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I started doing full 5-section PTs a few days ago and have done several of them up to now. I feel like I'm plateauing at a mid-160s score, which is very frustrating. Any tips of breaking past this level? I'm aiming to score as high as I possibly can. I'm already doing BR and reviewing afterward but I can't quite get it, apparently, because there isn't much improvement overall.

When someone reaches this approximate score, what does it mean? How does it reflect on my knowledge and ability to take this test?

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pittsburghpirates wrote:What areas are giving you the most trouble? LG? LR? Are there any patterns to the types of questions that you are getting wrong or is it really across the board?

It's pretty much across the board. It's weird because I would score better (-2/-3) on RC when I did individual sections earlier on but now I'm faltering at -4/-5. Also, I keep making stupid mistakes with LG and that highly contributes to my frustration. I would say my weakest section is LR.

negligee wrote:I started doing full 5-section PTs a few days ago and have done several of them up to now.

take a break, do more. take a break, do more. If you are still stuck in the 165 range ask again.

negligee wrote: It's pretty much across the board. It's weird because I would score better (-2/-3) on RC when I did individual sections earlier on but now I'm faltering at -4/-5. Also, I keep making stupid mistakes with LG and that highly contributes to my frustration. I would say my weakest section is LR.

focus on improving focus and endurance. try meditation.

Have you considered taking a day or two's break? Or drilling only one specific section for now?

Ultimately, I'd say don't worry about this plateau. I'm sure you will break it. You can also try changing up the environment you take your PTs in, or going in with a different mindset (e.g. try feeling very confident). Do you feel like it's a stamina issue and you get worn out by the end of each section?

salander wrote:Have you considered taking a day or two's break? Or drilling only one specific section for now?

Ultimately, I'd say don't worry about this plateau. I'm sure you will break it. You can also try changing up the environment you take your PTs in, or going in with a different mindset (e.g. try feeling very confident). Do you feel like it's a stamina issue and you get worn out by the end of each section?

Yes, I've been taking breaks. I've mapped out the remainder of my time so I will be doing about 3 PTs a week, so I almost always have at least a day in between tests. I don't think it's a problem of cramming and burning out, in my opinion.

I always study in the living room but are you suggesting I try a cafe or a library? I feel I'll fare even worse because of more distractions, although I know it is important to be able to drown out all background noise.

I don't feel like my brain slows down until the fifth section. That always gets to me. Prior to the last section, though, I don't notice any discernible difference. It could partly be a stamina issue.

Do you suggest I drill a section? I might try LR. Should I do the Cambridge packets that everyone always talks about?

I'm also afraid that I'll run out of PTs before I can truly improve and reach my highest potential. I just finished PT 45 last night. Do I still have plenty of material?

Also, what is the general trend in improvement when people are studying, like how many PTs/at what PT do people need before they reach a certain level/score, or does it vary widely? It sucks just prepping and never knowing if I'll ever improve.

Yeah, I'd say try changing up your routine every now and then to see if it makes a difference. Both cafes and libraries sound good. I did some PTs in cafes, and it's true that I did find it harder to concentrate. On test day, though, nothing beat a girl behind me who coughed for five minutes straight... white noise is a blessing compared to that.

Alternatively, you can even try studying in a different room in your house.

Also, to be completely honest, I rarely put in the fifth experimental section because I didn't like splitting up practice tests and hence the chance to get scaled scores from them.

I would recommend drilling a section or rereading the Bibles for LG/LR (did you buy the Bibles?) I personally didn't use the Cambridge packets, but you're right that TLS seems to love them.

negligee wrote: Also, what is the general trend in improvement when people are studying, like how many PTs/at what PT do people need before they reach a certain level/score, or does it vary widely? It sucks just prepping and never knowing if I'll ever improve.

I read somewhere(can't find the link) that there is a correlation of 10hr of studying with a 1 point increase.

negligee wrote:I'm also afraid that I'll run out of PTs before I can truly improve and reach my highest potential. I just finished PT 45 last night. Do I still have plenty of material?

Also, what is the general trend in improvement when people are studying, like how many PTs/at what PT do people need before they reach a certain level/score, or does it vary widely? It sucks just prepping and never knowing if I'll ever improve.

They'll be on PT 75 with the June LSAT, right? I think you still have plenty of material. If you really are worried, you could try taking older tests first (like from the 20s-30s range). Doing this might also help break your plateau.

Reusing old PTs isn't the worst, either. With a month or two between them, I found that I pretty much forgot what the answers were and there's a nice sense of satisfaction when you realize that you just answered a question correctly that you used to get wrong

Don't get yourself down, OP. I had a plateau in the mid-170s and then broke it with a (long) break. The whole time, I never doubted myself once on standardized tests. Confidence goes a long way!

salander wrote:

negligee wrote:I'm also afraid that I'll run out of PTs before I can truly improve and reach my highest potential. I just finished PT 45 last night. Do I still have plenty of material?

Also, what is the general trend in improvement when people are studying, like how many PTs/at what PT do people need before they reach a certain level/score, or does it vary widely? It sucks just prepping and never knowing if I'll ever improve.

They'll be on PT 75 with the June LSAT, right? I think you still have plenty of material. If you really are worried, you could try taking older tests first (like from the 20s-30s range). Doing this might also help break your plateau.

Reusing old PTs isn't the worst, either. With a month or two between them, I found that I pretty much forgot what the answers were and there's a nice sense of satisfaction when you realize that you just answered a question correctly that you used to get wrong

Don't get yourself down, OP. I had a plateau in the mid-170s and then broke it with a (long) break. The whole time, I never doubted myself once on standardized tests. Confidence goes a long way!

Yup, PT 75! And wow, I wouldn't mind having a plateau in the mid-170s, haha.
Thank you for your responses! Also, nice DP and username. I love that movie.

negligee wrote: Yup, PT 75! And wow, I wouldn't mind having a plateau in the mid-170s, haha.
Thank you for your responses! Also, nice DP and username. I love that movie.

You'll get to the mid-170s, just you wait. And no problem about the responses—TLS was a fantastic resource for me when I was studying/lurking.

I loved the movie, too! But the books even more so. So happy that someone else on TLS knows who Lisbeth is

I can only underscore what salander said. You will get there.

I burned throguh around 20 PTs over a 1 month periosd and only made around a 4 point gain to the high 160s, I could never get to 170+ and was so frustrated. After a 2-3 month break and a subsequently only drilling LGs (re-doing already seen sections really doesn't hurt), I am now at the mid 170s after thinking I would never get there..

Not that everyone has the time span on their hands, but the point is that you WILL get there if you want, and that cramming PTs really is not the most efficient way to study, focus on mastering one section at a time and you will see results.

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WRT LR: Go back to a PT that you did a while ago. Do its LR sections timed, check the answers, and ask yourself for the questions that you missed if you had the same reasoning that led you to the wrong answer the first time you did the problem, or if your reasoning had changed since then. If the latter, you probably need to take a break. +1 on getting the LR PT 1-40 Cambridge packets since you are past PT 40. Keep doing BR--it'll help.