Oct. vs Dec. LSAT Forum

[monceau]

Hey all,

I'm in a bit of a predicament and wanted to see if I could get some advice. I'm currently in a gap year after UG and I've been studying pretty intensely for the LSAT since early June in anticipation of the October test. I've gone from a 145 diagnostic to now scoring an average of ~165 on PTs, though I've been wanting to get more in the high 160s to low 170s. I'm amenable to the idea of taking the December test, but I have a trip planned to go visit a friend overseas for three weeks in November, and I really don't think I'd have the time or motivation to study much at all if I'm there. That being said, do you think in this final 3.5 weeks of PTs/review I could reasonably bump up my score more to a 167/168? If not, how intense of study would be needed in order to go from the mid-160s to 170 between the Oct. and Dec. tests? Thanks in advance!

[tuffyjohnson]

How difficult was it for you getting to where you are? My guess is it was pretty challenging. I'd also guess getting to 170 will be just as much if not more work. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way I wouldn't pack a three week vacation right before the test date. Dec 6th doesn't give you much leeway.

[Rigo]

I didn't study at all during Thanksgiving break and it fucked me for December. I wouldn't recommend it.

[monceau]

How difficult was it for you getting to where you are? My guess is it was pretty challenging. I'd also guess getting to 170 will be just as much if not more work. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way I wouldn't pack a three week vacation right before the test date. Dec 6th doesn't give you much leeway.

Well I was at a 145 after my June diagnostic, and have spent 3 hours a day 6 times a week studying since then to get where I am. I'm working on building my endurance with PTs currently and hoping that I can eek out a few more points in the next couple weeks. I'm just not sure how possible it is.

[monceau]

I didn't study at all during Thanksgiving break and it fucked me for December. I wouldn't recommend it.

That's what I'm guessing would happen to me if I were to go on my trip and come back. I could see it being the case that I would tell myself I was gonna PT once every couple days and then just not end up doing it. I'm just trying to reassess and see if it would be worth it to go through the trouble of canceling and rescheduling my trip for sometime in the spring

[Rigo]

I didn't study at all during Thanksgiving break and it fucked me for December. I wouldn't recommend it.

That's what I'm guessing would happen to me if I were to go on my trip and come back. I could see it being the case that I would tell myself I was gonna PT once every couple days and then just not end up doing it. I'm just trying to reassess and see if it would be worth it to go through the trouble of canceling and rescheduling my trip for sometime in the spring

You could always leave your trip scheduled and if you don't study on it, then withdraw/defer your test date before midnight the night before the December test. It won't count as a cancel and schools will never know you signed up. Then you could take in February if you aren't deadset on applying this cycle.
You can do the same thing by the night before the October test, so you don't needto decide October vs. December now. Go full steam ahead these final few weeks. Something may finally click.

[dreamerchic19]

Probably would do another practice test if you are happy with your score, take October if not just wait because you are already in a pretty good range!

[monceau]

I didn't study at all during Thanksgiving break and it fucked me for December. I wouldn't recommend it.

That's what I'm guessing would happen to me if I were to go on my trip and come back. I could see it being the case that I would tell myself I was gonna PT once every couple days and then just not end up doing it. I'm just trying to reassess and see if it would be worth it to go through the trouble of canceling and rescheduling my trip for sometime in the spring

You could always leave your trip scheduled and if you don't study on it, then withdraw/defer your test date before midnight the night before the December test. It won't count as a cancel and schools will never know you signed up. Then you could take in February if you aren't deadset on applying this cycle.
You can do the same thing by the night before the October test, so you don't needto decide October vs. December now. Go full steam ahead these final few weeks. Something may finally click.

Thanks for the advice, I think the cancellation fee would be well worth not having a lower-than-desired LSAT score on my record. That being said, between the December and February exams I actually think the Feb. one would be better for me and getting my score to where I want it to be. I'm pretty set on applying this cycle, though, so I would really have to weigh having a higher LSAT score vs. whatever detriment extremely late applications would have on my cycle. And I can't decide what I should do

Edit: I think I would be able to reasonably take roughly 3 full, timed PTs during my 16 day trip in November. I can't tell if that would be enough to maintain before the December test if I studied for all of September and October