Decision on whether to take another PT

[ltoulme]

Hello again PowerScore!

I'm trying to decide if I should take another practice test tomorrow or Thursday before the real one on Saturday. I've been studying for a little under four months, and while I had been consistently averaging around/higher than 171, I got a 167 on my test yesterday, and my confidence is admittedly a little rattled. I've also just been feeling a little burned out in general (questions that I know shouldn't be as hard seem to be difficult now).

I've read through the blog posts on how to respond to a lower than average practice test and mentality, which were very helpful! However, even though 167 is not much lower than my average, I'm nervous to take another practice test in the event that it lowers my confidence even further. With the LSAT only a few days away, I know I need to focus on building up my confidence! On the other hand, I'm nervous about not taking another and walking into the test after one of my lowest practices.

Any advice is very welcomed!

Thanks so much for all your help!
Laura

[Jonathan Evans]

Laura,

I actually generally instruct students to cool it with the practice tests within two weeks of the real thing. Here's why: Practice tests are diagnostic. You take them to assess your progress and determine where you need to make adjustments. The closer you get to the real thing, the less you are going to be able to address any issues that you notice and the more you are likely to psych yourself out.

That said, you took a diagnostic test. You still can learn from it! In the next day or so, go over it and determine exactly where you had difficulty. Were you getting burned out? Was there a particular type of question that gave you trouble? Is there some kind of marginal situation that threw you for a loop. Figure it out. Get a complete command over the questions or situations that gave you difficulty on that test, then call it a day!

Seriously. Stop. You're prepared. You've been prepared. Get your stuff together for Saturday. Chill out. Do yoga. Watch a movie. Get some sleep.

We've got two good posts on the LSAT blog about the frame of mind you need to adopt to ace this test:

How to Walk into the LSAT and Destroy It
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/347 ... destroy-it

LSAT Anxiety and the Power of Positive Thinking
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/346 ... e-thinking

Also I recently wrote a post on our GRE blog that is relevant to this issue of frame of mind when you take standardized tests based on recent research into implicit associations (subconscious bias):

How do "Implicit Associations" Affect Your Performance on the GRE?
http://blog.powerscore.com/gre/how-do-i ... on-the-gre

Bottom line: You're ready. It's time. You're going to do this test, get the score you need, and move forward with your application. Thanks for your posts and for joining us here on the PowerScore LSAT forum!

[ltoulme]

Hi Jonathan,

I really appreciate your advice! OK - I'll stop taking practice tests! Do you think I'd exhaust myself by doing just a couple section challenges? I worry that the most recent test I've taken is June 2015 because I know that the more recent Reading Comprehension sections are supposed to be a little more difficult, and that's really what got me on this last practice test. I also plan on just reviewing the Sep. 2016 Reading Comprehension and virus game.

PowerScore has been amazing prep material, so thanks so much again!

[Claire Horan]

My advice is do whatever is going to make you feel more confident on test day! If something sounds exhausting to you, don't do it. It sounds like you are well-prepared for the test--but if doing a little more practice will help allay your anxiety, then that's just fine. Good luck!