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I am scoring a 153 right now, is it possible to pull a 20 points before the Oct LSAT test date?

Yes.

Sure it is. But the likelihood depends on many factors.

Is the 153 closer to a diagnostic score, or have you been studying for a while? Do you typically perform well on standardized tests? Do you have most of the available PTs to still do or have you already reviewed most of the published material? Do you feel comfortable with the basic format of each section? Have you ever tried blind review? Your answers to those types of questions would affect how far away from your true score range you actually are. Regardless, that bump would require a lot of time (think at least PT job hours).

I am not going to say that everyone can pull off a 173 because that simply is not true. But I do think that most people could do a lot better than they originally think because the prep makes them more comfortable with the test itself and they are actually smart. Look at a thread that mentioned a 151 diagnostic score and see how many people made huge jumps. Plenty of threads here go over prep materials that people have used before and that should give you a sense for what seems to be better to have.

shump92 wrote:Sure it is. But the likelihood depends on many factors.

Is the 153 closer to a diagnostic score, or have you been studying for a while? Do you typically perform well on standardized tests? Do you have most of the available PTs to still do or have you already reviewed most of the published material? Do you feel comfortable with the basic format of each section? Have you ever tried blind review? Your answers to those types of questions would affect how far away from your true score range you actually are. Regardless, that bump would require a lot of time (think at least PT job hours).

I am not going to say that everyone can pull off a 173 because that simply is not true. But I do think that most people could do a lot better than they originally think because the prep makes them more comfortable with the test itself and they are actually smart. Look at a thread that mentioned a 151 diagnostic score and see how many people made huge jumps. Plenty of threads here go over prep materials that people have used before and that should give you a sense for what seems to be better to have.

Hi, so a 153 is my diagnostic score and I have been..kind of studying since March. But recently, I have really been hammering it in. I study ~5-6 hours a day and I believe that I am starting to grasp the concepts of LR. it is RC that is really messing with me, but I've heard there isn't much you can do except drill for RC. I have taken maybe 7 timed Pratice exams. but its reassuring to hear that it is possible

By October 2015? No..that isn't happening. But by October 2016...hell yeah. Just keep grinding your way up and don't take the test until you're consistently scoring a couple points above your target.

Is the 153 your diagnostic or what you're scoring now?

terrier27 wrote:Is the 153 your diagnostic or what you're scoring now?

I'm at a 159 now, but I'm hitting a wall at 159 for some reason

I won't say it's impossible. But I think you need more time. A 6 point increase from March to now doesn't make me feel like a 20 point increase is super likely in the next 2 months. Maybe keep pushing and wait until registration deadline and if you're not there yet or not even close then wait.

terrier27 wrote:I won't say it's impossible. But I think you need more time. A 6 point increase from March to now doesn't make me feel like a 20 point increase is super likely in the next 2 months. Maybe keep pushing and wait until registration deadline and if you're not there yet or not even close then wait.

Yeah December tests would still be fine for the application window and 2 months more of focused studying would probably help a lot. If I were ever to retake, I would\not force myself to a certain test date even though that made perfect sense for me in June.

Possible? definitely. Likely? probably not. Just try your best prepping dude/dudette

Here's the thing about these kinds of questions: you actually have no idea what your max ability level is until you put everything into it and take the test.

I agree with the posters above, work hard and you can make big improvements. I've seen someone go up 38 points in one of my classes. She worked really hard and put the time in, plus things kind of clicked for her once she learned basic LG strategies.

As to whether you can increase 20 points by October, well, I've seen it happen several times in my classes. But they are the exception rather than the rule. My last class averaged a 14 point increase over the 2ish month course (this is diagnostic to highest of their PTs, of course I don't have access to their final score unless they tell me). A lot of people need more time and decide to postpone, and a lot of the 20+ point improvers do indeed go that route.

That all being said, you never know until you try. Maybe you can pull it off with a lot of (the right kind of) work and a little chutzpah. Furthermore, if you go in thinking that it's not possible, you'll definitely be right. I say gun for October, and assess a couple of weeks out if you think you can make it. Either way, if you end up studying for December, you might as well get as far along as you can by October.

Good luck!

Yes, if you work really hard.

BlueprintJason wrote:Here's the thing about these kinds of questions: you actually have no idea what your max ability level is until you put everything into it and take the test.

I agree with the posters above, work hard and you can make big improvements. I've seen someone go up 38 points in one of my classes. She worked really hard and put the time in, plus things kind of clicked for her once she learned basic LG strategies.

As to whether you can increase 20 points by October, well, I've seen it happen several times in my classes. But they are the exception rather than the rule. My last class averaged a 14 point increase over the 2ish month course (this is diagnostic to highest of their PTs, of course I don't have access to their final score unless they tell me). A lot of people need more time and decide to postpone, and a lot of the 20+ point improvers do indeed go that route.

That all being said, you never know until you try. Maybe you can pull it off with a lot of (the right kind of) work and a little chutzpah. Furthermore, if you go in thinking that it's not possible, you'll definitely be right. I say gun for October, and assess a couple of weeks out if you think you can make it. Either way, if you end up studying for December, you might as well get as far along as you can by October.

Good luck!

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lawschoolgirl312 wrote:

shump92 wrote:Sure it is. But the likelihood depends on many factors.

Is the 153 closer to a diagnostic score, or have you been studying for a while? Do you typically perform well on standardized tests? Do you have most of the available PTs to still do or have you already reviewed most of the published material? Do you feel comfortable with the basic format of each section? Have you ever tried blind review? Your answers to those types of questions would affect how far away from your true score range you actually are. Regardless, that bump would require a lot of time (think at least PT job hours).

I am not going to say that everyone can pull off a 173 because that simply is not true. But I do think that most people could do a lot better than they originally think because the prep makes them more comfortable with the test itself and they are actually smart. Look at a thread that mentioned a 151 diagnostic score and see how many people made huge jumps. Plenty of threads here go over prep materials that people have used before and that should give you a sense for what seems to be better to have.

Hi, so a 153 is my diagnostic score and I have been..kind of studying since March. But recently, I have really been hammering it in. I study ~5-6 hours a day and I believe that I am starting to grasp the concepts of LR. it is RC that is really messing with me, but I've heard there isn't much you can do except drill for RC. I have taken maybe 7 timed Pratice exams. but its reassuring to hear that it is possible

If you were casually studying since March, like an hour here, an hour there, and you got a 153 diagnostic you are in a much better position to improve than if you were hauling *** since March. Hope you can do it!

If you're hitting a 159 wall, you're missing the fundamentals.

If you are using this thread for the suggestion of whether you should register for the October test in the hope for a 173, the answer is no.

IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:

BlueprintJason wrote:Here's the thing about these kinds of questions: you actually have no idea what your max ability level is until you put everything into it and take the test.

I agree with the posters above, work hard and you can make big improvements. I've seen someone go up 38 points in one of my classes. She worked really hard and put the time in, plus things kind of clicked for her once she learned basic LG strategies.

As to whether you can increase 20 points by October, well, I've seen it happen several times in my classes. But they are the exception rather than the rule. My last class averaged a 14 point increase over the 2ish month course (this is diagnostic to highest of their PTs, of course I don't have access to their final score unless they tell me). A lot of people need more time and decide to postpone, and a lot of the 20+ point improvers do indeed go that route.

That all being said, you never know until you try. Maybe you can pull it off with a lot of (the right kind of) work and a little chutzpah. Furthermore, if you go in thinking that it's not possible, you'll definitely be right. I say gun for October, and assess a couple of weeks out if you think you can make it. Either way, if you end up studying for December, you might as well get as far along as you can by October.

Good luck!

Best post ITT