What do I do when my score is stuck?

[mo_wan]

Hello,

Iwas planning to take the test in September, I just finished taking the course, and I've been studying from Mid / Early July until now. I have seen little improvement in score raw score stuck around 150s, with guesses it'll be mid 150s. I'm getting concerned now. Most of all, I'm starting to lose motivation and getting upset. It's been four months and not much improvement. The way I've been studying so far was 1 timed PT per week + review of it, one day spent on reviewing LG I have done before untimed, along with one timed section. 1 day spend doing RC passages and questions untimed, along with one timed section. 1 day spend doing LR of my weaknesses (20 questions) and one timed section. My LR improved slightly, my RC is about the same, and my LG actually fell

I was thinking maybe for this week I just plan to do untimed work without a test just switch things up, and then for the remaining two weeks just do prep tests.


Is what I have been doing wrong? At this point I feel like maybe the method is incorrect. Any advice on what to change or how to move forward?


If you get a chance to respond I would really appreciate it.

Thank you for any help that you can provide!

Starting Raw Score Per section

· LR : 14-15 (with 20 questions attempted) --> usually one section I'll score like 17/20 and the other I'll score like 12/20

· RC: 13: --> usually I can get through two passages, finish the third but not finish the questions

· LG 16: --> usually I can get through 3 games and start the forth with about 1-3 mistakes depending on the day

· Test: 149-152

Current Raw Score Per section (based on past 4-5 tests)

· LR : 16-17 (with 20 questions attempted)

· RC: 13-14 --> usually I can get through two passages, and then occasionally either finish the third and start the questions or I might have to rush the third.

· LG 14 --> usually I can get through 3 games and start the forth with about 1-3 mistakes depending on the day

· Test: 149-152

[Adam Tyson]

A plateau is a huge source of frustration, mo_wan, and I feel you. Most students preparing for this test experience that at some point. So much so that we have published multiple articles and answered multiple questions in this forum asking about the very same sorts of problems you are experiencing. So, I'll start by pointing you to a couple of those, rather than reinventing those excellent wheels:

https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/how-to ... -are-stuck

https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/24 ... your-score

https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/how-to ... lsat-study

Check those out, and let us know if you need further help from there! My personal advice would be to focus on prephrasing, because what you are describing sounds to me like you are not doing enough of that on LR and RC, and you should be prephrasing EVERY LR question and almost every RC question.

Meanwhile, keep your spirits up, because we have all been where you are at some point, and you CAN break through to the next level.

Keep us posted on your progress!

[mo_wan]

Hi Adam,

So I've read through some of those posts. Will give it a deep read again, but based on my study habits would you say there is anything wrong with what I am doing? For the last week I didn't take a timed test, and I'm thinking maybe this week I shouldn't do one either, just to take a small break from the time pressure and the score pressure. But then the remaining two weeks I plan to take 3-4 full time tests. And then a few days before the test review all the LR questions I've gotten wrong on tests, redo games I've done wrong, and do some reading comprehension passages untimed and timed. Is there any value in doing RC passages twice over?

Let me know your thoughts

Thanks

[Dave Killoran]

Let me add one more link: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/retaki ... your-score

Use the ideas in there and ignore the "retaking" part—it applies no matter your LSAT background.

Thanks!

[mo_wan]

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the reply. I've read the posts, will try and change a few things. But based on what I was doing do you believe that there is anything inherently wrong with my study habits or what I am doing. Especially for reading comprehension I've tried a few methods you described but didn't see much improvement.


My timing, and accuracy is still off. How I am or was preparing was to spend a day per week reading 3-4 passages untimed (usually hard science), and then one timed section the same day. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks now. Then after every paragraph try to paraphase what was just said. Then pause after the whole passage, and ask myself what the mainpoint was. Just recently I added that after every paragraph I also go through the VIEWSTAMP points, and mark down any areas where they might ask a question about. But my score is still fluctuating. For example, for one timed section and one practice test, I got through 3 passages and scored about 15/20. On another practice test, and timed section I got through 2 passages and I had to rush the third cause I didnt have much time and ended up getting 10/17 or so. Im I preparing the wrong way? Should I be timing myself during the paragraphs? Also how you would suggest reviewing timed RC passages? My average score is about 13. My goal is 3 passages at about 18 correct.

My workflow is as follows when timed, is this correct?:

Read paragraph, try and paraphase while reading. At the end of every paragraph quickly state to myself the structure and a brief summary. Once I'm done the whole passage I ask myself what the main point was? The authors tone?

[Dave Killoran]

Especially for reading comprehension I've tried a few methods you described but didn't see much improvement.

Hey Mo,

Thanks for the reply!

This is the response I always make when I see this: okay, if you've properly studied each question, if I pulled out a question/passage/game that you've already reviewed, could you seamlessly explain it to me with minimal delay, and hit all the major content and strategy points? If you can't, you didn't study it enough the first time(s). Mastery of the LSAT requires mastering every question you do. NOT just reviewing it, but KNOWING it. It doesn't matter what review pattern you use or how much time you spend, what matters is what you know and learn. Does that make sense and could you pass the test for every question?

Thanks!