Fluctuations from PT to actual test Forum

[Bryson]

Question for those who have already taken the LSAT once - What type of deviation can I expect from my PT scores to my actual test. I'll post what I've PTed at. My goal school has a median LSAT of 161.

163
162
160
167
164
164
161
168

My goal is usually to get 20s on each section. The ones I have done poorly on I have gotten ~15 on one of the sections. Any advice would be appreciated!

[francesfarmer]

Question for those who have already taken the LSAT once - What type of deviation can I expect from my PT scores to my actual test. I'll post what I've PTed at. My goal school has a median LSAT of 161.

163
162
160
167
164
164
161
168

My goal is usually to get 20s on each section. The ones I have done poorly on I have gotten ~15 on one of the sections. Any advice would be appreciated!

There is no way to know--it could be higher, it could be lower. You could do better on some section types and worse on others. I think as a general rule you should be PT-ing ~3-5 points above your target score.

[wtrc]

I had a range of 162-167 before my actual test in June 2011. Average around 164. Scored a 166, with all three problems I had to guess being wrong.

[sighsigh]

If you are PTing using test day conditions (5 sections timed, 1 break, in a public space, using MC sheet, analog watch, etc.), then the only thing that would get you down on test day would be anxiety (that is, if you are the type of person who gets test anxiety). And you can probably prepare for that too by psyching yourself into thinking you are taking the real test each time you take a PT. Also, visit your testing center once before test day. If you can do all that, there isn't much reason why your score would drop.

[OliveBC]

100% anecdotal, but I had an average of a 170 for all my PTs that I'd ever taken excluding my diag (so not just the ones in the last couple weeks before the test) and I scored a 170 on test day.

I personally didn't usually study in test day like conditions (NOT RECOMMENDED!), but I also don't really get test anxiety. On the day of the test I was actually really excited and pumped up to get the thing over with

if test anxiety is something you are worried about I would do as the other posters here have said and try to practice in not only accurate test day conditions, but also really bad conditions (with the tv on, etc). That way you are prepared for the worst, even though it probably won't happen.

[nyjets2090]

A good rule is +/-3 points from your average.

[Jeffort]

The closer to strict test day conditions you take your practice tests under, the closer they should be to your test day performance. When I say close to test day conditions I really mean it in every way you can simulate it. This includes scheduling practice tests ahead of time, sticking to the schedule (such as begin at 1pm like test day), taking it somewhere away from home you have to travel to and getting there in time to begin the test at 1pm sharp and only taking things with you you will have on test day, using a bubble sheet, strict about no breaks and the allowed break, having distractions in the environment, etc.

The better conditioned you are to test day conditions, the less they will negatively affect your score, simple as that. Most people that go down, especially those that score significantly below their PT average/range do so because they react poorly to test day conditions because of not being already conditioned to take tests in them. Many people do score higher on test day than their average or even previous high score, and those are typically people conditioned to test day conditions pretty well already from following a good disciplined practice test routine.

[sublime]

..

[senioritis13]

My pre-law adviser said to take your three most recent PTs, average them, then subtract 3 points.

[jbagelboy]

I scored on the lower end of my PTs. In the weeks leading up to the Oct exam, I was PTing at 172 - 178, probably with an average of 175. I ended up with 172.