what to do now? Forum

[gnomgnomuch]

So I was originally planning on taking the LSAT in June and aiming for a 170+ ideally a 173+ to make up for my 3.65 GPA.

Started at a 146 and I'm now at ~160, however I've seem to have flat lined and I think that it's completely unrealistic to expect a 10 point jump in 50 days, not to mention I haven't even finished drilling let alone started on the prep tests I've bought on Cambridge.

I don't think self studying is enough for me anymore, my schedule changes weekly based on classes and work so I have almost no structure day to day to speak off.

I'm now considering taking a summer course (Testmasters is the only company close to where I live, but that doesn't seem to be a problem, the reviews seem pretty favorable).

Finally to my question.... if I postpone June to Sept will I have enough time to make the boost from ~160ish to 170+ assuming I dedicate my summer to the LSAT (for the most part).

Any other insights/help would be greatly appreciated, since I've become pretty discouraged as of late.

Thanks in advance!

[Balthy]

If you have the summer completely off i think it's enough, but no one will really be able to answer that question for you. You just have to try.

I'd recommend against a testmasters course at this point. The major course companies usually help ppl make the kind of improvements youve already made. Going 160 to 170+ requires lots and lots of drilling, PT-ing, review, and tweaking your methods, and testmasters wont help you do that any better. Maybe velocity or 7sage if you haven't tried them already.

[scoobysnax]

It's not completely unrealistic to make a 10 point jump in 50 days. Identify your weaknesses and focus on improving those. Identify your strengths and make them perfect. I know plenty of people, including myself, who flatline for a while before improving again.

[paayter]

You can keep trying to chase the golden 170 plus figure but sometimes you will flatline, and not because of lack of intelligence but just because the way the test is designed there are going to be those can't hit 170. I've noticed a huge trend, people who diag at around the 140s definitely can get in to the 160s..I was one of those, and then there are those who usually diag high 150s to 160s are the ones that usually hit the 170s. It is possible to have something just click though in those last 50 days. If you are missing an even amount of questions on the different sections I'd say its a little harder to get to that golden mark, but lets say you've mastered like lr and lg, but missing a significant rc, then id say its doable.

[gnomgnomuch]

You can keep trying to chase the golden 170 plus figure but sometimes you will flatline, and not because of lack of intelligence but just because the way the test is designed there are going to be those can't hit 170. I've noticed a huge trend, people who diag at around the 140s definitely can get in to the 160s..I was one of those, and then there are those who usually diag high 150s to 160s are the ones that usually hit the 170s. It is possible to have something just click though in those last 50 days. If you are missing an even amount of questions on the different sections I'd say its a little harder to get to that golden mark, but lets say you've mastered like lr and lg, but missing a significant rc, then id say its doable.

Well my last LSAT I hit exactly at 160, and I was pretty even across the board

LR: -5
RC: (Experimental) -5
LG: -7 (I went 1/5 on the first (and easiest!) game, because of a very simple missed deduction)
LR: -8
RC: -6

The thing is, I haven't even went through all of my drilling packets for LR (as in, I've done maybe half of them), I've significantly improved in LG, started 2/23 and now consistently scoring between -2-5 on each section, and I literally have done no prep on RC, because I've intuitively always been better at RC and saving it for last so I can fine tune it.

So, really I'm not too worried about not being able to get to a 170, I think its very possible for me, I'm just worried that if I take the LSAT in June I'd be taking the LSAT before I was really ready to take it, and whether or not it wouldn't be just more prudent to postpone June to September.

[BillPackets]

You could do both.

[WaltGrace83]

So, really I'm not too worried about not being able to get to a 170, I think its very possible for me, I'm just worried that if I take the LSAT in June I'd be taking the LSAT before I was really ready to take it, and whether or not it wouldn't be just more prudent to postpone June to September.

Why not postpone? Take the pressure off of yourself so you don't sell yourself short. You only get 3 takes in 2 years. It sounds like a lot but you just never know. Plus, having less LSAT scores would probably be marginally better anyway rather than getting a 167/172 for example. I'd rather admit someone with a 172 than a 167/172 - though this is as I said a REALLY small difference still.

[Balthy]

You could do both.

This is a good idea. It'll help with the nerves the second time around.


Your RC being where it is is not ready for just "fine tuning".. you should also do some serious RC practice/drilling. And keep in mind it takes a long time to improve on RC for many people.

Use 7sage videos to review and drill 2, 3, 400 more games until you're consistently -0. I was consistently -0 and still got 3 wrong on test day (misread something.. it happens).

You know what to do for LR. Drill more, review more, etc.

[gnomgnomuch]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I've decided to postpone June to September, only because ill be too swamped with finals and work to really be able to zone in on LSAT's for the final month and a half.

Appreciate all the advice, and to those taking it in June, good luck =)

[loomstate]

In the same position as you OP but I'm around 165 with most of my misses coming from LR and RC (ugh). I'm going to push hard and take June with September and December as backup plans. We still have a lot of time to improve before June. Lets do this.