Not enough emphasis is placed on the mental preparation necessary to succeed on test day. I knew a student who rarely, if ever, received below a 180 score on her practice tests. However on test day she dropped seven points to a 173 score. A six point or more drop (with some students experiencing up to 15 point drops) from LSAT prep test averages is not uncommon. Conversely, many students have also been able to outperform their practice test average by six or more points.
I would suggest that those students who see a significant drop in their score have not adequately mitigated the stress surrounding test day. While eliminating all stress the day of the test is almost impossible, the following tips may help tremendously:
1. Choose the right testing center. Choose a testing center within comfortable traveling distance of your home. Visit the testing center a few days prior to taking the test. Take note if the room you will be taking the test in and take note if the room is cooler or hotter than you are accustomed to and dress accordingly on test day. If possible, take a practice test at the center where you will be taking the actual test. Achieving a good practice test score in the room where you will be taking the actual test is a huge confidence booster. If you feel it may make you nervous or lose focus to take the test with people you know, schedule the test at a location other than your own university.
2. Develop a uniform sleep and practice regimen. More than two weeks prior to test day, establish sleeping habits which will optimize your level of focus for the exam. Remember that all administrations of the LSAT except for June will occur early in the morning around 8:30 am. Establish a pattern of waking up at least an hour and a half before your scheduled exam time. I would not recommend taking caffeine or any other stimulants or study aids which may impact your sleep schedule. During the last four weeks leading up to the exam, take a proctored practice test every Saturday and attempt to mirror other aspects of the test morning such as the time you wake up and the breakfast foods you will eat. Change your breakfast if it leaves you with an upset stomach or insufficient energy during practice sessions.
3. Take proctored practice tests. Honestly enforce the 35 minute section time constraints on all practice tests. Cheating on practice test timing will lead to running out of time on test day. It is best to take practice tests proctored by someone other than yourself. It is beneficial to take the tests in a classroom setting with other students. Have a friend or family member proctor tests for you whenever possible. Knowing that you have succeeded on correctly proctored practice tests will increase your test day confidence markedly.
4. Practice in noisy areas. Take occasional practice tests in areas that are reasonably noisy such as restaurants, university quads, public libraries, or the food court at the mall. Such practice situations will train your mind to block out any outside noises or considerations. You will be grateful for this conditioning when the kid sitting next to you won’t stop coughing during the real test.
5. Do not cram for the test in the last few days. Cramming may overly stress your mind and is indicative of not having prepared adequately. If you are not achieving the score you’d like on your practice tests, consider postponing until the next test administration instead of cramming at the last minute. Along these lines, take your final practice test two days before the test and try to rest as much as possible the day before the actual test. Going into the test well rested is very beneficial.
6. Insulate yourself from outside stresses. Clearing your plate of as many stressors as possible will make your final preparation and test go much better. If significant personal or family problems arise before the test, consider rescheduling to a later date. Let your friends, family, and significant other know that you are going to be taking the LSAT and should be expected to drop off the face of the earth for the month leading up to the test. Try to avoid taking the LSAT around the same time major school exams and avoid a heavy work or school load if possible. This may mean taking the LSAT during your 2nd year of College or after you’ve graduated from school.
7. Do not take the February administration. If you plan to apply to law school during the same admissions cycle in which you take the LSAT, do yourself a favor and avoid the February test if possible. Not only will you have to score higher on the February test to get into the law school of your choice you also do not need the added pressure of knowing that this is the last chance of the cycle to take the LSAT.
8. Be cool. When taking the actual test, have a positive and focused mindset. Managing stress is key to a high score. Treat problems with the same weight that you would a practice test. Avoid changing any timing or marking strategies that you have used during your preparation. Do not compare yourself with those around you, they will be working on different sections of the test and may be flipping pages faster or slower than you as a result. If a section seems unusually difficult to you, it may be the practice section. Know that you will do well and remember that you can always cancel your score and retake if things go badly.
No comments:
Post a Comment