have a refund form and I am not asking for one, although I could easily send it for lack of any other forms.

[LateNight]

I started studying 4-8-2010. I have logged 40 hours so far.

My goal is 400-500 before the test.

[xqhp82]

I started studying 4-8-2010. I have logged 40 hours so far.

My goal is 400-500 before the test.

good job....1/10 done already!

well for me, maybe 0 still?
good idea to keep a log though, i've never thought about that, stupid enough..

[LateNight]

Yeah, a log is key! It keeps you honest. I made a nice little log with the sections in it. I can mark down how much time I spent on Games / LR / RC. It also helps me project how many hours I will need to study to meet my goal.


This whole month of May is going to be just hell. I have finals these next two weeks. Then, the day after I take my last final, I have to get my four wisdom teeth yanked out. Finally, I have a fishing trip with my dad for a week up in Canada. Basically, I have one real week to study in May! June, July, August, September all look clear.

I am taking some easier (knock on wood) courses and lightening my load.

Currently, I am taking 21 credit hours. That is 7 classes, 6 days a week. This includes a 6 hour Economics class on Saturday mornings.

[xqhp82]

Currently, I am taking 21 credit hours. That is 7 classes, 6 days a week. This includes a 6 hour Economics class on Saturday mornings.

6 hour class? i fail to concentrate in 45-minute lectures!
in the UK we only have 6-8 hours every WEEK for humanities/social sciences. and they're not even compulsory. starting to question myself why it's so hard to start LSAT preparation when i've so much spare time.......

[nonpareilpearl]

I don't know if this helps anyone but I'm actually keeping a different sort of "log" (rather than logging hours). I have been tracking which sections, and which types of questions, I had difficulty with this month for the two LSATs I took this month (I had a timed and untimed session with each). I was able to figure out which sections I need to really work on, as opposed to which sections I just need to finish more quickly. I have it all written down in "goals for the month".

[LateNight]

Currently, I am taking 21 credit hours. That is 7 classes, 6 days a week. This includes a 6 hour Economics class on Saturday mornings.

6 hour class? i fail to concentrate in 45-minute lectures!
in the UK we only have 6-8 hours every WEEK for humanities/social sciences. and they're not even compulsory. starting to question myself why it's so hard to start LSAT preparation when i've so much spare time.......

I don't really concentrate. I do logic game problems while she talks and look like I am paying close attention.

[H. E. Pennypacker]

My gameplan:

Powerscore bibles -- one chapter per night -- should have them finished by the end of June

After that it's one PT a week for the next 15 weeks, with nightly review of the errors I made on that week's PT all the way up until test day.

I like your style, Donny. Barring an acceptance from one final school, I will take the LSAT for a second time in Oct. Took it last September and got a 164, which was in the range of my PT scores. However, it was sort of a last minute thing and didn't pick up my first LSAT book until early August. I figure with a whole summer to study, I can get 8-10 more questions right. Shooting for 170+ because my GPA is only in the 3.2X range. LG is my best section (-0 to -3), LR is my worst (-5 per section, at least). RC is up for grabs (-4 on Sept 09 LSAT).