When to take practice exams?!!! HELP

[AmySam]

Hi PS

I recently purchased the PS trilogy where I plan to complete a book each month. I have finished the LR book in June and took 2 un-timed practice exams from the LSAC 10 Actual LSAT exams. I did okay but still need some further practice on strengthen and weaken questions. I am not sure if I should continue this way where I complete a book then finish the last week of the month with taking a couple of practice exams depending on that section or squeeze in a couple of timed practice exams?

The reason I didn't go to the route of starting timed practice exams is because i feel uncomfortable with the thought that I could score horribly on the practice exam without having studied before. Therefore I felt the need to complete each book then go into a couple of practice exams.

GOOD OR BAD IDEA?

Thanks

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the question. The best study approach is different for each person, and so it may be that the best route for you is the one you described Generally, though, I tend to advocate a slightly different path, one that allows you to work on different sections from each book in succession. This has several different benefits:

• 1. It keeps you fresh by focusing on each subject for a bit, and then moving on to a different subject.
  2. Since concepts from certain sections overlap at times (such as how conditional reasoning appears in both LG and LR), it allows you to move more quickly through certain sections since you are seeing the same ideas in proximity.
  3. Because you work on each section type in progression, you can start taking practice LSATs much earlier. You won't have seen every concept, but at a certain point you've seen enough in each section to make it worthwhile.

This study approach is the one we use in our study plans on our LSAT Self Study Site, which also includes test scoring for every released LSAT.

So, that said, again it's all about personal preference. If you feel that you want to complete each book first, then that's fine. the one thing that doesn't allow is for you to see if you've missed an idea. But, there are positives and negatives to each approach. Choose the one that makes you feel most comfortable!

Also, for additional practice with specific question types, check out the LSAT Training Type books, which divide questions into specific types. Those are all real LSAT questions, too.

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!