Need to improve LSAT score from low 160's to mid 170's, exam is on January 11: any good tips?

Hey,

so far, I’ve made around 25 previous official tests: the first 5 with no time limits, around 10 separately with time limits and around 10 under real conditions. I’m pretty much stuck in the low 160’s right now.

LG: That’s actually my favorite part! The section I’m usually doing best and in which I’ve had the least trouble to improve on. Typically missing 2-3 at most, which is an issue of speed/routine (I usually have to guess the last 2-3 questions). I think more practice will get me to the point I want here soon…

LR: Here’s an issue… Right now I’m missing 5-7 for the 2 LR sections combined. I’ve improved a lot since the first time I saw those types of questions and certainly get more routine, but I still have to guess at least 2-3 questions at the end, and that’s where I lose the most points. I feel like I spend too much time for some questions (either for re-reading them or having to decide between 2 options) so that I get into time trouble at the end. Any tips how you guys improved on that, specifically regarding time management? I always re-try to answer the questions I got wrong/had to guess/took too much time on on my own after evaluating my score, and there is at most 1 question which I still get wrong. I think this indicates that it’s not a matter of intelligence, but there might be a general trick here I haven’t figured out yet…

RC: This is H E L L! My best score I can remember was -7, and typically it’s -9 or -10. There was no single time where I was able to properly read all 4 passages. Either I have to skim the last one (and I do this really, really roughly) or totally leave it and guess all answers (and the answers guessed are the biggest share of wrong answers). Usually I work on them in a question#-descending order. OK, English is not my first language, I’ve started reading in English regularly about over 1 year ago when I went to the US for my graduate studies and generally I read rather slowly than fast (and don’t like reading in general). Do you guys use proper skimming/speed reading techniques? Are there specific patterns that I haven’t figured out yet? This section honestly drives me crazy!

Generally, I’ve been using LSAT hacks to check the answers I was not sure about. Beyond previous exams and LSAT Hacks answers, I haven’t used any other source. Would you guys recommend one? (have no access to 7sage due to the country I’m currently located).

Is this in general an uncommon situation among LawSchool applicants? The test is definitely fun and I enjoy being challenged with such types of problems. But I got to a point where I feel really dumb and frustrated right now because I’m not showing progress despite practice… Never experienced such a frustration about standardized or college exams, at which I usually did very well…

My test date is on January 11, I only wanna apply to Harvard, Yale and Stanford (I’m not choosing other law schools b/c in that case I would choose another career path for now).

go to the subreddit on LSAT prep. It is a world unto itself in terms of test prep and test taking advice.

Really- U Penn law school is so inferior to Stanford that it’s not worth applying to?

Even if you get your scores up the level you want them, those three schools are not a sure thing… and you’re asking for a miracle to get a score up ten points in three weeks.

Just a reality check for you.

All of the major national LSAT prep companies are excellent, and they all offer online programs. (My fave is Manhattan.)

But not sure about your internet connection and their requirements.

Agree with Blossom. A 10-15 pt increase in three weeks is highly improbable, particularly if you are not yet even acing LG (which are the easiest to learn). You will need a 100% score on LG to get to the mid-170’s overall.

To get that kinda score increase will require 3-6 months of intensive prep.

fwiw: even with great stats, Yale and Stanford look to EC’s. Harvard is more formulaic, but you need a high GPA (~3.9) in addition to a 173+.

Good luck.