Pt scores going down 2 weeks before the June test

[jgsisco]

Hello,

I'm currently registered for the June LSAT, and have been studying since December. I've been aiming for the 166-170 range since my diagnostic. I eventually worked my way up throughout the semester to averaging a 163, and immediately following my final exams, I scored a 169 (maybe because I had a break from looking at the LSAT for 2 weeks?). For about 3 PTs after the 169, I averaged a 166 or so. Since then (so in the last week and a half/two weeks) I've seen a steady decline in my scores, to averaging a 164 again after another 4 PTs and hit a low 160 this afternoon (sigh). On the couple of tests I've done poorly on, freezing up on a logic game is often a factor, but I've also noticed a slight downwards trajectory in LR and RC.

Has anyone else had a similar experience while studying, or have any advice about this? Obviously it's pretty frustrating to see a decrease in your scores when you'd expect some improvement in the final stretch.

Thanks!

[Luke Haqq]

Hi jgsisco!

Thanks for reaching out and for the in-depth explanation of your situation. Given what you've explained, my best guess regarding the reason your score might have been decreasing is that exhaustion might be kicking in. That could possibly be the culprit since you mentioned you've been studying since December. It also seems possible since you mentioned you scored the 169 after you had taken a break from the practice tests during finals. Exhaustion can take a variety of forms--for example, it might mean your eyes start to read answer choices less carefully, or miss crucial qualifying words in questions like "except," "unless," and "not."

Given that the June test is only a couple weeks away, obviously the best advice I can give is to try to power through because you're almost there! At the same time, if exhaustion from studying can do some explaining for the drop in scores, and if you're currently studying every day, then perhaps that means it would be beneficial if you made sure to take a day off each week. Similarly, some people find it helpful to make sure not to do anything LSAT-related on the day before the test--perhaps that'd be helpful for you as well?

Hope those suggestions help!

[Stephanie Oswalt]

Hey jgsisco!

To add to Luke comments above, here are a few PowerScore blog posts that you might find helpful:

http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/did-you ... t-practice
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/333 ... d-Now-What
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/296 ... -June-LSAT
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/243 ... your-score
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/decembe ... bookmarked

Thanks!

[jgsisco]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate the advice and encouragement!