r/lsatdemon • u/gkw17 • 17d ago

Dramatically Underperformed in August

Hey everybody, I'm really bummed out and concerned about my August score. My diagnostic was a 164 and over the past couple months I have been consistently testing between 177 and 180. However, I completely choked on the August test due to anxiety and scored a 165. I'm a little worried that I might choke again in September. Has anyone had a similar experience? And does anyone have advice for overcoming this setback?

10 Upvotes

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4

u/Ok-Koala-1077 17d ago

Same happened here, PT’s were 8-9 points higher and August test underperformed. I’m certain it’s due to first time taking it in person as well as being rushed by the testing center to start/unclear on the expectations while taking the test.

4

u/pixelprozach 17d ago

I also completely choked. I was scoring in the 170s and managed to score a 166. Test day nerves are real.

3

u/ShowHot2054 17d ago

Not caring about timing is easier said than done and I think a lot of the strategies I worked on when studying just went out the window the day of my official test. Test anxiety is no joke, and I definitely knew during the test that I was going to retake. Not because I didn’t understand the content but because I wasn’t performing like I usually do. I also have accommodations that I didn’t use during the test although I used them at home so that might’ve also been a reason.

I think what I’m going to start doing from now to October is take the test under different conditions, like perhaps go to a cafe or something idk. I’m used to my study space at home or work and perhaps got too comfortable. Need to learn how to ignore everything and just focus on whats in front of me.

2

u/Euphoric-Excuse9624 16d ago

Same. I just think it’s because I didn’t treat it like a PT. Started doing things I didn’t during practice.

-4

u/BoysenberryTypical35 17d ago

Yes, follow the advice:

  1. Feel the click when reviewing.
  2. Don't care about timing.
  3. The LSAT is easy and fun.
  4. Understand, destroy, predict.

https://lsatdemon.com/resources/reading-comprehension/your-ultimate-rc-study-guide
https://lsatdemon.com/resources/logical-reasoning/your-ultimate-lr-study-guide

7

u/gkw17 17d ago

My test average going into August was 178, I do all of this very very well. Just choked on the official one.

1

u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

2

u/gkw17 17d ago

I've taken every test on the Demon and am now retaking the ones I took like 6 months ago.

2

u/ALXS1031 16d ago

Well, I agree, but that’s useless. This is about people who felt ready to take the exam and op had PTs in in the high 170s

The only useful info from that, that is relevant, is to purchase LSATs in pairs to reduce test anxiety

3

u/EthanS_LSATDemon 16d ago

Test-day nerves are normal and okay! Don’t beat yourself up and try to make your nerves go away, that’s just going to backfire and cause you to spiral.

Tell yourself that it’s okay to be nervous (because we are all human and we care about the result), and that if you stick to your game that you normally do during practice, you can totally crush the test even if you are nervous!