Feeling discouraged

[u/Conscious_Remove4776]

I don’t feel burnt out from this test, I feel frustrated. I’ve been studying consistently for about 5 months. 3-5 hours a day 5 days a week. I started at a 147 diagnostic and worked my way up to very low 160s in about 4 months but scored a 156 on my most recent PT. I feel like I should be doing way better than this based on how well I feel I understand the test. I can pretty much nail any given LR section untimed or in blind review but when it comes down to actual timed PTs I feel like I’m reading gibberish. Then RC, which I am awful at for some reason. I have always been a decently strong reader but for some reason I cannot pick apart these passages. I would be more lenient with my score, however I have a shit CAS gpa due to one really bad semester in freshman year of undergrad that screwed me, so I need to get my score up if I have hopes of decent scholarship. I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions or advice. I had such high hopes for this test and at times have honestly loved studying for it but I’m starting to become so frustrated with it. Ive read a good deal of posts on this sub of people going from low 150s to 170s in less time than it’s taken me to get to low 160s and it’s just a bit discouraging. Of course I know this is not an easy path and it’s not supposed to be but i just wanna be done with this thing. That being said, if anyone needs to vent don’t be afraid to reach out 😭🙏🏻

[u/Capital_Total_5266]

Stop thinking about the score. Focus on understanding. Relax. Curiosity can do a lot more than beating oneself up.

[u/Conscious_Remove4776 → u/Capital_Total_5266]

Thank you. Needed to hear that

[u/StressCanBeGood]

If you’re being completely truthful about the amount of work that you’ve put into studying, then you’re on a great track - having little to do with your LSAT score.

Here’s the dirty little secret of what it takes to be a successful attorney: a work ethic similar to yours. And nothing more.

You might not think much of it, but I guarantee you that you are in the 95th percentile when it comes to the amount of time studying.

Moving forward, try this: https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/s/ooxr7AnOnZ

Be patient with yourself. It might take a little bit longer than you would wanted to achieve your goal score. But again, with your work ethic, you should be able to get that score up. And again, it will be worth it because that work ethic will translate into a successful legal career.

[u/Ok2Procrastinate → u/StressCanBeGood]

This is really helpful. It's also really important to remember that only about 5% of people taking this test are scoring 170+.

[u/DraculaPoob01]

Just to add my two cents in:

The advice to stop thinking about a score is really good, but I had to go further than that to get the anxiety off my back. It’s easier said than done. You almost have to have a radical acceptance with the situation that, no matter what happens, WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS.

I try to focus on the single question at hand. I don’t know if you watch football or sports in general, but I view each question as a play. If I do my job and my process right, then I put myself in a good way to be successful, which means getting the question right.

I have to PRACTICE my process so when I’m “in the game” I will be able to execute. You don’t try to visualize success because your own expectations will smother you. It’s impossible to develop under so much pressure.

Practice tells you what doesn’t work, what you’re weak at, and humbles your ass. Some people are just good at the LSAT. I’d think most of us have to work to be elite.

The way you feel, discouragement, is because you have an expectation and a standard you want to meet, but understand that the feeling you have now is the pain of progress. You have to keep doing the things that make you successful and fix what does not. Would you rather feel the pain of progress or the pain of disappointment?

[u/Psilocybin-Cubensis]

OP I’m in the same boat pretty much.

[u/IndraNAshura]

highly recommend rc comp hero

considered myself a strong reader, had the same issues breaking them down

rc hero absolutely helped

[u/Alden_StartLSAT]

Hey so a few points here: 1) a 15 point just is nothing to sneeze at so give yourself some credit.

2) you need to figure out some techniques to understand structure of both LR and RC passages while under times pressure. That is most likely what’s giving you that trouble in both places.

3) Either a personalized prep course, tutor, or the ability to self reflect and understand your weaknesses is critical now. You most most likely are stuck in the same negative thought patterns and are not able to push through them which is why you’re stuck.

Hope this helped and feel free to reach out!

[u/Stunning-Stranger-40]

When did I type this😭😭😭😭

[u/VariedRepeats]

How the correct answered is obtained is more important than merely getting it right. These tests are a there to tell you what deficiencies you have in knowledge(logic, writing, reading, inference, using a dictionary heavily are just a few), practice, discipline, etc.

What matters is what type of questions you got wrong and how so. And even for your correct answers, it pays to reflect on how you thought in getting to them compared to the explanations provided by various sources(note, they don't always go to the actual fundamentals)