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June 28, 2017

My LSAT Regimen with Marvin Dike, Part I

My LSAT Regimen I

First things first, a little about myself. I graduated from college in 2013 and have a fantastic support system around me. I’m from Houston Texas, the greatest city in the world (go Astros). My undergrad GPA leaves a lot to be desired, so if I want to get into a solid law school, I have to crush my LSAT. I’m not trying to get into an Ivy League school or even a top 25 school. Realistically, a school in the top 50 range is ideal for me. 

I’ve been talking with Dave Killoran on Twitter since January of 2017, asking him random questions about the LSAT. I’ve bounced ideas off of him about my prep and the patterns I saw on PTs and I’ve gotten feedback from him. I took PowerScore’s in-person prep course in December 2016, and I loved it. The professor I had was amazing. I plan on taking the September LSAT in 2017, so I am still on my grind just like everyone else. Through our months of conversations I’ve given some constructive criticism of PowerScore, pointed out what I loved about the class, and what I thought they could do to improve. He felt that what I was sharing was valuable enough to be blogged about. So here I am.

What I’ve Learned

Many of the things I’ve learned took me 2 months to fully grasp. Many sleepless nights, many days forgetting to eat, hours reading blogs and doing research, many missed questions and overlooked assumptions. Let my pain and agony be the shining light in your path. I absolutely believe that this test is learnable.  You can master it. Everyone has a different situation. You may be working, in school, or have kids. Some of you are dealing with all three! Even with obstacles that exist in everyday life, I absolutely believe there’s a path for everyone to master this test. You just have to approach this right and be efficient with your time.

Humble Beginnings

When I first walked into the PowerScore class, I knew nothing about the LSAT. Seriously, at the time I couldn’t even tell you what the LSAT stood for and I certainly didn’t know what it tested. For all I knew, the test was just different variations of tick tack toe and crossword puzzles. I got a 147 on the diagnostic exam but, I didn’t put too much stock in that score. It just meant that I could only go up. As of June 2017, my high score is a 166. My last 9 practice tests are hovering in the 161-166 range. My target score is a 170 and I still have about 3 months to fully prepare for the September LSAT. You may not need that high of a score, though! So, do your research and see what your chances are with your GPA and potential LSAT score.

Cutting Corners

I always love looking for shortcuts. I have my entire life. I’m no stranger to hard work, but I’d always try to find the easiest route to do any- and everything. Why get up to turn off the light when I can throw a shoe at the light switch? Why read the whole book when Spark Notes has all I need? I don’t like taking the long route with anything unless I know for certain there aren’t any loopholes or shortcuts to exploit.

Let me save you some time and trouble in regard to this LSAT prep. There are no shortcuts or loopholes when it comes to the LSAT. I’ve checked high and low, near and far. As you progress, you’ll see there are definitely ways to find the right answer and eliminate the wrong ones more easily. Getting there, however, is a journey you have to embark on.

Be an Open-Minded Sponge

For me, my journey started with walking into the prep course with the assumption that I knew nothing. I went with the mindset that I was there to learn and absorb as much as I could. I was there because I wanted to be there. My ego was left at the door and went in with the goal of maxing out my time and money. I was a sponge, soaking up everything.

It’s risky to prep for the test with a fixed date on when you want to go to law school and/or take the LSAT. The test doesn’t care about your life plans. It will expose your weaknesses if you aren’t prepared. Be open about when you will take the test! This leaves room for the proper chance to master the material and get your target score. I’ll break studying down into two different stages of prep. The first stage is what to do while learning the foundations and core curriculum. Everything going forward is what to do while still learning the material. I’ll make it obvious when to go into phase two. The second stage is what to do after you finish the curriculum.

Prepare Yourself

Get your mind and body in the position to learn. This is a factor most people overlook when prepping for the LSAT. Here’s what you can do to prepare yourself for prep.

  1. Eat healthier and drink more water. Junk food makes you lethargic and excess sugar gives you an insulin spike that makes you crash and isn’t conducive to learning. Focus on foods that are beneficial to your energy.
  2.  Exercise! This test is a marathon, forcing you to focus for an excessive amount of time. Even a 20-minute jog or bike ride every day helps. Do yoga, lift weights, anything! Many studies show that exercise improves cognitive function and focus. I lift weights and it helps with my mental endurance. I can’t begin to tell you how much easier it is to sit in a chair and take a 4-plus hour test after I became more active.
  3. Stay positive. Dave, in his videos and books, harp on this over and over. You will get answers wrong that you swore you got right. You’ll see answer choices that you’d bet your right arm are wrong and will turn out to be right. It’ll make you want to throw a brick through LSAC’s window, but you have to stay positive. Don’t let that frustration get to you. Pick yourself right back up after getting knocked down. Use the questions you get wrong and caring that you did as fuel to never get the question (or another like it) wrong again.
  4. Stay sober. Minimize your alcohol intake or stay away from alcohol entirely. This especially important in the final 2 months of your prep.
  5. Be consistent! With everything! A soldier doesn’t go into battle with weapons he’s not comfortable with. It takes a plethora of things to go right on test day for the test to go well, but only one thing to go wrong for a catastrophe.
  6. Understand that the test-makers are brilliant. Brilliant isn’t even the word. Sometimes I will see a question that just feeds on our everyday assumptions. They make you a pawn to their schemes. Understanding this allows you to give these test-makers the respect they deserve and approach the questions accordingly.
  7. The LSAT matters more than your GPA. It took four years or more to get a 2 digit number on your transcript and it matters less than the 3 digit number you get from one test. If this one test matters more than something you took 4 years to earn, don’t you think you should approach it with the magnitude the test really has?

Taking a Course

Here are some of the things I did when I was taking the PowerScore course to help me get the most out of it. Pay attention, ask questions, and take notes in class. After each class, re-read the chapter and do all the homework. Don’t worry, I have advice for tackling homework in a bit. Watch the virtual modules on the website for each lesson. These modules are long, but I was willing to not leave a single stone unturned. Ignoring the modules meant I could be missing valuable information. Eliminate the what-ifs! If you have resources, use them. Also, I know it’s tempting, but don’t read ahead before attending your next lesson.

How to Approach Homework

When doing the homework and answering questions, you’ll come across questions you don’t get. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is running to the answer and explanation too soon. Give yourself a chance to get the answer right and figure it out. There will be times where you just don’t see the answer and you have to look to the answer sheet, but don’t give in so quickly.

If you truly cannot see the right answer, write down an explanation for why the 4 wrong answers you think are wrong are wrong. Then, write an explanation of why you think the last answer is correct. If the stimulus is an argument, break down that argument. The premise is this, the conclusion is that, context is this, question stem is that, etc. After all of that, then go look at the answer and explanations. This is where true learning happens. You can see if your reasoning is correct for the right and wrong answers. This method is T E D I O U S. But again, there are no shortcuts.

When it comes to the LSAT, there are two ways to get an answer right. Either eliminate the 4 wrong answers or simply pick the right answer. If you get an answer wrong, look at it as though you got the answer wrong twice. Not only did you pick the wrong answer, you were wrong in eliminating the 4 wrong answers. Analyzing wrong answer choices is crucial. One reason is that that answer could absolutely be the correct answer for different questions.

In the Mindset

Pace yourselves and figure out what works for you. I only study when I’m in a condition to study. If I have a headache or my mind is wandering, I don’t study. Take a nap, grab some food, chill out, walk your dog, then get back at it once you recharge your batteries. I enjoy this journey because it has more than solidified my desire to go to law school. It never actually feels like work. I enjoy arguments and logic, I enjoy putting myself in a position to crack this LSAT code. It’s also good knowing that once I take the test I won’t have to take it ever again… assuming I get the score I want.

Disclaimer

This paragraph probably could have been put at the top of the page in bold and all caps. I have no statistical evidence to back this up, this is from what I’ve gathered from my class, my studies, my conversations with Dave, and my own research. But I am fairly confident in what I’m about to say.

If you score below a 150 on your diagnostic test and your goal is a 165 or higher on the LSAT, it’s highly unlikely that you can achieve a 165 or more with only 3 months of prep.

I only use the term “highly unlikely” because there are exceptions. Unfortunately, if you’re reading this, you are not the exception. Sorry to break it to you. I’m sure your family loves you dearly and lets you know the world revolves around you, but the LSAT certainly does not. I don’t care if you have 0 obligations outside of prep. I don’t care if all your bills are paid by a  genie and your only job is studying. You will NOT get that 165 or higher in only 3 months. This test is made by brilliant people and they are conditioned to expose the ill-prepared.

One hard hurdle to overcome with this prep is understanding the effort it takes to make *incremental* improvements. Everyone just wants results in all facets of life. It’s frustrating to put in hours and hours and weeks on weeks of work just to see a 2 point increase, but that’s just what this prep is. But remember this, it’s not one big swing of the ax that brings the tree down, it’s the constant swing after swing that finally brings the tree down. No single swing looks like it’s doing all that much to affect the tree, but each is doing the damage necessary to cause it to fall.

In the next part of this series, I take you through the method I use after finishing the foundational curriculum. Don’t miss it! I break down the true skills that the LSAT values on each section and how to put yourself in a position to master those skills.

Happy studies!

More from this series: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V

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Posted by PowerScore Test Prep / Studying / LSAT Prep, Prep Courses Leave a Comment

  • Patricia Evans
    June 28, 2017 at 6:30pm

    I read everything you wrote. I would love to try this method. I truly hear you. I am blessed to come across this so please help me. I am willing to try this and commit
    Thanks
    Patricia

  • Mia
    June 28, 2017 at 7:35pm

    This is great! Thanks for sharing your advice. Is there any reason you chose to take the Powerscore course vs. self-studying with the books?

  • Marvin Dike
    June 28, 2017 at 7:48pm

    Thanks for reading! Big thing is try not to see this as a long journey and always looking how much further you have to go. Instead just focus on what’s in front of you and keep going. My next two posts will be more detailed about what to do after the core curriculum.

  • Marvin Dike
    June 28, 2017 at 7:54pm

    I chose to attend the classes because I learn better that way. When I’m able to ask questions and get an immediate answer that’s really helpful. Also being in class with other students and hearing their questions can allow me to see things that I may not have seen if I was only using the books. Also having access to the student portal online was huge. I was able to read explanations for pretty much every LSAT. From my knowledge you don’t get access to the virtual modules and discussion board when you purchase a lsat bible. Lastly, just being subjected to a book can get tiring for me. I’m a social person and enjoy having that connection with my instructor. It was huge. To this day we still talk, he’s someone I consider a friend and I can’t imagine going about my studying without his help.

    Maybe for others, they can adequately learn just from the books. But me personally, I didn’t feel like I would be absorning as much. So it was worth the investment.

    I promise if you check out my next 2 posts you’ll maximize your journey regardless of whichever curriculum path you take.

  • YVETTE
    June 28, 2017 at 9:04pm

    Marvin,

    You are an absolute God Send! Thank you so much for sharing your blog. I am taking a course and everything you shared I feel, everything you do, I do. For instance, I write the explanations down, and although this is painstakingly long, I feel like it does help. So thank you for making me feel like I was not alone in how I was studying and reviewing.

    In regard to your other recommendations and insight, I will definitely be incorporating them, because to go from a 147 to a 166, with a target score of 170 looks very possible. My diagnostic was a 139 so I don’t feel nearly as discouraged.

    You have done an outstanding job, and I wish you every bit of the success you deserve.

  • Marvin Dike
    June 28, 2017 at 11:37pm

    The pleasure is all mine and thank you for reading! The fact that you figured out that important method during the core curriculum shows you’re already ahead of where I was. Took me months to finally grasp that concept.

    You are definitely not alone in this nattke. I’ve lost sleep over this. But I’m making progress and happy with where I’m at. Be on the lookout for my next blog. Will break down the skills the LSAT values I the high test takers and ways to improve those skills.

  • John
    June 29, 2017 at 12:37am

    Hi Marvin,

    Thanks for taking the time to write about your experience thus far. I bought the 3 bibles and have been hammering away for one month (unfortunately, the hammer is the wrong tool). I made the mistake of allowing for only 3 months of study time (summer break). With only 2 and a half months until test day, I am way behind where I’d hoped I be. I’m actually considering changing my test date for December, even though that is right during finals. It is a tough call but you are so right about improvements taking longer than 3 months. I’ve only gotten to the point where I can answer all the questions correctly without a time limit (an untimed PT takes me about 5 hours!). When I do time myself, I’m an error-making machine. Keep us posted on your progress. I love reading other people’s tales because I am self-studying and feel like I’m marooned on the Island of the Misfit Toys!
    Thanks,
    John

  • Marvin Dike
    June 29, 2017 at 12:48am

    Hi John!
    I’m glad you liked the post and I think you’ll enjoy the ones coming up.

    Good job on evaluating your progress and being real. So many people lie to themselves and it’s so counterprudvitce. I’m not sure what your course load will be in the fall but I think you’d be better off waiting until December and just putting in my 20 hours a week of study. My rule of thumb is you need to get your target score at least 10 times within a 15 test attempt range. This is the very minimum to be honest. I’m personally taking 40 prep tests. I have about 30 left to go but on the final 15 or so I better be hitting my target score on 10 of those 15 before I the the real LSAT. And I better be close to my target score on the 5 other ones.

    Keep up the good work and be on the lookout for my next post. Coming soon.

    Your strategy for taking Untimed practice tests and seeing what you’re doing is very smart and in a way it is part of my prep method that I will dive into in my next couple of blogs. What I would recommend is that you get your hands on as many prep tests as you can but really try to use Prep tests 36 and above as TIMED proctored prep tests. Those are the ones you have to use. The ones before that, from 1-35 can be used as drilling material.

  • Mia S
    June 29, 2017 at 1:26am

    Thanks for answering! Looking forward to your future blogs.

  • Denise Huckaby
    June 29, 2017 at 3:29am

    Hi Marvin,

    Thank you for sharing your experiences and your journey. All you’ve shared is insightful and is helping me feel at ease with the time it’s taking me to fully comprehend the three sections of the LSAT and what it’s going to take to cultivate a successful strategy for test day. I’m really looking forward to your future comments. Best wishes and success to you! Peace & blessings. Best regards, Denise

  • Lauryn
    June 29, 2017 at 2:19pm

    Yes, great post – thanks for writing!

  • Marvin Dike
    June 29, 2017 at 9:40pm

    Hi Dennis,

    Thanks a lot for reading. This test is hard. And you should not be alarmed at the notion that it takes a lot of time to, not just learn, but to master. Putting yourself in a mastery position will give you the most confidence on test day.

    Be on the lookout for the next post. I’m sure you’ll find it very useful.

  • Stephanie James
    June 30, 2017 at 2:54pm

    Thank you for your perspective on the LSAT and your experience.

  • Darrian Thomas
    June 30, 2017 at 4:22pm

    Great post and advice Marvin and looking forward to more.

  • Jessica Downing-Brown
    July 12, 2017 at 8:07pm

    Hi

    I absolutely appreciate this post so much. Is there any way you could provide me with
    You email so that I may ask a few questions if you don’t mind?

  • Marvin Dike
    July 12, 2017 at 8:11pm

    No problem. Marvin.Dike@yahoo.com

    thanks for reading and I’m glad you enjoyed it. My second blog was just posted so check that out when you get a chance.

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