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This is going to be a last minute-question:

What should be my mental state as I turn to the first page of the LSAT this coming Monday? Should I be as calm as I can or should I get my adrenaline pumping and be super intense?

If my mental state is leaning towards calmness, then I'm afraid I will lose mental focus and be too passive when attacking the questions. If I get myself tensed up, my focus would be 100%, and isn't this what we should aim for? 100% focus? But there's the possibility that I would push the panic button when something goes wrong such that my adrenaline turns into fear and everything goes horribly.

This question is for all LSAT instructors and all college-level students who had experience doing standardized tests (which applies to the vast majority of you): What's the best mental state for critical thinking and problem-solving? Is emotion an overall a hindrance to test-taking?

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downbeat14 wrote:I think you'll prob get as many varied answers here as you will number of people responding--it's just really individual.

For me, it was important to use what worked for me in PTs--sharp, engaged focus, but not heart-pounding freak out mode; lots of intensity and forward momentum, but still working with care and caution.

Only you can know what the ideal mental place is for you. How did it feel when you crushed your best PT?

I was in "I don't give a fuck mode".

The best advice that I can given based on a plethora of experience taking standardized testing is to constantly reaffirm the (probably false!) notion that I am the smartest person taking the LSAT in the room, and therefore, there is no reason that I should not perform up to xxx standard.

A level of confidence that may border on arrogance when approaching an otherwise anxiety provoking academic exercise has always served me well.

I am always able to return to self-loathing after the exam.

The more you can treat it like a fun challenge, the better.

When I took it, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to law school. But I like mental puzzles. So I had enough engagement to be curious and to care, but I wasn't nervous about doing poorly.

Chinese high school graduates are taking college entrance examination (gaokao) these two or three days. Think about them.

At least you have a much shorter test (in terms of duration), more retakes, and can cancel AFTER you take it.

And above all, law school is by no means the only way out.