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Probably another stupid question, but since everyone complains about testing noises and distractions while taking the LSAT, has anyone considered bringing ear plugs? Are they prohibited? Has anyone done this on the real LSAT?

Thanks.

hey. they're prohibited. it makes sense, when you think about it; if someone's wearing ear plugs and can't hear the STOP at the end of the section, they may get slightly more time than someone else.

Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Good post. This is exactly why I do a majority of my studying in Panera, or Starbucks. If you can tune distractions out at these two places, the controlled setting of the LSAT should offer no problems. I take all of my practice tests in the public library, because I think that is the closest thing I can do to replicate testing conditions. Public libraries are quiet for the most part, but there are still enough rude/clueless people that talk and do annoying things to offer minor distractions.

I don't know if it's just me but the opposite is also true. If you are used to a noisy environment, a totally silent, distract-free environment will unnerve you.

Thanks to you all for the great advice.

joonbug wrote:I don't know if it's just me but the opposite is also true. If you are used to a noisy environment, a totally silent, distract-free environment will unnerve you.

That is a good point actually. Test distractions are not a constant thing like you would encounter in a busy starbucks or cafeteria. They are more sporadic. Like 30 seconds of silence, then a distraction, etc.

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Thanks for the information. I hate studying at Panera... all that damn fake jazz music, not even close to the real thing!

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

Why are ear plugs banned? Because they may help your score go up... thats why haha

Robert398 wrote:

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

Someone could be feeding you the answers. Ever think of that?

janpower wrote:

Robert398 wrote:

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

Someone could be feeding you the answers. Ever think of that?

That is highly unlikely since they would have to have a copy of the test... how would they get it, and how would they ensure it matches the test of the cheater?

yolanda32 wrote:

janpower wrote:

Robert398 wrote:

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

Someone could be feeding you the answers. Ever think of that?

That is highly unlikely since they would have to have a copy of the test... how would they get it, and how would they ensure it matches the test of the cheater?

Maybe someone giving the test could be feeding a test taker the answers. Although, that wouldn't make any sense. You're right.

here's a thought: they could have a camera in the glasses, and read the questions simultaneously.

Camera glasses that can wirelessly transmit photos + radio earpeace + a team of people helping you with LSAT problems = Extremely unlikely

Unless James Bond had to get into YLS

thecaseman805 wrote:Camera glasses that can wirelessly transmit photos + radio earpeace + a team of people helping you with LSAT problems = Extremely unlikely

Unless James Bond had to get into YLS

Or Angelina Jolie.

I just punctured my ear drums before the test. Problem solved. Go hard or go home. Made 1L class difficult though - thank goodness for Glannon E&E.

I was worried that the noise would be a big problem (I would have loved to use earplugs), but on the big day the adrenaline kicked in and the page flipping and pencil scratching wasn't too much of a hindrance. Still, when I took the test I sat next to this girl who scribbled furiously while diagramming her logic games and it was a little distracting.

musician's earplugs are the best.

thedogship wrote:I just punctured my ear drums before the test

I'm thinking of growing my hair long and shoving them in the ole ear holes

janpower wrote:

yolanda32 wrote:

Robert398 wrote:

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

That is highly unlikely since they would have to have a copy of the test... how would they get it, and how would they ensure it matches the test of the cheater?

Maybe someone giving the test could be feeding a test taker the answers. Although, that wouldn't make any sense. You're right.

makes perfect sense to me

Carnodel wrote:

janpower wrote:

Robert398 wrote:

prelaw76 wrote:Ear plugs are a big no no.

Just train yourself to become desensitized to distractions by practicing with them. Get a group of friends together to take practice tests, practice in a public setting (starbucks perhaps), or use the LSAT Proctor DVD (http://www.lsatproctor.com)

I think one of the most important things is to not become mad at the person who is making the distracting noises. Once you become mad, your cortisol levels will increase higher than they already are (due to the stress of the LSAT), and your performance will be affected. Instead you need to become so comfortable with them during your practice tests that ignoring them will be very easy and your focus will not be broken.

For those of you wondering, google "cortisol" and read. There is a lot of interesting information out there.

Definitely!! Great advice. Stress actually interferes with logical processing

Maybe someone giving the test could be feeding a test taker the answers. Although, that wouldn't make any sense. You're right.

makes perfect sense to me

So I was right in the first place, yay!

monkeywrench wrote:

thedogship wrote:I just punctured my ear drums before the test

I'm thinking of growing my hair long and shoving them in the ole ear holes

That may be a good idea actually.

Also, I never punctured my ear drum, but I just recently had a really bad ear infection that caused that part of the ear, which has a thin layer of skin or whatever between it and the inner ear to help protect mucus from getting out and bacteria and dirt from getting in, to break open.

Yeah, it was pretty painful, and my hearing out of that ear is slightly muffled now, so maybe one positive is that it may help me on the test not hear annoying people around me on the right side. Although, I think it will be more of a distraction itself if it still hurts by then, which God, I hope it doesn't still.

RRoss wrote:

monkeywrench wrote:

thedogship wrote:I just punctured my ear drums before the test

I'm thinking of growing my hair long and shoving them in the ole ear holes

That may be a good idea actually.

Also, I never punctured my ear drum, but I just recently had a really bad ear infection that caused that part of the ear, which has a thin layer of skin or whatever between it and the inner ear to help protect mucus from getting out and bacteria and dirt from getting in, to break open.

Yeah, it was pretty painful, and my hearing out of that ear is slightly muffled now, so maybe one positive is that it may help me on the test not hear annoying people around me on the right side. Although, I think it will be more of a distraction itself if it still hurts by then, which God, I hope it doesn't still.

I stopped reading at the word "mucus."

Wearing earplugs seems a bit excessive eh?