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What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:55 pm
by ijomer
I am getting ready to write October LSAT, and ive finished LRB and LGB (although i should review LGB to refresh my memory).. And I wanted to write a Diagnostics (my first "Timed" 5 section test) to see how i do, and what are my weaknesses and so on.
But before writing it, what must i complete first?
- Should i take one or more "Untimed" preptests first?
- Should I do individual sections to be familiar first?
Or should i jump right in and do the diagnostics? Basically, what are the rules or expectations to be met before trying a timed diagnostics? Thanks
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:58 pm
by dowu
ijomer wrote:I am getting ready to write October LSAT, and ive finished LRB and LGB (although i should review LGB to refresh my memory).. And I wanted to write a Diagnostics (my first "Timed" 5 section test) to see how i do, and what are my weaknesses and so on.
But before writing it, what must i complete first?
- Should i take one or more "Untimed" preptests first?
- Should I do individual sections to be familiar first?
Or should i jump right in and do the diagnostics? Basically, what are the rules or expectations to be met before trying a timed diagnostics? Thanks
There are no rules, dude. You should take the test under timed conditions to see what you're good/bad at. Then go from there. You should also have a plan for which PT you'll start with and which one you'll end with, that way you're not jumping around with some arbitrary order.
Also, REVIEW YOUR PT THOROUGHLY. Know why you got questions wrong and why you got them right; formulate a complete response to each answer choice in order to accomplish this.
Good luck!
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:00 pm
by Nova
^^True
IMO, you might as well just take the timed diag now.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:01 pm
by dowu
Nova wrote:^^True
IMO, you might as well just take the timed diag now.
You little....
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:04 pm
by JamMasterJ
sharpen your pencil.
Seriously, you don't truly know where you need to improve without taking a test under the proper conditions.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:04 pm
by cc.celina
Agreed, but one thing to add: When you run out of time on a section, just mark on your answer sheet where you stopped but keep going until you finish the section, as well as any answers you change after time runs out. This way, you get the benefit of working under time pressure and seeing where your weaknesses are when you're going fast, but you also get to do every question. Keep track of both your timed and untimed scores until you can finish every section comfortably in 35 min. This really helped me out at the beginning of my prep. Plus it's a big motivator to know that you can do better if you just practice enough to get faster! Good luck!
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:09 pm
by bp shinners
JamMasterJ wrote:sharpen your pencil.
I disagree. I find that a dull pencil fills in Scantron bubbles faster.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:14 pm
by dowu
bp shinners wrote:JamMasterJ wrote:sharpen your pencil.
I disagree. I find that a dull pencil fills in Scantron bubbles faster.
I hate the way a dull pencil writes though. Like, if I need to diagram a question right quick, I
need want that pencil nice and sharp
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:20 pm
by Nova
Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:22 pm
by dowu
Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:36 pm
by bp shinners
Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Even better, a two-sided pencil so you don't have to waste time putting one down and picking it up. Not like you can erase on that paper anyway.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:37 pm
by Nova
bp shinners wrote:Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Even better, a two-sided pencil so you don't have to waste time putting one down and picking it up. Not like you can erase on that paper anyway.
Dat efficiency
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:42 pm
by Jeffort
Don't really need to do anything except have a copy of a test you haven't seen before, a bubble sheet, pencils, an eraser, and a watch to keep time with.
It's a good idea to drive somewhere and take it away from home, at library, a coffee shop, wherever you wont be tempted to take breaks to fool around with things where you live. Also, turn off your cell phone, or at least turn off the ringer, and ignore calls and txt messages you receive while you are taking it.
Score it after you have completed all the sections, then review the test thoroughly, questions you answered incorrectly as well as ones you got correct but were uncertain about.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:44 pm
by cc.celina
bp shinners wrote:Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Even better, a two-sided pencil so you don't have to waste time putting one down and picking it up. Not like you can erase on that paper anyway.
This sounds dangerous, I would definitely poke my eye out
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:55 pm
by Jeffort
cc.celina wrote:bp shinners wrote:Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
Even better, a two-sided pencil so you don't have to waste time putting one down and picking it up. Not like you can erase on that paper anyway.
This sounds dangerous, I would definitely poke my eye out
Yeah, I would too, and probably also end up with graphite all over my face and also on my lips and in my mouth. An eraser end is much safer for scratching your face and tastier to suck on/chew on while you think really hard about a question.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:28 pm
by JamMasterJ
Nova wrote:Maybe having multiple pencils at different points on the sharp/dull continuum is TCR.
I used to use three sharp and one dull
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:39 pm
by ijomer
Thanks for the helpful advices. I shall quickly overview LRB and LGB very quick, and then try my first timed diagnostics... October 6th is getting very close!
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:41 pm
by shifty_eyed
I believe this is the credited response.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:39 pm
by dowu
shifty_eyed wrote:
I believe this is the credited response.
those are the best pencils, IMO. The lead isnt shitty when you're tryign to sharpen it.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:41 pm
by Nova
nmop_apisdn wrote: those are the best pencils, IMO. The lead isnt shitty when you're tryign to sharpen it.
I actually bought some because the box said "The World's BEST PENCIL"
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:06 pm
by ijomer
Pencil discussion aside, during diagnostics (since its first time i'll be taking a timed Preptest like everyone else) it is enevitable that i will run out of time, which is natural due to lack of alot of practice. so if on a section 35 minutes are up, and i didnt get to 3 questions.. should i just leave them? or answer them still?
and when marking my test, should i mark them as well? eventhough it was attempted after the 35 minute limit?
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:07 pm
by dowu
Nova wrote:nmop_apisdn wrote: those are the best pencils, IMO. The lead isnt shitty when you're tryign to sharpen it.
I actually bought some because the box said "The World's BEST PENCIL"
lol me too.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:08 pm
by dowu
ijomer wrote:Pencil discussion aside, during diagnostics (since its first time i'll be taking a timed Preptest like everyone else) it is enevitable that i will run out of time, which is natural due to lack of alot of practice. so if on a section 35 minutes are up, and i didnt get to 3 questions.. should i just leave them? or answer them still?
and when marking my test, should i mark them as well? eventhough it was attempted after the 35 minute limit?
Count them as missed questions, for scoring purposes. Still do them to see if you missed them, giving yourself only a few minutes to do them.
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:23 pm
by cc.celina
ijomer wrote:Pencil discussion aside, during diagnostics (since its first time i'll be taking a timed Preptest like everyone else) it is enevitable that i will run out of time, which is natural due to lack of alot of practice. so if on a section 35 minutes are up, and i didnt get to 3 questions.. should i just leave them? or answer them still?
and when marking my test, should i mark them as well? eventhough it was attempted after the 35 minute limit?
What am I chop liver
Re: What to do before the diagnostics?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:45 pm
by ijomer
cc.celina wrote:ijomer wrote:Pencil discussion aside, during diagnostics (since its first time i'll be taking a timed Preptest like everyone else) it is enevitable that i will run out of time, which is natural due to lack of alot of practice. so if on a section 35 minutes are up, and i didnt get to 3 questions.. should i just leave them? or answer them still?
and when marking my test, should i mark them as well? eventhough it was attempted after the 35 minute limit?
What am I chop liver
oh sorry, you had talked about that.. Thanks.