Mastering Pacing Forum

[tomrogers2010]

So I am finished with prepping for the LSAT and I usually get around 90% or more of the questions correct untimed. The problem is, that this number dropped severely after I started to time myself. Has anyone else experienced the same thing and how long did it take to overcome this? More importantly, what strategies did you use to return to that 90% or more correct in the timed setting. Thanks.

[KibblesAndVick]

You just have to start taking timed tests. Buy an acceptable non-digital watch and be strict about limiting each section to 35 minutes. The more you do it, the more natural it will become. You'll start to develop an internal clock and "get a feel" for how fast you need to be going in order to finish in time. Additionally, as you take more and more tests you will start to notice that the test is repetitive. They don't recycle questions but the concepts often reappear from test to test with only minor variations. IMO, the key to being able to finish in time is quickly answering the easy questions so you can spend more time on the difficult ones. This sounds obvious but because you're working with such a limited amount of time I think it helps if you consciously speed through the easy questions (typically the early LR questions, and while the order might change there's almost always some "easy" RC passage and LG). There isn't any sort of silver bullet, you just have to practice and practice and practice and practice.

The LSAT is designed so that the average test taker does not have enough time to finish each section. This is one of the hardest things about the test. Once you more or less master the material itself you move onto a new stage. It becomes more about mind games. Your ability to stay focused and manage the 35 minutes becomes the obstacle after you've overcome the actual problems themselves.