too early to prep for september test? Forum

[mdeleon4]

Hey all,
So I'm planning on taking the lsat in september this year. I took in febuary and got a 152. I'm trying to get my score up as high as possible obviously.

Do you think starting hardcore studying now could be to early? Should I maybe go through the powerscore books first and then try doing the regiment of lsat practice test later on?

Any help would be appreciated!

[NU_Jet55]

Hey all,
So I'm planning on taking the lsat in september this year. I took in febuary and got a 152. I'm trying to get my score up as high as possible obviously.

Do you think starting hardcore studying now could be to early? Should I maybe go through the powerscore books first and then try doing the regiment of lsat practice test later on?

Any help would be appreciated!

Absolutely not too early. If you burn out though, make sure you take a (brief) break.

[chocho]

yeah def not too early, but go at it with a plan and stickk to the plan and adjust when necessary, the above comment is important too, when you need a break, take that break.

[nax425]

figure out your weakness(es) right away. the more time you can hone in on what is causing you to lose points, the better off you'll be. more time can only help!

[umichgrad]

home in on, not hone.

sorry

[Dany]

home in on, not hone.

sorry

Wow. I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about grammar, and I actually had no idea that "home in" was the correct phrase. I even looked it up just now, and I'll definitely be using it correctly from now on (although, to be fair, several sources did say that the usage of "hone in on" has become so widespread that it's now acceptable).

[umichgrad]

home in on, not hone.

sorry

Wow. I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about grammar, and I actually had no idea that "home in" was the correct phrase. I even looked it up just now, and I'll definitely be using it correctly from now on (although, to be fair, several sources did say that the usage of "hone in on" has become so widespread that it's now acceptable).

haha i know...random pet peeve of mine, and since it bothers me i hear it everywhere.

[quasi-stellar]

Lsat is NEVER too early you will only get better if you spread out your studying over a long period of time.

[nax425]

[hellokitty]

No, it is NEVER too early and the test is in October this year!

[lsatgenius]

not too early. a lot of people like me started studying in january for the june test and are now postponing until october.

[doinmybest]

Just don't waste questions/passages from the newer more relevant tests by doing them now.

[pleasepickme]

I started studying in May for the September test last year. Started with the bibles, then started doing a prep course in July, and took up a solid, regimented practice test schedule in late August. Finished the last practice test available the day before the test. It worked great for me!

Short answer: no, not too early.

[JasonR]

home in on, not hone.

sorry

Wow. I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable about grammar, and I actually had no idea that "home in" was the correct phrase. I even looked it up just now, and I'll definitely be using it correctly from now on (although, to be fair, several sources did say that the usage of "hone in on" has become so widespread that it's now acceptable).

Like "irregardless," and dozens of other commonplace malapropisms, it still sounds awful and reads worse. (Not that you were arguing otherwise.) I understand that language inevitably evolves and shifts, but lexicographers and linguists ought to set a higher bar for pronouncing yesterday's poor usage as today's acceptable alternative.

/nerdy rant

[romothesavior]

I will go against the grain here and say yes, it is too early. By the time you get to mid-summer, you will have essentially exhausted most material, which will significantly alter your PTs because you will begin to recognize previous questions.

And burnout is real. Just enjoy your spring and consider starting in the summer sometime.

[UTexas]

I will go against the grain here and say yes, it is too early. By the time you get to mid-summer, you will have essentially exhausted most material, which will significantly alter your PTs because you will begin to recognize previous questions.

And burnout is real. Just enjoy your spring and consider starting in the summer sometime.

Well, we would have to know both how and how much the OP studied for the February test to be able to give him better advice, but I'm still going to disagree with this view.

I'm going to assume that the OP did at least some prep prior to taking the February LSAT. He doesn't necessarily have to exhaust all prep material by mid-summer if he's not simply racing from timed PT to timed PT. If he scored a 152 after prep, he should go back to spending a good deal of time on each difficult problem, articulating a solid justification for selecting or eliminating every single answer choice. That should slow him down nicely.

And even if he does exhaust the available materials a while before test day, I don't see that as a big deal. It's not as if the ability to make gains comes to an end as soon as the fresh PT supply dries up. Even after he has taken all of the PTs, he should be spending a good deal of time on everything he missed. If he's not nailing a -0 on every previous test, there's still something to squeeze from the material. And he can always save the June 2010 test for the week before the October test. Finally, if he starts feeling hints of burn-out, there's plenty of time to take a week off.