Hi there,
I'm taking the June LSAT. I seem to have plateaued at ~166 and am aiming for 170+. How can I get there?
Background:
After a month of hardcore logic game studying and two weeks of hardcore LR studying, I took three prep tests. Here are my scores:
PT 61: 166
RC: 19/27
LR1: 23/25
LR2: 24/26
AR: 18/23
PT 50: 167
RC: 24/28
LR1: 25/25
LR2: 18/25
AR: 20/22
PT 49: 165
RC: 21/27
LR1: 22/26
LR2: 23/25
AR: 18/22
In my opinion, what's keeping me from 170+ is my inability to finish an LSAT without bombing a single section. In each of these tests, I bomb one section (either LR or RC) and it takes me out of the 170 range. Any tips on maintaining stamina? Also, RC has gotten noticeably harder in the contemporary exams. Any tips on tackling it?
167 --> 170+ Forum
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kilgoretrout66
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:32 am
Re: 167 --> 170+
Sounds like it's time start taking more practice tests.
If you feel like you have a solid grasp of the concepts in the Powerscore bibles (or whatever system you use), then it's the timing aspect of the test that's probably hurting your scores the most. I know that logic games still kick my a** occasionally, but after 15+ practice tests I generally get 1 or 2 questions wrong per LG section compared to the 7-9 I was eating when I first started.
If you feel like it's difficulty with certain concepts, there is of course tons of info on this site and elsewhere regarding study plans/materials/etc. I was impressed by the LR and LG bibles, especially the LG one, though I haven't seen the RC bible since RC's my strong suit to begin with. If the other two books are any indication, though, it's certainly worth a read.
But yeah, mostly I think it's a matter if putting the hours with the damn practice tests. Of course, maybe you have better things to do with your afternoons than spending three hours straight hunched over a desk drawing little black ovals.....
If you feel like you have a solid grasp of the concepts in the Powerscore bibles (or whatever system you use), then it's the timing aspect of the test that's probably hurting your scores the most. I know that logic games still kick my a** occasionally, but after 15+ practice tests I generally get 1 or 2 questions wrong per LG section compared to the 7-9 I was eating when I first started.
If you feel like it's difficulty with certain concepts, there is of course tons of info on this site and elsewhere regarding study plans/materials/etc. I was impressed by the LR and LG bibles, especially the LG one, though I haven't seen the RC bible since RC's my strong suit to begin with. If the other two books are any indication, though, it's certainly worth a read.
But yeah, mostly I think it's a matter if putting the hours with the damn practice tests. Of course, maybe you have better things to do with your afternoons than spending three hours straight hunched over a desk drawing little black ovals.....
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gaud
- Posts: 5765
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 2:58 am
Re: 167 --> 170+
I have been practicing in about the same range for about 10 tests now and I listened to others and took a few days off and FINALLY pulled a 172! Try to get some time off (I took 2 days completely off, not even one thought about the LSAT).
Maybe try cutting out each LR problem that you miss and reviewing it until it the reasoning for the right answer makes ABSOLUTE sense ....it has brought my LR scores from -5ish per section to -4ish total.
Maybe try cutting out each LR problem that you miss and reviewing it until it the reasoning for the right answer makes ABSOLUTE sense ....it has brought my LR scores from -5ish per section to -4ish total.
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incompetentia
- Posts: 2277
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:57 pm
Re: 167 --> 170+
Sounds like you're not taking nearly enough PTs to figure out what you need to do to focus on the test.
You still look like you have -some- weaknesses in each section. Figure out what question types still trip you up.
Even LG should be -0 if you want a solid shot at a 170.
Taking time off is a good idea, but it works better once you've gotten into the rhythm of taking more PTs.
You still look like you have -some- weaknesses in each section. Figure out what question types still trip you up.
Even LG should be -0 if you want a solid shot at a 170.
Taking time off is a good idea, but it works better once you've gotten into the rhythm of taking more PTs.
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koob
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 12:34 am
Re: 167 --> 170+
I have about the exact same problem. My LR sections have ranged from -5 to -2 and RC has been anywhere from -2 to -9 and LG has been -2 to -4. I feel like I understand the concepts, but I just need practice. (I've only one three actual prep tests in one sitting under real conditions, and I've done several timed sections.) It's been like over three weeks since I've done any full prep tests.
Good luck on improving!
Good luck on improving!
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boozehound
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:08 pm
Re: 167 --> 170+
I was similar...but what kept me from breaking 170 is that I was truly 167 level. Afterall, the test is diagnostic.
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Straw_Mandible
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:10 pm
Re: 167 --> 170+
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Last edited by Straw_Mandible on Tue May 03, 2011 1:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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krad
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:33 am
Re: 167 --> 170+
+1 to all of this, good luck!incompetentia wrote:Sounds like you're not taking nearly enough PTs to figure out what you need to do to focus on the test.
You still look like you have -some- weaknesses in each section. Figure out what question types still trip you up.
Even LG should be -0 if you want a solid shot at a 170.
Taking time off is a good idea, but it works better once you've gotten into the rhythm of taking more PTs.
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crumpetsandtea
- Posts: 7147
- Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:57 pm
Re: 167 --> 170+
A few questions first -- what was your cold diag? How are you timing yourself? Which section have you improved on most since starting? The least?
Honestly I would work on LG first. You should be able to get it down to consistently -1 or -2. It's the most learnable section by far (with RC being the least learnable). If you can get your score on LG down to a consistent -1, it will help you a lot, and then you can tackle the less learnable sections.
I'd also second taking a break. I see score drops when I'm feeling burnt out, and my score usually comes back up after I give myself some time to chill out and take a break.
Honestly I would work on LG first. You should be able to get it down to consistently -1 or -2. It's the most learnable section by far (with RC being the least learnable). If you can get your score on LG down to a consistent -1, it will help you a lot, and then you can tackle the less learnable sections.
I'd also second taking a break. I see score drops when I'm feeling burnt out, and my score usually comes back up after I give myself some time to chill out and take a break.
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IronSkadden
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:36 pm
Re: 167 --> 170+
I had a 156 cold diagnostic. I've improved the most on LG. I started with -15. Now I average around -4. I'm planning on a final LG push next week to solidify my gains and hopefully edge up to -2 average.
I'm taking 5 section tests (PTs plus one extra section) and timing myself according to standard LSAT timing (35 minute sections, 10 minute break between 3 and 4).
Thanks for your insight, everyone.
I'm taking 5 section tests (PTs plus one extra section) and timing myself according to standard LSAT timing (35 minute sections, 10 minute break between 3 and 4).
Thanks for your insight, everyone.
