Help: 5 Test Day Questions (caffeine, seating, timing, rules Forum

[john2018]

....

[rebexness]

Many of these can vary depending on proctor, but IME:

1. Depends on the size of the group entering the classroom (everyone has to sign in etc, one at a time) and how slow people are at filling out the scantron/writing their certifying statement. I think for me that stuff usually amounted to 15-20 minutes or less.

2. You have to ditch your caffeine by the time you walk in the room. Plan your spot in the check in line accordingly. You aren't permitted to leave the room after you check in.

3. Usually you are assigned to a specific seat. There is no changing it.

4. Barely enough time to change your watch, but it varies, obvs. I wouldn't get used to anything more than about a minute.

5. Lol not going there. Bubble rapidly when you hear the 1 min call.

[john2018]

Many of these can vary depending on proctor, but IME:

1. Depends on the size of the group entering the classroom (everyone has to sign in etc, one at a time) and how slow people are at filling out the scantron/writing their certifying statement. I think for me that stuff usually amounted to 15-20 minutes or less.

2. You have to ditch your caffeine by the time you walk in the room. Plan your spot in the check in line accordingly. You aren't permitted to leave the room after you check in.

..

[downbeat14]

.

[rinkrat19]

5. Pencils moving on paper after time is called is a violation. Obviously it takes some non-zero amount of time for the proctor to say the words and look around, and some non-zero amount of time for each exam taker to put down their pencils and close their test booklet. Whether a proctor (and remember, there is usually more than one in the room) sees your pencil moving right as he/she finishes saying the words and how they interpret that is anyone's guess. So I guess you balance the value of possibly getting one more question right vs. possibly getting your test thrown out.

Personally I'd finish bubbling as the proctor starts to speak at the end. "Time's up, pencils down" should let you messily finish a bubble.

[john2018]

..

[McAvoy]

Caffeine pills: start using them. You can take them into the actual test and pop them as needed; no worries about liquids or having to pee/poop w/ coffee.

[downbeat14]

.

[A. Nony Mouse]

1. If registration begins at 8:30am, when will the test usually begin? 9:30?

Just an anedcote, but FWIW, the first place I took the LSAT was a large and not very well organized community college, and they moved the rooms on the day of, and we didn't start the exam itself until sometime after 10 am. The second place was probably between 9:15-9:30. So there can be a lot of variety.

[john2018]

Caffeine pills: start using them. You can take them into the actual test and pop them as needed; no worries about liquids or having to pee/poop w/ coffee.

..

[Louis1127]

Good questions, John, thanks!

[McAvoy]

Caffeine pills: start using them. You can take them into the actual test and pop them as needed; no worries about liquids or having to pee/poop w/ coffee.

I wish I could. I've experimented extensively with caffeine pills in the past, and they simply don't do the trick for me. In fact, sometimes they initially make me sleepier. I'm not sure what it is, but my guess is that it's because of the mass dosage (200 mg at once) or the synthetic nature of it. Clearly this is pure speculation, but the same holds true when I consume 5 hour energy. I just don't get the same "kick" from caffeine pills or 5 hour energy, or most energy drinks for that matter. In all likelihood, it's probably mental, and my brain recognizes and thus relies on coffee specifically to do the job. Who knows, though. One thing I do know is that I'm not going to start using something two weeks before the test that I've previously had poor results with, so I'll stick with espresso (next best thing to coffee--less liquid, less likely I'll have to use the restroom).

Yeah I went through the bolded for sure. I just forced myself to adjust to it with PTs for like a month (while removing all other caffeine from my diet) and it worked a lot better. But you probably don't have time to do anything like that at this point, just do what you're most comfortable with, and be sure not to overdo the caffeine and get jittery.