JUNE 2013 Study Group / Study Partner Thread Forum

[MKX]

Okay hoping for some positive feed back here...

On Saturday I took my first timed PT. Sunday and Monday I reviewed it, and worked a little in the PSLR book. I'm only about through 2 or 3 of the main ideas in that book so far so I still have some improvement hopefully coming.

First PT: PT40; score: 150
Second PT: PT43; score 154

Slight upgrade I guess, but I'm not too pleased. My Logical Reasoning did improve by 2 questions and my Reading comp by 1 only. I saved RC until the end because my main problem in that section is getting burned out and losing focus, which obviously happened again (and time played a factor this time).

Confused on how I only missed 3 on Logic Games. I have no method to setting up the games, have yet to even read a page of my PSLG. On the first one I believe i missed 4-5, and this time only -3. I'm hoping once I actually have a strategy when it comes to these games I will be able to get -0. I already have about a minute or two to spare once I'm done so hopefully that improves too.

Now I noticed my biggest problem are Parallel Reasoning questions. I haven't covered them in LR yet, but the RC book did briefly touch on them I believe. On LR I've only gotten 3 out of 8 right. Is 'Suggested/Implied' similar to this concept? The PS doesn't use the exact term 'Suggested/Implied' so not sure what that translates too. I only got 3 out of 10 right on those. By far my two biggest flaws so far.

Oh well back to studying more. Reviewing the test also helps, but I hate when I narrow it down to two and I pick the wrong one of the two...

Worst part is I see these great scores you guys are hitting and I feel like an idiot still stuck in the 150s.

[0913djp]

MKX, I'm in a similar position. You just gotta be patient. Keep on sharpening the skills. LG should become a breeze if you're doing well without knowing any of the basics behind that. Stay steady.

[MKX]

MKX, I'm in a similar position. You just gotta be patient. Keep on sharpening the skills. LG should become a breeze if you're doing well without knowing any of the basics behind that. Stay steady.

I know my problem on RC is mental fatigue so I just have to work on stamina there, but LR are my first two sections I should be dominating them. Hopefully when I finish the PS LR book my score shoots up.

[052220151]

Just took PT 52 - 91 Raw/172 Scaled

LR1 -1 - Missed question 17, I immediately crossed of D due to a reading error, finished a few minutes early
LG -0 - These games made me sweat a bit, lots of leg work, finished at the five minute mark
LR2 -4 - Got really sloppy, haven't reviewed them yet, finished a few minutes early
RC -3 - I felt really great about this section, it seemed really easy. The questions I missed I feel were really subjective, but I see why they are right. It looks like RC drilling is starting to pay off a bit

The LR seemed pretty easy on this test, I wish I could have nailed that second section of it. I thought the test was pretty easy and wasn't surprised by the -10 curve. Thorough review and drilling tomorrow! Keep truckin' folks, two months 'til go time!

ETA - LSATQA no longer says strengthen questions are one of my weaknesses. Keep drilling people!

[052220151]

Okay hoping for some positive feed back here...

On Saturday I took my first timed PT. Sunday and Monday I reviewed it, and worked a little in the PSLR book. I'm only about through 2 or 3 of the main ideas in that book so far so I still have some improvement hopefully coming.

First PT: PT40; score: 150
Second PT: PT43; score 154

Slight upgrade I guess, but I'm not too pleased. My Logical Reasoning did improve by 2 questions and my Reading comp by 1 only. I saved RC until the end because my main problem in that section is getting burned out and losing focus, which obviously happened again (and time played a factor this time).

Confused on how I only missed 3 on Logic Games. I have no method to setting up the games, have yet to even read a page of my PSLG. On the first one I believe i missed 4-5, and this time only -3. I'm hoping once I actually have a strategy when it comes to these games I will be able to get -0. I already have about a minute or two to spare once I'm done so hopefully that improves too.

Now I noticed my biggest problem are Parallel Reasoning questions. I haven't covered them in LR yet, but the RC book did briefly touch on them I believe. On LR I've only gotten 3 out of 8 right. Is 'Suggested/Implied' similar to this concept? The PS doesn't use the exact term 'Suggested/Implied' so not sure what that translates too. I only got 3 out of 10 right on those. By far my two biggest flaws so far.

Oh well back to studying more. Reviewing the test also helps, but I hate when I narrow it down to two and I pick the wrong one of the two...

Worst part is I see these great scores you guys are hitting and I feel like an idiot still stuck in the 150s.

Put off until October. It sounds like you are getting poised to make a big break through. Temporarily stop taking PTs. Sleep with your Bibles until you know them cold, drill the sections from PT 1-38 over and over again. Take one PT every two weeks until you hit in the mid 160s.

It sounds like you have a solid start on the basics, perfect them, then PT. October is still early and you can still have a highly profitable cycle.

[rebexness]

Pretty sure i am officially moving to October test. As a 4th time retaker, i basically have to be 100% confident in my skills and my LR is objectively terrible, although my LG has improved dramatically. I dont think i have time to get through the LRB and Manhattan books, Qs by type, and still have time to get a lot of solid PTs in.

/raging.

[052220151]

Pretty sure i am officially moving to October test. As a 4th time retaker, i basically have to be 100% confident in my skills and my LR is objectively terrible, although my LG has improved dramatically. I dont think i have time to get through the LRB and Manhattan books, Qs by type, and still have time to get a lot of solid PTs in.

/raging.

Don't sweat it Bex. It sounds like a smart move. Not ideal, but smart. Please hang around in this thread though/the waiting thread. You can be an honorary June Taker.

[mqt]

Getting up bright and early for PT 54. Anyone else doing 4 section PTs this month? I feel like the fifth section is nice at the end, but not important enough to do the whole time. Also, Cambridge better get me my fucking question type packets this week. MAF.

[natashka85]

Getting up bright and early for PT 54. Anyone else doing 4 section PTs this month? I feel like the fifth section is nice at the end, but not important enough to do the whole time. Also, Cambridge better get me my fucking question type packets this week. MAF.

Yea I am doing 5 sections every Thursday,good luck to everyone,I took pt54,was not a bad one ,I scored 172 ,I missed stupid mistakes,need to move above that,lol.

[ricekrispies]

Finally broke into the 170's tonight with my practice test! I hit a 172 on Practice Test 20. Did not time it at all and was mainly doing it for LR practice, but I am still pretty excited about it.

[Malakai]

Is anyone still looking for a partner for online or blackboard meetups once a week or every two weeks? I'm in the market for a study buddy (or several). Doesn't have to be long meetups, maybe an hour or so to discuss finds/weaknesses/questions/etc.

[mqt]

Well, that sucked.

PT 54
Raw Score: 88, Scaled: 167

Woke up feeling like shit, had to stop halfway through RC to use the restroom, felt sick to my stomach the whole time and never recovered. Got a -0 in games, but I found myself just rushing through to get done. I probably shouldn't have even taken the test today. Hopefully I don't get sick for the actual June test, because I do not respond well.

[Chambo]

Did Superprep C the other day and timed myself by counting up... I tried to keep a good pace going and finish within 35 minutes but kept working on the section after it was done.

LG: -1, plus I didn't get to 2 problems
LR: -0, finished with 3 minutes left
LR: -2, plus I didn't get to 3 problems
RC: -2, finished with about 15 seconds left

The pattern game was hard for me to figure out, and games have never quite clicked for me. Not sure why but it's almost always my shakiest section.

LR2 was tough, but it's good to find weaknesses. I think going through Manhattan LR has really helped me achieve a more thorough understanding of the questions and what to look for. I don't feel like I'm on autopilot quite so much but overall it should be helpful. Just need more practice on nailing these things down.

Going to drill some pattern games today and see how it goes. I think experience with this type of game could have helped me on Zones in October.

[lsatkid007]

Hey guys
could someone please explain pt3 sec2 #22. It's about the public reports by national commissions.

I when doing LR questions to look for conclusion and the evidence supporting the conclusion but how about the MBT questions? The usually just have a list of facts. What do you guys circle or underline?

thank you

For MBT questions you don't want to focus on the core of the argument; instead, focus on how the facts interact with one another. Usually this interaction will be in the form of conditional logic and that's the case with this question.

The first sentence is just background information providing context to the stimulus. The second sentence is where you'd begin diagramming:

(1)Remain a leading nation in an era of international competitiveness ---> "Need" is Undeniable ("need" is just borrowed language from the first sentence ie) better understanding of int'l affairs by the citizenry)

(2) If there is a need ---> Teachers must be prepared to teach subject matter with an international orientation

We can connect (1) and (2) to get:

Remain a leading nation in an era of international competitiveness ---> Better understanding of int'l affairs by the citizenry ---> Teachers must be prepared to teach subject matter with an international orientation

From this chain we can infer: Remain a leading nation in an era of International Competitiveness ---> Teachers must be prepared to teach subject matter with an international orientation

This is exactly what answer choice A says

Thanks Card. The borrowed language tripped me up. I should skim through my MLR.

[RhymesLikeDimes]

Finally finished off the last section (Conditional Reasoning) of the PTs 1-20 LR drilling book. 997 problems down! About half-way through PTs 21-40. It's kinda frustrating how much less helpful LR drilling is compared to LG. I was missing 5-8 per PT before, now that's only down to 3-5. While I haven't missed an LG problem since I finished drilling (-0 on 5 straight PTs).

Fuck RC drilling, just fuck it.

[itachiuchiha]

Did preptest 51 today, 159!!!!!!!!! Perfect on the games!

This is good *for me anyways* seeing that I came from a 145 diagnostic. A 159 is one of my better scores and this is my first perfect on the games, but these games were SO easy

[rebexness]

The first perfect games score is such a good feel, bro.

[052220151]

Did preptest 51 today, 159!!!!!!!!! Perfect on the games!

This is good *for me anyways* seeing that I came from a 145 diagnostic. A 159 is one of my better scores and this is my first perfect on the games, but these games were SO easy

Good job, Brah! Keep drilling that LR and RC. 170+ is within your grasp. You taking oct?

[itachiuchiha]

The first perfect games score is such a good feel, bro.

I KNOW right!?!?!? The best part is that I finished it with 13 minutes left to spare.

[mvonh001]

drilled evaluate questions today... got 1 wrong, and I see why i got it wrong. O well, maybe next time.

[MKX]

Quick question about Law School numbers. Looking at lawschooltransperacy, when they show the full tuition cost (non-discounted), does that include living on campus? Assuming you live off campus that total would be lower right.

[rebexness]

Some of them actually only publish the amount that you can take out in loans, not full COL.

[Chambo]

Quick question about Law School numbers. Looking at lawschooltransperacy, when they show the full tuition cost (non-discounted), does that include living on campus? Assuming you live off campus that total would be lower right.

I don't think they would assume law students would live on-campus. I feel like living expenses are always ball-parked, anyways, given how much you the amount you can spend or save varies so greatly.

[MKX]

Some of them actually only publish the amount that you can take out in loans, not full COL.

Hmm this could be it. I was looking at Chicago-Kent and their website said $127,063 for 3 years (estimation depending on how the rate rises per year) and lawschooltransperacy had it at $229,245 so I was a bit confused.

[rebexness]

Some of them actually only publish the amount that you can take out in loans, not full COL.

Hmm this could be it. I was looking at Chicago-Kent and their website said $127,063 for 3 years (estimation depending on how the rate rises per year) and lawschooltransperacy had it at $229,245 so I was a bit confused.

Tuition doesn't include COL. LST includes full COA.
COL is usually calculated for 8/9 months, not a full year, so you have to take that into account as well.