A serious question on PT schedule. Do need help. Forum

[DSD2013]

Hey everyone,

Taking December LSAT. I have drilled PT 1-39 so those are out for actual PTs.

I do want to note that I have already seen PTs 40-47 and 52-63 in previous prep. I will still be taking these in my schedule because I don't remember all of the answers and they will help with endurance and timing.

How should I distribute the PT's in the most efficient manner? Should I just do them in numerical order or should I put many that I have not seen yet earlier on in the schedule so that I am not stuck doing these in the last month of preparation?

It would be appreciated greatly if someone could post the ideal schedule for me. The only days that I cannot take PTs are Tuesday/Thursday. Any other day works. Let's see what some of the experienced folks on here have to say.

Thanks.

[Rigo]

General advice: don't take more than 3 PTs a week and leave time for sufficient review.
Don't take them in exact order. The most recent tests have tricky components so you want to see them more than a few days before the test to give you ample time to review them and so your confidence isn't shot a day before the test. For example, my order for the final 7 weeks is PT61, 62, 70, 63, 64, 71, 65, 66, 72, 67, 69, 73, 68. Not saying my distribution is the best way to go, but it's something to consider.

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

I'd vote for dispersing the unseen most modern tests evenly through out your schedule, don't use them all up at the beginning or save them for last minute. Def try and simulate test day conditions when you take newest ones. They will resemble the Dec test the most in terms of trends and pacing, if you only do the super old tests right before the test you may get your pacing out of whack. Alternatively, doing all the super old ones first may not maximize your schedule either (spending a month training for a test that no longer really exists). I personally categorized PT into groups, NEW (2004+), OLD, and ANCIENT. I sat down with a calendar and spread all the new ones out evenly over the period of time I had available. Then I would fill in the remaining free time/days with the old and ancient tests.

But take my advice w a grain of salt, I have not done all the tests or anything and there are certainly lurkers on this site who have. Maybe they have words of wisdom...

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

General advice: don't take more than 3 PTs a week and leave time for sufficient review.
Don't take them in exact order. The most recent tests have tricky components so you want to see them more than a few days before the test to give you ample time to review them and so your confidence isn't shot a day before the test. For example, my order for the final 7 weeks is PT61, 62, 70, 63, 64, 71, 65, 66, 72, 67, 69, 73, 68. Not saying my distribution is the best way to go, but it's something to consider.

+1

[tezzeret]

General advice: don't take more than 3 PTs a week and leave time for sufficient review.
Don't take them in exact order. The most recent tests have tricky components so you want to see them more than a few days before the test to give you ample time to review them and so your confidence isn't shot a day before the test. For example, my order for the final 7 weeks is PT61, 62, 70, 63, 64, 71, 65, 66, 72, 67, 69, 73, 68. Not saying my distribution is the best way to go, but it's something to consider.

Is taking more than 3PT's a week detrimental? Obviously this your statement is a generalization but am just wondering if there are indeed any benefits to "maxing" out lsats, even to go as far as taking one a day?

[Tyr]

General advice: don't take more than 3 PTs a week and leave time for sufficient review.
Don't take them in exact order. The most recent tests have tricky components so you want to see them more than a few days before the test to give you ample time to review them and so your confidence isn't shot a day before the test. For example, my order for the final 7 weeks is PT61, 62, 70, 63, 64, 71, 65, 66, 72, 67, 69, 73, 68. Not saying my distribution is the best way to go, but it's something to consider.

Is taking more than 3PT's a week detrimental? Obviously this your statement is a generalization but am just wondering if there are indeed any benefits to "maxing" out lsats, even to go as far as taking one a day?

One reason you don't want to just hammer out one PT per day is because that is not studying smart. Taking only 2 or 3 per week allows you to review them properly. Review, by the way, is where you are going to improve your score. You learn from your mistakes and hammer out your weaknesses. PTs are to fine tune your timing and exposes weak areas. Then, after your PT and review session, you go back to do more drilling to beat down those weaknesses, shore up your strengths, and ensure you aren't neglecting any other areas.

I play golf. Actually, I tend to play in a lot of golf tournaments. So, I like to use golf as an analogy. Competitive and professional golfers practice a lot (hey, just like LSAT students!). The pros don't become great because they play one round of golf after another. They become great because they practice the fundamentals on the driving range and putting green. They then play a couple rounds of golf per week to put all their practice time to the test to see how it performs in a real setting. I heard a PGA Tour pro say one time, "You spend 8 hours per day at the driving range for 6 months. Then, you maybe start to get it so you can become good."