JUNE 2013 Study Group / Study Partner Thread Forum

[atomist]

I've noticed a disturbing trend in my performance on PT's in the 60's. I go -0 on LR1 but then -3 on LR2, after the break. Today I took PT 66 and went -5 on LR2 (a first on an LR section period in all my prep for what is for me a retake). Maybe it's because today I took an extra long break after the third section, which perhaps messed with my focus. Anyone have a similar pattern?

Also, ef games in the 60's. I've drilled LG more than any other section and I still manage to get a few wrong every time. I go -0/1 on games in the 50's, but that might be because I've done them all several times each. But man. If I were hitting -0 on LG I'd be PT'ing in the high 170's right now, rather than mid-170s.

How do you guys take a -0 on LG for granted? I think it's because I don't spend a lot of time on the set-up stage. E.g. I don't often set up options, whereas 7sage sets up options for almost every damn game. I've gone through the powerscore guide and MLG (although their in/out game method is garbage) and redone the LG section from the last 25 tests multiple times each.

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Something is going seriously wrong.

PT 63: 177
LR1: -1
LG: -3
LR2: -0
RC: -0
Total: -5 (RS: 96)

The concerning part about this test is that the majority of my wrong answers came from LG, and the last time I took it, I went -0 in LG. I also bombed LG on PT 68 earlier today (-4). These two instances also represent the first times I've gone more than -1 on LG sections in a significant amount of time. I don't know what's happening. I think maybe I'm rushing and making sloppy mistakes due to overconfidence?

What is going wrong? I don't feel burnt out, and while I feel tired, I always feel tired. Why am I suddenly bombing at the one section in the most recent tests that I shouldn't be?

I am officially freaked out for test day. What. is. wrong with me.

ETA: Score has been changed to reflect question accidentally misbubbled. So while it's slightly better, even more worrying is that it still sucks, and I'm misbubbling! GAH.

[sublime]

..

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Do you ever sleep? lol that may help

When was the last day you took off of LG? You can be burnt out without feeling like you are

I do sleep.. just not a lot these days! I haven't taken a day off any section in at least a week.

[sublime]

..

[Adam Banks]

Not sure if anyone or everyone has seen this, but I'll post just to be safe.

http://www.manhattanlsat.com/blog/2013/ ... and-donts/

Had some good points and ideas, hope it helps someone out.

[wtrc]

So... anybody have any fun weekend plans?

[Typhoon24]

So... anybody have any fun weekend plans?

I don't think I'll physically or mentally be able to have a good time till July 5th.

[Adam Banks]

So... anybody have any fun weekend plans?

I don't think I'll physically or mentally be able to have a good time till July 5th.

Is that the estimated score return date?

[Typhoon24]

Yup, if my memory serves me well.

[MKX]

Do you ever sleep? lol that may help

When was the last day you took off of LG? You can be burnt out without feeling like you are

Sleep is for those people who are broke.

[SteelPenguin]

Do you ever sleep? lol that may help

When was the last day you took off of LG? You can be burnt out without feeling like you are

I do sleep.. just not a lot these days! I haven't taken a day off any section in at least a week.

You don't think that's overdoing it? I've been spending the week just trying to stay sharp. I don't think I'm going to have any sudden breakthroughs 3-4 days before the test, so I'm doing my usual PTs and some drilling, but nothing super intense at the moment.

[SteelPenguin]

I think BP Shinner's prediction is off, specifically the curve. Though I do feel that RC will be difficult, but on the whole straightforward, and LG will be tough, but straightforward as well. I've got a gut feeling that the curve will be -9 today. Also, I've got a feeling, that there's going to be two tricky games, neither will be legendary, but both will be tough, one will be an in-out grouping, the other a bookshelf/hotel game. And I think the tricky RC passage will be about some scientific observation involving evolution.

That sounds very similar to the LGs from PT 68, which was a -14 curve. Your description definitely doesn't sound like a -9. With easier RC, maybe -11.

[The-Specs]

Last night I had a dream about the fourth game on PT 69. It was a combination of zones and the linear articles game from PT 68 only with a twist: all of the variables were mathematic symbols (like pi) and the diagrams had to be in mathematic notation. I hate math. In the end it took me a long time but I got through it.

There is no way that LSAC can come up with something scarier than that for the test and even in my bad dreams I came out on top. Things are looking up.

[SteelPenguin]

Not sure if anyone or everyone has seen this, but I'll post just to be safe.

http://www.manhattanlsat.com/blog/2013/ ... and-donts/

Had some good points and ideas, hope it helps someone out.

"DON’T mistake the LSAT for a mythical tool that measures your self-worth. It’s just a test. Plus, you have more friends than it, and they’re cooler."

People still have friends after studying for the LSAT?

[The-Specs]

Not sure if anyone or everyone has seen this, but I'll post just to be safe.

http://www.manhattanlsat.com/blog/2013/ ... and-donts/

Had some good points and ideas, hope it helps someone out.

"DON’T mistake the LSAT for a mythical tool that measures your self-worth. It’s just a test. Plus, you have more friends than it, and they’re cooler."

People still have friends after studying for the LSAT?

None that I'm not married to. There just isn't time for anyone else.

[SteelPenguin]

Last night I had a dream about the fourth game on PT 69. It was a combination of zones and the linear articles game from PT 68 only with a twist: all of the variables were mathematic symbols (like pi) and the diagrams had to be in mathematic notation. I hate math. In the end it took me a long time but I got through it.

There is no way that LSAC can come up with something scarier than that for the test and even in my bad dreams I came out on top. Things are looking up.

My god... if this happens, I may have to hunt you down on Monday night.

[The-Specs]

Yeah, it certainly isn't the ideal but on bright side, if I had time to finish that monster the other three games must have been pretty straight forward and quick.

[the_pakalypse]

RC: Hope everyone is ready to read about sunflowers having special properties that nurtured the soil in present-day Kazakhstan in the 1800's according to botanists.

I lost it.

[wtrc]

I think BP Shinner's prediction is off, specifically the curve. Though I do feel that RC will be difficult, but on the whole straightforward, and LG will be tough, but straightforward as well. I've got a gut feeling that the curve will be -9 today. Also, I've got a feeling, that there's going to be two tricky games, neither will be legendary, but both will be tough, one will be an in-out grouping, the other a bookshelf/hotel game. And I think the tricky RC passage will be about some scientific observation involving evolution.

That sounds very similar to the LGs from PT 68, which was a -14 curve. Your description definitely doesn't sound like a -9. With easier RC, maybe -11.

I think 68 was a -12 (could be wrong). 62 was the crazy -14.

[the_pakalypse]

Not to make anyone paranoid but historically (google the lsatblog entry), June LSATs have less of a curve (you need more questions right to get a 170, for example) than December. Probably due to the self-selecting nature of the test takers.

[wtrc]

Not to make anyone paranoid but historically (google the lsatblog entry), June LSATs have less of a curve (you need more questions right to get a 170, for example) than December. Probably due to the self-selecting nature of the test takers.

At least according to LSAC, the test isn't curved but equated. Pretty much how others perform on test day doesn't matter much-- the curve is set beforehand, based on analysis using experimental sections and past performance. So theoretically I guess everyone could get a 180!

But that's why occasionally there will be questions that are "*item removed from scoring*" on PTs- performance didnt match expectations. Still shitty if one of those takes up time and forces rest of section to be rushed though...

[SteelPenguin]

I should probably get a photo taken this week, right? I'll also have to figure out whether or not I want to show up to the test looking like a disheveled bum or not.

[SteelPenguin]

Not to make anyone paranoid but historically (google the lsatblog entry), June LSATs have less of a curve (you need more questions right to get a 170, for example) than December. Probably due to the self-selecting nature of the test takers.

At least according to LSAC, the test isn't curved but equated. Pretty much how others perform on test day doesn't matter much-- the curve is set beforehand, based on analysis using experimental sections and past performance. So theoretically I guess everyone could get a 180!

But that's why occasionally there will be questions that are "*item removed from scoring*" on PTs- performance didnt match expectations. Still shitty if one of those takes up time and forces rest of section to be rushed though...

Yeah, I'm going to try to keep in mind that if a question seems "off" and it's taking me longer than it should (time consuming question #9 or something), then I should move and go back to it if I have time. Then again, I probably won't follow through with that, and I'll just focus on maintaining my usual pacing.

[Daily_Double]

I should probably get a photo taken this week, right? I'll also have to figure out whether or not I want to show up to the test looking like a disheveled bum or not.

Yeah, unless you're into the added stress of getting it on Monday, I wouldn't be. And when faced with a decision between bum and not bum, the answer is always not bum.