Test Mentality and Test Scores

[jlam061695]

I've recently started doing full-length administered LSATs (3 sections straight through, no break, and one section + another LSAT section from a different test after a short break I give myself) and I experienced a dramatic decrease in my score. Initially, when I started doing individually timed sections (one section at a time, with long breaks in between), I was able to score my personal best. My highest score was 159, which was on the last exam I took doing individually timed sections, but my average score went down to a 150-151 when I attempted to do full=length administered LSATs, and I haven't been able to get my score any higher for the past couple of days, no matter how much I attempt to concentrate. I just tried to revert back to doing individually timed sections, but my score just keeps getting worse (ex: my LR was 6x at its best and now I am getting between 12-14x again). Can someone suggest anything to help me step out of this mentality/cycle?

[Adam Tyson]

Good question, jlam, and you are surely not alone in this. We have written countless articles and forum posts about test mentality, and that's because it is such a big deal for so many test takers.

One thing I would recommend is taking a break from doing practice tests and go read some of those articles and posts. They are too numerous to count, but here are a few of them that you might find interesting:

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/341 ... your-brain
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/lsat-te ... -youve-got
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/346 ... e-thinking

Also, it sounds like you have hit something of a plateau, and we have a few good articles about those, too:

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/how-to- ... lsat-study
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/243 ... your-score
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/316 ... -Attention

In addition to these, you can find numerous posts in this forum about good ways (and bad ways) to approach practice tests and analyzing them, and those would be worth seeking out.

Here's my short advice on the subject: change something. It almost doesn't matter what it is that you change, but a few things to consider are 1) where you are taking your tests (go somewhere else, get out of the house, maybe even to a loud and distracting place like a coffee shop); 2) when you take it (do it at 8am one day, 10:30am another day, and maybe even try one at 7:00pm); 3) how you build it (stop putting that experimental section last - try it 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th on each of your next three practice tests, because the odds are high that it will NOT be the last section when you take the real thing); 4) what you do with it after you are done.

That last one may be the most important. How are you analyzing the results, and using that analysis and the experience to learn and improve? Are you just studying the ones you missed to see what the right answer were? Go way beyond that! Study any questions that gave you any trouble at all, even if you got them right, because you want to understand why you struggled, see what patterns or key words or ideas you may have overlooked or misunderstood, and learn to recognize them in the future. Analyzing a test should take about as long as taking the test did - you are looking at 4 hours of study to go through it. Then, what do you do with that info? Identify two or three areas where you have the most room to improve - maybe you had a hard time with Flaw in the Reasoning questions and Assumption questions and with Causal Reasoning generally. Go back to the lessons, the homeworks, the online materials, and whatever other study resources you have to brush up on the concepts and strategies related to those key areas. That's another whole day of study, including untimed practice, drills, maybe even making yourself some flashcards, etc. Do not just jump into another test without shoring up that foundation and improving your skill set some.

In amongst those articles I linked for you is the advice to take appropriate breaks, and I am a big fan of that. Take a day off to recharge the batteries. Watch an old movie, take a nap, read comic books, go out with friends - do relaxing things that have nothing to do with the LSAT. Rest, recuperate, allow your damaged brain and psyche to heal some, and then come at it again refreshed and invigorated.

By the way, if these are the first tests you have taken since you started your studies, it's actually pretty common to see an initial drop in score. I think this is because students who had previously been cruising on instincts are now thinking things through in unfamiliar ways, not trusting their instincts any more but second guessing a lot, applying strategies with which they are not yet comfortable and haven't completely internalized, etc. Down the road, your instincts and new skills will begin to sync up and work together, and things will get better. For now, it's just too foreign and awkward, and you are probably getting in your own way. On your next test, try listening to your instincts again, but allow your new skills to supplement them when you need them. Confused by a question, but know it's a Weaken question? Fall back on what you learned - first, identify the conclusion, then prephrase something that would make it less likely to be true, then sort your answers into losers and contenders, etc. Slowly, carefully, methodically go through the process, and don't worry about the clock. Get through that question, and then, for the next one, allow the instincts to come back to the front and see if they carry you through. You can always fall back on the mechanical application of new strategies, but don't let them dictate everything you do. Your gut is still one of your best and most powerful tools on this test, so don't ignore it.

Good luck! Come back later and let us know if things are improving. We are always here to help.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi J,

Just to follow up on Adam's excellent response, that fifth link above is the one that immediately came to my mind as well: Why Breaks From The LSAT Can Increase Your Score. You're showing the hallmarks of burnout, in my opinion (and Adam's too, I can tell), and I'd follow every one of Adam's suggestions.

Thanks and good luck!

[jlam061695]

Thank you both for your well thought-out replies! I have started preparing for the LSATs since June of this year and I took one of your full-length prep courses over the summer; it's just frustrating to see that I have come so far in terms of my score and all the strategies I learned only to see my score drop a month before the Dec. test. But I will definitely check out the links, thanks again for your help!