First time taking LSAT (December) and very worried Forum

[interested53]

Hey, I'm worried even though there seems some time to boost my score. I'm hoping for a 170+ but it seems like a long shot now
Did anyone go from a Superprep A score of 150 to 170 + test score? If so, I would be willing to know how it was done

I took Superprep A (timed) at the end of Sep and got 151.
LR: 12/25
RC: 21/27
LG: 14/24
LR: 13/25
Raw score of 60.

I feel these are my problems, and any advice on improvement (however harsh and realistic) would help:
1) I'm having trouble reviewing LR questions, which is my biggest weakness. I have taken PT 52 and 53 and my LR scores are still hovering around the same mark.
I get how the answers are arrived at after looking at Manhattan forum, but cannot seem to apply it whenever I do a new set of questions. Blind review has minimal help, with my blind review also being incorrect.

2) LG could be improved with more practice, but I feel I am always rushed for time. I'm already doing at least 4 new games per day (timed with 7 sage review) and continuously reviewing past ones daily. I'm hoping it works out >.<

3) RC: Just keep reading and practicing I guess, but not sure how consistent this should be. I consistently get 5-6 questions wrong on the timed ones I have done so far PT 52-55. My weakness (attention fades) is when the topics they bring up is on
a) artist/writers/poets and how their work is game changing etc, (no idea how to get interest in this)
b) Science. I'm reading a short history of everything by bill bryson to increase my interest in this area

Therefore, should I postpone the test in December? Or just give up on the 170+ score (like forever)? I'm willing to put in the hours but if at the end of it all, I don't see a marked jump in scores despite putting in at least 40 hours per week, then all I have done will be for naught.

[mist4bison]

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[interested53]

Hey mist, thanks for the reply.

I have finished the LG and LR bibles. That's why I'm so frustrated with LR, because the error rate is still the same, having no idea how to do a quality review. LR takes up like 2 sections, so it is a big chunk of marks.
For LG, will keep fingers crossed and plug at it, cutting time as I go along
For RC, will just have to keep drilling. Similar to LG, I think the problem is time...(why can't it be 45 min instead of 35 min)

[Louis1127]

Check this out

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... e#p7756379

[MattM]

^ this

I started off in Literally exact same as this thread.......started off at a 145 now aiming for 170+

Its achievable if you are willing to put in the effort and the work......I only got 5 RIGHT on my first LG which is about as good as randomly guessing, now if i get 5 wrong on LG, its an off day for me

[Lying Lawyer]

Hey, I'm worried even though there seems some time to boost my score. I'm hoping for a 170+ but it seems like a long shot now
Did anyone go from a Superprep A score of 150 to 170 + test score? If so, I would be willing to know how it was done

I took Superprep A (timed) at the end of Sep and got 151.
LR: 12/25
RC: 21/27
LG: 14/24
LR: 13/25
Raw score of 60.

I feel these are my problems, and any advice on improvement (however harsh and realistic) would help:
1) I'm having trouble reviewing LR questions, which is my biggest weakness. I have taken PT 52 and 53 and my LR scores are still hovering around the same mark.
I get how the answers are arrived at after looking at Manhattan forum, but cannot seem to apply it whenever I do a new set of questions. Blind review has minimal help, with my blind review also being incorrect.

2) LG could be improved with more practice, but I feel I am always rushed for time. I'm already doing at least 4 new games per day (timed with 7 sage review) and continuously reviewing past ones daily. I'm hoping it works out >.<

First thing is stop taking practice tests. You're wasting them. Second thing is don't time yourself. I had/have a similar problem. When I drilled I did very well, but when I did a practice test I didn't do well. I felt that I wasn't seeing the gaps in the reasoning or the inferences I had to make. Slow down. Slow down and slow down. Forget about testing in December right now. Go through each question and make sure you know the process it requires. If you're using Manhattan, make sure you read the stem first, then identify the conclusion, the supporting premise. Where is the gap if it's an assumption question, eliminate wrong answers, etc. You have to train yourself to do it on the test. I know with me I had the timing issue in the back of my head and a little bit of anxiety about testing. Also as I got farther along, I was having concentration issues. I would lose focus. I might be having stamina issue too. However, it is most important that you sit on each question until you see the process. I tried it today and I went from averaging 16-17 right per LR to 21. The big thing is that i didn't feel as if I was guessing. I saw more information per question. I could eliminate more answers. I might have to cancel for December and aim for February. You might want to consider the same if you aren't progressing as much as you want.

Same thing with LG. Don't worry about timing yet. Focus on diagramming and getting the inferences down that will help you go through everything quicker. Hope this helps.

[wsag826]

I took the test for the first time in late-September and was pretty much in your boat at this point in time. Obviously I do not know my score yet so I can't offer any study-specific advice, but I will say one thing: I was moving on to timed tests before I really understood the gist of the logical reasoning questions (and the reading comprehension to a lesser extent). So when I did it timed it was a waste of time--because I fundamentally did not know what to look for nor how to approach these questions to get the correct answer. I feel like the time piece comes easier once you know exactly what you're doing. I'm inclined to agree with others about not doing timing until you're as comfortable as possible with the LR and RC sections.

I think you still have quite a bit of time to get adjusted to that before turning back over to the timed sections. Best of luck! I'll probably be right there with you retaking in December as well.

[nlee10]

If the LR Bible isn't working out for you, pick up Manhattan LR or LSAT Trainer. I never clicked with the bible and saw huge gains from Manhattan + drilling.

P.S- I envy your diagnostic RC score.

[interested53]

Like Lying Lawyer said, taking timed test without understanding the material well makes me very anxious, so will definitely have to stop doing it.
I will work on getting the fundamentals right instead of doing timed tests. Will see how at end of Oct if I will be sitting the Dec one after I have put in the hard work. Otherwise, February it is.
Thanks for the link to the forum page too, really helpful

Thanks all again for the advice. Always good to know you are not alone in the struggle

PS: thanks nlee10, but like I said, I will lose focus when topics don't interest me on RC, so have to work on that

[ChemEng1642]

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[nlee10]

I'd like to add, in the beginning of my prep, my LR total was similar to yours, around 25 right. Since I read the Manhattan LR + drilled + and started a prep course, I'm hitting around 35 right now.

[interested53]

ChemEng, your suggestion seems very plausible to try. Will try working on it that way, though I personally feel for myself it's more to do with interest and losing focus then anything else

Well fingers crossed and hope the drilling works in the end

[ChemEng1642]

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