Taking prep course after self-study? Forum

[surf]

Been looking through threads for the past hour and have not found much of an answer.

I have been self-studying on and off for a few months and am not where I want to be score-wise. I've only taken a total of maybe 5 practice tests. I have read through the Trainer and the LG bible, along with part of the Manhattan LR book. Given that I am somewhat familiar with the LSAT, would taking a testmasters course be of any benefit to me? Don't think September is enough time to perfect my score (unless TM kicks some serious ass), and have been told to avoid December if trying to apply this cycle due to scholarship reasons. Wait until next cycle or just drill the fk out of these questions and take in Sep???

I'm trying to make the best decision and really don't want my parents to waste $1450 on a course that may repeat much of the information I already know. I know much of the TM course will require hours outside of class....that's fine. But perhaps I can do that on my own w/o the course. Heard a lot of good about testmasters, but am under the assumption that most of the people who take it have never seen an LSAT question before. I'm pretty familiar with LG, LR, and some of RC. I think I just need to drill more and stuff, so not sure if testmasters will help with this.

Scattered post, but any insight is appreciated from people who know about TM or have taken a TM / powerscore-type course. Currently not working and just graduated school. Have way too much time on my hands. Thanks all.

[Louis1127]

where are u pting at?

[surf]

Low 150s....sucks lol. Might need more time to hit 163ish I'd think. I have done more reading than drilling, really. Besides just reviewing the problems in the books.

So in other words I'm hoping there's quite a bit of room for improvement.

[MadwomanintheAttic]

If your weakest area is LG I think making significant improvement is doable within 3 mos. time, if your struggles are across the board you may need more time. Idk if December would be detrimental given the number LSAT takers is still down and the small number of high scores. I can't speak to that with certainty, but that's my assumption. I started with a 146 and have self-studied to around 160-164. I desperately wanted to take a TM course, but it was canceled in Indiana. I think the benefit of taking a course is the resources you get and the ability to ask the instructor questions and learning from other student's questions. A course gives you a solid foundation to build upon. Plus, the proctored exams are a nice addition. A lot of the information will be repeat info since you've already studied, but some of the methods they use may be new to you and that may make all the difference. If you feel like a course is too much of a repeat or too slow I would try pin pointing what areas cause you the most trouble and then instead of a course using that money for a tutor or doing the online course so that way you can go as quickly as you'd like. Also, you can always audit a TM course to make sure it's what you're looking for. If you don't feel you need to go back to basics, don't, but if feel like your foundation isn't strong then a course may be worth it.

[Clearly]

Spend the money on a quality private tutor.

[Louis1127]

What are you doing wrong?

What are you doing wrong? Are you not finding the flaw up front on LR questions? Are you skimming the passage and not seeing how it all fits together by performing a slower, intense, read where you see all the nuances of the passage and how they fit together? Are you not representing information in a logic game in a visual manner?

If you don't know what you are doing wrong, taking a PT untimed and typing out an explanation for every LR and RC question cna help you find out what you are doing wrong.

You gotta dig deep and discover what you're messing up on. PTing in the low 150s means that you are making many mistakes- and you're missing more than just the hard questions.

[malleus discentium]

You don't say how much you been drilling. How much have you been drilling? Just reading prep books isn't going to get you anywhere.

[surf]

I started with a 146 and have self-studied to around 160-164.

Good to hear! Quite an improvement I'd say.

What are you doing wrong?

PTing in the low 150s means that you are making many mistakes- and you're missing more than just the hard questions.

Agreed. I'm aware that I am sort of in a shitty place right now. Hope to make some progress in the coming months.

You don't say how much you been drilling. How much have you been drilling? Just reading prep books isn't going to get you anywhere.

I hardly have been. Just been doing the problems out of the books that are part of the chapters. Given that info... I might just not be ready for Sep haha.. need to order the cambridge packets I keep reading about.

[Calbears123]

Drill baby drill. I took a course and read all the books and was basically stuck in the 150's. It wasn't until I said fuck it and drilled straight for 2 months that I finally was able to get past 165

[MadwomanintheAttic]

Given you haven't been drilling a lot. I would save that $1450 and invest in Cambridge drilling packets immediately and drill like crazy. Drilling is what helped me the most since that's when I started really being able to see patterns within wrong answers and hone in on the correct one. If after maybe a month of drilling you still have troubles, then re-evaluate.

[Louis1127]

I think you may have taken my post the wrong way. By stating that you are making many mistakes, I was trying to get at that if you type out explanations for questions, and then check them against the right solutions (from Hacking the LSAT, 7sage, Manhattan, whatever) so that you can see what you are doing wrong, you WILL improve precisely BECAUSE you are making many mistakes.

In my opinion, I would do that for a few PTs, and if you don't improve, then I would look at getting a tutor.

[surf]

I think you may have taken my post the wrong way. By stating that you are making many mistakes, I was trying to get at that if you type out explanations for questions, and then check them against the right solutions (from Hacking the LSAT, 7sage, Manhattan, whatever) so that you can see what you are doing wrong, you WILL improve precisely BECAUSE you are making many mistakes.

In my opinion, I would do that for a few PTs, and if you don't improve, then I would look at getting a tutor.

I got what you meant. That's actually a great idea. I'll probably do that.

[lawschool2014hopeful]

Drilling is an awful idea if you get nearly everything wrong.