Score drop after studying

Comments

• 2 Likes

  ThatLuigiDude Live Member

  March 20 34 karma

  Burnout is a real thing. I'd take a week off if I were you.
• 1 Like

  BisonLaw Core Member

  March 21 11 karma

  May be worth focusing on getting through and trying to truly understand the core curriculum before moving on to full PTs. There are limited PTs and every PT will have content where you’re going in blind at this point in your journey.

  Score variation is also real, and you could just be having a bad day, or a passage that just doesn’t click for some reason where you get even more questions wrong.

  Highly recommend slowing down a bit and sitting with the curriculum for now, it’s a looooooong process and deep understanding of the content will seriously help as you get farther along. Plenty of time to PT once you’re more familiar with the whole range of content.
• 3 Likes

  mark.andrew.garner Live Member

  March 22 46 karma

  Yeah, my scores have been varying between weekly PT's and I've been studying a while, since October (e.g. I just scored 167 today, and last week's was 159, the before 157, and a few weeks before a 164).

  I think the 7sage podcast mentioned this phenomenon best when it was saying that your PT's are not always linear...but when you zoom out on your chart after studying for a while, you WILL see a positive trend line. Especially if you're putting in the work!

  When I transitioned into a new platform and strategies I also saw (a somewhat jump scare) dip in my score, but now that I'm in the groove, it's been fine tuning.

  Hope that shows it's not too unusual for score variation. Best of luck!
• 1 Like

  Constantine Member

  March 23 1427 karma

  It's common for people to see fluctuations, especially when learning new methods. When you start studying, you might overthink or second-guess yourself, leading to a temporary drop. Maybe the Foundations gave a slight boost, but as you began the LR curriculum, you're trying to apply new strategies that aren't yet automatic, causing a dip in performance.

  I just wanted to let you know that this is a known phenomenon. For example, when learning any skill, the initial stages can make you more conscious, leading to worse performance before improvement. Maybe you're focusing too much on the new techniques and not trusting your instincts yet—also, perhaps the tests you took varied in difficulty. Different practice tests can have different scales, so a 153 on one might not be directly comparable to a 157 on another.

  You might be burning out or not reviewing the practice tests effectively. Reviewing is crucial. You must analyze your mistakes deeply, understand why you're getting questions wrong, and adjust your approach. Also, timing could be an issue. As the focus is more on accuracy, the timing might suffer, leading to more incorrect answers or guessing.

  Please know that this is part of the process and that persistence pays off. Take another test but with a focus on review afterward. You should take timed sections instead of complete tests to build stamina and focus on weak areas.

  After learning formal logic, I dropped from 166 to 162, then climbed to 173+

  Let me know if you’d like to help to dissect a specific section or question type! You’ve got this.
• yhtkim Alum Member

  March 24 374 karma

  I was in a similar boat. Diagnostic went well enough (153), first real PT after the CC was a 161, then went on a massive slump and became utterly terrified of each PT. But you just have to keep at it. Getting pummeled day in day out did a lot to dissipate my fear. "Ah, fuck it..!" was my mantra. I now have an official 172.
• bode.cary Core Member

  March 24 13 karma

  Same thing pretty much happened to me (almost the exact same numbers lol). I figured out my issue was timing, and I was spending way too much time on questions 1-15. I was trying to apply everything I learned in the CC, and spent a considerable amount of time second guessing myself. I would analyze your PT and see if you have a similar issue, as it's pretty common, and there are some good remedies for improving timing-especially on the easier questions. Either way, good luck!
• BenRussell Free Trial Member

  April 3 edited April 25 2 karma

  It’s totally normal to experience fluctuations in test scores, especially when you’re in the middle of studying. The key is consistency and focusing on your progress rather than individual test results. Many people experience similar ups and downs! I’d recommend sticking to a study plan, reviewing areas of weakness, and keeping a positive mindset. Improvement comes with time and practice. Let’s face it—juggling assignments, classes, and life isn’t easy. That’s where LastMinuteWriting at https://lastminutewriting.com/homework really comes in handy. Their assignment writing services save time and stress, giving you space to breathe while still turning in solid, well-written work that meets academic standards. I’ve been able to keep up with my work thanks to their help!