Just starting my LSAT Prep and needing guidance.

[mtn1995]

I took my first LSAT exam today and scored a meager 145. I'm shooting for a 170 on the September test, and I wanted to know how feasible of a goal that is to achieve in a little over two months?

I've ordered the Logical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning Bibles and am following the free 2-month self study plan provided by PowerScore, but I'm not entirely sure where to start with studying. I don't have the finances to afford an online course, so most of what I'm planning on doing right now revolves around using the Bibles and religiously taking LSAT practice tests. I just feel like there are so many options available for beginning my studying that I feel overwhelmed. I'm not entirely certain where to start.

[iknowsomething]

To be frank: not very feasible in two months! It took me almost a year to achieve a similar score increase.

[iknowsomething]

Sorry for the brief reply earlier, but I was at work.

The reason you feel so overwhelmed by your decision on where to begin is because there really are so many different ways to start. I can't say for sure where you should begin, but please, no matter what you do, do not make the mistake so many others make and focus on timed work in the beginning. Untimed work should be your bread and butter at this point in your studies.

Personally, I began with untimed LG drills using the Cambridge LSAT LG packets. I think LG is very digestible and your ability to study LG independently will give you an idea of your ability to study the other sections of the test effectively. I like to think of LG as containing the building blocks of a great LSAT performance, and an intimate understanding of the section is critical to hitting the 170 everybody wants.

When you get sick of LG, which should take you quite some time, LR is the next step in preparation. You should check back for advice on how to tackle LR when you start to come to terms with LG, though.

Most importantly, you need to approach the entire LSAT with the right mentality. The LSAT is going to beat you up mentally and emotionally. It is going to challenge you. It is going to make you feel stupid, and that's okay. Have confidence, realize you are walking the path many before you have walked, and never give up.

[Francis O'Rourke]

Hi Mtn,

If you have any specific questions about the self-study plans, let us know. Otherwise, start with following Week 1: Eight weeks to the LSAT as closely as possible and let us know how that goes. For general advice on how to carry out the plan, make sure to read this forum thread: How to study with PowerScore Bibles

It is very difficult to improve your score by that much in 2 months, but it is not impossible. I have seen a handful of students increase their scores by about 25 points in that time frame, but it is rare.

There are a few questions I would consider first.

1. Why are you giving yourself this time frame? If you do not have a strong reason to take the test in September instead of December, it is unlikely to be a good idea to limit yourself to just this test.

2. How much time can you dedicate to this? I was able to increase my score from a 163 to a 179 in a little under 2 months. During this time, I was fortunately able to put nearly everything else on the back burner. If I were juggling a full-time job, coursework, or a family during this time, then I really doubt I could have pushed my score up that much.

3. How much do you thrive on pressure? What you are thinking of will test you intellectually and emotionally. There aren't many comparable situations to doing an intense 2-month study plan, but here are three that I've found analogous in some ways. Are you someone who would be able to complete 2 semesters of calculus in two months? Could you move to a foreign country and learn a new language in a few weeks? Would you train for a marathon in September after never running more than 3 miles in your life?

Whenever possible, avoid extremes. Trying to achieve too much in too little an amount of time will lead most people to burn out after a few weeks and forget most of what they learned. Here's some great advice from another thread that I think will apply to you:

Maintain a regular, steady program of study, allowing time for analysis, drills, practice tests, more homework, timed and untimed sections, and plenty of breaks to recharge your batteries and maintain your sanity. Be sure to make time every week during the school year to always be doing something. Even when you don't have much time, you can always go online and read the latest blog post or discussion in the forum (like this one) to keep your head in the game.... Listen to NPR Talk of the Nation Science Friday, or watch a few TED Talks, to get more comfy with science topics for RC. Do extreme sudoku puzzles to keep the brain in good shape for LG. There's always something you can be doing to feed that part of the brain! Then, occasionally, read a trashy novel or watch a mindless action flick and just let that part of the brain rest.

[mtn1995]

Francis,

I've considered a number of others' insight about the timeframe portion of my study schedule for the LSAT and decided to push my test date back to December. I'm still debating whether or not to take the LSAT in September simply to develop a stronger understanding of the experience of taking the exam. Thankfully, my dream school accepts applicants' highest LSAT score, rather than obtaining a score through averaging more than one LSAT attempt.

That being said, I now have about five months to prepare for the LSAT. I have PowerScore's 4-month plan bookmarked and have begun following the schedule. To my knowledge, a 170 on the LSAT would be a fantastic score to achieve, but to be accepted into the schools I'm looking at, my score's minimum can be a 165.

Does five months seem like a more feasible time frame to bring my score from a 145 to a 165? I do have the finances and time to truly dedicate myself to preparing for the LSAT, and obviously a 170 is my ideal score, so I will continue aiming for that. I'm just not sure if I am giving myself enough time.

[Jon Denning]

Hey mtn - jumping in here! Presuming you've got the freedom of schedule and wealth of resources available to really put that full 4-5 months to good use, then yes that certainly gives you a better opportunity to continue improving than a more condensed/abbreviated schedule. So from that standpoint I think December makes more sense than September!

With that 4-month plan in places, and the ability to follow it (which from your post it sounds like you have), then you're off to an excellent start! For now really make sure to lock down the fundamentals—at 145 they deserve your full attention, and no one gets to 165-170 or higher without a rock solid understanding of the basics—so pay super close attention to the content you see presented in the first 3-5 weeks of that plan. You want that to be as close to perfect as possible before moving on, even if that means taking a bit more time or supplementing your self-study with some tutoring or a month or two of the On Demand Course. You just can't build a skyscraper-level score on a shaky foundation.

Once you've got this first month or so of content nailed down then you'll be well-equipped to begin branching out into the more high-level ideas/question types, which is where the Plan will take you next. After spending some time on those you'll want to take another PT, evaluate your results closely, and determine how to then prioritize your next moves. That is, are you still struggling with some of the basics? If so, no worries, but go back and readdress them before moving on. Are you doing better than expected in certain areas? If so, great! Emphasize them a little less and focus your attention more on places that provide greater opportunity for continued growth.

Then back to the plan, work work work, another test and analysis...wash, rinse, repeat. That's the process for maximum efficiency and improvement!

In short, stick to the plan for now, pay particular attention to the earlier weeks until your fundamentals are perfect, then as you move into taking full tests again be sure to consider the results as you determine how to continue applying the plan's agenda to your unique needs.

Good luck and keep us posted!