Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT Forum

Prepare for the LSAT or discuss it with others in this forum.
User avatar
dingbat

Gold
Posts: 4974
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:12 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by dingbat » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:50 am

Micdiddy wrote:
glucose101 wrote:
patienunderstanding wrote:Question to those who already took the LSAT. When you have a booklet in front of you, can you 'delicately' skim through, let say just barely look through it and see what is section 2 or 3 for example?
Um, no.
I was wondering this too. At the end of your first section can't you just flip the page fr a second? How would the procor know you're not going from the 2nd to last page to the last??
If you get caught your score is invalidated and LSAC will inform every school you apply to that you're a cheater.
Basically, your legal career will be dead in the water

User avatar
superbloom

Bronze
Posts: 161
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:49 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by superbloom » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:06 am

In Oct 2011 I had two LRs in the first three sections (1,3). As I was taking it, section 3 seemed "off". I was sure that this was the experimental, and didn't take it as seriously when I ran out of time. After the break, my thoughts were further validated when section 4 was once again a LR. Surely this section was the real deal, so with the joy of correctly guessing the experimental, I felt that I nailed the section.

Section 4 was the experimental. I bombed section 3. Don't do what I did.

User avatar
Micdiddy

Gold
Posts: 2231
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:38 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Micdiddy » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:14 pm

superbloom wrote:In Oct 2011 I had two LRs in the first three sections (1,3). As I was taking it, section 3 seemed "off". I was sure that this was the experimental, and didn't take it as seriously when I ran out of time. After the break, my thoughts were further validated when section 4 was once again a LR. Surely this section was the real deal, so with the joy of correctly guessing the experimental, I felt that I nailed the section.

Section 4 was the experimental. I bombed section 3. Don't do what I did.
Mind of I asked what felt "off" about section 3 that made you sure enough to take it easy??

Also, though we've all heard the stories of experimental RC section with like 30 line passages, which should make it pretty obvious, aren't most EX. sections completely normal? They're trying to gauge that a question is fit to be on the real thing, so most of the time EX passage have questions strongly vetted already and practically identical to real questions, right?

User avatar
superbloom

Bronze
Posts: 161
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:49 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by superbloom » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:54 pm

Micdiddy wrote:
superbloom wrote:In Oct 2011 I had two LRs in the first three sections (1,3). As I was taking it, section 3 seemed "off". I was sure that this was the experimental, and didn't take it as seriously when I ran out of time. After the break, my thoughts were further validated when section 4 was once again a LR. Surely this section was the real deal, so with the joy of correctly guessing the experimental, I felt that I nailed the section.

Section 4 was the experimental. I bombed section 3. Don't do what I did.
Mind of I asked what felt "off" about section 3 that made you sure enough to take it easy??

Also, though we've all heard the stories of experimental RC section with like 30 line passages, which should make it pretty obvious, aren't most EX. sections completely normal? They're trying to gauge that a question is fit to be on the real thing, so most of the time EX passage have questions strongly vetted already and practically identical to real questions, right?
I made the assumption that the experimental section would somehow seem different from the other sections. For me, the section to which I referring was especially difficult and I could not wrap my head around a couple questions. Knowing that I already had a LR section I assumed that this must have been the experiemental. I focused too much on finding the experimental so I must have convinced myself that the difficult questions were somehow flawed. My next time around I got the exact same format (LR,LG,LR,LR,RC) but didn't concern myself with guessing the experimental (This time it was sec. 3). Worked out much better for me. In the end I'm not sure there are any indicators of an experiemental (the LRs are all I've experienced), and if there are, I wasn't sharp enough to catch them.

User avatar
Micdiddy

Gold
Posts: 2231
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:38 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Micdiddy » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:58 pm

superbloom wrote:
Micdiddy wrote:
superbloom wrote:In Oct 2011 I had two LRs in the first three sections (1,3). As I was taking it, section 3 seemed "off". I was sure that this was the experimental, and didn't take it as seriously when I ran out of time. After the break, my thoughts were further validated when section 4 was once again a LR. Surely this section was the real deal, so with the joy of correctly guessing the experimental, I felt that I nailed the section.

Section 4 was the experimental. I bombed section 3. Don't do what I did.
Mind of I asked what felt "off" about section 3 that made you sure enough to take it easy??

Also, though we've all heard the stories of experimental RC section with like 30 line passages, which should make it pretty obvious, aren't most EX. sections completely normal? They're trying to gauge that a question is fit to be on the real thing, so most of the time EX passage have questions strongly vetted already and practically identical to real questions, right?
I made the assumption that the experimental section would somehow seem different from the other sections. For me, the section to which I referring was especially difficult and I could not wrap my head around a couple questions. Knowing that I already had a LR section I assumed that this must have been the experiemental. I focused too much on finding the experimental so I must have convinced myself that the difficult questions were somehow flawed. My next time around I got the exact same format (LR,LG,LR,LR,RC) but didn't concern myself with guessing the experimental (This time it was sec. 3). Worked out much better for me. In the end I'm not sure there are any indicators of an experiemental (the LRs are all I've experienced), and if there are, I wasn't sharp enough to catch them.
No worries, glad it worked out better the second time!

I think people who go into it thinking they will "catch" that pesky experimental section and sit it out are inevitably more likely to A: Guess which section is experimental, and B: Be wrong and do poorly on a real section. I'll prob not risk it, but I can't help but feel a part of my mind will be wondering if I'm doing an experimental section right now...that might be annoying.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
northwood

Platinum
Posts: 5036
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 7:29 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by northwood » Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:16 am

October 10 test. i had RCRC LR in the first 3 sections. Knew one of the RC was experimental but not sure which one. Ended up guessing that the second one was experimental, but it was the first. Didnt matter, I did well enough, but unless you are prepared to take the thing again, go in with the assumption that all 5 sections are graded and there are no experimentals..... then re assess that though process AFTER the last section

** and by last section, I mean when you manage to put something legible down on the writing section**


but you could take a bet as to who actually reads the writing section, and if its graded or not ( that would be a shocker if LSAC decided to actually grade the writing sectoin like a law school exam.....)

User avatar
Scotusnerd

Silver
Posts: 811
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Scotusnerd » Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:04 am

I learned how to recognize the experimental section, but I never gambled with it. Just take five sections of the LSAT at a time when practicing, and your brain will be used to that. No sense in taking a stupid risk when you can avoid it with just a bit more work.

The experimental section tends to either have odd question types, is unusually easy, or is otherwise awkward.

That said, you should never rely on a guess as to whether you need to focus.

User avatar
DaRascal

Gold
Posts: 1853
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:27 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by DaRascal » Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:04 pm

Wow. The fact that everyone in here who did adopt this strategy guessed WRONG. Makes me want to be the first one to guess RIGHT. :mrgreen:

User avatar
20130312

Gold
Posts: 3814
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:53 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by 20130312 » Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:05 pm

DaRascal wrote:Wow. The fact that everyone in here who did adopt this strategy guessed WRONG. Makes me want to be the first one to guess RIGHT. :mrgreen:
You must have missed a) the guy ITT that guessed correctly and b) all the posts saying not to do this.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


User avatar
suspicious android

Silver
Posts: 919
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by suspicious android » Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:42 pm

Scotusnerd wrote:
The experimental section tends to either have odd question types, is unusually easy, or is otherwise awkward.
How many times did you take the LSAT?

User avatar
Clearly

Gold
Posts: 4189
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:09 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Clearly » Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:56 pm

I knew section 1 of my Feb admin was the experimental, but I still put forth my best effort, took it as a warm up basically. The second passage was literally 2 paragraphs, you could have fit 2 questions on the bottom left of the page if you wanted to! It was an absurd anomaly for an RC passage. It wasn't even like concise, it barely had a purpose.

User avatar
Scotusnerd

Silver
Posts: 811
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Scotusnerd » Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:04 pm

suspicious android wrote:How many times did you take the LSAT?

Three times. Scored a 157, a 151, and a 164. Why?

User avatar
suspicious android

Silver
Posts: 919
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:54 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by suspicious android » Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:21 pm

Scotusnerd wrote: Three times. Scored a 157, a 151, and a 164. Why?
Just wondered how many times you dealt with experimental sections.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
mattviphky

Silver
Posts: 1111
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:43 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by mattviphky » Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:08 pm

Scotusnerd wrote:
suspicious android wrote:How many times did you take the LSAT?

Three times. Scored a 157, a 151, and a 164. Why?
3 times for me, as well.

User avatar
Scotusnerd

Silver
Posts: 811
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Has Anyone Here Ever Gambled on the LSAT

Post by Scotusnerd » Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:13 am

mattviphky wrote:3 times for me, as well.
Yah, I remember you inspiring me to make my own thread due to your success :) Looks like we both got to where we wanted to.

But seriously. Friends don't let friends guess which LSAT section is experimental.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


Post Reply

Return to “LSAT Prep and Discussion Forum”