Modern Quill |
| How to stay calm during the LSAT Posted: 31 May 2009 11:48 PM PDT  Well, I don’t have a magic bullet. And I don’t trust anyone who does. So, this isn’t really “How you should stay calm during the LSAT.” But that title is more search-engine friendly than “how this kid with a blog thinks he’s gonna keep his cool.” Nonetheless, here’s the list: 1. Be prepared. As an Eagle Scout, I’ve always questioned the efficacy of “be prepared.” From experience, most Scouts live by “be resourceful” more than anything else. “Be prepared” is kind of a lofty goal, especially since Lord Baden-Powell’s only corollary, when asked “for what should I be prepared for,” was “Why, for any old thing!” However, I feel like I am at a point of preparation where whatever score I get will be a fair and accurate score. Part of this is faith in me, and part of this is faith in the LSAT. When I try to explain the LSAT to people who have the sense to avoid it, I nearly get choked up. “No, trust me. This test is good. Really good, like perfect good. It is nearly flawless.” In a sick way, I have this level of respect for the LSAT that you normally reserve for the stern but committed authority figure who wants to make you cry only slightly less than she wants you to succeed. So the first rule is be prepared. When you respect the LSAT, and learn to play on the Testmaker’s terms, she’ll reward you. 2. Be prepared - spacially I get the unique experience of traveling outside the US to take the LSAT: my examination will be at McGill in Montreal. I’m not sure which is scarier, going to Canada or going to Boston. But I’m still going. This means I do not have the chance of seeing the room, or building, or city I’ll be taking the exam in beforehand. Which is one of the foundational cognitive tricks you can pull: take a prep test in the same room, hopefully the same chair, as you will take the actual exam in. A psychology professor recommended this to me, which I’ve ignored ever sense. But, even though it’s just a two hour drive, I plan on leaving at least four hours in advance. Short of breaking down, which I’m not ruling out, I should be there in plenty of time to be there in plenty of time. Sounds like a plan. 3. Bubbling after a unit I think every single test prep company recommends this, and I do this, so I’ll pass it on. Fill in the Scantron sheet in groups. Not only is this a mini-break, but I think it also reduces transfer errors. 4. Five second vacations. I can physically feel myself experiencing brain drain. Before I get to that point, I take a five second vacation - or rather, five deep breaths. I close my eyes, try to relax my shoulders and neck, and picture something calming: a brief cognitive break to clear the mind for the next question. I’m very lucky to be in a four-year, committed romantic relationship, and closing my eyes and picturing my partner’s face really helps. Or, picturing nothing at all: just letting it all go. Also, the fact that we get a 15-minute break is a gift. A necessary gift maybe, but a gift still. These 15 minutes are the only 15 minutes in my life I don’t want to think about the LSAT. If it were allowed, I’d back a Gameboy in with my snack. Well, I guess they don’t make Gameboys anymore. Nonetheless, I’ll go to the bathroom and read the graffiti or something, just to clear my mind and try to be just as fresh, if not fresher, for Section 4 as I was at Section 1. The difference is I’ll be psychologically primed for Section 4! 5. My secret weapon My secret weapon is my theme song. I’m not going to tell you what it is, because it’s mine. But if you have a theme song, carry it in your mind on the day of the test. Something uptempo and motivational. Take, for example, the Moog line from Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” Not only is it catchy, easy to remember, and upbeat, but doesn’t it just make you want to jump in a rocket and go tearing through space? That’s a great theme song, and it only takes 8 seconds to hum the first four bars. Well, honestly I don’t know if this has the same tried-and-true cognitive effect as, say, deep breathing. However, I plan on using it. Again, I’m not telling you what my theme song is, but here are some great ones.
I just feel that music is very powerful and has the potential to be very uplifting. That is exactly what people taking the LSAT will need on June 8. Stay tuned, or not, it’s up to you! |
| Posted: 31 May 2009 11:12 PM PDT Even though time is running short, I couldn’t bring myself to go to Shapiro and drill out another full LSAT. Instead, I figured I’d be much better off just diagramming games. The games section gives me pause because just about anything can happen. Unlike RC, where you can predict a humanities, law, science, etc. section, or the arguments, which all look the same after a while, there seem to be nearly infinite twists the Testmaker can throw at you. For example, when I took Test 50, I tried to find the simple 6-element line game. I started swearing when I realized it wasn’t there: there was a very odd-looking grouping game instead. So I saved that one for last, only to realize that it WAS the simple, six-element line game. It just had a twist: there were only five positions, and only three elements. But each element generated a sub-element. Here’s a rough example in friendly, fair-use language: Between 2001 to 2005, Abner, Bruce, and Carol each started a business and bought a boat. Carol bought her boat after she started her business. Bruce started his business after buying a boat. Abner and Bruce started their business the same year. Well, that’s actually really simple. I was actually thankful I completed this game last, because I did so up against the clock and made up time! In any event, let’s hope that I can pull off the Games section, because if I can, I can lynch my score together. However, I will be taking another diagnostic tomorrow, hoping that lightning can strike again. |
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