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I see a ton of comments in the below post, so here's a new post to let you all have more room. Have fun!
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Did anyone else think the logical reasoning was longer and harder than normal? I've taken a lot of practice tests over the past couple months and haven't seen anything like this before. Maybe it was just me?
ReplyDeleteAgreed - the LR did seem a bit difficult (I only had two so neither was experimental). The first (Section 1 for me) was fine, but the second (Section 3) was noticeably more difficult than any LR I have done before. I have done no fewer than 30 prep tests, and at least 2-3 in that section had me stumped.
ReplyDeleteOn the flipside, as most of these tests do, it has to balance out. I found the RC and LG to be manageable, and am thinking that the curve will put an 88 at 170, since the October curve is generally a bit friendlier (than, say, June), there were 101 questions and the general consensus seems to be that the test was moderately difficult.
What is the likelihood that a question will be thrown out, since that seems to be happening more frequently now (December 2004, June 2005). Does this generally hurt or help us (I remember the Dec. 2004 scale as 87/170 and June as 90/170)?
How many of you finished all of the sections without guessing? I guessed a total of 4 on the two LRs and 1 on the RC.
ReplyDeleteI was able to finish most on time. For my Section 5 LR, I guessed tha last one.
ReplyDeleteI've been obsessing about that tough RC section, though. I thought a couple of them had two decent answers, and i had a hard time deciding.
I agree. the RC totally threw me off. The first passage was terrible... I should have skipped it as it only had five questions. There were many questions were I narrowed answers down to three.... which sucks. The other sections didn't seem to bad.
ReplyDeletei agree! that stupid first section and only 5 questions.. dammit i should have just moved on, but ohwell.
ReplyDeleteI too found several of the questions hard to chose between two answers.
I agree that the LR was more difficult than what I was seeing on the practice tests. One of the sections seemed to have a ton of assumption and principle questions which didn't go over well. Anyone remember the paradox question about the earthquakes?
ReplyDeleteWhat especially worries me about LR was that I had a good deal of trouble in the beginning of the section. Usually I zip through the first 10 questions or so, but I found them very difficult on Saturday. Anyone else feel the same way?
There were some on the first 10 that stumped me. What I found especially troubling was that the last 5-6 questions were ridiculously long. It made timing very difficult.
ReplyDeletei also had a hard time on the earthquake question, i believe i answered that computer models are proven wrong in real life situations or something along those lines
ReplyDeleteOk, now you've got me worried. Someone said that there were 101 questions... I didn't get that tally.... I got 100. I've been practicing like crazy and averaging a 174 adn felt really good on Sunday, but I'm worried about the # now, did I copy something wrong?
ReplyDeleteHere were my sections and Q#'s
LR = 26
LR = 25
RC = 26
LR = 26
LG = 22
I was suprised by the LG being only 22, but I swear that's what it was.... and thy seemed pretty easy to me. Anyone else remember what their number breakdown was? I think it's obvious that the second was the expiremental.... which would give a total of 100. What do you guys think?
For the games section, did anyone get a run of Bs for the 2nd game (circuit breakers) and a run of Es for the 4th game (staffing supervisors and employees)? Pls put me out of my misery.
ReplyDeleteyour section 2 was experimental. it's 26 questions for the two LR's. 22 questions for the games section and 26 questions for the RC.
ReplyDeletei think we should all remember the best part about the saturday LSAT .... IT'S OVER!!
ReplyDeleteThat said, the RC was particularly hard. The evolution of parasites was no quick read. And Chinese Revolutionary Art was a bore. I also thought the LG were easy. I just wish LG had more questions instead of a measily 22.
I thought LR had more principle and point-at-issue questions than before. That along with 26 questions each was odd.
It sounds like we all have the same concerns about certain sections and are confident on the same ones as well. This means whatever happens, we will get a fair shake and people ought to score just as they did on their practice tests.
General trend: more RC and LR while the LG shrinks into obscurity.
what does it mean "for almost everyone" the experimental was section 2? can it be different for some people?
ReplyDeleteI know of someone who has ADD, and therefore had a disability and only had 4 sections.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, his section 2 counted.
If you took the test under normal conditions and had 5 sections, section 2 ws experimental.
Hi-
ReplyDeleteFor the decrease in violent crime -I would like to hear what most ppl thought? I think that the heavily contested answer choices were
a. increase of 100 police men over the course of 3 yrs
b. recent unusally harsh verdicts given by judges
According to the LSAT website, email scores are supposed to be available Oct. 24. Does anyone know if the date stated is the only actual date on which the scores are sent? Or is there a possibility they email the scores earlier if they become available sooner?
ReplyDeleteI answered the police increase. At first I had the harsh punishments but then realized the problem with it. There were SOME judges over the past three years that gave harsh sentences for SOME violent crimes. The violent crime legislation standardized a harsh punishment across the board, thus decreasing crime (at least that was the assumption). The judges didn't encompass everything, so it didn't weaken the argument as well as the 100 police officers.
ReplyDeleteDOES ANYONE remember the composition and 1st graders question, or the answer or anything. It's really bugging me.
All of my friends who have previously taken the test say the scores are generally released before the specified date.
ReplyDeleteReleased how much earlier? Can you please be more specific?
ReplyDeleteAlso, for the person who is aksing about the composition problem, please elaborate. I don't remember that question - maybe that was from your experimental section?
So 3 of the games were circuit, deli and record stores. What was the other game? I remember one about employees of a company in different rooms, but I had two games sections so I don't know whether this was part of my scored or experimental.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the reduction in violent crime question, I answered the 100 additional police, although I went back and forth between that answer and the harsher sentencing answer. If I recall correctly, the time frame seemed to fit better for the 100 additional police. Also, it seemed to be more directly an alternate cause for the result of reduced crime than was the harsher sentencing.
ReplyDeleteHelp--I am debating whether to cancel my score based on how many of the 6 answers to the music store game were D, since that is what I had to guess for all 6 due to running out of time. People who set up that game: How many D answers do you remember?
ReplyDeleteYes, how much earlier have the answers come out.
ReplyDeleteAnd, the composition questoin was something about 1st graders having some composition course or something, and then a certain section of them improving faster at composition or something...... then it asked which best be supported by the argument. Something along those lines, but I can't remember for sure.
Oh yeah, that question. It was the last one in the section.
ReplyDeleteI remember choosing B or C, but I can't remember.
The set up for the composition questions was that a group of kids had been tutored in handwriting. Those with the most automatic handwriting had also been shown to have the highest quality compositions. This was said to be because not having to think about forming letters enabled them to have more complex and original thoughts. I have no recollection of what the actual question was, much less what the correct answer was.
ReplyDeleteto the poster who asked about the composition question: i vaguely remember something about good handwriting correlating with the students' ability to write well. wasn't it a weaken question? as with the poster above, i want to say i chose C...something about their handwriting was already good before their writing skills improved? i might be making this up though....
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting LR question for all you:
ReplyDeleteThere were 15 students taking the LSAT on a Saturday morning. During the test a garbage truck outside of the classroom made a lot noise, thus disturbing the test takers. At the end of the section, the proctor gave each of the students an additional 8 minutes to complete the section.
Q: What was the incorrect assumption made by the proctor/LSAT authorities?
(True story, happened to me)
the composition and handwriting question...i thought what we were supposed to weaken was the fact that having good handwriting contributed to better composition writing because good handwriting freed up more time to devote to more creative thinking...i chose A because it ventured that having good handwriting required practice, which to me meant requiring more time and weakened the possibility that more time could be devoted to composition to make it better...if that makes sense...anyone remember the sunblock-and-melanoma question and what made it a poor recommendation? i chose E because melanoma occured after repeated exposures which would make using sunblock counterproductive in combating melanoma...one more...anyone remember the products and instructions question about what made it a poor principle to make the assembly of a product much easier with the instructions than without? i think i put C, "in the typical case, most people assemble products easily without the instructions"...?
ReplyDeletewith the supervisors in the deli game (the last one)...does anyone know if the last question did hinge on E being wrong because it consisted of two non-supervisors (which is the mistake I think I made on that question)...if so did not making this specific deduction screw me up for the rest of the game?
ReplyDeleteto the 3:31 poster: for the sunscreen question i think i chose the answer that had something to do with the chemicals that make up the sunblock. i dont feel strongly about it though. and for the products and instructions questions, i chose what you chose.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty confident about the sunblock question. It was a "weaken" question I think. The answer had something to do with the sunblock preventing sunburn but not the typ of rays that caused that type of melanoma.
ReplyDeleteTo whoever got me all excited about getting our test scores early, please reply and tell us how early.
I think the sunblock question had the answer of A....the same types of rays that cause melanoma do not cause sunburn. Also, does anyone remember their answer to the earthquake and computer simulation question or the carrots question (which was all of the following resolve EXCEPT) I put D, the people with deficiency had increased carrot demand
ReplyDeleteFor the decrease in crime question, I pretty sure the addition of 100 police officers was the correct choice.
ReplyDeleteFor the handwriting questions, I don't remember the exact details, but I did come back to it after I finished the section. I originally had B, but changed it to C. I wasn't confident about either but thought C was the better choice.
For the Sunblock question, one of the answers had something to do with the rays that cause sunburn are not the same rays that cause melanoma. I don't remember the letter, but I'm 100% sure that answer is right.
Regarding the last logic game, from what I remember, most of the answers were Cs and Es. There may have been one D.
For the first LR section, does anyone feel that the last half had mostly Ds and Es and possibly no As or Bs?
I believe you can call LSAC on the 21st to get your score. You have to pay a fee, but at least you can celebrate over the weekend, while the rest of us cheap bastards bitch and moan all weekend.
The answer to the Earthquake computer simulation was something about test results not actually being applicable to actual events. I think it was A.
ReplyDeleteCan you refresh my memory a little more on the Carrot Question? What was the exact set up for it... and the other possible answer?
For the handwriting composition, do you remember what B and C were?
ReplyDeletegood. yea i got for the earthquake question that the answer was: computer simulations are not applicable to real life. also, i do recall thinking that there were alot of d's and e's on the first logical reasoning questions ( i think i had a few A's and B's but not many at all). For the carrot question, the paradox was that: demand is increasing, yet the number of people with vitamin C deficiency is increasing as well. the question asked which one did NOT resolve this.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the person who answered about the last game. I was actually asking how many answers were "D" on the game involving different types of music sold at various stores.
ReplyDeleteAnyone?
does anyone remember the last question on the first LR section? i totally guessed--D--and i'm wondering if i got lucky
ReplyDeleteDepends which first logical reasoning, they're in a diff order for everyone. But... my first section was LR and I had B down for the answer to the last quesiton, but for some reason, at the last minute, I changed it to D. I don't even remember what the question was about....so hopefully for both of us, D is the right answer
ReplyDeleteGreat site. I have finally decided to give Law School and the LSAT a shot. Looking to take the December exam. By just beggining my exam prep now, am I at a severe disadvantage? Is eight weeks an unrealistic time frame to prepare? I am fully stocked and loaded with prep tests and guides, but I am curious if I am leaving myself enough time in relation to the rest of you? Taking into consideration I have been out of school for three years, am I better of defering to the later date?
ReplyDeleteEight weeks should be enough time if you focus. I actually considered law school 3 years ago and decided it wasn't the right time. 6 weeks before the October test I decided to go for it again. I took at least 1-2 real sections a day and ended up finishing 15 real tests. I read through the Kaplan prep book, but I found the real tests to be the most valuable. If you are not planning on attending school next year then hold off for now. Otherwise go for it.
ReplyDeleteThat is the story I want to hear!. Thank you. In similar boat. How did it go for you? First prep test I got a 161, but it was untimed. I am looking forward to taking the next after reading through the blog. I am planning on applying for next September. Wish you luck.
ReplyDeleteThe first practice test I took I bombed, so keep at it. Make sure you take the most recent cause the older tests are a little different. I was getting 165s on the practice tests, but I kept messing up on the timing. I finally figured out a good strategy and ended up finishing early on 3 of the 5 sections of the October LSAT. There is obviously no guarantees, but based on the fact that I had a chance to answer every question and didn't have to guess on any, I'm expecting high 160s or low 170s. I've had a few friends take the test and no one strategy works for everyone. I found that Kaplan didn't really work for me. Thinking about the terminology slowed me down. They think you should identify the assumptions, premise, conclusion, etc. but by now most of that should come natural to you. It's like skiing. You don't think about how you do it, you just do. Anyway, take as many practice tests as possible and figure out what works for you. Try a few different approaches at first and don't worry about the scores. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thats what I have been finding on these tests. At times there are answers that seem obvious, but I am not sure why they are. I feel like as I practice more tests and get a better understanding of the flow, I will get even more comfortable. I actually enjoy them so far, as creepy as that sounds. Look forward to hearing how it works out.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear there was some general difficulty with that second LR. I finished all the other four sections (RC experimental) with ample time left over, but had to guess on no fewer than four LR questions in that one section. Someone made the astute observation that there were a large number of assumption and principle questions, which are generally more wordy, thus eating up more time. That's the only section I'm worried about, and if people generally had issues with it, then it (strangely) makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteYeah and how crappy was that passage on post-Cultural Revolution Chinese art. I did, however, think the virulent disease passage was interesting. My experimental had a fascinating passage about Gary Kasparov (the Chess player) and Deep Blue (the computer program that beat him) and its implications for human development. Good stuff.
Pretty impressed with those of you who can remember the wording/premises of specific LR questions. Good memory.
Time to party.
hmmm... I sort of found the chinese art interesting ;) must be the art history student in me!
ReplyDeleteI also find it amazing people can remember so much detail. it went in one side and out the other for me.
Does anyone remember some of the questions for the Art paragraph? Some of the trickier ones?
ReplyDeleteAlso, you mentioned something about computers and people and it rang a bell in my head. I don't remember if this was from this test or maybe one of the practice tests.... oh well. But does someone remember an LR question about Artificial Intelligence and chess and how the computer wouldn't be able play because it couldn't think like humans? It was an assumption questions and the answer was something about the computer approaching the game in a different manner than a human would.
One of the questions for the Chinese Art passage was "What would be the best title for this passage?" I think I put something along the lines of "Political Motives in the art world have unintended consequences." There was a choice that was close, "How art developments influenced political policy" (or something similar) but I thought the passage was primarily about two art developments in response to a political policy. Does this sound familiar?
ReplyDeleteThe answer to the kids/compositions was C I think. I thought it was a strengthen question though? C said something about those with the worst handwriting skills showed the greatest proportionate improvement in composition skills after taking the class. This strengthened the assumption that the kids chosen for the class did not already have higher handwriting skills to begin with than those who were not chosen to take the class...the more I think about it, the more sure I am that I got it right!
ReplyDeleteOh, and on the violent crime one....E actually said something about 3 years ago they passed legislation to raise the police force by X% every year for the next 5 years. It definitely had a percantage increase in it, not an absolute number--which means 3 years in the police force would be MUCH larger if it kept growing exponentially! I think I put B at first too but then realize it said SOME judges and CERTAIN crimes--too narrow to cause the decrease and it did not show a change had actually occurred that year.
No I think it was 1000. I put E as my answer. E) The number of police officers increasing by 1000 over the next three years or something
ReplyDeleteIm a little worried, everyone is saying how easy the LG were, I didn't find them all that easy. LG's are my weakest section (the time kills me) and I'm sure that they will pull my score down. I didn't think the RC was that bad. Im just hoping that my RC makes up for my LG (and a nice curve : )Oh and in case anyone is still wondering the 2nd RC section was experimental for people who had two...
ReplyDeleteIs it true that we can call and get our scores today? Has anyone done that? I'm sick of waiting but I don't want to waste my money.
ReplyDeleteEveryone keeps commenting on the police patrollinga nd violent crimes section. Did anyone consider the answer that had soemthing to do with the police patrolling more in more violent areas than in not violent areas? Does anyonw remember that answer?
ReplyDeleteNo you can't call and get your score today. I just called LSAC and they said that telescore comes out the same time as e-mailed scores come out..the lady on the phone said that the 24th is their deadline but if they finish earlier, they might e-mail them today.
ReplyDelete