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My first five preptests have gone like this, chronologically: 163, 162, 161, 161, 165. I really want a 168 on the real test. Do you think I have enough time before Oct. 9 to increase my score? I know this is kind of a stupid question, but I guess I'm asking if significant improvement can be gained. I don't have any specific weaknesses other than logic games, but even when I do reasonably well on them, I'll bomb RC or something. The 165 represents a pretty good LR score, a decent RC score (-4) and my always lackluster LG score (-7). Can totally nailing LG help me out? Is it possible to get down to a -2 with only three weeks left?

Definitely. You will get a moment when it "clicks" and LG won't be as nearly as hard.

Very possible, if you put the time in. Keep working at it until you master the art of diagramming these games. Perhaps most importantly, get in the habit of only doing them under strictly timed conditions, as close to actual test conditions as possible. I'm down to a consistent -1/-2 on LG, and it really only took a few weeks of hard work to get to that comfort level.

are you taking older or newer (PT40+) tests?

God, I can't wait for that "clicking" moment. And so far I've taken the Superprep tests and pretests 47, 48 and 49. Why, are they harder/easier?

What are superprep tests? I've heard of them but I don't know what they are...are they real LSAT pt's?

whymeohgodno wrote:What are superprep tests? I've heard of them but I don't know what they are...are they real LSAT pt's?

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure they're only available by buying the LSAT Superprep book (which is why they are so named).

168 is purgatory. Trust me. You want to be aiming for 170.

delBarco wrote:168 is purgatory. Trust me. You want to be aiming for 170.

Yeah, but isn't a 170 a little out of my range when my highest score so far is a 165? I mean, I'd love a 170. That was my originally goal. I'm just afraid I'm running out of time.

millanda wrote:

delBarco wrote:168 is purgatory. Trust me. You want to be aiming for 170.

Yeah, but isn't a 170 a little out of my range when my highest score so far is a 165? I mean, I'd love a 170. That was my originally goal. I'm just afraid I'm running out of time.

the rule of thumb is to expect to drop some amount points, 3 probably being the median amount, from PT average to test day. If your highest score so far is a 165, then you're reeeeeally stretching. But since you've only taken 5 practice tests, you're still on the good end of the learning curve. Logic games are the most learnable, so in crunchtime I would focus on those.

If you REALLY want that 168, I would suggest going through the logic games bible over the next four days. Then spend 10 more days doing 10-12 logic games a day in succession (that's 2.5-3 sections). Make sure and review every single question you got wrong and figure out why. I won't guarantee you'll get down to a perfect score, but the odds are a heck of a lot better when doing LG is second nature to you. that would leave you like a week to take some more practice exams and get comfortable with the test.

That's doable, you just have to decide you really want it.

Meh, I know. I don't really know what to do. I'm in school full time and I work part time, so it's hard to do an insane amount of studying every day. But I really don't want to wait until the next cycle to apply to law school. Ugh, I'm just lost.

millanda wrote:Meh, I know. I don't really know what to do. I'm in school full time and I work part time, so it's hard to do an insane amount of studying every day. But I really don't want to wait until the next cycle to apply to law school. Ugh, I'm just lost.

it wouldn't be a bad idea to postpone the lsat to december so you can relax your study schedule a bit, and send in your apps right with your lsat score in the beginning of january.

delBarco wrote: it wouldn't be a bad idea to postpone the lsat to december so you can relax your study schedule a bit, and send in your apps right with your lsat score in the beginning of january.

Yeah, but (and I'm sorry about the continuous questions) from what I've read on here, that's considered pretty late, and I'm not entirely sure the extra two months is going to make my score significantly better (especially since I'll still be in school). Wouldn't I have to get a kickass score in order to get into anywhere decent that late in the game?

If you got in the 160's taking the LSAT cold, under timed conditions, you should be able to get to 170. Especially since it seems you really have not studied too much. Is waiting a year worth worth it to you for the possibility of getting into the 170's and having a shot at at a whole different range of schools?

In any case, if you would be able to find a good amount of time to study for the December test, that seems like the best option. A few points are well worth submitting your apps early January. The downside is you don't have a safety net if anything comes up or you just have a poor performance on test day.

I agree that you should study more if you want to aim for the high 160s or even 170s. If you are practicing in the mid to low 160s range, you will most likely score in the low 160s, possibly a 160. Most people I know scored about 3-5 points below their PT range, unless they studied for a while longer (which means taking lots more PTs) or took the test a second time. I wouldn't hold out for a miracle or take a gamble on a test like the LSAT, which is so important to your app.

Keep on studying and good luck!

Interesting, interesting. Thank you all for the help ... I really do appreciate having you guys to ask, because I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. There are so many factors playing into this, and the other thing I should probably mention is that I'll definitely need financial aid. I know I'll be taking out tons of loans, but I'd like to keep that to a minimum. Is it still possible to get financial aid/scholarships while applying in January? UF is my in-state school of choice, and their website says that applying later doesn't decrease your chances, so that's good to know. But would they give me less money because I'm applying so late?

delBarco wrote:168 is purgatory. Trust me. You want to be aiming for 170.

168 isn't too bad, depending on your GPA. In my experience at least. But yes more points is always better.

rad law wrote:

delBarco wrote:168 is purgatory. Trust me. You want to be aiming for 170.

168 isn't too bad, depending on your GPA. In my experience at least. But yes more points is always better.

I guess we have two different experiences for how useful a 168 is