Improve speed

[lsatlsat]

Dear powerscore,


There are several questions the feb 2015 lsat which I would like to ask you. Thank you in advance for your help!

1) I have some problems finishing all the questions on time for the LR, LG, RC sections. I have been practicing for quite some time, but still cannot finish the questions. For LG, I can only finish three games max, for LR I can usually finish 18-20 questions, and RC I can only finish three passages max. So I'm just wondering, what could I do to improve on timing for these passages besides blind practicing?



Thank you very much! I always very much appreciate your suggestions!

[Lucas Moreau]

Hello, lsatlsat,

Speed is one of the toughest areas to improve in on the LSAT, and yet, one of the most crucial on test day. I'm glad you're answering as many questions are you are already, I think you have plenty of time to keep practicing.

What I like to do to increase my time is, first, take a section of whichever section type usually takes you the longest - often Games. Finish it completely without giving yourself a time limit, but do note how long it took you to finish. Do this a couple more times to get an average. When I first did this, I found it took me about 70 minutes to reliably finish a Games section.

Then sit down with another section of the same type and give yourself a time limit of five minutes less than that amount. For me, 65 minutes. You may find you almost finish. Work until you can reliably finish the section in that reduced amount of time.

Then remove five minutes again, and so on, and so forth. You'll work your way down to finishing completely in 35 minutes in an amount of time that may surprise you.

Hope that helps,
Lucas Moreau

[amiru77]

Hi Lucas!
Thank you for the tip! I was reading it because I have the same problem. Could you please clarify on the last part of your advice "Work until you can reliably finish the section in that reduced amount of time". I mean when I am taking the section and subtracting a few minutes of the previous record for it (say 65 min.) and if I could not do it within the time frame shall I do this drill the next time with a new section (for example LG) or I should do the same section until I finish it in the time limit?

[James Finch]

Hi Amiru,

I'm not Lucas but I think I can help with your question. He was suggesting practicing doing different sections until you feel comfortable enough in finishing within the time limit that you can lower your time limit by another 5 minutes and start the process over again with new sections. The reason you'll want to use new sections if possible is that improving the same set of games doesn't necessarily improve your abilities to complete any games section, as you need to be prepared for different types and sub-types, as well as variable difficulties.

Hope this helps!