Why you don't use a clock on test day Forum

[sunbai1029]

Here are some of the top 4 reasons for why you should re-consider bringing a watch for test day. This is just a PSA.

1. Watches are a distractor. If you're looking at your watch frequently and focusing on the time to the tee, you're going to be distracted and spend more mental/actual energy on the watch/time.

2. You need to be so fluent in the material that a 5 minute warning should be biological to you when you're taking the test. If you are not that fluent, then you need to study more.

3. What happens when we have a watch is that we are making sure that we are getting everything done in time perfectly. This adds unnecessary pressure. You're going to perform how you're going to perform. You know when you've spent too long on a question.

4. Trust me. It disrupts your flow to be aware of the time. Just be natural, take the test, and get a feel for and it will come together.

[MistakenGenius]

Post removed.

[dowu]

1.) No
2.) No
3.) No
4.) No

[ManoftheHour]

1.) No
2.) No
3.) No
4.) No

[Danger Zone]

It's unnecessary. Won't help or hurt you much either way. If you want a watch, go for it.

[Yardbird]

This thread is silly. Everyone I know who did well on the test used a watch or some kind of timer other than the clock in the room. If you're getting distracted to the point that you're losing time or won't finish, you haven't prepared under timed conditions enough.

[Danger Zone]

This thread is silly. Everyone I know who did well on the test used a watch or some kind of timer other than the clock in the room. If you're getting distracted to the point that you're losing time or won't finish, you haven't prepared under timed conditions enough.

Presupposing that a watch is necessary for success is what's silly.

[yomisterd]

A watch for what? You all didn't finish each section in 15 and then took mini-naps?

[Gray]

.

[PDaddy]

Here are some of the top 4 reasons for why you should re-consider bringing a watch for test day. This is just a PSA.

1. Watches are a distractor. If you're looking at your watch frequently and focusing on the time to the tee, you're going to be distracted and spend more mental/actual energy on the watch/time.

2. You need to be so fluent in the material that a 5 minute warning should be biological to you when you're taking the test. If you are not that fluent, then you need to study more.

3. What happens when we have a watch is that we are making sure that we are getting everything done in time perfectly. This adds unnecessary pressure. You're going to perform how you're going to perform. You know when you've spent too long on a question.

4. Trust me. It disrupts your flow to be aware of the time. Just be natural, take the test, and get a feel for and it will come together.

I actually agree with this. If you study with the intent of learning to attack each section and question properly, looking at your watch does nothing but increase your anxiety. Doing well on the LSAT is about being in "cruise control"..."autopilot"...doing aggressive, efficient work without having to worry. NBA ballers call it "being in the zone".

What difference is the amount of time left on the clock going to make? Are you going to suddenly become more efficient if time is running out? If that's the case, you should have been just as efficient from the very start. The only thing a clock does is add anxiety.

To do your best you need to forget that you are on the clock and work as quickly and efficiently as your brain and skills will allow you to. End of story!

[Pancakes12]

Reminds me of my reasons to take LSAT with eyes closed

1) less distractions from peripheral vision

2) easier to keep eyes off any clocks in room

3) proctors less likely to think you're cheating

[PDaddy]

I dunno, this might work for some people...

When I started studying I didn't check the time until after I finished a section (to see how much I needed to improve). I usually still do it that way even though I tend to finish each section with an extra minute or two - the only time I look at the clock is if I get a bit stuck on a question. I don't really think about it that much..

This is definitely not PSA worthy advice though. If you don't need a clock, that's cool. But, you know, it's a timed test... so....its probably a good idea to know how much time you have left?

Why? So you can select which questions you might leave alone and attack the easier ones before getting to the harder ones? You should already be doing that as a matter of practice anyways! At any juncture during the test, you are still going to process that info and proceed accordingly, regardless, so there's no reason to add off-the-page eye movement.

At the very least, test-takers should train themselves not to look at their watches until after 15-20 questions. There's no need...attack the questions in the most advantageous manner possible.

The only section in which I might deviate from this rule is logic games - because you need to pick games according to how many points each game offers, as well as perceived difficulty - relative to the time left.

There's a unique balance you have to strike with games sections, and looking at your watch after doing each game can assist you with picking the lowest hanging fruit at all times.

You might also apply this line of reasoning to reading comp passages, but to a lesser degree. Rarely is a hard science passage your easiest passage, and rarely is a diversity passage your hardest. Additionally, most people know how well they do in comparative reading. If you're good at it, and it's a diversity passage, it's going to be low hanging fruit. If you suck at it, and it's a hard science passage (and you additionally suck at science), you're going to leave it.

It's up to the individual to determine when and how to use the clock, but nobody can dispute the argument that one should use it as little as possible.

[Louis1127]

This seems like a highly individual thing to me. If you think a watch somehow hinders your performance, try a couple PTs without it, see how it goes, and if it shows to be an effective method, go with it.

Although, OP, you were very clear about this "just being a PSA", so I give you credit for not being too dogmatic about it.

[Atmosphere]

1.) No
2.) No
3.) No
4.) No

[redsox]

So if you have no idea how much time is left, and you're going to fail to finish a section, how do you know when to randomly bubble in the questions you haven't reached?

[lieph82]

There was no clock in my testing room.

[Danger Zone]

So if you have no idea how much time is left, and you're going to fail to finish a section, how do you know when to randomly bubble in the questions you haven't reached?

"Five minutes left"

(start writing a lot faster)

(See proctor checking watch anxiously)

(Randomly bubble)

"Stop"

Or

"Stop"

(Randomly bubble very quickly and stealthily)

Or

"Stop"

(Put pencil down)

(Bubble in randomly once next section begins)

[PDaddy]

1.) No
2.) No
3.) No
4.) No

There's no right or wrong answer to this question. OP's advice - or some variation on it - is echoed by many top LSAT instructors. Top LSAT scorers reduce the impact of the click by minimal ozone their use of it or eliminating it altogether.

You should always work as quickly and efficiently as possible, which means attacking the questions in the manner that allows you to secure the most points. Clock or no clock, that never changes.

[Gray]

.

[PDaddy]

Why? So you can select which questions you might leave alone and attack the easier ones before getting to the harder ones? You should already be doing that as a matter of practice anyways! At any juncture during the test, you are still going to process that info and proceed accordingly, regardless, so there's no reason to add off-the-page eye movement.

TBH I only ever check the clock to reassure myself that I have enough time...I don't skip questions (personally way more comfortable just doing them in order.) For me having the watch to check is a little calming (like 'ok, I'm on q18 and I still have 20 minutes' or 'first 3 LG done in 20 minutes, this is great!). I'll check it mid section maybe once per PT.

I agree that it's not necessary for everyone and can be a distraction. I also agree with OP that you should already have a good sense of how long 35 mins is after taking enough PTs, and might not need a watch.

Anyway I guess I would say 'don't focus so much on time' but not 'don't even bother bringing a watch!'

Credited...

[Gray]

.

[CincinnatusND]

I was pretty happy to have a watch on test day. At one point I looked down and confirmed I was going about my LR section way too leisurely and that motivated me to pick up the pace a bit. It only really helped me once, but still.

[redsox]

"Five minutes left"

(start writing a lot faster)

(See proctor checking watch anxiously)

(Randomly bubble)

"Stop"

Risky, if the proctor isn't that obvious about it. Or checks his watch every 30 seconds regardless and never looks anxious. Or is staring at a clock in the back of the room.

Or

"Stop"

(Randomly bubble very quickly and stealthily)

Blatantly cheating.

Or

"Stop"

(Put pencil down)

(Bubble in randomly once next section begins)

Blatantly cheating.

[Danger Zone]

Do you want to get ahead in life? Don't be a bitch

[Sls17]

This seems like a highly individual thing to me.