Lsat

[Ssouki]

Hello,

(Sorry for the long post)

I'm taking the LSAT in January for the 3rd time. I was looking for an 8 point improvement since I took the November administration on which I scored 159. My practice score average was (160-163). I am still a senior in undergrad, and I am starting my last semester tomorrow taking 6 classes that require a lot of work as well as working 9-5pm 3 days a week as I have been doing for 2 years now. I have a GPA of 4.0 with 2 years of law office experience (I'm 22 y.o) so I was hoping to apply for Top 8 schools. However, the deadline for top schools is coming up in less than a month too and my last chance is this January administration. I was supposed to study more during the semester break of 2 weeks and a half but I was too exhausted to do anything except drilling LG..I have been taking classes and studying for the LSAT since February of 2018 and I got so tired of it. Now, I am left with barely 3 weeks in which I have to go to class 2 days of the week full day, read for my classes, do my best for the lsat, and work. What is your best advice for me to catch some extra points during this period? How many practice tests I need to be taking? I was scoring 18/23 on LG, but for the first time yesterday I did the LG section of Pt71 and got -0 ( I know it was relatively one of the easiest LG sections in the history of lsat but still better than nothing). For LR, I keep getting at least 4-5 wrong on each section, and for RC it really depends (Max -9). Taking a year off is not an option for me due to personal issues. So how many hours I should be devoting at least for an improvement of few points? And what is the best way to go for it?

Thank you so much

[Dave Killoran]

Hello,

(Sorry for the long post)

I'm taking the LSAT in January for the 3rd time. I was looking for an 8 point improvement since I took the November administration on which I scored 159. My practice score average was (160-163). I am still a senior in undergrad, and I am starting my last semester tomorrow taking 6 classes that require a lot of work as well as working 9-5pm 3 days a week as I have been doing for 2 years now. I have a GPA of 4.0 with 2 years of law office experience (I'm 22 y.o) so I was hoping to apply for Top 8 schools. However, the deadline for top schools is coming up in less than a month too and my last chance is this January administration. I was supposed to study more during the semester break of 2 weeks and a half but I was too exhausted to do anything except drilling LG..I have been taking classes and studying for the LSAT since February of 2018 and I got so tired of it. Now, I am left with barely 3 weeks in which I have to go to class 2 days of the week full day, read for my classes, do my best for the lsat, and work. What is your best advice for me to catch some extra points during this period? How many practice tests I need to be taking? I was scoring 18/23 on LG, but for the first time yesterday I did the LG section of Pt71 and got -0 ( I know it was relatively one of the easiest LG sections in the history of lsat but still better than nothing). For LR, I keep getting at least 4-5 wrong on each section, and for RC it really depends (Max -9). Taking a year off is not an option for me due to personal issues. So how many hours I should be devoting at least for an improvement of few points? And what is the best way to go for it?

Thank you so much

Hey Sara,

Thanks for the message! This is a tricky situation, so to some extent you'll have to go with your gut feeling. So please take anything I say with a grain of salt

My first reaction is that when you say "I was too exhausted" and "I got so tired of it" is that the time you took off this past break was the right decision. It sounds like you needed to refresh, and to be honest breaks can be incredibly beneficial. So, when you came back and did quite well on your first section, I'm not surprised

Next, your schedule this semester sounds rough between classes and work. It would be a full load even without the LSAT! Given that you simply won't have a lot of time, I'd probably not focus on practice tests all that much. Yes, do some sections when you can fit it in to keep fresh with timing and pace, but don't worry about trying to find several hours to do a whole test.

As far as studying, I'd probably go into an unusual mode given the minimal amount of time you have. If your LR is -4/5 and RC varies but is sometimes -9, I'd focus on your reading of stimuli and passages. Specifically, I'd do a bunch of flaw questions and read almost solely for the flaw (I'd use a bit of the Step 4, LR A in this post: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/retaki ... your-score). Focus on your comprehension of the stimulus and seeing the structure of argument, especially when errors are present (which is often). I'd then do the same for RC, but focus more on Steps 4, RC B and C. In other words,since you've been studying for so long, focus less on strategies and methods, and more on plain understanding of what is being said. that's the underlying key to all LR/RC success, and so let's make sure you are as good as possible in knowing what the LSAT is saying and what errors they are throwing at you.

The above approach doesn't specify a certain number of hours, because with your schedule I don't think it's reasonable to set a specific number. Instead, do it when you can, and when you feel up for it!

Please let me know what you think. Thanks!