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What was your first score on a practice LSAT (full test)? If you did a course, how many points did you improve and which course did you do?

My first ever diagnostic LSAT score was a 158 (6 years ago). I took a Kaplan course that summer but didn't study properly outside of the course and ended up getting a 158 (again) on the December 2011 LSAT (Kaplan also just kind of sucks for LSAT). This time around, my "diagnostic" LSAT was 162, I self-studied with the Powerscore Bibles, the LSAT Trainer, and the 10 actual books and before the June LSAT my PT score range was varying between the high 160s and low 170s. I also spent like $100 on Lawschooli's "Mastermind" membership when it was on special over Thanksgiving. Honestly, I found it helpful and don't regret spending the money but I've heard better things about the similarly priced 7 sage package.

160
But it was an actual test because I am an idiot

Diagnostic was 148. I did get a -4 on LG, but ran out of time with 10+ questions left on every other section. The only money I spent on prep materials was for the Trainer and PT books for tests 19-79.

QueenBAYder wrote:My first ever diagnostic LSAT score was a 158 (6 years ago). I took a Kaplan course that summer but didn't study properly outside of the course and ended up getting a 158 (again) on the December 2011 LSAT (Kaplan also just kind of sucks for LSAT). This time around, my "diagnostic" LSAT was 162, I self-studied with the Powerscore Bibles, the LSAT Trainer, and the 10 actual books and before the June LSAT my PT score range was varying between the high 160s and low 170s. I also spent like $100 on Lawschooli's "Mastermind" membership when it was on special over Thanksgiving. Honestly, I found it helpful and don't regret spending the money but I've heard better things about the similarly priced 7 sage package.

Yea, I did this 12 years ago via Kaplan course, didn't help much. Do not recommend their courses because they promise an improvement and 1 point is technically an improvement.

This time around I did a local course that a friend who broke 170 recommended. I saw an 18 point improvement, via PTs, in 3 months. We'll see where the actual test ends up in a couple weeks.

Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

Diag 153. Used a commercial online program and took about 50 practice tests, most of them twice, did all LG sections at least 3 times. Prepped 1-2 hours nearly every day for a period of four months. Took the actual LSAT once and scored 174. Took an undisclosed test but I'm reasonably confident I missed more than half my questions missed on one RC passage. Thems the breaks.

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

Interesting. I ask because I started out at 153. Been studying for a month and I study about the same hours per week you did, 20ish. Wanting to take in December. I'll really only end up with about 5 months of study time since I'm taking 2 weeks worth of vacations soon and since I struggled to study a couple weeks in June.

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

Interesting. I ask because I started out at 153. Been studying for a month and I study about the same hours per week you did, 20ish. Wanting to take in December. I'll really only end up with about 5 months of study time since I'm taking 2 weeks worth of vacations soon and since I struggled to study a couple weeks in June.

That's definitely doable.

Scored a 151, studied for 5 months (although I don't count the first month because I had Barron's study materials). Towards the end I was PTing between 170-176, hoping for a 172+ on the June test.

159--->171 with an in-person Testmasters course, which I kinda slacked off in but still showed up for. I thought it was fun. Met some great people.

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

Interesting. I ask because I started out at 153. Been studying for a month and I study about the same hours per week you did, 20ish. Wanting to take in December. I'll really only end up with about 5 months of study time since I'm taking 2 weeks worth of vacations soon and since I struggled to study a couple weeks in June.

That's definitely doable.

Thanks. I think even a 168 would get me into the school I want with maybe some scholarship money (Vanderbilt-UGPA is a 3.5). But certainly aiming for higher than that.

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

Interesting. I ask because I started out at 153. Been studying for a month and I study about the same hours per week you did, 20ish. Wanting to take in December. I'll really only end up with about 5 months of study time since I'm taking 2 weeks worth of vacations soon and since I struggled to study a couple weeks in June.

That's definitely doable.

Thanks. I think even a 168 would get me into the school I want with maybe some scholarship money (Vanderbilt-UGPA is a 3.5). But certainly aiming for higher than that.

When are you applying? Applying in December/January is pretty late. With the unlimited retakes, I'd just keep sitting until you break 170 and apply first day apps open in 2018. People with more knowledge can speak more about this though

158.

Took it too early and had a lot of anxiety on test day, got a 163.

Retook, studied much more effectively, and got a 171 this past February.

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:

King of the North wrote:

carsondalywashere wrote:Went from 146 to 169 (hopefully higher after this June test) through self study. I think classes can be good for the right person, but there's so many resources out there that self study is probably the better call.

How long did you study for?

To get to the 167-171 range, it took me 6 months with studying 10-20 hours a week. I plateaued for a VERY long time after that though.

Interesting. I ask because I started out at 153. Been studying for a month and I study about the same hours per week you did, 20ish. Wanting to take in December. I'll really only end up with about 5 months of study time since I'm taking 2 weeks worth of vacations soon and since I struggled to study a couple weeks in June.

That's definitely doable.

Thanks. I think even a 168 would get me into the school I want with maybe some scholarship money (Vanderbilt-UGPA is a 3.5). But certainly aiming for higher than that.

When are you applying? Applying in December/January is pretty late. With the unlimited retakes, I'd just keep sitting until you break 170 and apply first day apps open in 2018. People with more knowledge can speak more about this though

The problem is I don't think I'll be ready to test in September and get the score I need. I also don't want to wait another year to apply if I can get the score I need in December and get accepted. My plan was to take the test and complete my application and submit it in the time it takes to receive my score.

I'd already done some prep-work (as in reading the Powerscore bibles and just fooling around with questions), so it wasn't exactly a cold diagnostic, but it was 162 I think. A few months of off-and-on studying plus 3 months of solid 5 to 6 hours a day 5 days a week got me to a 178 on test day (last June). I didn't take a course though.

151 --> 166 was pt-ing around 172 before the test