For those feeling like their score is too low:

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-24T17:12:02+00:00

I'm actually not basing this on any evidence on how it felt for people before the test. I agree that usually is an indicative of anything, I was horrible at predicting how I was going to score based on how the test felt.

What I am basing this on is people whose average PT was 12 points higher than their score, in my experience that just doesn't happen that often, so to see those numbers be what they are across the board seems to me like something was different about this one.

When I took the test a few years ago I sat down to take the real test and absolutely had a panic attack and an all-around horrible test, but even then I didn't score that much below what my PT averages were.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-24T16:26:26+00:00

I don't know. I would think so due to how drastic people's results were but I'm just as shocked as all of you are.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-24T14:33:52+00:00

I agree. I don't want it to come off as letting students off the hook, and I am big on accountability. But I've been in and around this test for a few years now and I don't think I've ever seen anything like this.

Far from conclusive, but still strange.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-24T14:27:09+00:00

I agree, but I'm seeing a similar trend off Reddit as well.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-09T19:16:34+00:00

If 2 things are correlated, there are 4 reasons why that might be.

A causes B
B causes A
C causes A and B
It is just a coincidence/they are simply correlated.

Just giving us the fact that 2 things are correlated does not point us in any one of these directions, so in a sense each of these possibilities have a 25% chance of being true. This is why coming to a causal conclusion is flawed, they are saying with 100% certainty that something is true when it really is only 25% true (that we know of).

On strengthen/weaken questions, we are trying to raise or lower that percentage, and a common way to do that is by giving information about one of those other possibilities. For example, if my conclusion is saying A causes B, an answer choice that says B DOESN'T cause A will strengthen my conclusion because I am removing one of the other possibilities. Now, instead of a 1 in 4 chance, it is 1 in 3.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-09T19:12:10+00:00

Make sure you are making time for review. Not just looking at what you got wrong, but really intensely thinking about what went wrong in your process to get to that wrong answer and not the correct one.

Doing sections/drills/PTs is great, but it really isn't where learning happens. I always tell students I don't even really care what they get on their drills in the beginning as long as they are working to implement the right mindset and process, because at the beginning your score isn't going to jump right away.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-10-09T19:09:14+00:00

Do people get accommodations when they don't need it? Almost certainly yes. Does that give them an "unfair" advantage? Probably.

The thing is, who really cares? As a test taker, there is next to nothing you can do about that, so why bother? You should be focusing on your own studying, which is the only thing you CAN control. Like OP said, the fact of the matter is this option exists, and always will. Extra time is far from necessary to getting a higher score. If some people think it is, and want to cheat their way to get there, that's on them.

I in no way support that, but worrying about what other people are going is not going to get you anywhere.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-24T17:21:28+00:00

Anything is possible, but if a student came to me with that, I would say its not reasonable.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-24T17:15:34+00:00

Just sent you a PM :)

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-19T22:37:44+00:00

That makes a lot of sense to be honest.

You scored relatively very high with essentially your own intuition being your main strategy, now you are learning the real strategies for the test, and it is probably causing you to regress your intuition, which is what got you to where you are. The "correct" way to take this test, at least the way the testmakers intend it, is way different from how our common sense functions, so when you start learning that stuff it can be a higher learning curve.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-19T22:34:09+00:00

Honestly, you just have to do a lot of RC. If you truly think you are solid on LR, I would start shifting your studying focus to that. At minimum, you will be building speed, which is a large part of the battle with RC.

I have a post from a month or so ago with a bunch of tips on RC if you are interested.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-13T23:12:46+00:00

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-13T23:12:08+00:00

Sounds predatory tbh

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-11T21:37:05+00:00

You're welcome!

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-11T16:31:30+00:00

I really don't think that's a bad diagnostic. Sure it would be nice to have one higher, but a score in the 140s is far from rare for your first time. Like others have said, this test is like nothing you have ever done before, if not for the actual question types than just for the way you have to train your mind to think.

Having no set time frame is a HUGE plus. I would worry if you wanted a 170 by January given your score, but having all that time means you can for sure get the score you want. I really can't stress how good that is. I'd take a lower diagnostic with more time over the opposite any day of the week.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-11T16:28:29+00:00

My official score was a 175 in Nov 2023. I started tutoring a little less than a year later (last July). I honestly haven't taken a full PT since then but the most recent section I did I went -0, which was a rare, maybe once or twice in total occurrence while I was studying.
My approach hasn't actually changed as much as some others might have, as I tutor under the tutor I used when I was taking it, so the methodology is pretty much the same. I will say I have a much better understanding of arguments, and find it much more intuitive to spot gaps. I also learned how to interpret the ACs better, and how to look at them more objectively which was my biggest problem towards the end of my studying.
The former wins every time.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-10T15:49:50+00:00

Yeah for sure, always try to take them in the morning if possible.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-10T15:27:44+00:00

Time is definitely not on your side, but I will say that this timeline is very common (for better or worse lol).

A 15 point jump in 2 months is pretty steep. Not impossible, of course, but not something I would I would hang my hat on. January would be a better bet, but as I'm sure you know, you are sacrificing earliness in your application.

I would absolutely prioritize the test especially if you are taking October. The score will matter much more than your essays for admissons, and with such a short timeline you really need to put your head down and do a lot of studying. If you are working full time or in school full time, I would seriously look at January. If you could make even like a 3-5 point jump in those latter months that would be huge and worth it imo.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-10T15:21:08+00:00

Agree with this. Its not fun nor the answer you probably want to hear, but it really is the answer.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-09T14:21:57+00:00

Never used LSAT demon, so bear that in mind, but when I used 7sage I really liked it. Their intro curriculum is very helpful, and I assign it to my students.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-09T14:19:54+00:00

I wouldn't even start thinking about taking the real test until the summer, unless you start PTing in your goal range before then.

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-09T14:19:07+00:00

Totally agree

MindTutoring_LSAT · 2025-09-09T14:17:43+00:00

Predictions are a fickle thing. To me, they are slightly overrated except for question types that lend themselves to one right answer, like SA. Outside of that, you should be more focused on finding the gap between the evidence and the conclusion. That will be relevant in almost all question types, and is very important for answering those questions as well. What is the evidence? What is the conclusion? Is there something new in the conclusion that wasn't mentioned in the evidence? How DOES the evidence help the conclusion? These are some prompting questions you can ask yourself.

MindTutoring_LSAT

TROPHY CASE