June 8 is Out

[Osa]

Leaving the test center that day I knew I will have to take it again.I did very poorly and i'm not really proud of my score (low 140s) given the level of my prep. I work full-time but I devoted a big chunk on my social life on this exam. I took the 12 weeks Live Online Class, have the bibles and the LR Question Type training (I initially bought them thinking of self study before I registered for the Live Online).

But I'm as determined as ever and I have started studying for October even before the result was out. I need some help though. I called the Powerscore 1800 number and was told that I still have access to all those online materials till October. So my questions is how do I efficiently use this materials to improve my score? I'm aiming at mid to upper 160s and I know its doable. Reading through the materials again in the last few days opens my eye on some things I wish I had known. So any suggestions beyond the standard Self-Study plan will be helpful. I can share my score report (of course only with the Powerscore team) if need be.

Finally, let say I do well in the October test, will this low score hurt my chance of getting admitted to a top ranking law school? (I'm not even worry about T5 schools but UPenn, Northwestern, UTAustin, and the likes)

Thanks.

[BethRibet]

Hi Osa,

Thanks for the question. As you note, self-study, meaning taking practice tests and timed sections, reviewing missed questions carefully, and doing more drilling with question types you're having more trouble with -- is always the essential element of preparation. Be diligent, but keep in mind that there is such a thing as being over-prepared. If you immerse yourself in the LSAT so relentlessly that you get mentally exhausted, or start to psych yourself out, it may actually depress your score. So I would put in some time each day, but not to the extent that you start to feel burned out -- generally no more than 4 hours a day, and no less than 1 hour a day is a good rule, though individuals may function differently.

Beyond that, tutoring can be very helpful, but is not an economic option for everyone. If that's not an option for you, it might be useful for you (it's not for everybody) to find an LSAT study group, with 1-3 other preparing test-takers. Sometimes talking through the questions will give you better insight than just studying them alone. If you know other people who are also going to be taking the test this fall, it's worth considering.

As far as the low score -- an admissions committee will generally use the average of your scores (as given to them by the LSAC), so if you boosted your score by 20 points, your average score would be in the 150s. However, admissions officers do often take note of your highest score -- if you can pull off a score in the 160s, it will still help you!

Good luck!
Beth