162 --> 170+ in two weeks. possible? Forum

[Nate_P]

Hey guys, need your opinions/thoughts here..
I just did PT48, and got a discouraging 162, which is just right around my average from recent PTs.
that is, i need to get 10+ more right in order to get my target score, 170+, on the actual test.

I signed up for the feb. test, so I am not sure whether I should keep doing PTs until the day before the exam and then decide whether to take the test or not,
or I should just take the june exam and stop wasting materials.

Any kind of advice is welcome here..

[GATORTIM]

isnt is too late to reschedule? You might as well take the test and cancel, but I don't think a 162---170 jump is likely in 2 weeks. Although it is only 8 pts, there is a huge amount of work that must be done.

[UTexas]

If that's right around your average, and you've been studying for quite a while, then I'd say your chances of breaking 170 on the February test are small.

What are you doing for review, anyway? With your score range, you should be spending more time reviewing each test than you do taking it. Are you reviewing every problem you miss or struggle with in fine detail? You shouldn't be burning through fresh PTs if you're consistently getting similar scores.

[ogman05]

Hey guys, need your opinions/thoughts here..
I just did PT48, and got a discouraging 162, which is just right around my average from recent PTs.
that is, i need to get 10+ more right in order to get my target score, 170+, on the actual test.

I signed up for the feb. test, so I am not sure whether I should keep doing PTs until the day before the exam and then decide whether to take the test or not,
or I should just take the june exam and stop wasting materials.

Any kind of advice is welcome here..

Possible but unlikely. I did do close to that. 163->169 in 10 days. It happens just dont bank on it.

disclaimer: I took two administrations before that but never scored above a 164. That two weeks LR just really clicked. was getting -1 or -2 in both sections combined

[Madman]

I think it is possible. I have done about 13 PT's and averaged 165 (nothing over 167) and I just did PT 46 (strictly timed) and got a 175. Focus on your weaknesses hardcore for the next two weeks, have a good day, and I think anything is possible.

[Nate_P]

If that's right around your average, and you've been studying for quite a while, then I'd say your odds of breaking 170 on the February test are vanishingly small.

What are you doing for review, anyway? With your score range, you should be spending more time reviewing each test than you do taking it. Are you reviewing every problem you miss or struggle with in fine detail? You shouldn't be burning through fresh PTs if you're consistently getting similar scores.

I do agree with you.
I usually go over the exams by myself and use kaplan explanation booklets for detailed expl.
I am seriously considering taking a class or hiring a tutor to change my study strategy if I take it in June or October.

[nyyankees]

if you are applying for next cycle (as you seem willing to push back to june), im not entirely sure why you took the feb test. seems premature at best. anyway, is it possible, yes, is it likely, no. at this point all you can do is look hard at what you are missing and work specifically on those things. Also dont be afraid to try a new method of attacking things. two days before my LSAT i started doing the read the passage quickly twice method of RC and i dropped from -6/-7 to -3 on the real thing. I think im def the exception rather than the rule, but just wanted to give you some words of encouragement

[a11 1n]

In my experience, there was something which clicked when I made the jump from low low 160's to high 160's in my practice tests. Diligence and hard work can get you there but that moment when things start to click can come at any time.

[The Pen Is Mightier]

I threw down a 166 under test conditions 1 week prior to the actual lsat. I had been in the 168-172 range immediately before that. Over the next 3 days, my practice tests were like 163, 169, 164 or something. Then I threw down a 177 (on the June '08 test... apparently notoriously easy) on Thursday morning before the test. At that point I just shut everything down and did absolutely nothing lsat realted. Took 2 days off of work and relaxed. Bad movies, video games, and plenty of cetera. Test day: 173.

So my point is, if you've been scoring higher and are seeing a setback, all is not lost. Relax, save June '08 for your last practice test for confidence and you can pull your score up significantly.

[lawyering]

I think it is possible. I have done about 13 PT's and averaged 165 (nothing over 167) and I just did PT 46 (strictly timed) and got a 175. Focus on your weaknesses hardcore for the next two weeks, have a good day, and I think anything is possible.

Not to be a downer here, but I started at 168, took a PR course, studied my ass off for 2 months, was PT'ing between 174 and 178 for the last month, and still only got a 170 on the actual exam (and I've always been a good test-taker).

I would give yourself more time.

[Madman]

I threw down a 166 under test conditions 1 week prior to the actual lsat. I had been in the 168-172 range immediately before that. Over the next 3 days, my practice tests were like 163, 169, 164 or something. Then I threw down a 177 (on the June '08 test... apparently notoriously easy) on Thursday morning before the test. At that point I just shut everything down and did absolutely nothing lsat realted. Took 2 days off of work and relaxed. Bad movies, video games, and plenty of cetera. Test day: 173.

So my point is, if you've been scoring higher and are seeing a setback, all is not lost. Relax, save June '08 for your last practice test for confidence and you can pull your score up significantly.

It seems like alot of it becomes a "psyching yourself out" sort of issue when you start scoring in the mid to high 160's particularly if it is LR that is giving you issues from time to time. Obviously this is not the whole factor, but kind of seems like it might play a bit of a role.

[Richard Rorty]

i did it. I had a couple 162-3's, and a 165 I think. Two weeks and two days to go I got a 167 and then exploded to 174, and continued to score there. 173 on the real thing.

[The Pen Is Mightier]

I threw down a 166 under test conditions 1 week prior to the actual lsat. I had been in the 168-172 range immediately before that. Over the next 3 days, my practice tests were like 163, 169, 164 or something. Then I threw down a 177 (on the June '08 test... apparently notoriously easy) on Thursday morning before the test. At that point I just shut everything down and did absolutely nothing lsat realted. Took 2 days off of work and relaxed. Bad movies, video games, and plenty of cetera. Test day: 173.

So my point is, if you've been scoring higher and are seeing a setback, all is not lost. Relax, save June '08 for your last practice test for confidence and you can pull your score up significantly.

It seems like alot of it becomes a "psyching yourself out" sort of issue when you start scoring in the mid to high 160's particularly if it is LR that is giving you issues from time to time. Obviously this is not the whole factor, but kind of seems like it might play a bit of a role.

I can say pretty conclusively that my LR fell off a cliff during the week before the test. Then I just got it back and after relaxing it was at a slightly higher level than it had been during my best consistent run of practice tests. I think it was more burnout than psycheout.

For what it's worth, on test day I was something like LG -1 LR -2 LR -2 RC -2

[Nate_P]

i did it. I had a couple 162-3's, and a 165 I think. Two weeks and two days to go I got a 167 and then exploded to 174, and continued to score there. 173 on the real thing.

Do you remember if you made a particular change in your studying strategy? You're absolutely my hero..

[7ED]

A lot of hard work and a lot of luck I'd imagine. If that was your diagnostic then sure.

If u manage to score a 170+ on a pt before the actual test, remember how u felt about it, so u know whether to cancel the real score in case u were a bit shakier. When ur scoring that high u'll usually know intuitively within a few points how high u scored.

[Cupidity]

Possible yes, likeley no.

However, take the test, and if you don't get the score you want retake. Excepting HYS the second score won't hurt you. And you never know what will happen in June, you could get sick, have a terrible day, etc. Keep prepping, get a nice 165 in the bank, that way no matter what happens you are looking at T-30, and you get to take the test no pressure.

[09042014]

Hey guys, need your opinions/thoughts here..
I just did PT48, and got a discouraging 162, which is just right around my average from recent PTs.
that is, i need to get 10+ more right in order to get my target score, 170+, on the actual test.

I signed up for the feb. test, so I am not sure whether I should keep doing PTs until the day before the exam and then decide whether to take the test or not,
or I should just take the june exam and stop wasting materials.

Any kind of advice is welcome here..

No, take an absence on the Feb test and take June.

Definitely stop wasting materials if you aren't using them appropriately.

[umichgrad]

you won't see that kind of jump unless you're reviewing every single answer you get wrong, understanding the question type, and reviewing each wrong answer with more examples. Even then, for most people their test day score is slightly lower than their prep average (though many people do score higher). I was averaging 168-171 for the two to three weeks before the test, and ended up with a 167. Happy with it, but still, don't expect test day to be your best yet.

[goosey]

the highest I ever scored on a pt was 172, mode was around 167 and the average was prob about 165 or 166 and I got a 161 twice Also, in a 6 month period I only scored a 161 three times, two of which were on the real test days. moral of the story: dont psych yourself out. and sleep well the night before. I screwed myself over on my retake by sleeping only 5 hours the night before. I was pretty drowsy during the test and lost stupid points as a result.

Im retaking again in feb and hoping for a similar jump as you mentioned. My advice is to stack LR sections and LG. you have two weeks. LG will give you the biggest jump if you can nail them, and LR you might just get lucky and hit that "aha" moment in the next week or so. dont give up

[christinalsat]

I'm in the same boat. Last three scores were 165,163,166. Would love to start scoring in the 170s within the next week or two in time for the Feb test. I really don't want to do this again in June!

[secretasianman]

man.. i envy you guys lol. i was prepping at 160-162 all the way to the week of the test and i ended up getting a 156.. :\ good luck though

[christinalsat]

I get really nervous every time I take a proctored test (with the Testmasters course), but am fine on my own. I really wouldn't be surprised if nerves get the best of me and the same thing happens. Trying to avoid that though...

I have a friend who was scoring in the 175-range and got a 165 on the real deal (nerves). He retook a few months later and got a 166. Go figure.

[lawschoolmg]

i did it. I had a couple 162-3's, and a 165 I think. Two weeks and two days to go I got a 167 and then exploded to 174, and continued to score there. 173 on the real thing.

Hi, I know this was a while ago but I’m in a similar situation and was wondering if you would be able to please share what you did in the two weeks left to achieve that jump and final score ? Would be really appreciated!