When it all falls apart. Forum

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

Well, I don't even know what to say about myself. I decided, after speaking with a family friend who has been through this entire process, to sit the LSAT today and the whole process just fell apart for me.

During prep I was testing between 158 (didnt try) to 169 with an average of 163. About 1.5 months ago (very rough estimate), I felt as though I was sick of studying for the test and, hence, the 'didnt try' comment just above. But, in realizing that I didnt have much time left, I decided to continue to study. So I did light studying up until Thursday. About a week ago, I was burning through my strong sections with accuracy and my weak section (RC) was improving. Then, about 4 days ago, I started to do poorly at my strengths. It wasnt a slight dip, either. It was almost as though Id never studied before. I chalked it up to being sick of the test, took it easy and took yesterday off studying.

My nerves all week were sky high. Two nights before the test I didnt sleep. Today, I was super nervous. And then the exam started and, once again like during the last bit of my prep, everything seemed foreign to me. I was having trouble understanding what was being said in LR. It felt like my mind had been replaced with someone who had never seen the test before. I was blanking out constantly. Normally, I finish LG with 6 min to spare and max 1 wrong, but I only got through two games!

Needless to say, I cancelled my score.

I feel disallusioned. Im sitting here wondering what the hell happened to my mind.

Sorry for the long winded post. I guess Im hoping someone else has experienced that and has some words of advice.

[pancakes3]

I also didn't take studying very seriously and ended up canceling my first LSAT. I didn't bomb quite as badly as you did but it definitely felt like it was below what I had be PTing. I didn't finish LG section, kept re-reading for RC because I didn't underline, etc. Also, the test-taking conditions were bad. Small desks, crowded rooms, etc. Ultimately though, It was a godsend, really.

I ratcheted up the prep, chose a better testing center and scored a 167 (PTing at 165-170) for the next cycle. For the second testing you won't have so many distractions and you'll be much more confident. The little things like using your Tax-ID number, making sure you're filling out the right numbers to the right test, if your passport pic is going to stay on, etc. all unnecessarily weigh on your first test. That, and if you didn't full out study, you'll be very intimidated. After "hardcore" studying with entire books of games and dozens of PT's under your belt, the chances of you panicking and striking out goes pretty much to zero.

And all this was before I found TLS. If I had the benefit of TLS I think I could have eked out a 170+.

Canceling a score isn't the end of the world but you do feel like shit. The LSAT is humbling, for sure.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

I also didn't take studying very seriously and ended up canceling my first LSAT. I didn't bomb quite as badly as you did but it definitely felt like it was below what I had be PTing. I didn't finish LG section, kept re-reading for RC because I didn't underline, etc. Also, the test-taking conditions were bad. Small desks, crowded rooms, etc. Ultimately though, It was a godsend, really.

I ratcheted up the prep, chose a better testing center and scored a 167 (PTing at 165-170) for the next cycle. For the second testing you won't have so many distractions and you'll be much more confident. The little things like using your Tax-ID number, making sure you're filling out the right numbers to the right test, if your passport pic is going to stay on, etc. all unnecessarily weigh on your first test. That, and if you didn't full out study, you'll be very intimidated. After "hardcore" studying with entire books of games and dozens of PT's under your belt, the chances of you panicking and striking out goes pretty much to zero.

And all this was before I found TLS. If I had the benefit of TLS I think I could have eked out a 170+.

Canceling a score isn't the end of the world but you do feel like shit. The LSAT is humbling, for sure.

Thanks. Although, I did take studying very seriously. In fact, I believe I overdid it in the end and was burning out. Curious what other peolle think based on all of the info I provided.

[pancakes3]

1) If you really DID study hardcore, you might have to address medically relevant anxiety issues.

2) What's with the "didn't try" qualifier then?

3) Even if you did study hard, you probably didn't go TLS hard.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

1) If you really DID study hardcore, you might have to address medically relevant anxiety issues.

2) What's with the "didn't try" qualifier then?

3) Even if you did study hard, you probably didn't go TLS hard.

The "didnt try" qualifier refers to ONE particular test that I did which hardly counts as my entire prep.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

1) If you really DID study hardcore, you might have to address medically relevant anxiety issues.

2) What's with the "didn't try" qualifier then?

3) Even if you did study hard, you probably didn't go TLS hard.

Also, you're probably right about anxiety. I suffer from it often.

[madz]

I'm just posting so that neither of us has to be alone. I cancelled today too. Was SO pumped, so ready. Last PT was 172. Something went out in my brain. Every noise in the room registered. I can't figure it out (I took it previously and did fine, just trying to do better). Devastation is an appropriate term. OP will you be retaking in December?

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

I'm just posting so that neither of us has to be alone. I cancelled today too. Was SO pumped, so ready. Last PT was 172. Something went out in my brain. Every noise in the room registered. I can't figure it out (I took it previously and did fine, just trying to do better). Devastation is an appropriate term. OP will you be retaking in December?

I'm sorry it all crumbled for you too today, but thank you for making me feel like less of a complete failure. Somehow when other people go through the same thing it feels better.

I'm trying to figure out what went wrong in order to decide on the retake. I think nerves and being sick of the test combined for a bad mix. That being said, not sure how Ill fix the nerves (Im worried meds with mess with my mind) and if I can deal with the nerves, I dont know when Ill be fresh to start studying again since I'm seriously so sick of the test. I dont even want to see an LSAT book on a table at the other end of the room.

What about you? December retake? Sounds like all you need is more time practicing in a noisy place. My testing environment was awesome...my mind just decided to stop.

[madz]

OP: I don't even know. Being sick of this test was definitely a factor. The thing is, I scored a 167 last December, and I later found that a missed bubble had cost me two points (assuming the missed one was wrong). I thought long and hard before deciding to retake, but in the end I knew I could do better. And I've been staying around 170 in my last PTs. Now I have one more chance, which means the pressure is even greater. All this time and money, I feel like I'm obligated to take it again. And not take it so far off that I have to reintroduce myself to the material. So yeah, probably December.

Sports therapy definitely came to mind- how athletes prepare and handle the nerves. I don't know, I'm just like, lost at sea or something. Feeling super emo right now.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

OP: I don't even know. Being sick of this test was definitely a factor. The thing is, I scored a 167 last December, and I later found that a missed bubble had cost me two points (assuming the missed one was wrong). I thought long and hard before deciding to retake, but in the end I knew I could do better. And I'vmmme been staying around 170 in my last PTs. Now I have one more chance, which means the pressure is even greater. All this time and money, I feel like I'm obligated to take it again. And not take it so far off that I have to reintroduce myself to the material. So yeah, probably December.

Sports therapy definitely came to mind- how athletes prepare and handle the nerves. I don't know, I'm just like, lost at sea or something. Feeling super emo right now.

Well, I dont know your gpa etc., but a 167 is a very respectable score. If I had it, Id keep it lol (Im not suggesting you should), but I'm also Canadian and with the exception of two schools out here, that score would be considered good enough to get you into a good school (assuming the rest of the app. looks pretty strong).

But yeah, I feel lost at sea too.

[hillz]

Take some time to feel sad/angry, give yourself a couple of weeks to rest, and then get started again. You can do it, really! Also, I suggest using the 7Sage LSAT proctor app and turning on the noises, if you didn't before. It helped not be as distracted during the real thing because I had been practiced with the obnoxious coughing and page turning of the app.

Don't be too hard on yourself.

[mornincounselor]

Post removed.

[madz]

Take some time to feel sad/angry, give yourself a couple of weeks to rest, and then get started again. You can do it, really! Also, I suggest using the 7Sage LSAT proctor app and turning on the noises, if you didn't before. It helped not be as distracted during the real thing because I had been practiced with the obnoxious coughing and page turning of the app.

+1.

You can start with it quiet and work on up by adjusting your phone's volume.

Yeah that's a good suggestion. I love when JY does the forced yawns- it's too funny. I didn't use this enough, and I should have. But I don't know, I did coffee shops, and my last PT (PT 70, 172/175) I was in midtown when the UN was going on and everyone was honking/yelling. This will require some investigation. But thanks for the words of encouragement. And thanks to OP for posting thread.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

Take some time to feel sad/angry, give yourself a couple of weeks to rest, and then get started again. You can do it, really! Also, I suggest using the 7Sage LSAT proctor app and turning on the noises, if you didn't before. It helped not be as distracted during the real thing because I had been practiced with the obnoxious coughing and page turning of the app.

+1.

You can start with it quiet and work on up by adjusting your phone's volume.

Yeah that's a good suggestion. I love when JY does the forced yawns- it's too funny. I didn't use this enough, and I should have. But I don't know, I did coffee shops, and my last PT (PT 70, 172/175) I was in midtown when the UN was going on and everyone was honking/yelling. This will require some investigation. But thanks for the words of encouragement. And thanks to OP for posting thread.

Np. Yeah, those are good suggestions. Oddly enough, my surroundings didnt bother me. My testing site was actually better than the environment that id practice in, but my mind was worse. Blanking out, panicking, then refocusing only to blank out and panick again. I wish I could care less about my performance so that I could do better. I dont know, maybe I was never capable and fluking out, but my mind did not feel work like it had in the past.

[Hands]

I'm in the same boat.

My first LSAT, I didn't properly study and scored a 163.

I did, however, study hard for this test and my practice tests were averaging between 168-171. But I choked. I got behind in my first game, got flustered, and, optimistically, scored maybe 13/25 on the games, when I was averaging 19-23. I don't know where I go from here. I couldn't be better prepared and the same outcome seems likely to happen again.

I don't have any advice for you. Just reassurance that it happens, I guess.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

I'm in the same boat.

My first LSAT, I didn't properly study and scored a 163.

I did, however, study hard for this test and my practice tests were averaging between 168-171. But I choked. I got behind in my first game, got flustered, and, optimistically, scored maybe 13/25 on the games, when I was averaging 19-23. I don't know where I go from here. I couldn't be better prepared and the same outcome seems likely to happen again.

I don't have any advice for you. Just reassurance that it happens, I guess.

Im sorry that you had a bad experience too. Sounds like It was just an off day for you, though. Since unprepared you were able to hold it together enough to get a 163. I could be wrong, but sounds like you'd be fine once you find some strategies to stay calm.

Ive spent the afternoon analyzing my prep- everything from the time of day that I took practice tests to my sleep schedule, etc and think Ill take a few weeks off then try a new approach and hope it helps.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

1) If you really DID study hardcore, you might have to address medically relevant anxiety issues.

2) What's with the "didn't try" qualifier then?

3) Even if you did study hard, you probably didn't go TLS hard.

The "didnt try" qualifier refers to ONE particular test that I did which hardly counts as my entire prep.

"..you probably didn't go TLS hard" LOL. Right? I'm such an inferior peasant. Lol.

[dontdoitkid]

I just wrote this somewhere else as well, but I think it's relevant here too: This might be a one time thing, or it might be an issue that happens every time. You can prepare as hard as you want (and it seems like you did an excellent job prepping, so take some pride in that) and these issues can still happen. When you prepare for the next test, keep what happened present in your mind, not to feel ashamed or angry, but so that it can't surprise you if it happens again in December.

[InPursuitOfaPassion]

I just wrote this somewhere else as well, but I think it's relevant here too: This might be a one time thing, or it might be an issue that happens every time. You can prepare as hard as you want (and it seems like you did an excellent job prepping, so take some pride in that) and these issues can still happen. When you prepare for the next test, keep what happened present in your mind, not to feel ashamed or angry, but so that it can't surprise you if it happens again in December.

Thanks so much for the input and encouragement. I've identified some areas of prep that I'm going to change and see if that helps at all. I'm also going to try to be less obsessed about the test (which I find really tough to do).