Score Fluctuations

[coralconsulting77]

As we approach the LSAT, I'm a little concerned about where my score has been going.

I started off around a 152 and went between that and a 148 for a while. I read the LR bible, the RC bible, and the LG bible. I started doing 2 5 section pts a week (weds and sat) a couple weeks ago and saw my score rev up during the 3Rd one. The highest being a 157 on PT 74, then as I took PT 66 I got a 155 and then on PT 75 I got a 153. I do a thorough BR, add questions to the grid, figure out why I got the right answers right and got the wrong answers wrong. Process takes about 2 to 2.5 hours per LR section and 1.5 hours for games and 1.5 hours for RC. On average, I'll spend 2 days testing per week w/ 2 days of blind review per test with an added section of practice for my weakest section. I've been studying full time for about 6 weeks, devoting 1 day a week to a 5 section PT and doing methos review and section management for 2 of those weeks. I spent a couple months prior to this study session familiarizing myself with the methods before going all in on study, furthermore, I was doing some GMAT study before hand. After I hit that 157, I thought to myself that maybe I needed more PT work to build my stamina, but ever since then my score has been declining. I study about 6 days per week for around 4 or 5 hours per day and average one or two 8 hour days (usually in between tests on Weds and Sat. I always put the section that gives me the hardest time as the experimental section, and I ALWAYS put the experimental section first so as to create the most demanding conditions for points that count. I haven't really "taken a day off" for 2 weeks, since I feel weird about it so I usually just try to do a couple games since I like those. I find them kind of fun actually, even though I botch them when in testing conditions. Furthermore my schedule is based on a m-sat system with 1 day off (sun) integrated but I've been cheating myself out of the day off which makes me wonder if I'm actually screwing myself over by doing that.

Anyway, here's the averages. I started getting a ton of LR questions right after I had that big surge from 150 to 157, then it dipped a bit, however, I usually score -6/7 on the first LR and -9 on the second one. I generally guess on the last 5 to 6 questions, and recently I've been getting through Q1-17 missing only 1 or 2. I've always scored 3 to 4 points higher on the first one. On blind review, I generally only struggle to understand about 3 or 4 questions, the other ones, I usually answer correctly or force myself to review because even though I got them right I didn't fully understand them. On PT 75, which I recently took I scored -9 on both LR sections. Tanked RC (-12) and scored OK on games (-8) although I really hate the questions that I missed on games since at least 3 questions were so obvious when I did review. I skipped one game in that set since I've been trying to narrow my range and get more perfect answers.

RC is definitely my weakest section averaging -8 at best and -9 to -11 on average. I have been adding 3 passages per day to my regiment in hopes of at least solidoffing a score around -8 before test day with a desire to improve other areas. I really want to break the 160 threshold, and I'm nervous since we're a week out. Some RC sections seem so much more difficult, not because of the passages but because the way they phrase the answers or ask the questions is way more abstract, but maybe that's subjective. But I struggle to master a passage or 2 even in untied review, missing 1 or 2 questions.


Games "feels" like the easiest section for me, although I'm currently still missing around 8. The agonizing part is I can go back the next day during review and answer the question's I missed wrong without even looking at the setup since it's sort of ingrained. Furthermore, I generally only aim for 3 games which means they have to be 100 percent right. I've gotten better about isolating good and bad games.

Anyway, my thoughts were to take 1 of 2 approaches and I wanted to put some feelers out there for insight or if anyone has other suggestions I would really appreciate it.

approach 1) take 2 days off, come back, put off blind review of PT 75 until the weekend, don't do any PTS this week, and go back the power score LR books and review about 5 chapters. (My hesitation with this is that I don't really know how much review I need, I feel like drills are more important at this stage) do 1 full section of RC per day timed and reviewed untimed. 1 full section of games, timed and review untimed.

Approach 2) take 2 days off, come back and do BR for PT 75, then start going into PT power mode and basically up my PTS to 3 per week with 1 day to blond review.

I've taken a total of 8 full 5 section PT exams so far and done multiple sections out of the the 50s and below. I have the 3 more out of the 60s, 70s, and 80s left (9 in total) that I can slam through before the exam.

Should I go on PT mode full time, or go back to the method or are there any other thoughts floating around there. I'm feeling pretty frustrated and lost at this point.

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

Hi Coral,

It sounds like you have a good study structure. I'd completely agree with you about needing a break! Building in a regular break is important for a balanced study schedule. I am a huge fan of the one day a week set aside free from LSAT work. I personally did it while studying, and I think it was critical to my success. I say this not just because I wanted an excuse to get away from work (I did), but I think the brain can work on solidifying ideas and concepts behind the scenes when we take a break. That day off gives your brain time to build connections.

3 PTs a week is a lot, and risks burnout. I'd hesitate to recommend a plan that's so intense. You certainly could be able to do it without burnout, but you also might hit a wall and not realize it. I'd recommend a balanced approach. Mostly PTs (about 2 a week if you can), review, and then targeted strategy work on the areas where you are weak. I'd also recommend playing with your strategy in reading comp a bit. Focus on where you are missing questions. Are you missing structural questions? Are you missing detail questions? How are you diagramming the passages? Are you going back to the passage enough? Too much? How can you work on changing what you diagram and how you mark up the passage? If you aren't completing all 4 passages, make sure you are saving the passage with the fewest questions for last.

For games, think about if you can get a few questions even on the last game. The list question can often be completed even if you don't have time for a full set up. You may find another quick question to answer in your last game too. It's worth it often to try to pick up an extra question or two if you can.

Overall, balance is the name of the game. I know the fluctuations can seem frustrating, and they are! But try to focus on the big picture, and long term trends. See where you have improved, and think about what you can improve on in the next test.

Enjoy your days off.

Rachael

[coralconsulting77]

Thanks Rachel,

I've isolated my weak areas with that past few days off and narrowed it down to Strengthen, Parallel Flaw, and Pattern question's. I've picked up my focus in method questions and MSS largely by looking for the wrong answer in those areas. Games are still a little tough, but I don't anticipate a huge change overnight, only benefits as a result from timing. In RC I'm missing MP questions if there are a lot of half right answers which largely leads me to think I should focus more on structure. I've tried diagramming and not diagramming and frankly diagramming seems to help with detail but hurt with global whereas not diagramming seems to help more with global but make detail questions take longer. I'm thinking of shifting my focus to stick with the global approach, the only downside is if the global questions are uniquely difficult and comparatively close it jeopardize's my score in that section.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, I'll stay course. Definitely needed the Xmas week to recalibrate. I came back slower after 2 days off, but much more aware of where the problems were.