Trying to get my confidence back Forum

[Keilz]

Hi all,

I need some advice on how to "fake it till I make it" until June 6.

I am taking for the second time, after scoring a 166 in October 2015. I unfortunately took all the tests I had from Powerscore already, so I am retaking the PTs. I remember certain topics, passages, etc., but definitely not specific inferences, etc. from Logic Games, and I really don't think it's helping me too much. However, I have been scoring on average more consistantly. Before I would ranging all over the place from 164-169 usually, now 167-175 is where I'm at. I credit myself for not being as burned out, stressed out, and scared. I was terrified that on test day all my preparation would go to waste, but it turned out the test day was just a normal day - I just messed up a game and got more LR wrong than usual. now i'm not getting as hung up on LG.

Today I got a 175 (!) on a practice test I took. I was super happy with that as a I was focused, tried some new methods, and actively answering. I wrote down what I did differently and how I felt after the test, and was so confident that I would be able to replicate this feeling of ease on test day. However, I called my boyfriend and he asked me "are you sure you didn't just remember the questions?" I know this wasn't MEANT to be bad, but it got me in a spiral. Battling my anxiety on this test, I started to defend myself to him that I had never even come close to this score before, and even on tests that I remembered more than usual, I had gotten 8 pts lower than a 175. This kind of quickly KILLED my confidence. Now it's nighttime and I'm not taking another PT until Sunday. I just feel right now that I will be able to be focused and confident as I was after the test.

How can I get over this mental hurdle, and be just as confident and relaxed during my next PT, and ultimately until I take the real deal? I'm telling myself the same things I was saying when I was riding the post-test high, it's just so futile right now. My mind is at a point where any inch of doubt goes a long way. The LSAT truly is a mind game, and I need to get over it to achieve my full potential.

Sorry for the long ramble, I just wanted to get this all out to people who may be going through/have gone through similar things. Maybe I just need sleep

[forum_user]

There are a bunch of threads about retaking PTs, and the general consensus is that it's helpful even if you remember the questions. Sure, it may not feel as good as getting a 175 on a fresh test, but that's irrelevant; the only score that matters is the one you get on June 6. Also, whenever I retake PTs, if I don't remember the exact stimulus/answer to a question, then I think it's pretty fair to say I don't remember the question--what little subconscious work there may be going on probably doesn't affect my interpretation of the ACs all that much. Hell, when I took Dec 15 I even remember feeling as if I'd seen some of those questions before. That just comes down to LSAC's consistent use of similar question topics/logical chains.

But, if you really need a confidence boost, try one of the earlier PTs (if you haven't already). They're generally* easier with somewhat more generous curves.
*highly qualified, because the tests feel a lot different in a lot of different ways.

Another piece of unsolicited/unrelated advice, I hope you don't let the LSAT have a negative effect on your personal relationships. It's a hard enough test as it is, and having a good support system can make a huge difference in how easy studying is.

[HarvardHopeful93]

1. If you want to be all that you were ever meant to be, stop caring what other people think about you. You need to be mentally tough. If your boyfriend thinks that you memorized the questions, what does it matter? Only YOU know the truth, and if you know you performed well because of skill, why are you worried about this?

2. The last thing you need in your life is a partner who causes you to doubt yourself and question your successes instead of celebrating them with you. Might be time to find a new boyfriend.

[acacius]

The last thing you need in your life is a partner who causes you to doubt yourself and question your successes instead of celebrating them with you.

[Mikey]

The last thing you need in your life is a partner who causes you to doubt yourself and question your successes instead of celebrating them with you.

[mcat4life87]

Why are you all shitting on the BF? His question sounds like it stems from a rational concern about the appropriate level of confidence to have based on the score. He doesn't know about studying for the LSAT. It's perfectly reasonable to think that remembering the questions partially boosts one's score.

What is a rational person without experience studying for the LSAT supposed to do? Say, AWESOME! YOU'RE TOTALLY GOING TO GET THAT SCORE ON THE REAL THING! Or, would it be more reasonable to say, "That's good news...is it possible part of it's because you're remembering the questions? If not, then that score is amazing. If that might be part of the explanation, then it's still good news, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Looks like you're on the right track, keep it up."

[raven1231]

Why are you all shitting on the BF? His question sounds like it stems from a rational concern about the appropriate level of confidence to have based on the score. He doesn't know about studying for the LSAT. It's perfectly reasonable to think that remembering the questions partially boosts one's score.

What is a rational person without experience studying for the LSAT supposed to do? Say, AWESOME! YOU'RE TOTALLY GOING TO GET THAT SCORE ON THE REAL THING! Or, would it be more reasonable to say, "That's good news...is it possible part of it's because you're remembering the questions? If not, then that score is amazing. If that might be part of the explanation, then it's still good news, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Looks like you're on the right track, keep it up."

Agree completely. It sounds like well intentioned advice that would ultimately be in her best interest. Even if it may not be correct.

[somethingElse]

This close to the real thing it is not the best thing to say IMO. Earlier on, sure. But ~2 weeks out or whatever confidence is definitely key and is not something to be tampered with. But anyways, OP: Why trust him over yourself? You're the one who actually has been studying, not him. You are much more of an expert on yourself than he is and are also much more of an expert on the LSAT than he is. You said it yourself, it is a better score than you've ever gotten even considering PTs you've done before. That is the fact of the matter.

[TasmanianToucan]

As someone in law school with a non law student SO, I'd like to point out that everything involved in this shitshow we've chosen is difficult for a 3rd party to understand. Even the most empathetic partner will frequently put their foot in their mouth, whether it is about the LSAT, outlining, finals, or whatever. Start learning to put up with him now (assuming he actually means well and is making a reasonable effort at sensitivity), because to be fair, dating a law student is no picnic either.

[Keilz]

Thanks all- I don't think this one incident is a reason for me to start looking for a new boyfriend, but I agree with a conglomerate of replies on here. FWIW, we are long distance now because he is a third year med student. He studies for huge tests all the time, but they're obviously very different than the LSAT that he can't really understand no matter how much I explain. However, I agree with the poster above saying that what he said definitely wasn't the right thing to say at this time, as confidence is key right now more so than drilling. He didn't mean it in a criticizing way, I think he's just concerned because I am studying in a much more relaxed way than before (to avoid burn out), which he doesn't understand.