Switching Sytems? Testmasters to Powerscore Forum

[Chambo]

I've been taking a Testmasters prep course (and have had a very pleasant experience with the company and instructor) but haven't been able to put in much time outside of the class until recently. I've improved pretty significantly in this time, going from a 156 to a 162 in about two weeks. However, I don't feel like I've come close to reaching my potential, especially considering I'm still getting -8 to -10 on games, and have yet to work on "polishing" the other sections. In light of this, I have decided to take the test in October.

My dilemma is that I lose access to the Testmasters resources (answer keys, explanations etc...) once my class ends, and would need to pay a lot more money to maintain access to it over the summer. I feel like I could get more bang for my buck by buying the Powerscore books, which everyone seems to recommend.

I hear these two systems are pretty similar, and I've looked at a friend's PS LG bible and it did indeed seem very close to what I've learned, at least on the surface. Do you think it would be too difficult to switch from one system to the other?

[gaud]

You'll be fine, their methods are not too different.

[CanadianWolf]

PwerScore was started by former TestMasters instructors.

[gaud]

PwerScore was started by former TestMasters instructors.

Makes sense why the classes are SO similar.

[Chambo]

Yeah, I heard somewhere the PowerScore was started by former Testmasters people, but wasn't quite sure if it was true. Either way, I hope I can make the switch and maybe take a bit from both systems to see what works for me.

On a side note, would you guys recommend withdrawing from the June LSAT entirely, or taking it and cancelling the score? I would hate to just flush the money down the drain and having a test run under real conditions that I'll be facing in October could be great, but I've heard that having a cancelled score could hurt your chances. Or, at the very least, schools would pick someone with just one score over somebody with a score and a cancelled test.

[gaud]

Yeah, I heard somewhere the PowerScore was started by former Testmasters people, but wasn't quite sure if it was true. Either way, I hope I can make the switch and maybe take a bit from both systems to see what works for me.

On a side note, would you guys recommend withdrawing from the June LSAT entirely, or taking it and cancelling the score? I would hate to just flush the money down the drain and having a test run under real conditions that I'll be facing in October could be great, but I've heard that having a cancelled score could hurt your chances. Or, at the very least, schools would pick someone with just one score over somebody with a score and a cancelled test.

I doubt that a cancel will considerably hurt your options. But I would recommend waiting until October. In my experience, LG is easy points once you learn how to do the games. -8 to -10 is a lot of points to be missing and if you could fix that your score would be DRASTICALLY different (the difference between getting into an entirely different range of schools with $$$). I would wait; this test is likely to be one of the most important tests you ever take, so be serious about it.

[jortiz682]

It won't run under real conditions if you know you're cancelling, just FYI. Can't simulate anxiety knowing the test literally makes or breaks all of your hopes and dreams for law school and thereafter. Just saying. Depending on what you're shooting for. Real anxiety is inimitable.

[Grond]

PwerScore was started by former TestMasters instructors.

No it fucking wasn't.
Killoran was the co-founder and co-owner of Testmasters.

Also, if OP had taken a Powerscore class to begin with, they would have unlimited free access to the online materials through the October test, like every other Powerscore student.

[CanadianWolf]

Yes, it was. In fact, PowerScore copyrighted TestMaster training material that the latter had failed to protect. Many PowerScore instructors briefly review the inter-related history of the two test prep companies at the start of the course.

P.S. David M. Killoran, author of the PowerScore Bibles, has substantial LSAT prep course teaching experience--well over 15 years.

[Grond]

Yes, it was. In fact, PowerScore copyrighted TestMaster training material that the latter had failed to protect. Many PowerScore instructors briefly review the inter-related history of the two test prep companies at the start of the course.

My point being that Powerscore was founded by an owner of Testmasters, not former employees of TM. If you ever meet Dave and want to piss him off, remind him there are idiots out there who think he was a TM employee.

[CanadianWolf]

My point is still correct.

P.S. Killoran taught LSAT courses. If TestMasters was incorporated, then Killoran was an employee even though he may also have been a shareholder. If it was a partnership, then he didn't need to be an employee--but he was an instructor, nevertheless.

[Grond]

My point is still correct.

P.S. Killoran taught LSAT courses. If TestMasters was incorporated, then Killoran was an employee even though he may also have been a shareholder.

I think we're talking about different things now. If your point is the courses are similar because they were created by the same person, of course, I agree. Back to my point: No, TM wasn't incorporated at the beginning, and Dave was never an employee. And your use of the plural "employees" makes it sound like it was a blueprint type scenario, and no one should ever be compared to Trent.