Timing

[cpatterson]

I'm really struggling finishing the games under 11 minutes, which leaves me with essentially no time for the fourth game. Do you have any suggested strategies to minimize time spent/game other than repetition? Thank you!

[Adam Tyson]

My answer will depend on whether you are taking the test this Saturday, or if you are preparing to take it later. It also depends on how well you're doing in the games sections right now. On your last practice test, how many questions did you answer correctly?

If you're taking it this Saturday, I would suggest that there really isn't enough time left to make any major changes to your pacing, and that you should focus instead on doing three games very well and then guessing on the fourth game. There's nothing wrong with that approach - you just have to give yourself permission to do it, and remember that there is no prize for answering all the questions. The prize is for getting the maximum number correct that you can, and sometimes that means doing only three games, or three passages. I've had students who were struggling and focused on speed break through and greatly increase their scores when they allow themselves to not finish the section. Interestingly, they often find that they actually increase their speed when they do this, because they are more relaxed and comfortable with what they are doing instead of wound up by the ticking clock.

Tell us more about your recent performance, and your plan for taking the test, and we'll see if we can't supplement this advice.

Adam

P.S. One other thing - make sure you are taking your time to do a thorough diagram. Rushing through the diagram to hurry up and get to the questions will almost always result in your taking too much time on the questions. A complete diagram, with a few solid inferences, will take longer up front, but will save more time than you lose once you get to the questions and are able to move through them with confidence and accuracy. It may be counter-intuitive, but slowing down will allow you to speed up.

[cpatterson]

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your note. I am planning on taking the LSAT on Saturday, so I understand that my options are very limited at this point.

On average, I'm missing between 1-3 questions on the first three games that I complete, and then missing up to the entire set of questions on the last game that I am unable to reach, which really compromises my overall score.

As of now, I'm planning on only completing the 3 games and then guessing on the 4th. I guess 1) do you have any suggestions that could help in the next few days, or 2) do you have any advice on selecting which game to guess on? Would it be more beneficial to my score to leave the hardest game -- even if it has more questions than the other games, or should try to work games with the most questions first?

Thanks again!

[Adam Tyson]

Tough call on which one to skip, but if you come across a game that seems especially challenging, even if it has a lot of questions you might be better off doing the other three and saving that one for last. You may find that you have enough time at the end to tackle a list question using the rule-by-rule method and maybe one or two more, then guess the rest. You have to know your own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to games; love advanced linear but can't handle an undefined grouping game? Does Pure Sequencing give you nightmares? Try to identify the game types on your test, and if it's a type you feel is in your wheelhouse, do it.

My guess is that you'll pick up one or two right answers with your guesses, if you consistently guess the same letter. Seems to me with the number you are missing now, your best bet really will be to slow down and take your time on three games. If you can pick up 4 or 5 more correct answers that way, plus a couple with your guessing strategy, that will make a real difference in your score.

For the next couple of days, go back to basics on the game types that present the biggest challenge to you. Re-read the lesson material, and the homework, and try a second time some of the games that were difficult the first time around. Do a few timed sections using the new, slower approach. By Friday afternoon, give yourself a break and take care of yourself - no more studying. Saturday morning, warm up with a few LR questions and a game, but don't bother checking the answer key - just get your brain in LSAT mode so you aren't starting out cold.

Good luck!

Adam