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Ok, so I took my first strict timed full length (5 sections) practice test and got a 164. I wasnt thrilled with it, but considering the R.C. is what killed me (I couldn't get to the last passage), I was feeling confident that I could pull the section up. I also got 2 wrong on LG which is unusual for me (I typically ace that section). So the next few days I devoted to review and drilling with emphasis on RC.

Today I took another PT. I went into it loathing the idea of doing any thinking at all because I felt super tired and my mind felt foggy. The first section, LR I aced (but turns out it was the experimental), the second section was RC and I could barely focus on what I was reading. It pretty much dwindled from there with the exception of LG. Anyways, I did horrible. I got a 157 which freaked me out because my test is just over a month away. But, on the other hand, I also know my sleep has been terrible for a week and I was noticeably physically and mentally exhausted today.

My question is if it's possible for a lack of sleep to affect a score that much. Whenever I drill full sections, I normally get max. 2 wrong for LR and LG. RC is always a struggle because Im slow.
Also, has anyone else experienced major score drops due to being tired?

My scores tended to drop when I was tired. Sleep was a huge factor for me in my LSAT prep. A few weeks before the test I made sure to start going to sleep at the same time every day and waking up at a reasonable hour. My test scores began to improve. Sleep should be a big concern. Use melatonin if you need to.

InPursuitOfaPassion wrote:

Ok, so I took my first strict timed full length (5 sections) practice test and got a 164. I wasnt thrilled with it, but considering the R.C. is what killed me (I couldn't get to the last passage), I was feeling confident that I could pull the section up. I also got 2 wrong on LG which is unusual for me (I typically ace that section). So the next few days I devoted to review and drilling with emphasis on RC.

Today I took another PT. I went into it loathing the idea of doing any thinking at all because I felt super tired and my mind felt foggy. The first section, LR I aced (but turns out it was the experimental), the second section was RC and I could barely focus on what I was reading. It pretty much dwindled from there with the exception of LG. Anyways, I did horrible. I got a 157 which freaked me out because my test is just over a month away. But, on the other hand, I also know my sleep has been terrible for a week and I was noticeably physically and mentally exhausted today.

My question is if it's possible for a lack of sleep to affect a score that much. Whenever I drill full sections, I normally get max. 2 wrong for LR and LG. RC is always a struggle because Im slow.

I mean obv it depends just how sleep deprived you are. But in drilling today I noticed one problem I missed by misreading one word. The LSAT is very particular so misreading one thing especially a "not" "can't" or missing a reasonable seeming term shift can be the difference between getting a problem right or wrong. So I would say not to freak out too much, get some sleep and see how it goes when you're fully rested.

Colonel_funkadunk wrote:

InPursuitOfaPassion wrote:

Ok, so I took my first strict timed full length (5 sections) practice test and got a 164. I wasnt thrilled with it, but considering the R.C. is what killed me (I couldn't get to the last passage), I was feeling confident that I could pull the section up. I also got 2 wrong on LG which is unusual for me (I typically ace that section). So the next few days I devoted to review and drilling with emphasis on RC.

Today I took another PT. I went into it loathing the idea of doing any thinking at all because I felt super tired and my mind felt foggy. The first section, LR I aced (but turns out it was the experimental), the second section was RC and I could barely focus on what I was reading. It pretty much dwindled from there with the exception of LG. Anyways, I did horrible. I got a 157 which freaked me out because my test is just over a month away. But, on the other hand, I also know my sleep has been terrible for a week and I was noticeably physically and mentally exhausted today.

My question is if it's possible for a lack of sleep to affect a score that much. Whenever I drill full sections, I normally get max. 2 wrong for LR and LG. RC is always a struggle because Im slow.

I mean obv it depends just how sleep deprived you are. But in drilling today I noticed one problem I missed by misreading one word. The LSAT is very particular so misreading one thing especially a "not" "can't" or missing a reasonable seeming term shift can be the difference between getting a problem right or wrong. So I would say not to freak out too much, get some sleep and see how it goes when you're fully rested.

Yeah, no kidding! Somehow I recorded 7 entities in my test booklet when there were only 6 entities (I guess I made one up lol) and that knocked a point away for a question that relied on numbers. Reading carefully is definitely a huge factor and I know today I was thinking "What did I just read?" a lot. It's hard to be objective about score drops, though...so I ended up here for reassurance. Thanks for feedback!

Lack of sleep can DEFINITELY mess you up! I had a soul-crushing 10 point drop from my average on one of my PTs while studying and it came after a night I'd been up super late.

chalk it up to a bad day & try not to worry abt it

Nova wrote:chalk it up to a bad day & try not to worry abt it

This also. I scored about 6 points lower on one PT then the other 4 I've taken, and it was in the middle. I am still yet to even drill an LR section as bad as that PT. So yea we all have bad days.

Yes sleep can effect you. Ask anyone here who works during the day and studies at night and they'll tell you it is quite common for them to struggle at times when studying during the evening. They're tired. If you're not sleeping well you'll be tired and it can have an effect on you. You also didn't seem to be in the right mind frame. Don't underestimate that either.

I do barbell lifts. This has two things in common with the LSAT:

* You're near your max capacity
* You can track how you're doing with numbers

If I don't sleep well, I can't lift what I'm supposed to. Simple as that. The LSAT is no different: you're asking your mind to perform at it's peak – you think you can do that on a sleep deficit?

Not sleeping is similar to drunkedness. This is not forum hyperbole. An actual, "cited by 329" reputable study is behind that conclusion. EVERYTHING you do suffers when you don't sleep. It's just that, unlike the LSAT, you're not measuring it, and also, being worse at washing the dishes or tying your shoes isn't really a problem.

Sleep, sleep, sleep. And eat well, and exercise. And if possible, meditate. You'll have much better odds if you take care of the basics.

Study on sleep deficit impairment: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1739867/

Thank you for the replies!

I love the max. lifting analogy since I'm into strength training .

Thanks again, everyone. The reassurance has been helpful

Has anyone used the Sleep Cycle app? I just bought it yesterday so I can start tracking my sleeping habits. Hopefully it will really push me to sleep better this month. I didn't sleep well or long before the Oct 2013 LSAT and I think that really impacted my score.

HRomanus wrote:Has anyone used the Sleep Cycle app? I just bought it yesterday so I can start tracking my sleeping habits. Hopefully it will really push me to sleep better this month. I didn't sleep well or long before the Oct 2013 LSAT and I think that really impacted my score.

No, but Im going to start trying to sleep each night at the same time as the time I'll be sleeping before the exam day and waking up the same time too. I figure it's the safest bet. Ive been going to bed super late and even if I get 8 hours, I dont feel as good as when I get those 8 starting earlier. Supposedly the quality of sleep before 12 am is important and differs from later sleep, but I dont have any articles confirming or denying that claim (just something Ive been told frequently).