[tiwinkle]

My score had been quite stagnant around 161 to a 158 range for like 3 months. I lost all hope. So I bought the LSAT trainer a couple of weeks ago because I saw your LSAT trainer video on YouTube. I really like the method you used. Ever since I started using the method to solve LR, my score went from 160 to 169 in two weeks! I’m extremely glad I bought this book. I’m going to work extremely hard to raise my score above a 175 in the next few weeks before the September LSAT.
I just had to comment on this amazing book! I noticed that it also contains problems from the older tests.
I’m also thinking about doing some old preptests. So my question is are the older tests like from 14-25 easier than the newer ones? In other words, if I get a 169 on them, is that score a somewhat accurate representation of what I can expect to be scoring in the newer tests?

[Mike Kim]

Hello Tiwinkle! —

It’s so great to hear that you are finding the Trainer useful, and congrats on the score improvements —

In terms of the older exams, I have a few thoughts —

a) I do think the score will be fairly accurate and if I were you I wouldn’t be too concerned with your scores jumping too much from, say, the PT’s you took in the 20’s to PT’s in the 60’s or 70’s. The tests are definitely similar enough so that a 169 on PT 25 means essentially the same thing as a 169 on PT 75.

b) That doesn’t mean there aren’t some differences among the exams, and, if at all possible, I recommend you try to intersperse some more recent q’s into your drilling (and in my opinion redoing problems you may have already tried is still great practice, especially at your score level) —

c) …And, if at all possible, try to save as many of the most recent tests as possible to be used as “fresh,” final pt’s before test day.

d)The biggest differences, in my opinion, are that Logic Games have become a bit more predictable, LR q’s have become a bit more black/white, and RC passages, of late, have become a bit more dense —

e) But do keep in mind these issues are very subtle — the underlying structure of the exam has stayed remarkably consistent, and the rules of reasoning will never change —

So, to add it all up, totally fine to use those previous PT’s for your practice, but you just want to try and avoid limiting yourself to just older tests, and, if possible, you want to work on the most recent exams closest to test day —

I’ll stop myself there — hope that helps — if you have any follow-up or need anything else just let me know — MK

[tiwinkle]

What would be the best method I should drill to get 175+?

[Mike Kim]

Hey —

Here’s some advice specifically for students seeking 170+ scores — http://thelsattrainer.academy/forums/topic/f-a-q-links-170/ — you may be most interested in the extreme drilling exercises —

Just a quick caveat — those extreme exercises should be done on top of, rather than in lieu of, the more standard drill work you (and everyone else at every score level) ought to be doing — that which is assigned in the Trainer schedules or perhaps your own DIY schedule — to get that type of score you really need to be strong across the board, and you need to, in your studies, make sure you are covering all your bases and getting as strong as you can in all areas — and so one temptation you want to avoid is to focus just on the hardest or most unusual problems — you also want to avoid the temptation to try and learn the most technical and “advanced” seeming strategies and methods — there is no challenge on the LSAT that cannot be thought of and dealt with simply once you correctly understand it —

Hope you find the links helpful and let me know if you have any follow-up q’s — Mike