February 2013 LSAT Study Group Forum

[Theopliske8711]

Took PT 58 today (176, woohoo):

LR1: -1
RC: -1
LG: -3
LR2: -0
Total = -5

Super excited about -1 on RC during a PT, although I got -3 on the RC section I took right beforehand as an experimental (from PT 15). Officially nervous about logic games, have started drilling again.

Does anyone have any good tips for grouping games? Not the in/out ones that can be mapped with the nifty chart, the messy ones.. I know there's got to be a system, but if there is, I think I've forgotten it. Probably time to hit the books again.

If you can get a good handle on the Manhattan LG method, you'll probably nail them. Its a tough method to master and I personally don't like it. Otherwise, i just make a t chart and do both the actual rule and the contra-positive right under it. It takes a bit, but I think it's worth it since it lets you plow through by seeing all the connections more clearly. The Manhattan method is similar but it has a lot of up and down notations that can get ugly.

[Jcastro1]

How about that last game on PT58. My -2 on LG came from that game alone (last 2 questions). Definitely going to redo.

Also, MostDangerous, what's your study plan these last two weeks? Proportion of drilling vs. PTing?

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Took PT 58 today (176, woohoo):

LR1: -1
RC: -1
LG: -3
LR2: -0
Total = -5

Super excited about -1 on RC during a PT, although I got -3 on the RC section I took right beforehand as an experimental (from PT 15). Officially nervous about logic games, have started drilling again.

Does anyone have any good tips for grouping games? Not the in/out ones that can be mapped with the nifty chart, the messy ones.. I know there's got to be a system, but if there is, I think I've forgotten it. Probably time to hit the books again.

If you can get a good handle on the Manhattan LG method, you'll probably nail them. Its a tough method to master and I personally don't like it. Otherwise, i just make a t chart and do both the actual rule and the contra-positive right under it. It takes a bit, but I think it's worth it since it lets you plow through by seeing all the connections more clearly. The Manhattan method is similar but it has a lot of up and down notations that can get ugly.

I read the second edition of the Manhattan LG guide, but never finished the third. Think I'll go back and do that. I'm pretty sure I'm using the Manhattan method you're referring to, but it does indeed get pretty messy with certain games.. for a couple I've just ended up writing out rules and going problem by problem (which is obviously taking way too long and killing me). Maybe I should do the in-out chart that I believe you're referring to (the T-chart?). But yeah, definitely hitting the Manhattan LG guide again.

Thanks for the advice.

[epiphinous7]

How about that last game on PT58. My -2 on LG came from that game alone (last 2 questions). Definitely going to redo

On those sorts of grouping games for specific questions I sometimes write out (in this case) hlmpstw and cross out as I apply rules. An accumulation of these allows to answer #22 and for #23 that you just look at your set rules to infer.

[TheMostDangerousLG]

How about that last game on PT58. My -2 on LG came from that game alone (last 2 questions). Definitely going to redo.

Also, MostDangerous, what's your study plan these last two weeks? Proportion of drilling vs. PTing?

Only got one wrong on that game, but yeah, not pleasant. A perfect example of a game where I had no idea how to effectively diagram.

What's probably worse is that I got one Q wrong on *three* different games. I was so sloppy the whole section.. and spent WAY too much to time on the first game. This whole LG section was just.. bad. Stupid mistakes, crappy diagramming, and awful pacing across the board- not good!

ETA: Sorry, didn't answer your Q! No idea what my exact plan is, think I'm mainly going to continue focusing on PTs and drilling RC, one by one (and using RC sections as experimental sections for PTs). I also spend a lot of time going over each PT, so that will be a large hunk of PT-dedicated time. Also looks like I'll be doing more LG drilling, although my method is pretty haphazard.. just completing a bunch of games bundled by type. Once I get back to school in a couple days and have access to my mountain of books again, I'll probably try to finish Manhattan LG and start drilling all of the sections from a book of the "hardest questions" I have (this: http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-LSAT-Pra ... 0984456902 ... haven't really touched it yet). Sorry, no neat answer. Just winging it as I go, and hoping to get a bunch more full PTs done in time. X)

What about you?

[TomThompson]

Wrote 40, 41.

After a 170 on 39, went into 40 feeling confident and I ended up getting destroyed.

PT 40:

LR 1: -3
LG: -6 (!) Had to guess on 4 of the stupid Zephr Airlines question. Got 1 right but then had 3 other very careless mistakes in the 3 other fairly easy games. Very frustrating.
LR 2: -4
RC: -3

-16, 165. -9 curve was pretty brutal. Not sure what happened here.

PT 41:

LR 1: -1
LG: -4 Unfortunately I had to guess on the last 4 questions and missed them all, but I was perfect on the rest
LR 2: -2
RC: -1

-8, 172! Personal best so far so that was a great confidence booster after 40. Someone said that the 40's have easier LG which could account for it, as that has consistently been my worst section. I hope I'm just improving...

[Jcastro1]

I've got 10 PTs left I want to do but the 2 weeks prior to Game Day I've got few obligations. So do those. Drill more LR/Flaw/NA to really reinforce the process.

Also going to redo games from PTs 55-65 in anticipating for our LG sections. Plus do "hardest" RC passages and LG games. Think I'm going to spend a few hours doing a holistic review of all PTs in the days prior to the LSAT.

Let's go get em!

[ebh]

I noticed a few of you mentioning the SuperPrep tests, and I am curious as to why there seems to be a general lack of inclusion of these 3 released February tests in most people's study plans. Are they known to be easier/harder/unrepresentative?
Since we are studying for a February exam, it seems logical to at least take these tests in order to notice differences between them and the "normal" PTs even if they are atypical in some regard.
Thanks!

[natashka85]

Such a stupid day for studying,didn`t feel like studying,sort of burnt a little bit,i guess its better take a day off than do lsat drilling by making myself do that
3 games (the hardest ones from the LG bible)
3 Rc passages-2(I guess i shouldn`t do that untill i get really hungry for Rc)

[TheThriller]

I noticed a few of you mentioning the SuperPrep tests, and I am curious as to why there seems to be a general lack of inclusion of these 3 released February tests in most people's study plans. Are they known to be easier/harder/unrepresentative?
Since we are studying for a February exam, it seems logical to at least take these tests in order to notice differences between them and the "normal" PTs even if they are atypical in some regard.
Thanks!

they are considered pretty "dated"

[TheThriller]

Fingers crossed on rolling a 172+ on game day. Haven't dipped below that threshold since I started retake prep.

2 weeks guys, WE GOT THIS.

[overperformer]

Fingers crossed on rolling a 172+ on game day. Haven't dipped below that threshold since I started retake prep.

2 weeks guys, WE GOT THIS.

YES! confidence is key.

these last days, it is important to consider consider, if u dont do well on ur strongest section, what chance do you have at achieving a score that represent ur true lsat ability. basically zero.

DO NOT TAKE ANY SECTION FOR GRANTED

for example, myself, i am consistently missing 0/1 on LG, 2/3 on LR, and 6/7 on RC

yes, i am spending a lot of time on RC, but I am still throwing in fresh LG's to stay fresh, and considered LR is half the test, it is being emphasized equally

this is of course, in addition to full PTs

i cannot stress the significance of full PTs

[ws81086n]

PT 60's LR is pretty absurd. Great practice. If you can drop a -0 on either section, you can drop a -0 on any LR they throw at you. Gotten to the point where I am 0-2 pretty consistently on a LR section, usually -1 or 0, and I wasn't annoyed at all to go -3 on Section 3.

[TheMostDangerousLG]

PT 60's LR is pretty absurd. Great practice. If you can drop a -0 on either section, you can drop a -0 on any LR they throw at you. Gotten to the point where I am 0-2 pretty consistently on a LR section, usually -1 or 0, and I wasn't annoyed at all to go -3 on Section 3.

Are you saying they're tough? Ugh. LR is my only okay section.

[ws81086n]

PT 60's LR is pretty absurd. Great practice. If you can drop a -0 on either section, you can drop a -0 on any LR they throw at you. Gotten to the point where I am 0-2 pretty consistently on a LR section, usually -1 or 0, and I wasn't annoyed at all to go -3 on Section 3.

Are you saying they're tough? Ugh. LR is my only okay section.

Indeed. MLSAT forum data backs me up too. PT 60's LR has a very high number of threads, the highest number of posts, and a considerable number of question threads with very large numbers of views. The first is a good indication of the number of above-average difficulty questions, the second and third good indicators of the number of high-level questions.

[natashka85]

PT 60's LR is pretty absurd. Great practice. If you can drop a -0 on either section, you can drop a -0 on any LR they throw at you. Gotten to the point where I am 0-2 pretty consistently on a LR section, usually -1 or 0, and I
wasn't annoyed at all to go -3 on Section 3.

.




I am gonna do those two Lr sections and I will tell j if they are hard or no

[Theopliske8711]

Tried to do a Preptest last night after work. Couldnt do it, too tired. I'll do one tonight. Are the rest of the 60s like 60? I find the LR are pretty straightforward, just that I have a problem with concentration there, which costs me in time.

Btw, are you guys focusing on 15 in 15 mins?

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Tried to do a Preptest last night after work. Couldnt do it, too tired. I'll do one tonight. Are the rest of the 60s like 60? I find the LR are pretty straightforward, just that I have a problem with concentration there, which costs me in time.

Btw, are you guys focusing on 15 in 15 mins?

I typically just make sure I'm on track for 10 in 10. Should probably start trying to do 15 in 15.

Anyone have similar timing rules for RC or LG? Markers that you try to follow?

[Theopliske8711]

With the logic games, I try and nail the first game in about 5-6 mins at most (since it's usually the easiest), and am generally successful. My goal is to arrive at the last game with about 10-12 mins if possible.

With reading comp, I try and do the same with the first passage. The more time I can save for the last passage, the better.

[gobosox]

Tried to do a Preptest last night after work. Couldnt do it, too tired. I'll do one tonight. Are the rest of the 60s like 60? I find the LR are pretty straightforward, just that I have a problem with concentration there, which costs me in time.

Btw, are you guys focusing on 15 in 15 mins?

I typically just make sure I'm on track for 10 in 10. Should probably start trying to do 15 in 15.

Anyone have similar timing rules for RC or LG? Markers that you try to follow?

LR I try to do 15 in 15. That normally isn't an issue.

LG I have no pacing, I just usually finish it with 5 minutes left.

RC I try to spend about 3 minutes on the passage and 5 on the questions. Getting killed there though.

[Theopliske8711]

I wanna do some logic games during lunch break. Any recommendation? Nothing in the mid-high 50s, and nothing from the 60s.

[TheMostDangerousLG]

I wanna do some logic games during lunch break. Any recommendation? Nothing in the mid-high 50s, and nothing from the 60s.

Game 4 from 11 & 12.

[Theopliske8711]

I wanna do some logic games during lunch break. Any recommendation? Nothing in the mid-high 50s, and nothing from the 60s.

Game 4 from 11 & 12.

Oh, yea, I know those games. Man, I don't know how early LSAT takers coped with stuff like that.

[natashka85]

6 Rc passages(drilling)
P1-1
P2-1
P3-0
P4-1
P5-2
P6-0
Was helpful,but still a lot to do

[Jcastro1]

^ wow good job man! I'm doing PT 60 on Sunday! Getting closer! Let's kill it!