October 2011 Study Log: 180 or Bust! Forum

[crumpetsandtea]

The formatting/idea for this came from THIS POST. Advice/suggestions appreciated <3

My Practice Tests:
Pt#____Date__________Sections (LR ; RC ; LG)____Raw /Scaled Score_______________Notes___________________
29 -- 12/23/10 ----- LR:-5/-3 ; RC: -2 ; LG: -2 -----------89/170 ----- 4 sections, no prep work prior to test
30 -- 12/26/10 ----- LR: -5/-4 ; RC: -1 ; LG: -1 ---------- 90/173 ----- 4 sections, no prep work done at this point
31 -- 12/29/10 ----- LR: -4/-6 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ---------- 87/169 ----- 4 sections. Felt really off, tired/distracted. Started LRB
32 -- 01/22/11 ----- LR: -?/-? ; RC: -8 ; LG: -0 ----------- ??/172 ----- 4 sections, bombed RC (mainly dumb mistakes).
33 -- 01/29/11 ----- LR: -1/-2 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -1 ----------- 93/175 ---- 4 sections, done with LR Bible, start LG Bible
34 -- 02/05/11 ----- LR: -1/-3 ; RC: -2 ; LG: -7 ----------- 88/170 ---- 4 sections, bombed last game, improvement in LR!!
35 -- 02/14/11 ----- LR: -3/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 92/172 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 26 LG)
36 -- 02/26/11 ----- LR: -1/4 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ------------ 91/171 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 21 LG) Not improving. BLARGH. D<
37 -- 03/12/11 ----- LR: -1/0 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -3 ------------ 92/171 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 21 RC) LR yay times, but RC/LG killed it...
38 -- 03/25/11 ----- LR: -1/1 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -2 ------------ 93/175 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 23 RC) YAYAY LR Must work on RC!!!
39 -- 03/27/11 ----- LR: -1/2 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ------------ 94/175 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 19 RC) Yay! Now gotta get over 175.
40 -- 03/29/11 ----- LR: -0/3 ; RC: -5 ; LG: -0 ------------ 93/172 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 26 RC) Booo. Very tired; started @ 7:30pm
41 -- 04/01/11 ----- LR: -4/3 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ------------ 89/170 ----- 4 sections Again after day of work. Started @ 8pm
42 -- 04/05/11 ----- LR: -6/3 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -3 ------------ 86/167 ----- 4 sections God damnit. VERY UPSET. Started @ 8pm
43 -- 04/10/11 ----- LR: -0/4 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 93/174 ----- 4 sections @ 9 PM. YAY LG (: LR -4
44 -- 04/13/11 ----- LR: -2/3 ; RC: -6 ; LG: -2 ------------ 87/167 ----- 4 sections @ 9 PM. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
45 -- 04/20/11 ----- LR: -2/1 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 94/177 ----- 4 sections @ ~8 PM. FIRST SCORE OVER 175
47 -- 04/24/11 ----- LR: -4/1 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -1 ------------ 91/171 ----- 4 sect @ ~7 PM. Not bad, not bad. SO ZONED OUT for LR.
48 -- 04/26/11 ----- LR: -2/1 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -0 ------------ 95/173 ----- 4 sect @ ~8. 95 raw, 171 scaled? FUUUUUUU LSAT
49 -- 04/30/11 ----- LR: -3/5 ; RC: -1 ; LG: -2 ------------ 92/172 ----- exp sec 4 PT 46 @ 5. BLAAAH. WTF LR?!?!??!?!?!
50 -- 05/04/11 ----- LR: -1/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 93/173 ----- RC laaaaaammme. I really, really need to work on it.
51 -- 05/08/11 ----- LR: -2/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 91/172 ----- Blarghity blargh. FUUUU RC! )<
53 -- 05/13/11 ----- LR: -1/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 93/174 ----- 5 sect @ 1. Waiting to get my RC guide!
54 -- 05/14/11 ----- LR: -3/3 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 91/170 ----- Sigh. Guessed right on @ least 2 RC qs...so kinda lucky
55 -- 05/18/11 ----- LR: -1/0 ; RC: -5 ; LG: -0 ------------ 94/174 ----- No. Words. RC Guide came in mail today.
56 -- 05/21/11 ----- LR: -1/1 ; RC: -5 ; LG: -0 ------------ 93/174 ----- Haven't looked at RC Guide yet I will though!!
57 -- 05/25/11 ----- LR: -2/1 ; RC: -1 ; LG: -0 ------------ 97/177 ----- I guess the RC guide helped after all!!!!
60 -- 05/28/11 ----- LR: -2/2 ; RC: -2 ; LG: -0 ------------ 96/176 ----- YAY sorta consistent RC! ^_^ LR kinda low but it's all good.
62 -- 05/30/11 ----- LR: -3/0 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -0 ------------ 96/177 ----- LOL my RC score better not be dropping down again O_O

[Knock]

The formatting/idea for this came from THIS POST. Advice/suggestions appreciated <3

My Practice Tests:
Pt#____Date__________Sections (LR ; RC ; LG)____Raw /Scaled Score_______________Notes___________________
29 -- 12/23/10 ----- LR:-5/-3 ; RC: -2 ; LG: -2 -----------89/170 ----- 4 sections, no prep work prior to test
30 -- 12/26/10 ----- LR: -5/-4 ; RC: -1 ; LG: -1 ---------- 90/173 ----- 4 sections, no prep work done at this point
31 -- 12/29/11 ----- LR: -4/-6 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ---------- 87/169 ----- 4 sections. Felt really off, tired/distracted. Started LRB
32 -- 01/22/11 ----- LR: -?/-? ; RC: -8 ; LG: -0 ----------- ??/172 ----- 4 sections, bombed RC (mainly dumb mistakes).
33 -- 01/29/11 ----- LR: -1/-2 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -1 ----------- 93/175 ---- 4 sections, done with LR Bible, start LG Bible
34 -- 02/05/11 ----- LR: -1/-3 ; RC: -2 ; LG: -7 ----------- 88/170 ---- 4 sections, bombed last game, improvement in LR!!
35 -- 02/??/11 ----- LR: -?/? ; RC: -? ; LG: -? ----------- ??/??? ----- 4 sections, ??

. Good luck!

[Curry]

YOU GOT A 169 ON 12/29/11?!?!? Not only is that in the future, but it makes me disappointed.

[crumpetsandtea]

. Good luck!

Thanks !!!

YOU GOT A 169 ON 12/29/11?!?!? Not only is that in the future, but it makes me disappointed.

Jerkface </3

[crumpetsandtea]

PT 35: This was my FIRST 5 section practice test!!!

35 -- 02/14/11 ----- LR: -3/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 92/172 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 26 LG)

I'm a little upset--this was a definite dip in LR/RC, and I thought I'd been improving. LG section felt super easy though, so I think I got lucky there. All my LR questions were missed towards the end, so perhaps I need to work on concentration issues towards the end of sections.

Section split:
1) LR
2) Exp Section - LG
3) RC
4) LG
5) LR

[Knock]

PT 35: This was my FIRST 5 section practice test!!!

35 -- 02/14/11 ----- LR: -3/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 92/172 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 26 LG)

I'm a little upset--this was a definite dip in LR/RC, and I thought I'd been improving. LG section felt super easy though, so I think I got lucky there. All my LR questions were missed towards the end, so perhaps I need to work on concentration issues towards the end of sections.

Section split:
1) LR
2) Exp Section - LG
3) RC
4) LG
5) LR

172, good job!

[Curry]

PT 35: This was my FIRST 5 section practice test!!!

35 -- 02/14/11 ----- LR: -3/2 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -0 ------------ 92/172 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 26 LG)

I'm a little upset--this was a definite dip in LR/RC, and I thought I'd been improving. LG section felt super easy though, so I think I got lucky there. All my LR questions were missed towards the end, so perhaps I need to work on concentration issues towards the end of sections.

Section split:
1) LR
2) Exp Section - LG
3) RC
4) LG
5) LR

In what order are you doing the LR questions? Are you skipping to the end after the first 15 and working backwards, or just going straight through? the hardest questions tend to be from 16-22 or so and the last 4 are easy. Maybe you're getting mentally drained after the hardest questions and then missing the easy ones.

[crumpetsandtea]

172, good job!

Thanks Knock <3 (:

In what order are you doing the LR questions? Are you skipping to the end after the first 15 and working backwards, or just going straight through? the hardest questions tend to be from 16-22 or so and the last 4 are easy. Maybe you're getting mentally drained after the hardest questions and then missing the easy ones.

Ooooooh that's actually a really good point to bring up. For my last couple PTs, I'd been jumping from 15-ish to the last question and working backwards. For this PT I did both sections straight through. Could it really be something so simple as the order I do questions in? I'll try the jumping-around tactic again for 36 and see if my score goes back to -1/-2 ish.

[Eugenie Danglars]

Yay!Gooooo crumps!

[freestallion]

Pretty awesome, and some good tips for LR. It sounds like you're doing a great job!

After you start getting around 170/172, I feel like it's really hard to see an improvement. I am (usually) hovering around this area as well, and have no idea how to improve!

[Curry]

Could it really be something so simple as the order I do questions in? I'll try the jumping-around tactic again for 36 and see if my score goes back to -1/-2 ish.

This is too small of a sample size to really know for sure if the order is what caused the extra couple misses. That being said, it can't hurt to experiment. You've got 4 months or so. You'll be fine.

[crumpetsandtea]

Thank you for the awesome advice and support, Eug & Curry <3 (:

Pretty awesome, and some good tips for LR. It sounds like you're doing a great job!

After you start getting around 170/172, I feel like it's really hard to see an improvement. I am (usually) hovering around this area as well, and have no idea how to improve!

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating. I'm really sort of annoyed at my lack of breaking the 173 barrier (onl 1 175, and IDK I think that was just an easy test). Hopefully as we continue to practice we'll keep getting better. Keep me updated on how you're doing, I saw your post on the June 2011 Study thread ('grats on the 178/9 )

[crumpetsandtea]

Pretty fucking disappointed with my score on this one. ): I think this is an example of me getting tired toward the end (started late, @ 5:30PM) and fucking it up: 1st sect is good, 3rd sect is normal, then last 2 sections (LR/LG) I crash and burn.

36 -- 02/26/11 ----- LR: -1/4 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ------------ 91/171 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 21 LG)

Section split:
1) LR -1
2) LG (EXP)
3) RC -3
4) LR -4 (BLARGGGGGGGGGGGH)
5) LG -2

If this is really a result of starting too late in the day, I foresee my future PT scores dipping, since I'll be starting work FT on Monday and will eventually have to do 2 PT a week after 9 hours of work We'll see, hopefully I will continue improving.

[Knock]

Pretty fucking disappointed with my score on this one. ): I think this is an example of me getting tired toward the end (started late, @ 5:30PM) and fucking it up: 1st sect is good, 3rd sect is normal, then last 2 sections (LR/LG) I crash and burn.

36 -- 02/26/11 ----- LR: -1/4 ; RC: -3 ; LG: -2 ------------ 91/171 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 21 LG)

Section split:
1) LR -1
2) LG (EXP)
3) RC -3
4) LR -4 (BLARGGGGGGGGGGGH)
5) LG -2

If this is really a result of starting too late in the day, I foresee my future PT scores dipping, since I'll be starting work FT on Monday and will eventually have to do 2 PT a week after 9 hours of work We'll see, hopefully I will continue improving.

[crumpetsandtea]

blablablabal

171

blablablabla

LOL <3 <3 <3 don't even, you were PT-ing at like 178. At this rate I'm going to get a 164 and /self in june.

[Curry]

blablablabal

171

blablablabla

LOL <3 <3 <3 don't even, you were PT-ing at like 178. At this rate I'm going to get a 164 and /self in june.

TBF can't be any worse than your score right now.

[crumpetsandtea]

blablablabal

171

blablablabla

LOL <3 <3 <3 don't even, you were PT-ing at like 178. At this rate I'm going to get a 164 and /self in june.

TBF can't be any worse than your score right now.

Now it's my turn to 164 IS worse than 168!!!!

[crumpetsandtea]

37 -- 03/12/11 ----- LR: -1/0 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -3 ------------ 92/171 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 21 RC) LR yay times, but RC/LG killed it...

So...admittedly I am posting about this VERY LATE (like two weeks late ). But I did this test and felt mixed about the results...

LR: VERY happy with this. The one I missed from the two sections was relatively simple when I looked over it again (#20 if you're interested, I chose C over B). Considering where I started w/LR this makes me VERY HAPPY, but I'm not sure if this is just because more recent tests are easier on LR :\

RC: NOT pleased. I took an extra section that was RC this time around too and got a -5 on it ): ): They felt really rocky for me when I was working on them, and it was just all around badness because they were the first two sections of the test. I REALLY need to improve accuracy. It seems like my worst issues are related to 'Main Point' or 'Author/Expert Viewpoint' questions. Not really sure what the best way to improve on this is, unfortunately...

LG: Mehhhhh. -3 = teh suck. I need to be getting -1 or -0 consistently in order to score where I want to be scoring, especially with consistent -4/-5s in RC. Took a look at the questions, and they seem to be some form of stupid mistake-- either due to misreading of the question/rule or just rushing through the hypos and making assumptions when I shouldn't have. Main thing to work on here is timing.

[crumpetsandtea]

38 -- 03/25/11 ----- LR: -1/1 ; RC: -4 ; LG: -2 ------------ 93/175 ----- 5 sections (w/PT 23 RC) YAYAY LR Must work on RC!!!

Okay this one deserves its own comment because YAYYYYYYY ANOTHER 175!!! Am very excite about this It seems like the trends between the last test and this one are similar: LR good improvement (though I REALLY want to shoot for -0/0 now ), LG dumb mistakes, RC BLAAAAHHH. This time, I checked the clock to see how much time I had left after each section, to see my timing.

LR: questions were legitimately ones I struggled with. Will be taking a closer look and hopefully talking it through with someone so I understand what I'm missing there.

Timing: 13:27 left on the clock after section one, and 9:27 after section 2 (which was the last section of the test). This was nice because it gave me some time to go back and check my answers...even though the only one I missed in section one, I missed because I went back and changed the right answer to a wrong one

RC: UGHHHHH I'm getting so tired of RC being my shitty section. Honestly. Again, need to work on accuracy. Mostly missing author view/main point/etc questions. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Timing: About 4 and a half minutes left on the clock. Just enough time to briefly check some of the qs that were worrying me. Startlingly enough, these were not the same questions I ended up getting wrong :\

LG: Aaaagain, stupid mistakes. BOOOOOOO.

Timing: Finished literally as the timer ran out. Timing is a huuuuge issue here. I could definitely go -0, I think, if I just could finish in time to have a few extra minutes to check my answers. ):

[incompetentia]

What is your typical approach to an LG question? Do you read, diagram, and then eliminate choices?


Do you have questions that you can zoom through, or do you end up with 24 questions that each take roughly 85 seconds?

[crumpetsandtea]

What is your typical approach to an LG question? Do you read, diagram, and then eliminate choices?


Do you have questions that you can zoom through, or do you end up with 24 questions that each take roughly 85 seconds?

Yeah, that's generally my approach. Read stim, Diagram notrules/etc, Read Q, Reference diag/draw hypo, eliminate qs.

I do have some questions I can zoom through but generally I'm still taking up a lot of time. For some reason I'm just starting out really slow in making the inferences, and I can feel myself being too slow for the 8:45 mark (case in point: in this past LG section, I finished the first game with 22 min left, second game with 12 min left, 3rd with 6 min, 4th just as time ended. I missed Qs 16 and 19, from Game 3)

[coldshoulder]

How are you guys destroying LR so easily? On my last prep test I scored a 167, -1 on rc, -1 on LG, and -6/-6 on LR.

[incompetentia]

Have you tried delaying making the inferences until the more involved LG questions? You might be able to take the first 2-3 questions of each game and breeze through them.

[WhatSarahSaid]

How are you guys destroying LR so easily? On my last prep test I scored a 167, -1 on rc, -1 on LG, and -6/-6 on LR.

After you take a test, look at the LR sections. Figure out exactly why every question's correct answer is 100%, without a doubt, the correct answer and why every incorrect answer is not the correct answer. You'll be tempted to do this for only the questions you got wrong, but do it for all of them. If you can't determine without a shadow of a doubt that one answer is absolutely correct and the other four are completely wrong on any given question, you need to fix that (maybe ask someone on TLS).

This is tedious, but LR is half the test. It's too important.

[crumpetsandtea]

How are you guys destroying LR so easily? On my last prep test I scored a 167, -1 on rc, -1 on LG, and -6/-6 on LR.

WhatSarahSaid has some good advice: I would also highly recommend the Logical Reasoning Bible by Powerscore. As you can see from my scores, I was getting -3/-5 earlier in the year, but I saw a marked improvement after finishing the LRB. LGB didn't help as much, probably because my issues w/LG aren't related to understanding, but rather timing/accuracy. After finishing the LRB, drill LR sections either as your experimental section or by themselves. Also check out the LSATBlog for some good advice too!

Have you tried delaying making the inferences until the more involved LG questions? You might be able to take the first 2-3 questions of each game and breeze through them.

Hmmmmm Maybe I'll try doing that from now on. I'm afraid that will make me lose time on questions that otherwise could be fast qs due to inferences made in the beginning of the game...your thoughts?