Top Law Schools

Just started prepping for the LSAT and want to learn from other people's mistakes.

Wasting PTs before sufficiently drilling.

1. agree with above - taking PTs before knowing enough to utilize them efficiently.

2. Basing my preparation off of earlier PTs. This left me underestimating the difficulty of reading comp. I find that newer reading comp sections are a bit harder than the earlier ones. So by the time I began taking 50s and 60s, I realized how much more time I should have allocated to RC.

3. the importance of reviewing incorrect answers and really understanding why I missed it. To some extent, i did this, but I got caught up in just doing as many questions as I could. But review really is key to doing well.

I wish I had drilled by type earlier on and given myself more time for drilling overall. I just drilled full sections of LG up until a couple weeks before the test, but when I ran out of those I got the Cambridge packets and realized that those were way more helpful. I wasn't even able to finish all the games, much less repeat any, and if/when I retake I will not make that mistake again.

Not being strict enough with PTs

Focusing on quantity over quality. First time around, I was worried I hadn't covered enough material. Second time around, I covered less material but seriously upped the quality of my review. I seriously cannot emphasize enough the importance of using a structured approach that focuses on drilling and in-depth review of your PTs and practice questions.

blackbirdfly wrote:Not being strict enough with PTs

Same.

Not spending more time studying. ~5 weeks

Spending $80 on the cambridge LR bundle and never using it

Kaplan.

1. Going for quantity over quality. At one point, I felt accomplished bc I was cranking out 6-7 PTs a week. I was not adequately reviewing as I should have.

2. Not enough quality drilling. I definitely drilled, but not enough, as I focused a lot on PTs.

3. Putting everything else on hold. This might be opposed to what others suggest, but I don't think it was beneficial when I was all lsat all the time. Every day I did a PT or tried to crank out some drilling. I should have taken some time to do other things non lsat related. I am definitely taking that approach as I head toward June.

4. This is not really a mistake I made while studying, but I hugely regret not retaking in December or February. I scored significantly lower than my PT average. But I had little lsat fuel left, and just didn't retake. Now, I'm hoping to score higher in June, get some $$ and be OK. But, if not, I may have to sit out another cycle, which I do not want to do. If you haven't maxed out your lsat ability and have a retake left, use it.

Studying too hard the last week and a half before the exam. Really felt like I burnt myself out and it impacted my score the first time I took it.

Not reviewing more. I was always eager to move on the next PT, the next section, the next chapter.

Getting questions wrong.

-Failing to finish my prep-books
-Not PTing at all
-Lack of focus/disciple to study.

Convincing myself I knew why I got an answer wrong even though there was still an inkling in the back of my mind that told me that I really couldn't apply that rule to any fact situation...

As others have metioned, not being strict enough with PTs. That's something I'm really going to focus on for the September test, because I didn't do myself any favors when test day pressure caused me to rush at the end of each section.

Also, I was one of those idiots who studied the day before the exam, trying to cram in any last minute techniques I may have missed. At that point, my brain was already beginning to shut down, so that didn't put me in the right frame of mind for the next day.

I took the test at a site I was unfamiliar with, just because I'd read how great the testing conditions were (everyone sat at long tables instead of being crammed into tiny desks). While I had no problems with the actual site (it was actually very nice!), I somehow managed to read my Google Maps directions backwards, so I barely made it to the exam on time.

I'm sure there are more examples of my mistakes, but I'm trying not to think about that day any more than I have to.

So basically what I'm saying is: do NOT give yourself more time, thinking you'll be able to wing it during the exam. Make absolutely sure you know how to approach every single question at least a few weeks before test day, so you're not scrambling to memorize or practice techniques the night before; you need to be solid with the theory. Get plenty of rest, and take a day or two off here and there--stepping away from the material actually does allow it to sink into your brain. You need to avoid burnout at all costs.

I see a lot of comments about not focusing enough on drilling. Does anyone have tips on what constitutes a strong drilling approach, or direct to a thread that covers this in depth?

Thanks!

buying all the books I bought.

in reality all one really needs is the following

Cambridge questions organized by type. Use manhattan forums for free LR and RC explanations

For games use nothing but 7sage videos.

spending money was just a way for me to actually dedicate time to this... it worked though

It's kind of like bro's buying all sorts of supplements and workout gear when really it's not the supplements that are making them stronger... it's the fact that they go to the gym everyday and put in the work

Don't let me undermine anything though. I may have actually picked up a few things from Powerscore, Manhattan, LSAT trainer, 7sage, etc etc etc

It just gets to a point where you're like... damn... in reality this stuff was all I really needed... the question is it safe to make that assumption without actually going through all these different books and strategies.

Neglecting RC. There would be weeks where I put maybe an hour or two total into drilling for it. I just assumed it would be the easiest section for me because I did well on SAT RC. Wronger than fuck.

Neglecting RC

and

not taking time off. After every break I took, I saw my avg score bump up a few points. Taking time away from studying is vital, IMO.

Not reviewing PT's enough and not studying for a 180.

I was too quick to try and move on to the next PT and didn't spend enough time learning all there is to learn from each test.

I also had a score in mind when I began studying that, when looking back on it, kind of weighed me down. Study with a 180 in mind. Obviously, your chances of even coming close to that score are slim, but if you study with the intent of mastering the test and being perfect then you'll have a good chance of doing well.

Not watching 7-Sage's LG videos and spending too much time reading guides and not enough time doing questions.

Failing to maintain an intense logic games study schedule after obtaining mastery over LG in the middle of my overall study schedule; LG turns out to be much more of a "use it or lose it" skill than the others, and I had to waste valuable time catching back up with LG a few weeks out from test, when I should have simply done a better job of skills maintenance.

drawstring wrote:Not watching 7-Sage's LG videos and spending too much time reading guides and not enough time doing questions.

+1

I'd get a 180 if the LSAT was about explaining the ins and outs of the test and law school admissions