LR Improvement? Forum

[Anaconda]

I've struggled to improve with LR. So far I've done Must Be True/Most Strongly Supported/Main Point/Weaken questions, and I've done a lot of problems for each type (50-100) but I seem to be extremely inconsistent with my results. Whenever I seem to be improving, I'll do another set of questions and completely bomb them. I've read the LRB at least twice for each problem set, and I got over my wrong/hard questions in detail afterwards. Even when it seems I've "nailed" a certain question type, I quickly regress. I seem to be fine with 1 star (easy) questions, but the inconsistency is pretty terrible with more difficult questions.

I worked on Weaken problems all day (maybe 6 hours) with no improvement at all to show for it. It's really, really upsetting.

How did it work out for everyone else?

[Anaconda]

Can anyone chime in?

[yzero1]

Have you been working under timed conditions? If so, I would probably try doing untimed sections to get your approach right.

Also, where do you seem to be making mistakes most frequently? From my experience, a lot of mistakes can be sourced to a misunderstanding, or an inadequate understanding, of the stimulus. Make sure you fully grasp what the stimulus is saying, and in the case of strengthen/weaken/assumption questions, what the conclusion is saying. With Str/Weak/Assumption questions, a high-level understanding of the structure of the argument (including how the conclusion follows from the premises) will usually be sufficient to allow you to identify the correct answer.

[Hedwig]

I would maybe take a bit of a break from LR right now. Do LG/RC for a day or so before returning.

Are you just drilling through these problems? Are you reviewing them/the answers?

When you get a question wrong, do you go back and try to identify the right answer? Like, you put down B, you see that it's A or something, mark it wrong. Hour or so later you've forgotten the "right" answer to each question, so you go back to the question and, knowing B is wrong, try to find the right answer? This sometimes helps.

I agree that the wrong answer can usually be traced back to the stimulus. Everything you need to answer the question is contained in the stimulus.

Are there similarities in the types of wrong answers you tend to pick? I.E., do you pick "half correct" answers, answers that only address part of the situation? Do you gravitate towards an answer that involves content from the stimulus, but has no relevance to what is asked?

[Anaconda]

I do comprehensively review all the questions I get wrong. I just did 10 more 2 star rated Weaken questions and got 8/10. The two I got wrong I seemed to have misread the correct answer or defensively thought it wasn't the right answer compared to the others. 80% for 2 star questions is still terrible. I should be getting 100% of them after drilling for two straight days.

I did have a breakthrough with Must Be True questions for a day, then regressed afterwards when I was in a distracting hotel room the next day, but even with Main Point and Weaken questions, I never had a "breakthrough" - in fact I did slightly worse when I finished than when I initially started doing the questions, despite reading the LRB chapters twice each.

PS: All the LR I've done has been untimed.

[Anaconda]

I think I'm going to totally re-do every single LR problem I got wrong today from scratch, and write up why I think every answer I don't select is wrong, and why the answer I do pick is correct.

Would this be effective, even though I already did these problems less than 24 hours before?

[donnie]

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

[Anaconda]

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Although, I'm really just aiming to see patterns and understand why the right answer is right and why the wrong answer is wrong. I figure if I get some the questions wrong, I'll need to focus and iron out my mistakes.

Does anyone else think this would be constructive or a waste of time?

[skip james]

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

Remembering the correct answer is irrelevant when the issue is whether or not you can merely learn from the question(s)/stimuli.

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Although, I'm really just aiming to see patterns and understand why the right answer is right and why the wrong answer is wrong. I figure if I get some the questions wrong, I'll need to focus and iron out my mistakes.

Does anyone else think this would be constructive or a waste of time?

.

I think it's a solid idea. Doing stuff like that is key to improving in LR. Mindlessly doing new problems over and over, making the same mistakes again and again, on the other hand...

[Anaconda]

Thanks for the advice. I really can't believe I did 85 weaken questions today. The thing is, I carefully went over the Kaplan explanations, and understood almost all the answers expect maybe 1 or 2, but it clearly didn't help me with the rest of the questions, as I didn't improve at all. Since I improved so drastically with LG with drilling and repeating the games, it's hard to comprehend my lack of progress on LR.

Tomorrow, I'll print out the questions again (thank you Cambridge!) and re-do them all with explanations for every single answer choice.

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

Remembering the correct answer is irrelevant when the issue is whether or not you can merely learn from the question(s)/stimuli.

Redoing the problems might not do too much because you'll probably remember the correct answers, having just done them yesterday. But the writeup can definitely help.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Although, I'm really just aiming to see patterns and understand why the right answer is right and why the wrong answer is wrong. I figure if I get some the questions wrong, I'll need to focus and iron out my mistakes.

Does anyone else think this would be constructive or a waste of time?

.

I think it's a solid idea. Doing stuff like that is key to improving in LR. Mindlessly doing new problems over and over, making the same mistakes again and again, on the other hand...

[kazu]

How exactly are you reviewing your wrong answers? I found it helped to physically write down 3 things: 1) why the answer I chose was wrong, 2) why the right answer is right, 3) what exactly went wrong in my thinking process. (I started doing this after reading it on TLS)

I also found explanations done by prep companies (Kaplan, cambridgelsat, wherever) completely useless and a lot of times inaccurate. It works better if you figure out yourself exactly why this is the answer, and that one isn't.

Good luck!

[Anaconda]

How exactly are you reviewing your wrong answers? I found it helped to physically write down 3 things: 1) why the answer I chose was wrong, 2) why the right answer is right, 3) what exactly went wrong in my thinking process. (I started doing this after reading it on TLS)

I also found explanations done by prep companies (Kaplan, cambridgelsat, wherever) completely useless and a lot of times inaccurate. It works better if you figure out yourself exactly why this is the answer, and that one isn't.

Good luck!

I read Kaplan's explanations and tried to conceptualize until I understood. I think most of the time it works in terms of understanding, but it isn't materializing in results on subsequent problems. Kaplan explanations are meh. Their early explanations are decent, but it's clear they got lazy after the 20's.

[ArchRoark]

Are you reviewing answers that you are unsure about but still end up selecting the right answer? i.e. narrowing it down to two strong contenders and end up more of less guessing or being drawn to the right one although not totally understanding why it is correct or why the other contender is incorrect.

Do you find yourself marking out correct answers as "losers"?

[Anaconda]

Are you reviewing answers that you are unsure about but still end up selecting the right answer? i.e. narrowing it down to two strong contenders and end up more of less guessing or being drawn to the right one although not totally understanding why it is correct or why the other contender is incorrect.

Do you find yourself marking out correct answers as "losers"?

I do sometimes star a question I have problems with and review it even if I get it right. I do occasionally cross off the correct answer, usually because I don't read it carefully or properly apply it to the conclusion.

[Anaconda]

Re-did about 20+ Weaken questions today, writing mini-explanations for every single answer choice. Although I got 2 wrong when I did this (including one answer in which I just didn't understand the way LSAC probably intended), it overall helped me out a lot. For the most part I could immediately pick out what the right answer, WHY it was the right answer. Considering these were questions I originally got wrong, I think that signifies progress.

More importantly, doing it was kind of fun! It built up my self-confidence, and it felt good to be able to tell myself why 4 choices were wrong and why 1 was right. I also think I approached the Weaken questions correctly this time. Yesterday I don't think I took the conclusion as seriously as you obviously should. I wasn't prephrasing a lot, and wasn't thinking as logically as I should have - especially on the hard questions.

Overall, two thumbs up for LR descriptions when you get them wrong - much more helpful than reading Kaplan's explanations - although I used it to help me better understand the 3-4 questions I was a little shaky on after I knocked it down to two answer choices.

[Kswizzie]

Improving in LR is alot harder then improving at LG, but it is possible. You should be seeing patterns in the questions by now. Often times there will be questions that are very similar to ones you have already seen and this should be exploited. That being said LR is fairly unpredictable I have gotten perfects on LR sections and I have dropped 6 or 7.

[longdaysjourney]

From your posts, I think that you are stressing out. Don't feel bad...I tend to do the same thing. It sounds like you may be doing too many problems (a) per sitting and (b) per day. Do them like I do them. First, study between 2-4 hours six days per week. But don't do two 4 hour days in a row though...or the rest of your week will suffer. When doing LR problems by type, do no more than twenty question per sitting. Before you do each section tell yourself, "Winners do what losers won't do; I am going to get every problem right. Four options are 100% wrong, and one option is 100% right." Work through the questions 1 by 1. If you get one wrong take out a scrap piece of paper and write down why the right answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong--one sentence per option (it doesn't even have to be legible...it's just to make you slow down and learn from your mistakes...you can throw the paper away after you are finished.) Don't look at the Kaplan explanations before you figure it out for yourself...that is just cheating yourself. I'd rather figure one question out for myself than read fifty Kaplan sections (about one in ten of the explanations is wack anyways). After you finish with a set do something relaxing or enjoyable for 30 min to 1 hour...and don't think about the LSAT or Law School. Then do another set of problems. Use some of your breaks to move around and get a little exercise; sit outside; eat some fruit or lean protein or walnuts or yogurt; drink two glasses of water or take a nap. I would not watch tv, movies, go to dumb websites, or play flash games during your break; these are no good for your brain...read a novel (May I recommend "We have always lived in the Castle" or "The Magus") It sounds like you are on information overload and are getting panicky. If you've read the LR bible twice, then you know the stuff, you are just too tense to access the information. Once you get to the point where you are missing about 1 in 30, then move on to timed sections. I not study at all for a few day..give yourself a break and let your brain recharge.

I've been studying since April and I am routinely scoring >175...so this method has worked for me. I know that some of the advice is pretty lame...like "drink a bunch of water." But it's the little things that give you the edge and the little, health changes in your routine that will give you confidence.

Good luck

[Anaconda]

Interesting advice. I'm only going to do 30 LR problems tomorrow (in addition to reading the corresponding chapter in the LRB), if I get a 15/30, I'll have to do better later in the weekend, if I do well, I'll gain some confidence. I'll spend the rest of the day on LG or RC and read some articles from Scientific American or the Economist.

I think I tend to "forget" to apply the most basic yet important keys to specific LR questions when I do them, like keying in on the conclusion for weaken questions. Once you recognize the conclusion and a potential problem with it, you can easily spot the answer, or at least get it down to 2 choices for more difficult questions.

From your posts, I think that you are stressing out. Don't feel bad...I tend to do the same thing. It sounds like you may be doing too many problems (a) per sitting and (b) per day. Do them like I do them. First, study between 2-4 hours six days per week. But don't do two 4 hour days in a row though...or the rest of your week will suffer. When doing LR problems by type, do no more than twenty question per sitting. Before you do each section tell yourself, "Winners do what losers won't do; I am going to get every problem right. Four options are 100% wrong, and one option is 100% right." Work through the questions 1 by 1. If you get one wrong take out a scrap piece of paper and write down why the right answer is right and why the wrong answers are wrong--one sentence per option (it doesn't even have to be legible...it's just to make you slow down and learn from your mistakes...you can throw the paper away after you are finished.) Don't look at the Kaplan explanations before you figure it out for yourself...that is just cheating yourself. I'd rather figure one question out for myself than read fifty Kaplan sections (about one in ten of the explanations is wack anyways). After you finish with a set do something relaxing or enjoyable for 30 min to 1 hour...and don't think about the LSAT or Law School. Then do another set of problems. Use some of your breaks to move around and get a little exercise; sit outside; eat some fruit or lean protein or walnuts or yogurt; drink two glasses of water or take a nap. I would not watch tv, movies, go to dumb websites, or play flash games during your break; these are no good for your brain...read a novel (May I recommend "We have always lived in the Castle" or "The Magus") It sounds like you are on information overload and are getting panicky. If you've read the LR bible twice, then you know the stuff, you are just too tense to access the information. Once you get to the point where you are missing about 1 in 30, then move on to timed sections. I not study at all for a few day..give yourself a break and let your brain recharge.

I've been studying since April and I am routinely scoring >175...so this method has worked for me. I know that some of the advice is pretty lame...like "drink a bunch of water." But it's the little things that give you the edge and the little, health changes in your routine that will give you confidence.

Good luck

[Wannabelawyer101]

I took a formulaic approach and kept a running chart of all of my mistakes. At the end of the week, I would review them, and write out explanations for what I got wrong, why I got them wrong, and why the correct answer is what it is. You seem to be taking the right steps, just stick with it and you'll improve.

[Anaconda]

I took a formulaic approach and kept a running chart of all of my mistakes. At the end of the week, I would review them, and write out explanations for what I got wrong, why I got them wrong, and why the correct answer is what it is. You seem to be taking the right steps, just stick with it and you'll improve.

How much did you improve on LR after starting to write out explanations for your mistakes?

*I realize my assumption that the two are cause and effect would make for a tasty LR question that calls for my unwarranted conclusion to be attacked, but oh well.

[glucose101]

longdaysjourney=spot on

[Anaconda]

Did a bunch of strengthen questions writing down brief mini explanations for every answer choice:

Got:

1 Star: 7/7
2 Star: 9/9
3 Star: 4/11 (including one batch of 0/3, and another of 1/3)
4 Star: 5/9 (managed to get a 3/4 and 2/3 in two batches)

Total: 25/36 (horrible 69%)

My fundamentals seem to be strong on the easy questions, but turn to hell on the harder ones.

Also, I had 15/19 correct at first, the took a little break and finished 10/17 (difficulty distribution was pretty much equal). Don't know what my problem is.

I ace the 2 stars without sweating, and the 3 stars SEEM simple, and I was shocked to see I was bombing them...

[Sh@keNb@ke]

Thanks for the advice. "I really can't believe I did 85 weaken questions today." The thing is, I carefully went over the Kaplan explanations, and understood almost all the answers expect maybe 1 or 2, but it clearly didn't help me with the rest of the questions, as I didn't improve at all. Since I improved so drastically with LG with drilling and repeating the games, it's hard to comprehend my lack of progress on LR.

At this rate you are going to burn out. Slow down, keep doing them untimed until you are satisfied with your efficiency.

[Anaconda]

Thanks for the advice. "I really can't believe I did 85 weaken questions today." The thing is, I carefully went over the Kaplan explanations, and understood almost all the answers expect maybe 1 or 2, but it clearly didn't help me with the rest of the questions, as I didn't improve at all. Since I improved so drastically with LG with drilling and repeating the games, it's hard to comprehend my lack of progress on LR.

At this rate you are going to burn out. Slow down, keep doing them untimed until you are satisfied with your efficiency.

I am doing them all untimed, and I'm still making mistakes on questions that take me 5 minutes to complete.

[Anaconda]

Well tried a few more and got 9/12:

1 Star: 1/1
2 Star: 4/4
3 Star: 2/4 (on one, I made a stupid mistake of crossing off the right answer, when I mean to circle it, so I never went back to it, had I been more careful I would have gotten it right...)
4 Star: 2/3

I also thing with strengthen questions, it might be best to select an answer that seems acceptable and move on unless its shaky.