Improving by taking practice tests

[kristinaroz93]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the feedback! I was wondering if I can ask a more personal question regarding the LSAT. Here it is:

From september to now I have been doing the bibles very carefully not skipping pages or skimming but doing them until concepts are essentially drilled into my head. I have even done the lr bible twice already (the second time within 3 days, and have caught so many things I missed the first time around. I am also very crystal clear on all concepts). I was not taking practice tests until yesterday, because the way I always study is to learn comprehensively all the material first and then to take tests (I know this is not the conventional approach for the lsat). Yesterday for the first time I took a practice test and obviously having not done tests previously was terrible on timing for everything and also maybe because I got nervous and in addition to doing the test at 6/7pm (thus doing it kind of tired), it did not go well. I had 5 lr wrong in one section, 7 in another, and about 9 reading comprehension incorrect. I am scheduled for the Dec 5 exam, and will be willing to do 2 tests a day as much as possible for the month. Is it possiible for me to score reasonably well (high 160s-170s) come the test day given I understand all the concepts already?

(Also, I have not done the reading bible, due to now lack of time and was wondering if I could improve on this section just from doing practice tests a lone, is this possible?)

I woud love to hear all your feedback on my situation (since you do know a little bit on how I analyze the information) and if it is possible that people can score well from doing tests constantly within a one month period after knowing concepts =)

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Kristina,

I don't think you should be too hard on yourself! As you point out, you hadn't taken a test in a while, and it was later in the day. When you go into something both rusty and tired, you more or less know the outcome won't be your best performance

Here's the thing: yes, you can improve significantly by doing tests after you've locked down the concepts. What will happen is that as you do more and more questions, you will get sharper and faster, and add more and more examples to your mental library. What I wouldn't recommend is doing two tests a day. that's overload, and worse, you can't get real review done on 200 LSAT questions per day. It''s too much, and it will reduce the value of you taking those tests. I'm not even a big fan of doing one test a day for an extended period, simply because your mind needs breaks, and you need time to absorb and process the ideas.

So, bottom line is that the general idea will work, just scale it back a bit!

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

[kristinaroz93]

Hi Dave,

Maybe you are right about 2 tests a day not being feasible, since I do need to review throughly each test afterwards and I might not have time under this schematic. Also you are right about the burnout that could occur. I might have to stick with one test a day. With that being said, do you think I should reschedule to February? I will have winter break to just study with no classes (allowing for 30 tests that month- 1 per day) and of course the rest of this month to do tests. I could possibly do 40- 50 tests in total before February. DO you think this would be the better alternative than trying to squeeze things in for December?

Thanks in advance=)

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Kristina,

I guarantee I'm right about two tests per day It's too much, and there's no way to get full value from the time spent. Far better to take one test and properly review it than to take two tests and poorly review them. It's a great example where less is more!

I wouldn't think about postponing just yet. It's not an urgent or necessary decision at the moment, and so it's one that I would put off thinking about until later. As the December LSAT approaches, then you'll know if you should postpone. In the meantime, it won't hurt to prepare fully for December even if you end up taking February, so that's the route I'd go.

Thanks!