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Survey out of curiosity-- just canvassing this generation of 0L TLS'ers.


It's ironic. On a test that will be so determinative of our futures, with so many of its facets scrutinized so intensely is this neglected ugly step-sister of that holy trinity (LR, LG, and holy RC).


I'm feeling like giving the writing prompt an honest go. I don't know, maybe a prompt or week or something. Time-commitment-wise, it's a drop in my weekly bucket.


And CambridgeLSAT is certainly making Writing Prompt-prep affordable-- tempting! (Maybe even cheaper than B.P. stock)

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How do you guys plan to go about it; if at all?

I did enough writing in undergrad. From what I have read on this forum, schools do not really care about the writing section. After all, you just spent over 3 hours on highly demanding exam and then are asked to write on some random topic.

Once I start working on my endurance skills (August and September), I will start including Writing Prompts in my practice tests, because otherwise, I might die when it comes to the last half hour and I'm expected to write an essay and I haven't adequately prepared my mind to last that long. However, since I'm an English major, Classics minor, the majority of my exams have been full of essays, and I write about an essay a week to hand in during the school year. Essays/writing prompts do not phase me anymore.

Preparing? No. Including them in my practice tests? Yes. Not yet, but probably for my last 10 or 15 PTs I'll complete the writing prompt so I'm used to the extra work by the time test day rolls around.

sgtgrumbles wrote:Preparing? No. Including them in my practice tests? Yes. Not yet, but probably for my last 10 or 15 PTs I'll complete the writing prompt so I'm used to the extra work by the time test day rolls around.

You are not used to writing a 3 paragraph response?

Yeah the writing prompt is very brief, and I doubt that it would hurt your chances at a school if it's less than stellar after taking a 5 section exam. How many schools actually use them as a factor in admissions? I would do 6 sections tests rather than 5 sections + writing.

The consensus on here is that many AdComs don't even read the writing section. All you need to do on the writing section is make them think you're relatively normal and not some batshit crazy/serial killer.

d34dluk3 wrote:The consensus on here is that many AdComs don't even read the writing section. All you need to do on the writing section is make them think you're relatively normal and not some batshit crazy/serial killer.

I dunno, I hear Yale is into that kind of thing.

etown989 wrote:

sgtgrumbles wrote:Preparing? No. Including them in my practice tests? Yes. Not yet, but probably for my last 10 or 15 PTs I'll complete the writing prompt so I'm used to the extra work by the time test day rolls around.

You are not used to writing a 3 paragraph response after taking an extremely rigorous and mentally draining exam that's probably sapped most of your cognitive energy?

Fixed your post, and no.

Dont waste your time. I personally think it can help you because I was waitlisted at some schools I had no business being waitlisted at and I think my sample had something to do with this. It was very well written. Thats just a guess though. Maybe me being waitlisted had nothing to do with the writing sample.

In any case, a school isnt going to deny you admission solely because of the writing sample. It isnt included in your score so if you score a 170, they could care less if youre writing sample makes no sense.

Good luck!

Do not do a writing section with each practice test. This is an utter waste of time. Even the bibles say to do a writing section with each PT, I know. But every second spent on the writing section is a second not spent on games, etc. Just do 2 or 3 of them so as not to do so bad on the actual that you ruin your application. If you take 50 practice tests with a writing section, this is, what, 26 hours of your life or prep time wasted.

+1 in LSAT score is worth an infinite amount of improvement in the writing section. Ration your time accordingly.