Stuck on a score for 4 months

[kp9300]

Hi- question on how to move forward with studying. I work full time, so have tried to give myself several months to study for the test, including taking an online course. I'm arriving at 7 months of study, but for the last 4 months I've scored 163. Is that pretty much as good as it's going to get? Trying to decide if it's worth it to continue studying.

[Jeremy Press]

Hi kp,

Thanks for the question (a question I've had lots of students ask in the past, by the way)!

Here's the shorter initial answer: it's not as good as it's going to get, IF you don't want it to be! Your outlook and motivation are probably the most important things to sort out moving forward. With the right drive, and the belief that you can make progress, you don't have to be stuck. How much improvement do you have in you, and how long will it take you to get there? I can't say precisely, because I don't know you well enough. But I do know that I've had plenty of people in your shoes who thought they'd already been studying so long they didn't have anywhere left to go. And they still made significant improvements. I'm talking about people who'd been studying for 6-8 months and in some cases more.

A few specific suggestions:

First, overcoming plateaus in score is often a matter of going back to the basics with process. Take a look at this blog post, and start there: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/how-to ... sat-study/. Understanding that each question type (and reasoning type) involves a predictable process, and making sure you're employing that process, is the first step to overcoming the issues you might be having.

Second, make sure you're actually logging the mistakes you're making, both for questions you miss and for questions you answer correctly but for the wrong reasons. For each test, you should have a log with a short entry (1-2 sentences), for questions you miss and for questions you get right but are unsure of your answer, that states in as simple terms as possible what you did wrong and what you should've changed about your thought process. This log is a touch point for weekly review, to remind yourself of the changes you need to implement on each practice test you take.

Third, consider whether some time spent with a tutor would be helpful in both identifying process-area weaknesses, and strategies for overcoming them (including specific types of drills and practice). This doesn't have to take an overwhelming number of hours to be productive for you. A truly good tutor can help you identify some big-picture areas of weakness, and suggest some ways to overcome those weaknesses, without spending more than a few hours with you. Check out the options here: https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/tutoring/.

You don't have to be done making progress if you don't want to be. Keep at it, even though it can be a slow road. For someone working full-time, it takes some patience with yourself and the material. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are the skills you need to succeed on this test.

Let us know if there's anything else we can do to be helpful!

[kp9300]

Hi Jeremy- thank you, this was incredibly helpful. Moving forward with studying and changing my approach, I had one question: how often should I be taking breaks from studying? Since I'm going on 6 months while working full-time, I feel like I'm burning out, but don't want to take too much time off either.

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

Hi kp9300,

Generally, the most successful LSAT students tend to study structurally in ways that have been successful for them in the past. Students who do great studying in the morning for school generally do well when studying in the morning for the LSAT. Think about what sort of break schedule worked well for you as a student. Don't just think about it in terms of timing; think about what you would do on those breaks that helped you recharge.

For me, I learn best with a full day off every. single. week. My brain needs that rest on a regular basis in order to function best. I can't really count a day of work as a day off--I really need the day to be free of thinking-type responsibilities in order to get the most out of the break. I try to do active things, or chores around the house, and do something social (even if that means virtual these days).

But, as you feel you are reaching the stages of burnout, I would consider a longer break, at least if your test is April or later. For the Feb test, there's not really time for a longer break, though you should certainly think about taking the day off studying for the day before the test. If your test is further out, think about taking several days off, like a long weekend, to have a bit of a LSAT reset. A break can also help with score plateaus, and give you new energy for approaching the problems.

So take a break. Take a breath. Come back stronger.