One week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so we are down to the wire before the big test! I'm getting nervous!

LSAT Taken Under Test Conditions

Well, yesterday I took my first timed LSAT. I did well on the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Sections. I did well on the Logic Games section also, but I ran out of time and could only complete 3 of the 4 problems, meaning I missed six problems that I didn't answer at all. In hindsight, I should've guessed, because there is no penalty for guessing. Here are my scores:

Section 1 Logical Reasoning - 19 out of 25
Section 2 Logic Games - 15 out of 24
Section 3 Reading Compehension 22 out of 27
Section 4 Logical Reasoning 20 out of 25

My score converted to a 163.

This book that I'm using has the old format for the LSAT, so it did not include an "Experimental" section which would've been another 35 minutes, nor the writing section, because I chose not to complete that. In other words, I had to sit for 70 minutes less than I would on an actual test.

As it comes even closer to the test date, I will complete a 210-minute exam to more fully simulate the actual test.

Today I am looking at my Logic Games prep book to get some more tips on how to answer the questions quicker. Given enough time, I can answer all of the questions, but with only 35 minutes it becomes very challenging.

I am encouraged, though, because my score of 163 was only a little lower than my scores on tests taken without the time component (165, 168, 165). I believe with more practice and better preparation (by using my books) I can definitely increase this score.

Job Hunting

Well, I don't have much to update but I also don't want to go for weeks without writing anything. Now that I'm back in Maryland I have been having a wonderful time catching up with friends and family, and revisiting all of my favorite places. The LSAT is 33 days away. I don't think I'm going to change the date, because I want to take the test and get it over with. At this point I should probably create for myself a study plan and then stick to it, so I will be working on that over the next few days.

I got some books from the library about Law School and the LSAT, so I'll be sharing some of what I find.

LSAT Advice

I've had the opportunity to talk to more than a handful attorneys lately and so far all of them have had good advice on how to do well on the LSAT.

Lucy, the attorney I met last week at work, told me to practice taking the test all at once, instead of section by section as I've been doing. She said endurance is important and not to be overlooked. I may do well on the individual sections, but after my brain starts to slowwww down towards the end of the test, I may not do as well simply because I haven't practiced completing the whole test at once.

Rina, an attorney who I spoke with today, told me that doing a LSAT prep course would probably be in my best interest. I told her that to save money I have not wanted to sign up for one, but she says that taking the course and adding even a few points to my LSAT score would be a huge advantage. She says that if I take the test in September as planned, without doing a course (I doubt I have time to do one now before September 29 rolls around) and I don't do as well as I hoped, then even if I do take a course between then and the next time I can take the test (in December) and improve, my scores will be averaged so my first "bad" test score will bring down my better score.

I didn't realize until recently how important the LSAT scores were. But, they really are. I have been repeatedly told that sometimes the LSAT score is the deciding factor between acceptance or denial to a law school. Rina also pointed out that you generally don't do better on the actual exam than you do on the practice exams, because you are nervous etc. So I really need to improve my practice exam scores!

Anyone have any strategies they'd like to share that worked for them? Doesn't have to be LSAT-specific :)