Still* Freaking out right now.... Forum

[darkatillam2]

This is build off of my older thread I had posted a month or so ago regarding the lack of progress I've made on the LSAT after reading all the bibles, the superprep, Master the LSAT (nova), and taking multiple PTs.


So I need advice. I'm literally out of idea's at this point. Since my last post, I was averaging around 155 after reading all the materials above and taking PTS 20-25.

Since then, I've been able to slowly increase my scores to around the low 160s (with a high of 165). Today, I took PT 34 and scored a 154. I missed more LR questions on one section than I ever have since I began my LSAT prep. I'm feeling pretty down at this point. There was a solid 2 weeks where I was making a lot of LR progress, but recently (and even more so today) it seems like all that just disappeared. In addition, my RC sections seem to be getting worse instead of better.

I have been taking the advice of you kind posters by reviewing, and writing down all the questions I got wrong with explanations on why the correct answer is correct and why the wrong answer is wrong. On the day I review, I'd say 40% are questions I made stupid mistakes on that have a simple "duh" by the correct answer. 50% are questions I end up realizing the error in my ways relatively soon, and 10% are ones that are realistically hard for me to figure out. Overall, I wish I could say reviewing has been helping me, but my graph of scores seemed to have indicated otherwise (starting 150s, up to 160-165, back down to 160-155).

I really don't know whether I should take a short break from studying, or study harder to make up for my poor performance. All in all, getting terrible PT scores really kills my motivation. With every PT comes the depressing reminder of how far I am from my goal of a 170, with even less time I have to improve.

In conclusion: take a break or study harder?

[incompetentia]

A week before the test, I took PT60 and scored 7 points below my cold diagnostic.


I took a break, and my test-day score was +12 on my diag.


(Yes, take a break)

[ElvisAaron]

This is build off of my older thread I had posted a month or so ago regarding the lack of progress I've made on the LSAT after reading all the bibles, the superprep, Master the LSAT (nova), and taking multiple PTs.


So I need advice. I'm literally out of idea's at this point. Since my last post, I was averaging around 155 after reading all the materials above and taking PTS 20-25.

Since then, I've been able to slowly increase my scores to around the low 160s (with a high of 165). Today, I took PT 34 and scored a 154. I missed more LR questions on one section than I ever have since I began my LSAT prep. I'm feeling pretty down at this point. There was a solid 2 weeks where I was making a lot of LR progress, but recently (and even more so today) it seems like all that just disappeared. In addition, my RC sections seem to be getting worse instead of better.

I have been taking the advice of you kind posters by reviewing, and writing down all the questions I got wrong with explanations on why the correct answer is correct and why the wrong answer is wrong. On the day I review, I'd say 40% are questions I made stupid mistakes on that have a simple "duh" by the correct answer. 50% are questions I end up realizing the error in my ways relatively soon, and 10% are ones that are realistically hard for me to figure out. Overall, I wish I could say reviewing has been helping me, but my graph of scores seemed to have indicated otherwise (starting 150s, up to 160-165, back down to 160-155).

I really don't know whether I should take a short break from studying, or study harder to make up for my poor performance. All in all, getting terrible PT scores really kills my motivation. With every PT comes the depressing reminder of how far I am from my goal of a 170, with even less time I have to improve.

In conclusion: take a break or study harder?

Take a break. When you restart, quit taking PTs and drill question types and then individual sections.

[capsman11]

Sounds like burnout. Take a few days off and you'll return to the gains you'd been making. Don't underestimate the power of rest. The first time I broke 170 on a PT was right after a three day break.

[Miznitic]

There is no such thing as burnout. Burnout is an excuse to slack.

The only advise I can give, is to practice as much/as often as you can. Go over past questions/games as often as you do the new practice tests. Repetition is crucial.

[Lady Croft]

Stop timing yourself. Most people panic when they have a time limit to work under. Try without and see if you still make those stupid mistakes.

[swc65]

There is no such thing as burnout. Burnout is an excuse to slack.

The only advise I can give, is to practice as much/as often as you can. Go over past questions/games as often as you do the new practice tests. Repetition is crucial.

That's BS. there is definitely a limit for nearly everyone and burnout certainly exists.

[swc65]

I would take a break. I had a similar issue and taking a break helped a lot. I often found that if i tried too hard, I just got sick of taking tests and missed stupid shit for no reason other than not paying attention. Also, studying for the LSAT can be kind of fun. The logic games are just puzzles to be solved. The articles can be very interesting too (I also noticed that I missed fewer questions in RC when I found a reason to care about the articles).


Also, you have improved a lot already. So don't get down. You should be proud of the progress you have made and use that to motivate you to do better.

. On the day I review, I'd say 40% are questions I made stupid mistakes on that have a simple "duh" by the correct answer.

I had similar problems with my LSAT. With the stupid mistakes, I found that I really just need to slow down (especially with LG) and come up with a checklist of my most common dumbass moves and use that checklist on the tests to look for those mistakes. So figure out what it is you are doing. Are you reading too fast and missing words? If so, underline each word with your finger or your pen as you read to slow your mind down.

I had a nasty habit of skipping over a rule in LG, so I just started putting checks marks next to each rule after I read it (started out missing 7 or 8 and ended up missing 0 on game day). With RC I found myself always too focused on marking up the passage and missed a few questions due to that. So I just stopped doing it! that combined with finding a reason to care about the passage and I missed two on game day after missing 5 repeatedly on PTs.

As for LR, just knowing the categories of LR questions, thinking about which cat. the question i was reading fit into, and attackinig the question based on that helped me a lot (started out missing 7 or so and missed 2 or 3 on game day).

[northwood]

you have improved a great deal. take a few days off and recharge your brain. you are demonstrating the classic signs of burnout.

[darkatillam2]

Thanks everyone.



I guess I'll take a day or two off from taking full PTs. I think I'll review my old test, start re-reading some LR bible chapters and maybe take a few individual sections and see if that helps.

I don't think I can let myself take too many days off without freaking out that test day is getting closer and I have so much work left to do. But, maybe I can spare a day or two without a full test to take.

Thanks for advice everyone!

[Stonewall]

you're going to score up and down. it happens to everyone. i know when pt 58 came along i got destroyed and pissed but then came back with the 60s, stick with it.