6-8 Section Tests; Burnout; Unique Ways to Study? Forum

[cantyoloforever]

Earned my first score after a year of studying. It was just about my PT average. Took it one more time after that, and dropped a point. Applied to schools, and have gotten into a few places, but also have been waitlisted at many and also would like to increase my scholarship opportunities. So, I decided to try one more time.

Started studying for a third LSAT take a little over a month ago. I had already taken LSAT 40-78 2 or 3x for my first study attempts, and had drilled most of 1-39. Always BR my stuff, had drilled the hardest LR problems and games, among other conventional study tactics. Still had not found a way to get past the 168-172 plateau on a fresh test (score 177-180 on retakes).

So for this round I started doing 6 section tests, and recently stared doing 7 section tests (3 a week), which are killing me. I realize it's really not that much more additional work, but I'm having difficulties surmounting the mental block. What makes all of this especially hard is wondering if I am just spinning my wheels and wasting my time, and if I should just be enjoying myself instead of busting my ass on something which may likely yield no improvement how hard I try.

I feel like I'm burned out after just 6 weeks of this, but I'm afraid if I take a break I'll never come back. Is there any other way of studying I have yet to try? Instead of doing a bunch of tests over and over, maybe I should drill? Or do I simply need to get tougher and keep at it?

[GorillaWarfare]

I experimented with this some. Three weeks before the test, I took 8 sections. Two weeks before, I took two full tests. That helped with stamina and confidence, but don't over do it. Those tests were absolutely awful and you'll burn yourself out.

[cantyoloforever]

I experimented with this some. Three weeks before the test, I took 8 sections. Two weeks before, I took two full tests. That helped with stamina and confidence, but don't over do it. Those tests were absolutely awful and you'll burn yourself out.

Maybe I should push that closer to test day then. Thinking about doing 5 sections in a row during the morning, then br what I did the previous day in the afternoon/evening.

[pretzeltime]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

[cantyoloforever]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

I have been studying for a very long time, which is a big reason why I often feel defeated and fear that I'm wasting my time. I spent a year studying for my first take (with the occasional week break here or there). Then took a month off before spending 2 1/2 months studying for a retake, where I did worse by one point, which to be fair, the September 2016 LSAT is considered to be a toughy. To prepare for that test, I retook the modern LSATs (only 5 sections though) and drilled the hardest problems. I didn't touch the LSAT for 3 months before starting up again last month.

I'm going to stick with 7 section tests, and eventually get to 8 sections, but will only do two tests a week. I'm thinking my week will look like this

Sunday - BR test from Friday; do 2 sections; BR those sections
Monday - do 4 sections; BR those sections
Tuesday - 7/8 section test
Wednesday - BR previous day's test; do 2 sections; BR those sections
Thursday - do 4 sections; BR those sections
Friday - 7/8 section test
Saturday - Rest

I'm trying to do every single test twice before the June LSAT.

[cantyoloforever]

New plan

Monday - 5 section test; BR
Tuesday - 6 section test; BR
Wednesday - 5 section test; BR
Thursday - 5/6 section test; BR
Friday - 8 section test
Saturday - off
Sunday - BR 8 section test

[Walliums]

New plan

Monday - 5 section test; BR
Tuesday - 6 section test; BR
Wednesday - 5 section test; BR
Thursday - 5/6 section test; BR
Friday - 8 section test
Saturday - off
Sunday - BR 8 section test

You're going to do six PTs a week? Don't you think that's a bit of overkill and may contribute to the burnout?

[20170322]

I did some, glad I did. But don't do them in your last 2 weeks of prep.

[cantyoloforever]

New plan

Monday - 5 section test; BR
Tuesday - 6 section test; BR
Wednesday - 5 section test; BR
Thursday - 5/6 section test; BR
Friday - 8 section test
Saturday - off
Sunday - BR 8 section test

You're going to do six PTs a week? Don't you think that's a bit of overkill and may contribute to the burnout?

I think I've been burning out because I have been doing practice tests with more sections. So 5 sections should feel like a breeze...I hope

I'll try it out, and if I can't handle it, then I'll scale back. I just don't know how else to tackle this test and finally break out of my plateau.

[cantyoloforever]

I did some, glad I did. But don't do them in your last 2 weeks of prep.

I plan on taking an entire week off before the test, with some light drilling the weekend before

[20170322]

I did some, glad I did. But don't do them in your last 2 weeks of prep.

I plan on taking an entire week off before the test, with some light drilling the weekend before

Yeah, I basically did a section each morning the week leading up, and 3 the morning of. I think that prevented some burnout (though some gains were lost due to sleep deprivation).

[cantyoloforever]

I did some, glad I did. But don't do them in your last 2 weeks of prep.

I plan on taking an entire week off before the test, with some light drilling the weekend before

Yeah, I basically did a section each morning the week leading up, and 3 the morning of. I think that prevented some burnout (though some gains were lost due to sleep deprivation).

3 sections of the morning? That's an insane warm up haha

[20170322]

I did some, glad I did. But don't do them in your last 2 weeks of prep.

I plan on taking an entire week off before the test, with some light drilling the weekend before

Yeah, I basically did a section each morning the week leading up, and 3 the morning of. I think that prevented some burnout (though some gains were lost due to sleep deprivation).

3 sections of the morning? That's an insane warm up haha

I noticed I missed more towards the beginning of the test, so I realized I needed a longer warmup. Plus, I only got 30 minutes of sleep the night before, so I had the time.

[cantyoloforever]

Taking a week off to go through the Manhattan LR book. I'll reevaluate my testing schedule after that's finished...

[Rupert Pupkin]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

Pretzel you rule! and great advice. Definitely going to keep this in mind while studying for my retake.

[pretzeltime]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

Pretzel you rule! and great advice. Definitely going to keep this in mind while studying for my retake.

I'm glad! The cheeseburgers really are the secret.

[Mikey]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

Pretzel you rule! and great advice. Definitely going to keep this in mind while studying for my retake.

I'm glad! The cheeseburgers really are the secret.

Also to lessen fatigue, you guys should try edging

*cough* right, pretzel *cough*

[Rupert Pupkin]

6+ section PTs were very crucial to my score improvement IMO, but doing them 3 times a week is what might be the problem here. I think I used to do two PTs per week, one that was 5 sections and on the weekend when I had more time I did 6 sections. Doing 3 PTs per week regardless of how many sections seems like it could be pushing it.

Now, besides the overall fatigue of doing too many PTs per week, taking 6+ sections is verrrry difficult at first, but it gets easier with time, and that's of course the whole point (initially after these longer tests I would legit chug a beer and take a bunch of advil and eat a cheeseburger because they completely destroyed me, but once I got used to it I could go back to work without such aides). It's never fun. But eventually it gets you to a place where you can perform even if you're sick, hungry, distracted, basically if your mind is not functioning or somewhere else. My test day went completely sideways (administration problems plus I didn't eat enough and somehow got blindly starving around section 3) but because I had this endurance I was able to power through.

I also arranged the 6 sections so that there was an LG "experimental" first that I'd already done before, so it was basically my warm up (it's generally my warm up of choice). That made the whole ordeal less tiring. Then I would put a new (if possible) LR/RC in towards the end of the test as the other experimental.

How long was the break you took? I think 2 months of a break truly helped me too. It's been 6 months or so since I took the test and I actually think if I took a PT now I might even do better than I was doing. It doesn't really go away. Or if it does, it can be regained pretty quickly.

Pretzel you rule! and great advice. Definitely going to keep this in mind while studying for my retake.

I'm glad! The cheeseburgers really are the secret.

I thought it was the pretzels!?!

[34iplaw]

Fully agree with the advice on doing something like an eight section test. A six section test isn't really improving stamina because your test will be six sections. For eight section tests, I would do four sections - break - four sections. By the third time I did this, I wasn't even breaking more than 5 minutes to run to the bathroom because I'd get bored.

On the actual test, I felt way more relaxed than I did my first take. I didn't hit my PT average, but my score improved enough to warrant applying this cycle. I may retake again but hopefully not.

[cantyoloforever]

Fully agree with the advice on doing something like an eight section test. A six section test isn't really improving stamina because your test will be six sections. For eight section tests, I would do four sections - break - four sections. By the third time I did this, I wasn't even breaking more than 5 minutes to run to the bathroom because I'd get bored.

On the actual test, I felt way more relaxed than I did my first take. I didn't hit my PT average, but my score improved enough to warrant applying this cycle. I may retake again but hopefully not.

After spending this week going through the manhattan lr book, I have decided to revise my study schedule...again haha.

Do you think one 8 section test and two 5 section tests a week is sufficient? Or would more be advisable?

[34iplaw]

Fully agree with the advice on doing something like an eight section test. A six section test isn't really improving stamina because your test will be six sections. For eight section tests, I would do four sections - break - four sections. By the third time I did this, I wasn't even breaking more than 5 minutes to run to the bathroom because I'd get bored.

On the actual test, I felt way more relaxed than I did my first take. I didn't hit my PT average, but my score improved enough to warrant applying this cycle. I may retake again but hopefully not.

After spending this week going through the manhattan lr book, I have decided to revise my study schedule...again haha.

Do you think one 8 section test and two 5 section tests a week is sufficient? Or would more be advisable?

You're probably going to burn through too much material and not really learn at that rate, IMO. That's almost eleven hours of just test taking... not even getting into review.

[Mikey]

Do you think one 8 section test and two 5 section tests a week is sufficient? Or would more be advisable?

That is way too much for 1 week

[cantyoloforever]

Fully agree with the advice on doing something like an eight section test. A six section test isn't really improving stamina because your test will be six sections. For eight section tests, I would do four sections - break - four sections. By the third time I did this, I wasn't even breaking more than 5 minutes to run to the bathroom because I'd get bored.

On the actual test, I felt way more relaxed than I did my first take. I didn't hit my PT average, but my score improved enough to warrant applying this cycle. I may retake again but hopefully not.

After spending this week going through the manhattan lr book, I have decided to revise my study schedule...again haha.

Do you think one 8 section test and two 5 section tests a week is sufficient? Or would more be advisable?

You're probably going to burn through too much material and not really learn at that rate, IMO. That's almost eleven hours of just test taking... not even getting into review.

What do you advise then?

[cantyoloforever]

Do you think one 8 section test and two 5 section tests a week is sufficient? Or would more be advisable?

That is way too much for 1 week

What do you advise then?

[34iplaw]

What do you advise then?

Everyones different, and there are people that have been more successful than me on the LSAT here. I think you do need to see what sort of works for you. Then again, I didn't really have a totally set schedule. I'd basically sit down and do as much as I possibly could.

Roughly what is your section break down currently? (sorry if it's above, replying via mobile and didn't refresh myself on what's been said ITT)