changsoyeon Wrote:I definitely don't want to get in the bad habit of "knowing" that I have like 2-3 minutes to solve a problem, since I know I will be only having half of that in the actual exam. But also, if I feel "constrained" in time, then I feel like I'm really rushing through the problems...
mshermn Wrote:Start the section by being very flexible on language, and only start to tighten up your definitions if you end up with more than one answer choice. As you get later in the section, reverse that. Start with a tighter definition of your terms and only become more flexible if you end up with no answer choices that look good.
Remember it's much easier to move from accurate to fast, than it is to move from fast to accurate.
mshermn Wrote:So let's be clear. You will always miss more questions under timed conditions than without timed constraints.
When you work through individual question types; strengthening, weakening, flaw, assumption, etc. go ahead and work on those untimed. When you work on complete sections or practice tests, always do those under timed conditions.
Between now and the middle of August, I would take no more than 1 practice every other week. Between the middle of August and the 2nd week of September I would take exactly 1 practice test per week. Between the 2nd week of September and the LSAT I would take at least 2 practice tests per week. If my plan is to take a practice test on a given Saturday, then on the Friday preceding, I would take 2 timed sections (can be of the sectional formats LR, RC, or LG). The timed sections the day before a practice test are there to get you adjusted back to working under timed conditions. I'd also make sure to warm up before I take a practice test; my personal warm up routine is 2 LG games, 1 RC passage, and the firs 10 LR questions from a section.
Remember that the earlier questions in an LR section are easier, with a short plateau of difficulty between questions 9-13 and the most challenging series of questions between 17-23. Go with your gut instincts early in the section, and don't over-analyze. Later in the section, start becoming more skeptical. If an answer choice looks too good to be true in an area of the section you know is supposed to be more challenging - double check and be very careful with language.
Start the section by being very flexible on language, and only start to tighten up your definitions if you end up with more than one answer choice. As you get later in the section, reverse that. Start with a tighter definition of your terms and only become more flexible if you end up with no answer choices that look good.
Remember it's much easier to move from accurate to fast, than it is to move from fast to accurate.
shaynfernandez Wrote:In the mornings I do one full accuracy exercise (a section without time) and then do 1 section timed. After I do these I go through and make the corrections and notate incorrect answers and why I believe I got them wrong.
shaynfernandez Wrote:Once I reach Thursday I do my overall reviews in the morning, and take a timed PT and make corrections. When I return home I do another full PT, again in timed conditions.
shaynfernandez Wrote:Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest but this is the most critical day in my weekly study session. I do a two timed PT's and hope to see progress.
shaynfernandez Wrote:I have found that a routine keeps me calm, and minimizes my frustrations (which is often difficult). I have found that it is imperative to read other peoples strategies and try them out to develop if they work for you.
chike_eze Wrote:
I have also been working hard on my focus/attention issues. I've noticed that I tend to be anxious at the beginning of my timed PTs and fatigued at the end. Both periods are when I loose the most focus. I hope to improve on my ability to focus as I continue improve on understanding and mastery of content.
changsoyeon Wrote:But what is very ironic for me is that I actually do so much better when I am anxious than when I am not. When I compare my answers, I realize that when I am NOT anxious, I tend to get many questions wrong due to silly mistakes (it's like I am not focused when I'm not anxious - and my mind starts wandering off somewhere else) whereas if I am anxious, the questions that I do get wrong are all just one those considered "hard" problems
shaynfernandez Wrote:Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest but this is the most critical day in my weekly study session. I do a two timed PT's and hope to see progress.
mshermn Wrote:RC
1. am I organizing the information in the passage before starting with the questions?
2. what information is important?
3. do I see any common patterns in the passages (ex: a phenomenon is introduced, an explanation is offered to explain it, evidence is offered in support of that explanation, the author provides evidence against that explanation, and then the author offers an alternative explanation)
mshermn Wrote:Go for "real understanding" regardless of the pace.
Here are some questions I'd ask myself to measure that understanding...
LR
1. what are the most tempting wrong answers in LR?
2. can I describe what makes them tempting even though they're wrong?
3. can I categorize them into larger ideas within each of the question types? (hint: tempting but incorrect answers within question types share some really common features)
LG
1. do I have a game board I feel comfortable with for each of the games that I'm seeing?
2. do I look to follow inferential reasoning when organizing the information and when prompted to by the question stem?
3. what create opportunities to frame within each of the game types?
RC
1. am I organizing the information in the passage before starting with the questions?
2. what information is important?
3. do I see any common patterns in the passages (ex: a phenomenon is introduced, an explanation is offered to explain it, evidence is offered in support of that explanation, the author provides evidence against that explanation, and then the author offers an alternative explanation)
Finally, I prefer a quiet place where I can think undisturbed when I'm working on the LSAT. But that's not so important. Just try not to put anything in your way to make things tougher on yourself than what you would typically see when taking the real LSAT. For example, I've spoken with students were not marking in "guess letters" if they ran out of time before they completed the section, saying that they felt like it would inflate their true score. Sure, but on the real day you'll be filling in guess letters, so let's see you you'd score if this were the test. Likewise, I wouldn't take a second test back to back. Honestly, I spend so much energy taking one test. I would do terrible if I were to turn around and start another.
... think about those questions above!
