Questions

[wiseoldbaby]

So I took the December LSAT and probably didn't what I was aiming for. I want to take it again in February, but I've gone through practically every question and have only two practice tests I haven't yet done. What should my plan be? Is there something I should do besides go through every question all over again? I was really scoring well in the last week or two before the test, and I really don't want to regress.

Also, regarding the LSAT on 12/7. I thought I was doing alright, but then on the reading comp (which is usually my strongest section), I noticed at the very last second I was one behind in bubbling things in. I had no time to correct it. I think it was only the last passage I had screwed up the answer transferring for, but I don't know for sure. I was so tired. On top of that, I was not doing well on the rest of the reading comp passages. What should I do? Cancel? I know I probably should take it again. I was scoring from 165 to 170 before the test, and I could see this being in the 50's. It was also my first time taking it.

[Dave Killoran]

Hey Wise,

Thanks for the questions. Let me see if I can help you out here. I'm going to address the cancellation question first, and then the re-prep question.

Giving advice on cancellations is always difficult since only you know what really happened, but the comment that stood out to me was that you were scoring 165-170 in practice, and you think you may have scored in the 150s on this one. That's a pretty strong case for cancelling your score (for more on thoughts on cancelling, see this article). And, it's worth noting that a single cancellation on your record doesn't make a difference at all—it's meaningless

As far as re-prep, here's a few thoughts, and links to relevant articles on our PowerScore Blog:

• 1. Have you taken or done the questions from every LSAT? There are 70+ LSATs out there, so it's worthwhile to make sure you've done what you can do. There's a high degree of value in doing as many LSAT questions as possible because the test makers tend to repeat concepts, and sometimes they wait a long time to repeat.
  
  
  2. The way in which you study questions that you've already seen is important. In short, you have to approach them in a different fashion—as if you had to teach them to others—because this forces you to analyze the questions more deeply.
  
  Retaking the LSAT when you’ve seen all of the practice questions
  
  The LSAT, Practice, and Over-Practicing
  
  
  3. Given the level of fatigue you felt during the real test, consider taking 6-section practice tests in order to overdrive your system and build up your test stamina. The LSAT is no doubt a grueling mental exercise, but I can tell you that 5 sections feels a lot easier once you've taken a 6-section test. Just a thought, and it depends in part on whether you have more than 2 LSATs still available to you. I wouldn't use new sections for experimentals unless you had 12 or more remaining exams; if you have fewer than that, then you'll have to use sections you've seen before as experimentals.
  
  
  4. You may also want to take a week or two away from the LSAT. You won't lose momentum, and it can actually help you perform even better:
  
  Why Breaks From The LSAT Can Increase Your Score

Please let me know your thoughts on the above. Thanks!

[wiseoldbaby]

Thanks, Dave.

I will probably cancel. I'm just kind of bummed that I worked so hard, and it's making me not want to cancel. I will try the six section tests. I was practicing with five section tests, and I wasn't getting tired at all really. I think my fatigue may have been due to waking up too early, being really excited too soon, etc.

I have done nearly every problem in the course booklets. I was under the impression that you guys give us the tests on the online section, and then split most of the questions from every remaining test up in the course books. Am I wrong? It would be nice if I were wrong.

[Dave Killoran]

Hey Wise,

I understand the urge to want your score—it's natural after doing all that work!

Yes, you are correct about the usage of the tests. I was thinking there was a chance you hadn't done all the online work, and that a few tests slipped through. That doesn't appear to be the case The first link under Item #2 in my prior post will be very key for you. It may seems like it sucks that there are not many real tests left, but it isn't. You have the rare opportunity to now study this test on the next level, in the way our teachers do. I know that's not really what you signed for, but I'm trying to turn it into a positive for you

Please continue to ask questions, and I'm happy to work on this with you. Thanks!

[wiseoldbaby]

Ok. I found out I have 3 tests left and 6 supplemental sections I haven't done, as well as four logical reasoning problems sets of 100 each. I also found these LSAT's from India, and it seems like a couple of them are like what we're doing here. I also have the LSAT super prep, which I took a while ago and isn't very fresh in my memory. I didn't know how to do games then. Any suggestions as to what my study plan should be? I was thinking redo practice tests every Saturday and Sunday. Should I purchase the practice tests that are split up into the problem sets in the in the course books, or should I just go through the course books again? Also, what do I do with Reading Comp? Just do them over? It seems like I'd remember those problems most vividly.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Wise,

Ok, a few thoughts in response to your last message:

• 1. That's good to hear that you have a few extra tests and supplements, as well as the SuperPrep! That really helps.
  
  I think the weekend testing plan sounds pretty good, and during the week I'd focus on studying the questions in the manner I mentioned earlier, which will require a lot of tracking and analysis.
  
  As for buying the tests that we use for HW etc, I'm not sure it's necessary. That would be a lot of LSATs to purchase, and the main benefit would be that they are then consolidated into individual PrepTests. If you did want them, and wanted them fast, we have them available here (the last few missing ones will be up this week). Otherwise, I'd just go through the HWs.
  
  
  2. The LSAT-India tests. Yes, those are LSATs made by LSAC, but there is one important difference: they are easier than regular LSATs. So, especially for someone scoring in your range, they won't be quite as helpful as regular US/Canada LSATs. Here's some additional info on those tests:
  
  http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/289 ... What-is-it
  http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/292 ... s-may-19th
  
  
  3. Reading Comprehension. I think you are probably ok on RC, but maybe a bit shaken by your bad test day experience. You mentioned that RC is usually your strongest section, so if you are worried about remembering the passages, focus less on just doing questions, and more on analyzing the passages you found difficult and seeing why they were difficult before (which goes back the study approach I reference in my prior posts).

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

[wiseoldbaby]

Hey Dave,

Thank you so much for responding to me all these times. I just want to ask another question about cancellation. As I said, I'm not sure how disastrous my transferring error was, or even if it was disastrous. I was doing well enough on the rest of the exam (games in particular was a really doable section) to have a score good enough for my safety schools if I only botched the last passage. But still it could be worse. I'm just kind of dying of curiosity and holding on to the hope that it might not be so bad. Is it wise to not cancel simply because of this? Is there any point in keeping that score? Right now I'm just feeling so exhausted, and I really don't want to take the test again, even though I pretty much have to. Any advice?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Wise,

Well, this is the age-old problem that faces a lot of LSAT-takers: how bad will it be if I keep it?

This is what I think you need to do: sit down for a bit and really think about each element of the test, from your actual performance (including best and worst case scenarios), to how you felt right after the exam, to how you feel about it right now. What's happening is that as the days pass, your feelings about the test are changing. It's not unnatural, but the feedback you are providing right now is different (and more hopeful) from the feedback in your first post. But only you can say whether you should keep the score or not.

One question to ask is, what's the worst case if you keep it? 158? 155? Lower? The second consideration is, will that affect your applications? These days, lower scores don't hurt nearly as much as they did back when all law schools took your average score, so you can absorb a lower score and still succeed when you score higher later.

The last question is, how will this affect your application deadlines? Are there schools you have on your list that won't take the February LSAT? How important are they to you?

The one positive in all this is that the lowered applicant volumes benefit everyone taking the LSAT right now. Schools are willing to work harder and wait longer for applicants to get the results they need for entrance. If you feel like you did well enough to use your score for application purposes, then keep it. If not, then cancel. I realize that's way easier for me to say than it is for you to determine, but that is the position you're stuck in right now

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

[wiseoldbaby]

Hey, it turned out alright!

I tried to cancel, but there was a problem with the fax machine, so my score came back. Turns out it was a 164. I only transferred 5 answers incorrectly; I lost only a couple points.

I'm pretty happy with how this whole episode turned out, and I'm in the 75% or above for most schools I'm applying to, but I am kind of at an impasse about whether I want to take it again. I have some blemishes on my record, and I think I higher score might help cover for that. Still, in all the practice tests I took before February I scored above a 165 only once. I've been studying for February for three weeks now, and I think I'm as good as before, but I am having a hard time evaluating myself because I've done almost every question. Do you have any thoughts? In some ways it would be a huge load off my back to be done with the test - a huge load. Still, could I do better?

Do you have any thoughts on this?

[BethRibet]

Hi Wise,

First, congrats on your score!

Obviously we at PowerScore can't make this decision for you -- as Dave has noted, you're the person who will want to live with your choices, in whichever direction you go. Much of his advice about contemplating the potential outcomes still applies here. What I can say is that if your practice tests have rarely substantially exceeded your current score, then it would be a bit of a long shot to come up by more than a point or two. Keep in mind that most schools will average your scores, so if you came back at 168 for instance, this would bring your combined score up two points to 166. If you think 168 is more than a long shot, and a 2 point boost may make a crucial difference, then you certainly may decide to move ahead! On the other hand, if you're ready to be done, then I support you.

I hope this is helpful.

Good luck!
Beth