October 2012 Retakers Forum

[espressocream]

The bf came back to town last night after two months so I haven't prepped since Friday...

Going to try some Kaplan Mastery tonight...we'll see how that goes.
I'm motivated but not in a good mood about it.

[andreskicdo]

espresso just chug through it, only 2 months away....I realize prepping for the LSAt is like going to the gym: you hate going, you delay going, but once you're done wrokign out you are so glad you did it. So keep up the work. Doing some LR drilling then a chapter of Velocity games. I wanted to do some LR bible reading tonight, but doubt I can read 2 or more pages of that....

[espressocream]

espresso just chug through it, only 2 months away....I realize prepping for the LSAt is like going to the gym: you hate going, you delay going, but once you're done wrokign out you are so glad you did it. So keep up the work. Doing some LR drilling then a chapter of Velocity games. I wanted to do some LR bible reading tonight, but doubt I can read 2 or more pages of that....

Intentional?

Hah you are so right. What's funny is that I'll happily go to the gym - it's so mindless.
LSAT prep requires me to focus and sit still for hours.

Going to prep now...

[Honey_Badger]

Off topic, but key to mental health of retakers:
Bought a Swedish massage with hot rock therapy and wine (gotta love Groupon) for October 5.
Gonna be niiiiiiice and relaxed......(for an hour, at least)

I hope everyone plots out something to do for themselves in the days before the test. (I'm just 'planning ahead' as a stalling tactic...)

[Psib337]

Off topic, but key to mental health of retakers:
Bought a Swedish massage with hot rock therapy and wine (gotta love Groupon) for October 5.
Gonna be niiiiiiice and relaxed......(for an hour, at least)

I hope everyone plots out something to do for themselves in the days before the test. (I'm just 'planning ahead' as a stalling tactic...)

That's actually a really good idea, me and my friend are taking the test together, we're planning on grabbing lunch and drinks (mostly drinks) afterwards but a massage the day before would be amazing

[anteater1]

^^ TITCR.

After the last test we literally walked to the bar for margaritas and tequila side-cars. Particularly awesome cause I stopped drinking when I was prepping. If anyone happens to be taking the test in Fullerton, CA per chance Cantina Lounge after the test comes highly recommended.

[Br3v]

I remember so much on PTs, I'm worried

[EstherG]

I remember so much on PTs, I'm worried

Me too. I'm slowly realizing that I've actually done a lot more of the questions than I had initially thought. My plan is to just make sure I review everything thoroughly and really think through the questions as I do them this time. Still trying to work out how to get a sense of my progress though...

[Br3v]

I remember so much on PTs, I'm worried

Me too. I'm slowly realizing that I've actually done a lot more of the questions than I had initially thought. My plan is to just make sure I review everything thoroughly and really think through the questions as I do them this time. Still trying to work out how to get a sense of my progress though...

I remember it saying somewhere that you need to do what you're doing and have faith that you're making progress. Then as you get close to the test start taking those unused PTs at they are the only way to know for sure that you've progressed.

this is the problem as I have no unused PT's lol. Though I do feel like I am making progress. The test structure is even more familiar to me now than June.

[DaRascal]

My needs.... 165... +/- 1

And I feel really dumb compared to just about everyone else on TLS because most seem to be aiming for 175+ and I've never hit that high in over 20 PTs.

[DaRascal]

My needs.... 165... +/- 1

And I feel really dumb compared to just about everyone else on TLS because most seem to be aiming for 175+ and I've never hit that high in over 20 PTs.

Your new goal is 175, make it your reality. PTing 175 is the best way to ensure 165.

I was shooting for 165 in June, PTing 163-168 and then bombed to 158. Shoot for the stars and hit the ceiling comrad.

We literally have exactly the same story.

[Ruxin1]

My needs.... 165... +/- 1

And I feel really dumb compared to just about everyone else on TLS because most seem to be aiming for 175+ and I've never hit that high in over 20 PTs.

Your new goal is 175, make it your reality. PTing 175 is the best way to ensure 165.

I was shooting for 165 in June, PTing 163-168 and then bombed to 158. Shoot for the stars and hit the ceiling comrad.

We literally have exactly the same story.

Except WormFather is a good poster

[Br3v]

This is a hate free thread.

[Psib337]

My needs.... 165... +/- 1

And I feel really dumb compared to just about everyone else on TLS because most seem to be aiming for 175+ and I've never hit that high in over 20 PTs.

That's my goal too but this time I'm going in with a mentality of 180 because last time I had a, "Well, it's OK if I miss this question because I can get up to 15 questions wrong and still be good." I also used to hate/get intimidated this site because people freaking out about -4 and worried about not getting into HYS and I was at -30 worried about not getting in anywhere. Then this time around I opted for a more zen approach to everything, I am where I am and it is what it is and whatever scores I get on PTs is just a measure of where I am right now, nothing more nothing less (especially since this test is more like one giant mind game than an actual test of your intelligence). As for the actual test I'm not taking it again so I'm gonna get what I get run with it and see what happens whether it's a 155, 165, or 175.

[DaRascal]

My needs.... 165... +/- 1

And I feel really dumb compared to just about everyone else on TLS because most seem to be aiming for 175+ and I've never hit that high in over 20 PTs.

That's my goal too but this time I'm going in with a mentality of 180 because last time I had a, "Well, it's OK if I miss this question because I can get up to 15 questions wrong and still be good."

I went in with that 180 mentality in June but test day rolled around and I only got four hours of sleep and then when I actually got to the test I thought I was doing well so when RC came up I was like "OK I just need to get like -5 in here and I'm good". Of course I was trying to get every question right but that mentality made me deviate from my normal system of diagramming because I was worried if I diagrammed I wouldn't finish the section in time.

Now I'm not sure if I want to go in with that same aggressive 180 mentality again or if I want to slow the test down like I did in PTs and barely finish each section.

[DaRascal]

I'm thinking my October plan of attack will be:

LR: Slightly more aggressive than in PTs since the aggressive 180 style did net me a -3 section in June.
RC: Passive approach with focus on diagramming. Accuracy over Speed. Will not be devastated to take educated guesses on the last two questions in the section at most.
LG: All out aggressive 180 style. If I miss a rule or misunderstand a game then so be it since time is always an issue.

[espressocream]

Did the Kaplan Mastery Flaw questions packet.

Missed 20 out of 95.
Pretty frustrated, LR is my weakest section and it doesn't feel like I'm improving.

[ironbmike]

Edit

[espressocream]

I am retaking in October. Last time I took was October 2010. My big flaw was LG and I never really felt prepared for them, so that is what I am focusing on this time. Last time all I did was Kaplan prep, and I feel that it didn't really help. I naturally do well on the rest of the test, so I think I'm going to ignore prepping for that and just focus on LG. Maybe brush up a bit on the other stuff.

You think two months is enough time? Scored 162 last time and was generally around a 50% scorer for games and 70-80% on rest. I really just want to hold the line with everything but raise my games to get at least a 165.

If you haven't already, get the LGB. After reading through it start drilling. Be sure to do each game you have access to at least twice/thrice (spread out of course). For me, I mastered games within a few weeks - it's the easiest section of the test you can improve on. Get on it!

[ironbmike]

I am retaking in October. Last time I took was October 2010. My big flaw was LG and I never really felt prepared for them, so that is what I am focusing on this time. Last time all I did was Kaplan prep, and I feel that it didn't really help. I naturally do well on the rest of the test, so I think I'm going to ignore prepping for that and just focus on LG. Maybe brush up a bit on the other stuff.

You think two months is enough time? Scored 162 last time and was generally around a 50% scorer for games and 70-80% on rest. I really just want to hold the line with everything but raise my games to get at least a 165.

If you haven't already, get the LGB. After reading through it start drilling. Be sure to do each game you have access to at least twice/thrice (spread out of course). For me, I mastered games within a few weeks - it's the easiest section of the test you can improve on. Get on it!

Yup I got the LGB and am two chapters in. I'm just debating the merits of spending the time and money to retake the test and try to improve, or letting my score sit and applying as soon as admissions open up. I have roughly a 55% shot at my target school with my current score.

Edit: So I've been studying the LGB, but haven't signed up for the Oct test yet.

[ironbmike]

Edit: So I've been studying the LGB, but haven't signed up for the Oct test yet. Deadline is this week so I need to decide now.

Yeah, you're going to have to be careful about what "facts" you put out there. The deadline is september 4th.

Almost gave me a heart attack! In the wise words of State Senator Clay Davis Shiiiiiiiit!

Sorry, looked at the wrong deadline...thanks for the catch.

[espressocream]

Need advice.

What do you guys think of doing an untimed PT almost daily through August?
I'm not afraid of burn out since I won't be in school and I only work part time. These will also be untimed, and so I won't be too stressed out.
It'd be a solid 3-4 hours of studying/review.

[99.9luft]

Need advice.

What do you guys think of doing an untimed PT almost daily through August?
I'm not afraid of burn out since I won't be in school and I only work part time. These will also be untimed, and so I won't be too stressed out.
It'd be a solid 3-4 hours of studying/review.

my 2 cents:

I don't recommend this. You need to be used to the pace of timed exams. The only thing i'd do untimed is the SOS method (after doing a section timed, do it untimed without checking the answers).

[Br3v]

Not a fan of untimed anything tbh

[flem]

I'm postponing until December. I want to be 100% confident I won't score below a 170, because I am not taking this fucker again. My work schedule has been crazy so I haven't been able to prep/PT as much as I'd like to be able to since I'm working 50-60 hour weeks. Still having minor trouble with games, usually the really high end, unusual ones or due to stupid mistakes. Time to keep drilling.