Maximize Score Increase for Retake

[dina.awshah]

Hello,

I just got my LSAT score, a 155, and I am absolutely devastated. I say this because I was studying for the June LSAT since January and by May I was in 165+ avg range and even broke 170 on my last few practice tests. I even felt pretty good about the actual test day, so I was extremely shocked to see that I tanked it.

I know that I’m retaking it in September so I wanted to know how you would suggest going about this studying round. I self-studied with the bibles (given they were older versions) last time around and took many real practice tests, but I’m not sure that it would be very productive or helpful to do the same thing this time around. I really only have September to take the test as I’m applying this cycle and I need to get 170+ (that’s my ultimate goal). Given all this information, I was wondering what advice you would have for me? Should I consider (or even actually go through) taking a course? Should I start from scratch and relearn all the information given to me in the Bible? I really would appreciate any in-depth advice you have. Thank you in advance.

I was down to -2 on LG, -4 on LR (both sections combined), and around -3 on RC. I would take my practice tests as similar to the real thing as possible, but I was not taking my tests with an experimental/extra section. I'm already getting back into studying but I want to know if anyone has specific advice for me, considering that my goal is to break 170 on this test in September.

[Adam Tyson]

Sorry to hear that, dina.awshah, and I hope we can help with that. Sounds to me like you had a great study plan and have a solid grasp of the concepts in the test, across all the sections, so the only things I can imagine went wrong were some degree of test anxiety, which is completely normal, stamina issues, which can be dealt with through both physical exercise and adding an experimental section to your PTs, the "casino effect", meaning you got hit with a test that was overly representative of your weak spots, and perhaps some issues with your preparation the day before and/or day of the test, like not getting enough sleep.

Based on what you have told us here, I don't see a course being the best way to spend your time and effort. Instead, I would consider private tutoring to try to isolate those factors that impacted your performance and prepare a more personal plan for minimizing those factors. I would also suggest a study plan that continues to emphasize realistic practice tests (including at least a fifth section, and maybe sometimes a sixth), coupled with plenty of untimed study to shore up any weaknesses, and also plenty of breaks to avoid burnout, which could be a real problem with continuing your studies for this much longer than originally planned.

Of course, carefully review the June test, question by question, to see if it reveals any patterns in what you struggled with.

You have already broken 170 in practice, so you know you are capable of doing so again. Stay positive! This was an unfortunate hiccup, but use it as a learning opportunity to figure out what went sideways on you, and in that way you can better prepare for the next one.