Score Dropping by 9 points Days Before Exam

[badarm]

Hi,

I am taking the LSAT this Monday (June 12) and I am starting to panic. I was consistently scoring 160-161 on my Preptests, then on Thursday I scored a 163 on Preptest 78, which I've scored once before too. I was feeling pretty good about the exam until yesterday when I took Preptest 79 and scored a 155!! I took Preptest 80 today and got 155 again I haven't scored that low since I first started to study in March!! What should I do?

I'm panicking.

I know I can score in the 160's but I'm afraid now that I won't on the actual exam on Monday. I plan on taking Preptest 77 tomorrow (ordered it just in case) and will probably do more individual timed sections today. The thing is the sections that I have are older, from the 2000s. What should I do??

HELP!!

[Dave Killoran]

Hey Badarm,

I'm about to head out for the night but I wanted to post a quick reply here since this is time sensitive!

First, your panic is what's causing this, and after that first score unsettled you, it most likely lead to your second 155. So, you need to stop for a moment and re-calibrate your mentality. You already KNOW that you can score in the 160s, and you need to return to that mindset, and quickly.

Second, this is one of the very few cases where I'm ok with someone taking a PT the day before the exam (because I'm almost never ok with that, but this is desperate times, desperate measures). So, take the exam tomorrow, but before you do so, you MUST be in a good mindset. Maybe try reading some of the articles here: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/5-days- ... ource-list. They might be able to get you turned around quickly (I'd recommend Tom Brady and the LSAT, The Benefits of Failure, and Andy Murray for starters). If you don't feel good before tomorrow's PT, don't take it. Simple as that because right now you will score exactly how you think you will score, and if you don't feel great that is how things will turn out.

You already have proven that you have it in you to score in the 160s, so you must rely on that fact. Yes, some tests aren't great for people and it looks like you hit one of those. Treat it for what it was—a blip. In your case, that blip knocked you for a loop and caused a second lower score, so now you have to erase that from your mind, and re-center and re-focus.

You can do this—I believe in you! Now go get mentally straight, power back up, and then tomorrow walk in to your PT and go crush that test. You have to believe you can do it before you ever sit down.

Good luck!