The Official June 2017 Study Group Forum

[Mikey]

I've heard that speed is the last thing to come in terms of LG improvement - I'd better have heard right...

It is, focus on accuracy and proper diagramming before speed. Speed will come on its own.

Speed for LG will just happen all of sudden. Focus on accuracy and diagramming first like Mikey said.

Good news. First full, untimed LG section today, went -1 but took like an hour LOL. It just takes me a while to do the hypotheticals.

Congrats!

Piece of advice for the hypotheticals method (7sage), it can be time consuming and for some games works very well but I gained more speed and started going -0 timed when I just started making game boards for each question, saving MBT/CBT questions for last when I already had game boards drawn out and I could eliminate answers quick and only have to test like 1 or 2 answer choices. This method works just as great, and you don't run the risk of drawing an unnecessary game board, if that ends up being the case.

[Platopus]

I've heard that speed is the last thing to come in terms of LG improvement - I'd better have heard right...

It is, focus on accuracy and proper diagramming before speed. Speed will come on its own.

Speed for LG will just happen all of sudden. Focus on accuracy and diagramming first like Mikey said.

Good news. First full, untimed LG section today, went -1 but took like an hour LOL. It just takes me a while to do the hypotheticals.

Congrats!

Piece of advice for the hypotheticals method (7sage), it can be time consuming and for some games works very well but I gained more speed and started going -0 timed when I just started making game boards for each question, saving MBT/CBT questions for last when I already had game boards drawn out and I could eliminate answers quick and only have to test like 1 or 2 answer choices. This method works just as great, and you don't run the risk of drawing an unneccssary game board, if that ends up being the case.

I would agree with Mikey's thoughts above. I would add though, that hypotheticals can be a very useful learning tool early in your prep to really see how the rules interact. Really taking the time to diagram out the possibilities for each game type can really train you to recognize some common inferences that get recycled through all the games. The idea being, that eventually you do not need to draw out actual hypotheticals, but instead can subscribe to the method that Mikey mentioned above. Of course, by test day you want to be rid of the habit of doing full hypotheticals for each game and adopt something much more time effective.

[thewhalefish]

Glad to know that I'm not the only one taking literally forever to do LG sections. 20min for a harder game and 12min for one that I would think is easier. I do like 7sage's video and his methods are very useful, but it just takes *forever*.

[dm1683]

Glad to know that I'm not the only one taking literally forever to do LG sections. 20min for a harder game and 12min for one that I would think is easier. I do like 7sage's video and his methods are very useful, but it just takes *forever*.

Hey we have 4 months to practice. Just ordered the old Cambridge drill books off Amazon. Cost like $200 but I convinced my parents to foot the bill bc broke college student. "Investment in my future" and all that.

My dad doesn't get it though, he keeps saying things like "why do you have to study so much for this test? you never studied for standardized tests before." "isn't this just an IQ test?" "can't you just forget all this and go to [state school]?"

Anyway, tonight I'll do another section. Saturdays are my veg/movie nights anyway.

[gabearroyo1114]

Does anyone have a good plan they are using? I bought LSAT Trainer 2017, Powerscore LG,LR, RC 2017 and Manhattan Prep LG, LR, RC 5th edition. I want to try to maximize the time I have left and need to know which if any do you use and what schedule are you guys on? I'm taking LSAT in June 2017. I tried searching the forum before posting and all I need is help. Thanks!

[thewhalefish]

Let us know how those books go! I may do the same if they are good enough. My dad is similar to that, but understands it a bit better since he had to go through stuff like this for architecture. I basically tell him a perfect score is worth $250,000 (HLS (at least I read that somewhere)) so he's on board. Lol.

On a really positive note, I just finished scoring my PT from a bit earlier today. I made a 155! Coming from a 139 initial diagnostic I am super stoked! It sucks though because I had to take about a half hour break between 3rd and 4th sections because the library was closing. In my mind, I should have made a 160 but hey this is good, too! Shoutout again to Voyager RC method.

[thewhalefish]

Does anyone have a good plan they are using? I bought LSAT Trainer 2017, Powerscore LG,LR, RC 2017 and Manhattan Prep LG, LR, RC 5th edition. I want to try to maximize the time I have left and need to know which if any do you use and what schedule are you guys on? I'm taking LSAT in June 2017. I tried searching the forum before posting and all I need is help. Thanks!

Hey man, welcome to the forum. It is indeed a lot of info to sift through so here's a few basics:
Plan: Dj, one of the regulars here, has a good plan that I am more or less following. Use the 'site search' button at the bottom of the page to find it. Also, you may want to ditch the Powerscore RC Bible. I have it, and I *hate* the methods they teach in it; they teach memorizing all of the info in these complex steps. Instead, look up 'Voyager RC method' in the site search. The Voyager method is, for me at least, incredibly intuitive and actually interesting.
The other Powerscore stuff is great, though. Especially LG Bible. I am not as far in with LR Bible, but I think it's great so far. You need to start reading a lot ASAP in the PS Bibles; it is seriously a lot of material and will take a while to read it all. Plus there's exercises and just pure grind of understanding concepts.
Can't attest to the Manhattan stuff.

A vital piece you are missing is a shitton of LSAT practice tests from LSAC ("The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests) and others. They are available on Amazon and you really, really need them. If you have the cash/time/dedication to doing really well on this test, go ahead and get all of them starting at least at 29-38 (not sure if you have time to do the earlier ones now). Do untimed PT's and section drills from the older ones and work up to the newer tests.

That's a pretty good intro post I guess so feel free to ask more questions.

[dj9i27]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

[thewhalefish]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

Just take an older PT every now and then. Its a good break from reading.

[dj9i27]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

Just take an older PT every now and then. Its a good break from reading.

I've been contemplating it, actually have a social outing tomorrow so it'll be a drill/read day again. Might do one next Saturday for the lulz.

[PrezRand]

Gonna get back on the grind tomorrow. Test is coming up soon.

[thewhalefish]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

Just take an older PT every now and then. Its a good break from reading.

I've been contemplating it, actually have a social outing tomorrow so it'll be a drill/read day again. Might do one next Saturday for the lulz.

So...cial? What.... is that?

[dj9i27]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

Just take an older PT every now and then. Its a good break from reading.

I've been contemplating it, actually have a social outing tomorrow so it'll be a drill/read day again. Might do one next Saturday for the lulz.

So...cial? What.... is that?

i was told it was a new way to get the weird LG games down. I've grown a neanderthal brow since studying due to lack of people interaction so hopefully no one will notice.

[gabearroyo1114]

Does anyone have a good plan they are using? I bought LSAT Trainer 2017, Powerscore LG,LR, RC 2017 and Manhattan Prep LG, LR, RC 5th edition. I want to try to maximize the time I have left and need to know which if any do you use and what schedule are you guys on? I'm taking LSAT in June 2017. I tried searching the forum before posting and all I need is help. Thanks!

Hey man, welcome to the forum. It is indeed a lot of info to sift through so here's a few basics:
Plan: Dj, one of the regulars here, has a good plan that I am more or less following. Use the 'site search' button at the bottom of the page to find it. Also, you may want to ditch the Powerscore RC Bible. I have it, and I *hate* the methods they teach in it; they teach memorizing all of the info in these complex steps. Instead, look up 'Voyager RC method' in the site search. The Voyager method is, for me at least, incredibly intuitive and actually interesting.
The other Powerscore stuff is great, though. Especially LG Bible. I am not as far in with LR Bible, but I think it's great so far. You need to start reading a lot ASAP in the PS Bibles; it is seriously a lot of material and will take a while to read it all. Plus there's exercises and just pure grind of understanding concepts.
Can't attest to the Manhattan stuff.

A vital piece you are missing is a shitton of LSAT practice tests from LSAC ("The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests) and others. They are available on Amazon and you really, really need them. If you have the cash/time/dedication to doing really well on this test, go ahead and get all of them starting at least at 29-38 (not sure if you have time to do the earlier ones now). Do untimed PT's and section drills from the older ones and work up to the newer tests.

That's a pretty good intro post I guess so feel free to ask more questions.

I forgot to mention that I have purchased all the real lsats from 1 -80. do you know what Dj username is so that I can search for his plan? I also bought the 10 real lsats grouped by typed from amazon Manhattan prep

[thewhalefish]

dj9i27, the guy above. Lol. It's not super detailed but it's a few pages back in this thread somewhere. If you like more detail, maybe find another plan (sorry dj hahaha).

[dj9i27]

Does anyone have a good plan they are using? I bought LSAT Trainer 2017, Powerscore LG,LR, RC 2017 and Manhattan Prep LG, LR, RC 5th edition. I want to try to maximize the time I have left and need to know which if any do you use and what schedule are you guys on? I'm taking LSAT in June 2017. I tried searching the forum before posting and all I need is help. Thanks!

Hey man, welcome to the forum. It is indeed a lot of info to sift through so here's a few basics:
Plan: Dj, one of the regulars here, has a good plan that I am more or less following. Use the 'site search' button at the bottom of the page to find it. Also, you may want to ditch the Powerscore RC Bible. I have it, and I *hate* the methods they teach in it; they teach memorizing all of the info in these complex steps. Instead, look up 'Voyager RC method' in the site search. The Voyager method is, for me at least, incredibly intuitive and actually interesting.
The other Powerscore stuff is great, though. Especially LG Bible. I am not as far in with LR Bible, but I think it's great so far. You need to start reading a lot ASAP in the PS Bibles; it is seriously a lot of material and will take a while to read it all. Plus there's exercises and just pure grind of understanding concepts.
Can't attest to the Manhattan stuff.

A vital piece you are missing is a shitton of LSAT practice tests from LSAC ("The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests) and others. They are available on Amazon and you really, really need them. If you have the cash/time/dedication to doing really well on this test, go ahead and get all of them starting at least at 29-38 (not sure if you have time to do the earlier ones now). Do untimed PT's and section drills from the older ones and work up to the newer tests.

That's a pretty good intro post I guess so feel free to ask more questions.

I forgot to mention that I have purchased all the real lsats from 1 -80. do you know what Dj username is so that I can search for his plan? I also bought the 10 real lsats grouped by typed from amazon Manhattan prep

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... hp?t=41657
here you go man, play around with it and cater it to your schedule. I brute forced the questions Grouped by type buy that is one of the best ways to git gud.

[thewhalefish]

^ Oh yeah, that too. I was more-so referring to your study schedule of the months.

[dj9i27]

^ Oh yeah, that too. I was more-so referring to your study schedule of the months.

that's the skeleton I used to create my own little one. I'll fish through the comments and try to find it.

[Mint-Berry_Crunch]

I just wanted to throw out some rc advice, which for me was instrumental in going -8 to -1.

lsathacks.com

Graeme Blake has a really quick rc lesson on the site, and it's pretty helpful. I think it's a very intuitive, and somewhat different method than others. The Method does include speed reading, but it incorporates more review and the result is the once you get to the questions you know the passage really well, and more importantly where the info is so you can quickly reference it. Basically you read a paragraph fast, then review it immediately. Just quickly think "this is the info introduced, and the role of the paragraph." Then move onto the next one and repeat, while trying to find how what you just read relates to the other passage. Rinse and repeat until the end, where you do a quick overview before questions.

The idea is that this works sort like duolingo, where you're introduced a new thing, then it's refreshed at intervals of 30 seconds and then 3 mins, and this is shown to improve retention. I like it because I find it it to be a bit more helpful than the memory method in helping me remember where things are in the passage.

[Mint-Berry_Crunch]

For people who are retaking after a break, what are y'all using? I'm probably gunna use powerscore to refresh LR

[Rupert Pupkin]

For people who are retaking after a break, what are y'all using? I'm probably gunna use powerscore to refresh LR

Trainer and MH. I did PS Bibles first go around

[Saylor1720]

For people who are retaking after a break, what are y'all using? I'm probably gunna use powerscore to refresh LR

Just the Trainer. Might grab MH.

Had a bit of an RC setback this week I felt (-7 on a timed section, -5 on two extra passages afterwards). Going to back track a bit and go to untimed sections next week again. I think some of you were talking about starting PTs around March 12. I was going to start them sooner, but I think I'll join you guys on that date, and crush out about 25 total before the test in June. This should give me plenty of time to review and improve on my weak areas. In the spring time I'll only be working 3 days a week, luckily my employment situation allows for a lot of flexibility.

[aurelian]

.

[aurelian]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

When you drill do you just drill 30 questions by type? Not just really difficult questions?[/quote]

[dj9i27]

About 1/2 way through MH LR and LG, ahead of schedule RC is lagging tho. Drilling has remained inconsistent, one day I'll go -0 on 30 LR questions the next go 6/10 same story with RC. I think I'm just getting impatient, I don't want to wish for time to go away but when PTs start happening I'll be better, hopefully.

When you drill do you just drill 30 questions by type? Not just really difficult questions?

[/quote]
yeah it is just but QT, some are easy and some are hard. I like it that way since the test isn't going to be all hard or easy questions. most of the time I only do 15-25 tho.