Taking June LSAT/Still running out of time

[kwcflynn]

Hi,

I am taking the June LSAT, but I am still running out of time during my timed tests. Perhaps, I need to tweak my techniques and such, but I am very concerned about my time management. Any advice to offer?

Thank you very much.

[Adam Tyson]

Running out of time is normal, kwcflynn, and most test takers will run out of time on at least one section. I'd venture to guess that most folks actually run out of time on almost every section, actually (and if they don't it's because they are rushing and sacrificing quality for quantity). Focus on your accuracy, and let speed take care of itself. Don't try to go faster, just try to be better, more accurate, on the questions you do answer.

That said, here are a few things to think about that might help you with timing:

1. Are you prephrasing every single LR question? That may seem like it takes time that you cannot afford, but prephrasing actually allows you to move through the questions faster because wrong answers will be more obviously wrong and right ones will be more obviously right. You won't fall for attractive wrong answers nearly as often.

2. Are you sorting losers and contenders mercilessly, without stopping along the way to analyze answers until after the sorting is done? I see students waste so much time thinking about an answer choice, re-reading the stimulus or passage or question, when they should just say "I don't know, so this is a contender" and then move on immediately to the next answer choice.

3. In games, are you taking the time to seek out inferences beyond what the rules told you to do? Are you trying the occasional hypothetical, or taking a full blown template approach, when the rules appear to highly restrict the game? Extra time spent on the diagram usually translates to less time spent on the game overall, as questions will be easier due to your having done the work already and your having a better overall grasp of the game and how the rules interact.

4. In Reading Comp, are you taking minimal notes, and only those notes that are designed to help you find key information quickly when asked for it? Not underlining excessively, not highlighting, but just simple road signs to show you the way? Don't read for a deep understanding of the subject matter, because that isn't important. Read instead for structure, viewpoints, and main point.

Be accurate, and be efficient. That is how you will increase your score! Speed will get better as you get more confident in your answers, which comes from having a solid strategy for the questions.

Good luck!

[kwcflynn]

Thank you very VERY much, Adam!