PT average of 170+ vs real score Forum

[gaud]

For those of you who were practice testing in the 170's, did your scores drop on the real test?
If so, how much?

[jpSartre]

170 average 167 real deal

[birdlaw117]

173 Average. 173 Real deal

[incompetentia]

PT average above 170, scored above my PT average on the test.


If you're PTing above 170 to start with, you have at most 1-2 question-type weaknesses across the entire exam. The key to maximizing your score, then, is to remain calm and focused on the exam. (Also, work those last question-type weaknesses. They're all learnable, to varying degrees.)

I had a playlist of mellow music specifically tailored for my drive there (had a 32-minute drive, and made the playlist 36 so I could chill listening to the last song in the car before I went into the testing location). This helped me tremendously - you have to figure out what works for you.

[fosterp]

I averaged about 172-173 on my PT

170 on actual, my actual should have been lower but I had some lucky guesses in there

[sanetruth]

Well I categorized my averages three ways:

Average including diagnostic: 167

Average without diagnostic: 168

Average during re-take studying: 169

Test day score: 171

My first score was way below where I was PTing, and my second score was slightly above, so I guess it evens out!

[poi]

.

[Bumi]

My first test, in 2003, was about 5 points less than where I was PTing. My more recent test, in 2010, was right on. Already having a good job made me much more relaxed about the whole thing.

[TJISMYHERO]

6 pts below pt average. Zero sleep the night before the test due to a literal crackhead almost knocking down my front door.

[stowhat]

I was PTing around 172, ended up with a 168. My test center conditions were not ideal and I think that affected my score. If I could do it over again, I would take a few practice tests in places with distractions.

[Capitol A]

For those of you who were practice testing in the 170's, did your scores drop on the real test?
If so, how much?

Average around 173 (Highest: 179, lowest after initial diagnostic:170). Real thing: 165. I could say that my testing conditions weren't ideal, but I don't think that was the problem. If I had it to do over again, I think I would have just planned from the beginning to take it twice. I'm happy with where I'm going to end up going to school and with the cost of attendance though, so oh well.

[poi]

I was PTing around 172, ended up with a 168. My test center conditions were not ideal and I think that affected my score. If I could do it over again, I would take a few practice tests in places with distractions.

[JamMasterJ]

I PT'd around 172-174 but ended up with a 166. However, I only took 12 full length tests, so I think my unfamiliarity with the test was a huge factor. Retaking in October with 3+ months of study

[Capitol A]

I was PTing around 172, ended up with a 168. My test center conditions were not ideal and I think that affected my score. If I could do it over again, I would take a few practice tests in places with distractions.

+1. And have the dorkiest people you can find make idiotic comments between every section:
Guy who looks like he get's picked on by the accounting club: "It's 73degrees in here. I really prefer 74.5."
Random nerd #1: "This light is too bright, can we dim it a little?"
Ugly girl #2: "No way. It's way too dark in here. I need it brighter."
Guy sitting next to me who smells like he hasn't showered in 2 months: "This pencil has a pink eraser. Does anyone have one with a green eraser? I'll have to cancel my score if I use a pink eraser."

[Kurst]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 0#p3451805

[bothered]

176 PT, 173 actual.

I was disappoint.

[splitmuch]

Last 5 PTs were 180 180 179 180 180...Real deal was a 178. Is it sick that I actually spent more than 5 minutes considering a retake?

[glitter178]

Last 5 PTs were 180 180 179 180 180...Real deal was a 178. Is it sick that I actually spent more than 5 minutes considering a retake?

Yes.

[bothered]

Last 5 PTs were 180 180 179 180 180...Real deal was a 178. Is it sick that I actually spent more than 5 minutes considering a retake?

Only if you decided against it.

RETAKE.

[NikaneOkie]

My PT and test score on the real LSAT were the same

Nevertheless, you should try to assume that you're going to get 3 less than your last 10 PT scores averaged.
People tend to stay in that range +/- 3 (more minuses though).
I strongly suggest doing your best to be confident in your own perfection all the way up until the test, and then immediately following the test, convince yourself that you probably got 3-5 points lower than you expected.

[splitmuch]

Last 5 PTs were 180 180 179 180 180...Real deal was a 178. Is it sick that I actually spent more than 5 minutes considering a retake?

Yes.

To be fair it was only like 10 minutes. But I had gotten in such a groove taking them that I was honestly a little disappointed. Plus I had gotten cocky and went out the night before (didn't get drunk but had a couple beers and ended up talking the cops out of arresting my buddy at 2 30) so I thought that if I wasn't an idiot about it I had a good shot at the 180. Ultimately though decided it wouldn't help me in admissions virtually at all and that I shouldn't let ALL my decisions be driven by hubris.

[gggrra]

PT was about 3-4 higher than my actual test (~172-173 vs. 169). I would attribute it to totally getting destroyed on the games section (which is usually -1 or -0 for me). I struggle with 1 type of game in particular, and figured that there was like a 10-15% chance that the particular game type would not appear. It did... additionally I initially misread an easy games in the section which sucked up extra time. Needless to say, studying for the June test this time around, I'm drilling games... hard.

[Capitol A]

PT was about 3-4 higher than my actual test (~172-173 vs. 169). I would attribute it to totally getting destroyed on the games section (which is usually -1 or -0 for me). I struggle with 1 type of game in particular, and figured that there was like a 10-15% chance that the particular game type would not appear. It did... additionally I initially misread an easy games in the section which sucked up extra time. Needless to say, studying for the June test this time around, I'm drilling games... hard.

I had actually forgotten, but I got killed on games also. There was one that was a little different from any that i had seen before. Now that you mention it, it seems like a lot of people who are disappointed with their score say that they struggled with games on the real deal.

[czelede]

These threads of stories about test day drop freaked the fuck out of me during the month I was waiting for my score. Being a huge splitter, the very decision to attend law school was contingent on how I did.

I ended up scoring 1 point above my mean (though I hit my mode) but I was panicking during the last two sections because I felt I screwed up the experimental (3rd section, and I was convinced the 1st was the experimental) and then panicking even more until the score actually came out. This doesn't bode well for (waiting for my grades from) law school exams.

[Capitol A]

These threads of stories about test day drop freaked the fuck out of me during the month I was waiting for my score. Being a huge splitter, the very decision to attend law school was contingent on how I did.

I ended up scoring 1 point above my mean (though I hit my mode) but I was panicking during the last two sections because I felt I screwed up the experimental (3rd section, and I was convinced the 1st was the experimental) and then panicking even more until the score actually came out. This doesn't bode well for (waiting for my grades from) law school exams.

The fact that you knew your mean and your mode of your PTs proves that what you are saying in that first sentence MUST be true.