Advice from 173+ scorers needed!

Pierce and Pierce

I'm gearing up to take the June LSAT in a few weeks, and I'm aiming in the range of 166-171. I've been consistently scoring within this range the past two months or so, and have on occasion scored above, the highest being a 175. As I mentioned, my plan is to score within my range for June (which I am fully confident I will be able to do come test day) and then really hone in my weaknesses during the summer in anticipation of taking the test again come the fall right before the application cycle. My goal score for this test would be 172+ to have a better shot at the more competitive schools on my list. If you have ever been in my position and have any advice for developing the ability to score consistently in the 172+ range, please let me know!

thizzpwnt

Once you've reach the upper limits of scoring potential (170+), I think that it becomes less about hammering question types or test-taking strategies. At this point, after all, you're averaging <10 incorrect questions across 4 sections. Ultimately, you have to confront the most important variable: yourself.

Inability to focus is a real thing that happens to all test-takers. Ever read a sentence and feel like you didn't even read it? Now you have to read it again. Maybe it's a whole paragraph. Add these sentences up, and it hardly matters whether you have all the right test-taking strategies to achieve a 178... you'll be lucky to get to the end of the section before time runs out.

I think this is the most underrated skill when it comes to the LSAT. If you are really serious about the LSAT this summer, then experiment with simplifying your life experience overall. You'd be amazed at how much your reading comprehension & ability to focus increase if you simplify your life. Sit outside on a nice day, listening to music without ever looking at a screen. Stop watching Tik Tok, Youtube shorts, and pornography. Stop playing video games. These platforms very much turn your mind into goo. Read books (not audiobooks), especially classics, and don't move on to the next page until you've fully understood what you just read (summarize it in your head if you have to). Stop drinking, it's fucking up your sleep. You'll be amazed at how much better you can read after sleeping 9 hrs vs. 7. Obviously, these are all major sacrifices, so you have to decide what's worth it. But I can promise that no amount of 7sage grinding can make up for shortcomings in your private life. You spend the majority of your life not studying, but it's still the same brain. Keep it poised.

For the LSAT, keep a wrong answer journal (as I'm sure you already do). Write paragraphs about each question, not just explaining why the correct answer is correct, but why the wrong answer is wrong. Limit yourself to one full PT per week. After a PT, get some exercise. Sweat it out, run it off, and relax before starting into the wrong answer journal. Always try to pinpoint where you're struggling - is it certain question types, is it RC over LR, or vice versa? In the intervening days before your next PT, drill whichever topics you think you're lagging in most.

deleondiego854

Amazing advice^

jrnjrn430430

100% agree, quitting energy drinks and alcohol, locking myself out of Instagram after 5 minutes per day, and drinking more water and taking a daily multivitamin made my mind so much clearer during studying and exams. The extra points gained after you make these changes aren't free, but feeling good while studying and test-taking is half the battle.

e: Also, foam earplugs are a complete game changer. Blocking out each additional distraction just makes it that much easier to focus on the test.

gpward01

God bless you @thizzpwnt

halemadsen23

@thizzpwnt This is enriching advise well beyond LSAT preparation.

Pierce and Pierce

@thizzpwnt I'm fully convinced you're some kind of seer that can see into my mind, because that was literally exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Absolutely right when you said taking my sweet time on questions I didn't understand the first time eats up valuable time on the test. It's something I know I shouldn't be doing yet find myself doing during PTs and leaving points on the table. Definitely going to start reading more and limiting unnecessary distractions outside of study time. You've inspired me to take myself more seriously this summer in terms of preparation. I will come back to this thread and share my successes, and a big part will be owed to this. Thank you again, my friend!

lewic192

bro just lock in