Advice for improving LSAT score and if to take in September Forum

[Lmek]

Hi,
I've been really anxious these past couple days regarding the September LSAT and I'm not sure if it's just overall anxiety from taking the test or because I am actually just not prepared.
I've been studying for the lsats since beginning of July. I took the Kaplan course and have been studying minimum 8 hours a day. My first month I was studying around 12 hours a day just trying to absorb all the information. Half way through Kaplan after finishing about 90% of the material I felt the strategies were extremely vague and werent truly helping me. I then moved to Powerscore and devoted every moment to reading all three books and practicing the strategies as well as buying all the workbooks and finishing all of them and buying the Powerscore logical reasoning flash cards and just reviewing that as well. I have just been doing practice problems and taking exams timed and untimed each section and I just feel stuck. For logical games, like most people, I feel I can now solve all the question whether it's hybrid or linear etc. But under time I can hardly finish three games. On top of that my logical reasoning score has been stuck at the same point and I'm trying to figure out how to get it to improve. I've been starting to reread the Powerscore book. Go over correct and incorrect answer choices I made in the past. In reading comprehension I feel like have the same problem as logical reasoning. It just feels like no matter how much I try to change my approach or how I see the question I just can't get the answer. Reading comprehension I also feel it's a matter of luck what kind of passage I get. Sometimes I can do really well in the sections and sometimes I do really bad depending on how much l understood the relationship between the concepts. Whether it's timed or untimed my answers always turn out the same and the number I get wrong is exactly the same. I just don't know what to do at this point. I feel like at this point it's a waste to go through practice tests when I know that my biggest problem is approach to the question. I've been diagramming logical reasoning questions now trying to see more the structure. I'll break it down to components of just analyzing how it's setup where are the premises and conclusion. What point is needed to be looked at in the stimulus to find the answer.

I'm just not sure if I should postpone the test or take it. And what else should I do to study and start seeing improvements.
I'm scoring right now about 155. On my diagnostic I scored 145. And I'm hoping for a 160.

[dontsaywhatyoumean]

What's your breakdown?

Also, I really think it's probably not a good idea to be studying for 8 hours a day since July.

[Lmek]

Logical reasoning I get about 7 to 8 questions wrong.
Logic games is about 8 to 9 wrong.
Reading comprehension can range from 3 wrong to 7 wrong.

[dontsaywhatyoumean]

I don't know what your deadlines are, and other possible time restrictions, but I'd say a 160 in September is not very likely at this point, so I would be hesitant about booking unless the loss of the fee is acceptable.

I burned out doing 3 hours a day, 7 days a week (albeit all of the same section).

It's difficult to imagine you not being burned out.

Have you checked 7sage for logic games?

You'll have to be more specific with your other questions.

[Lmek]

I checked out 7sage but I was already doing Kaplan when I started looking into it and their advice was to start 7sage when I'm done with Kaplan and Powerscore.
I was just wondering what kind of schedules and strategies other people had that could be helpful. Am I approaching the LSATs in the wrong way? Should I continue to break down the stimulus and analyze the components?

I'm most likely not going to take it in September

[Pozzo]

There's a lot going on here. First, I'd echo the cautions against burnout. That's A LOT of studying. And if you're doing that much studying but aren't seeing much in the way of gains, that at least suggests that you need to find a new approach. On the flip side, don't sell yourself short, a 10 point gain is no small achievement.

The general consensus is that the Kaplan methods are not all that effective. I'd start by reviewing some of the compendia here on TLS to get a feeling for what strategies have worked for others and what may work for you:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=200917

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=151670

[Rupert Pupkin]

I checked out 7sage but I was already doing Kaplan when I started looking into it and their advice was to start 7sage when I'm done with Kaplan and Powerscore.
I was just wondering what kind of schedules and strategies other people had that could be helpful. Am I approaching the LSATs in the wrong way? Should I continue to break down the stimulus and analyze the components?

I'm most likely not going to take it in September

If you are talking about the 7Sage course.. then yea you should probably wait till you complete your current Kaplan course, but I recommend watching the 7Sage logic game explanation videos (which are free access) while you are drilling. 7sage has released video explanations for every Logic Game ever released and I have found these to be very helpful.

On another note, which was mentioned above, Kaplan is not the most effective resource. I reckon if after completing the Kaplan course if you did Powerscore, 7Sage (I havent had experience with the course but heard its great),The LSAT Trainer or Manhattan Books (LSAT Trainer and Manhattan go well together) you would see more of an improvement in your score because they are not gimmiky like Kaplan and actual teach you how to think properly for the LSAT.

[Barack O'Drama]

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