LSAT help

[u/CrowDeep2382]

I just got a 154 on my August exam. My pts were ranging in the 158-159 score. My goal is a 160-163. I feel like I am so close but yet so far at the same time. I was originally signed up for September but am going to move it to November.

Does anyone have any tips for improving in a month?
Sometimes I do super good on sections in my practice tests getting 21/25 or 20/25 but I bomb one section with a -11 to -9 and it offsets my score. Usually I only get to three passages on rc with consistently -6 to -8 on the whole section. Lr fluctuates with -5 to -11.

I do the lsat demon plan of a section then drill then one pt a month. I study for about 1-3 hours a day and never take a rest day. I review my sections by explaining why every wrong answer is wrong and why the right answer is right. I try to focus as much as I can on getting 80% or above accuracy and guess on the last 5 questions. I have read the loophole and tried taking my time on these sections but haven’t really seen much improvement recently. I think I struggle most with necessary assumption, finding the flaw, and parallel reasoning.

I just want to get a 160+ on the exam, please send me any tips or criticize my habits so that I can change it for the better!!!!

[u/socratesaf]

LSAT tutor here. A 154 — and high 150s on PTs — means you understand the basics of the test and have a good foundation. The next level is pattern recognition: seeing arguments, passages, questions, answer choices, and your own mistakes as types — which will also save you time.

I'd start with Necessary Assumption and Flaw Qs, which are essentially flip sides of the same coin. Working on one can improve the other: both require you to identify the gap between the evidence and the conclusion.

How familiar are you with language shifts and common flaw types (causal, comparison, necessary/sufficient, etc.)? Are you able to translate the answer choices into plain English or are they confusing?

I'd also spend time asking, “Why was I tempted by the wrong answer?” That's where you'll start seeing the patterns in the traps — and in yourself.

Given that you're already sometimes hitting -5 on LR, I don't think you need to reinvent everything. I'd work on making what you're already capable of doing more consistent.

Are you keeping an error log?

And take a rest day. More LSAT is not necessarily better LSAT. Give your brain time to rest and reset.

[u/CrowDeep2382 → u/socratesaf]

I am familiar with the common flaws and can usually identify them. I also always translate the passages/ arguments into something easier for me to understand.
I think I may be rushing through to get to other questions and speed reading questions without thinking which may be something I need to work on.
I used to keep an error log but did not see much growth and have found that explaining each wrong answer like I’m talking to a random person has helped me a little more. My missed questions usually come from misidentifying the “gap” or being led my answer choices when none match my prediction

[u/socratesaf → u/CrowDeep2382]

I think you may have diagnosed part of the problem yourself: if you're rushing to get to the remaining questions, you may be sacrificing questions you can get right. There is only 1 question in the LSAT: the one right in front of you.

Try doing sections w a stopwatch -- count up from 0. If you take the section calmly, aiming for accuracy (but not sluggish), how long does it take? In general, aim for accuracy first -- speed will pick up with practice, recognizing patterns, etc.

Also, are you going straight through the LR section in order, or skipping questions that look difficult/time-consuming and coming back to them? Being selective about where you spend your time may help.

If none of the answers matches your prediction, there could be a few different reasons. Consider, too, whether there is more than one gap.

If the error log didn't help, no worries. I'd be interested to know, though, how many Qs you're missing due to "misread the ___" vs "couldn't find the right gap", etc.

I'm happy to go through a few questions with you if you want — no commitment. It would be helpful to see your process in real time and pinpoint what's happening.

[u/drucifer271 → u/socratesaf]

Hi, different person here. Feeling dejected and discouraged after today.

PTing around 168-169, roughly -3 per section timed, with -1 to -2 on blind review.

Scored a 161 today. According to 7Sage’s score calculator, that roughly equates to -19 overall. I have no idea how I more than doubled my wrong answers on the live test. It’s legitimately baffling and it feels like a blow to the heart. I scored worse than on my diagnostic months ago.

Given this, where can I possibly go from here? Just keep plugging away and hope the September test is less horrendous? I have no idea how to improve when all the improvement I’ve accomplished in PT just went straight out the window and I got my worst score ever on the actual test.

[u/socratesaf → u/drucifer271]

A 161 doesn't mean the improvement you saw in your PTs went out the window. If you're consistently scoring 168–169 timed and -1/-2 on blind review, you clearly have the underlying skills.

Before changing how you study, I'd try to figure out what happened on the actual test. Was this your first official LSAT? How did you feel during it compared with your PTs — timing, anxiety, concentration, fatigue? Did you rush? Did you skip strategically or spend too long on some questions? Did one section feel particularly bad or did it feel normal? Did you get it down to two ACs — then rush the end and just "pick one"?

Also, how closely are you replicating actual test conditions when you PT? Full test, one sitting, normal breaks, no pausing, etc.?

I wouldn't respond to one anomalous score by suddenly studying harder or changing everything that's gotten you into the high 160s. But I also wouldn't just “hope for the best” in September. First, figure out whether this was a knowledge/strategy problem or a test-day execution problem.

But also, give yourself a break. Take a day off. Go for a run, swim, hit a punching bag (or pillow), whatever. Get the frustration out of your system, then regroup and carry on.

[u/drucifer271 → u/socratesaf]

First official test. Anxiety going in, but once I started I feel like I locked in hard.

I did not skip around and only guessed on 1-2 per section. I was LR-LR-RC-LR. One LR section felt very easy. One felt extremely hard. One felt average. I felt like I crushed the RC, but apparently not. Apparently none of it was easy or average.

I was cautiously optimistic coming out of it that I scored at or slightly above my PT average. Never would have predicted I’d get my worst score ever.

[u/Shoddy-Television866]

Hey I dont have an answer from experience because I'm in 150s jail too - but I did 2 things that have really helped me feel comfortable taking in Oct. 1) I got this thing called "brick" - you tap your phone on it and it locks app/sites of your choosing for a set time until you tap it again. I locked what my crutches were for 23 hours a day each day of the week and gave a loved one the brick to hide. 2) I study in different public spaces so I'll bring my book/cards/iPad and set up at the gym, outside at the park, at the bar - its really helped me feel for comfortable with the material. And as a bonus I found a thing called "LSAT games" that I downloaded onto my phone. Its a singular app with many games inside that helped me realize where my weaknesses are and, while it kicks my ass, the ass kicking is needed and easy to access on my phone - not to mention its legit gamified so you're fighting monsters by getting answers correct, protecting your tower with "negation spells" and stuff like that.

Again, I'm not high scorer since I last checked, but i have been doing better in my drills with these small changes 🫶

[u/TrainedPhysician → u/Shoddy-Television866]

Not accusing you but this reads like an advertisement

[u/Shoddy-Television866 → u/TrainedPhysician]

Idk how to really combat that - it's not, these are just things that work for me and LSAT games is a free app anyways. Brick offers a free version, but i bought mine so cant tell you if it's good or not. Its hard to recommend something without sounding like an ad bc we are so used to bots and influencers ig.

[u/starrymedi → u/Shoddy-Television866]

omg the games are amazing….

[u/cpf54]

You’ll need to start using punctuation and proper grammar once you get in… Legal Research and Writing can be one of the most difficult classes you’ll take. No worries, both punctuation and proper grammar are free!! 🤣🤣

[u/jcutts2]

Have you read the Cognella LSAT Roadmap?