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I've been studying for the LSAT all summer, and am working my way into the 50s for practice tests, with the intention of taking each remaining test up to 71 before the test date (not necessarily all under testing conditions and consecutively). I'm currently scoring in the low 170s (average of about 172, range of about 170-174). Test difficulty and curves vary, but I generally miss 1-3 on LG, 2-5 on LR (total), and 1-3 on RC.

I've been doing a version of Pithypike's LG method, used the PowerScore books for LG and LR, tracked my areas of weakness in LR (strengthen, weaken, flaw), and followed basic methods for marking up RC passages.

I'm at the point where I think the bulk of tests I'll take over the next month and a half will bump me up by no more than 1-2 points. Could someone who has scored very highly in the past, perhaps someone who jumped from low 170s to high 170s in the final month or so of prep, offer any advice on how to make that final push?

I had several high 170's PTs, but I only managed to consistently crack the mid 170s, and I scored 168 on the actual test. Of the study partners I had who managed to crack the high 170s, the key has been consistency and optimization. Do whatever you can to psych yourself out, get the adrenaline going, and believe in your bones that the PT in front of you is the real thing and it's game day. Optimize your daily routine so that you're reaching your peak mental performance around the time you'd be starting the test (about a half hour after your scheduled time). Maintain an eating/bathroom schedule such that you won't be hungry and/or need to use the bathroom in the middle of sections 2 or 5.

Above all though, be consistent. You want to eliminate as many uncontrolled variables as possible, and you need to achieve the right state of mind. You already have nearly mastered the test if you're consistently scoring in the low 170s, and all that is really left is optimization for controllable factors.

Good luck!

cahwc12 wrote:Optimize your daily routine so that you're reaching your peak mental performance around the time you'd be starting the test (about a half hour after your scheduled time).

This is an interesting suggestion. Tips to achieve it? My FT job isn't very intellectually stimulating, so my 10:30s are usually pretty intellectually dull (on the phone, in a meeting, or driving somewhere).

I've read suggestions of people changing their sleep schedule to something along the lines of 7pm-3/4am a few weeks before the test so that they are fully awake and alert by 8:30 at administration time. However this would not work for me as I work at 10pm-11pm everynight.

Thank you, Pepperidge Farm man!

I would recommend saying "good enough" to the LR and RC, and focusing most heavily on LG. Make that -0 every time and you've got a fighting chance at 175+ if you hit the middle range of your LR and RC performances. Obviously continue to do cursory review of LR and RC, to avoid "losing" what you have.

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