Foolproof guide to a 180 on LSAT
| 寄托天下 | 2014-08-05 10:23 | 我要评论 | 浏览76408次 |
标题模仿了TLS的Noodleyone的标题。前几天收到了CLS的Hamilton,cycle彻底结束。现在回报寄托。
一些背景
美本，4.0/180
Offer情况, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia with $174000, Duke
Waitlist: Chicago (Withdraw)
I owe much of my success on LSAT to my college and Daily_Double from TLS。特别感谢我的American Literature老师逼着我们大一一周读四本书, American Revolution的老师让我们各种写东西。
Myth #1: LSAT是一个阅读速度和理解力的考试，如果你阅读速度很慢，这将极大制约你的发挥
Myth #2: LSAT是一个以英文为载体考察Critical thinking & Reasoning的考试，所以如果你的英文基本功不过关的话建议多读书。多准备
Myth #3: 这个世界上本没有天翼禀赋一说，你要看到别人之前努力过多少。读过多少书。你现在流的汗水就是你昨天虚度年华脑子里进的水
Myth #4: LSAT准备建议4个月以上。如果你想1个多月挑战自己体能极限的话，我建议还是不要试了。
Myth #5: LSAT is a lot of hard work.
准备工作
单词：LSAT所需要单词应该和SAT基本是持平的，所以如果你词汇量不够1w左右的话建议拿一本Barron 800去看看，这是SAT最核心的词汇。如果LSAT碰到不会的单词就抄在本子上看看就好了
所需材料
Bible (LG+LR仍然需要)
Manhattan LR+RC
LSAT Trainer (这本书非常好强烈推荐)
HB铅笔
一个LSATQA.com的账号
Cambridge Bundle LG+LR 1-38 by type
PT 40 - 71?(到71了？)
Manhattan LSAT forum
Steve LG视频解析
正文
第一阶段：
读Bible LG+LR，并开始下手LG 历时一个半月左右。建议这个期间你好好的读一读Economist和New Yorker，可以为你RC稍微打打基础
我LG是按照Steve的分类来的，Drill的时候基本也一样。其实按照那个都无所谓，各有千秋。
LG Myth: 重复重复再重复。 我1-38的LG Drill了不知道有没有15遍？大概是有吧。我基本每隔一段时间就回去反复的做那些老题，那些pattern非常的明显。 Pure Sequencing，也就是ordering game，你应该在2分钟之内就解决掉。
根据需要看是否适当延长自己的LG节奏，一般45天应该可以读完做完并且drill一部分的LG
LG bible读完后，一直不停的drill LG，这个过程应该持续到你做 Full time practice为止
LR：
在读完Bible以后开始用Manhattan LR drill
建议把LR重新分类
Assumption
Necessary Assumption
Sufficient Assumption
Strengthen
Weaken
Flaw
Evaluate the Argument
Inference
Must Be True
Most Strongly Supported
Complete the Passage
Cannot Be True
Main Conclusion
Point at Issue
Paradox
Principle (Identify)
Principle (Apply)
Structure
Method (Argument)
Method (Statement)
Parallel (Reasoning)
Parallel (Flaw)
Assumption - these questions revolve around a gap, which is to say, there's at least one reason why the core might not necessarily follow from the supporting premises. I try to identify the gap, then come up with an answer, usually I just come up with one and move to the answers, sometimes it's right, usually it's not, but I'm working on that. Anyways, wrong answers for these questions will reverse the logic, or not address the core, although sometimes you do see premise boosters/premise weakeners as correct answers, this is rare though, you just have to eliminate as many as possible on your first pass. There are additional things to look for in these such as a correlation supporting causation, causation in general, conditionality in general, and formal logic.
Inference - these questions require you to use the information provided to you in the stimulus to select an answer which must follow from that information. Scope is your biggest obstacle in these, you have to possess a very narrow sense of scope, cut down the wrong answers, diagram if you must, and remember the information is in the stimulus, and the correct answer will always follow from it. I'll diagram conditional and formal logic, the rest I usually just work from my notations in the stimulus.
Structure - these questions require you to understand the abstract nature of the argument and pay attention to subtle shifts in terms, degree, division, etc. and select an answer which either conforms to the information in the stimulus or to describe it in an abstract fashion. I usually diagram matching questions, argument part questions are usually pretty straightforward.
按照上面的分类开始Drill，先拿下Assumption family，这占了LR考试50%的分量
对于Assumption Family的问题的思考，建议采取这个过程
1, Author makes a statement (conclusion)
2, He draws whatever evidence to support/refute his conclusion
3, Gap?
4, The argument flows logically.
这个过程是可以写在纸上的。也就是先找结论，然后找premise，自己paraphrase一个gap，然后扫选项的节奏。
对于Non-assumption family的Inference question，唯一的技巧就是需要读懂，快速读懂整个paragraph的意思。
而对于Structure question一个小技巧就是从modifier的certainty来处理，must和should的程度就不同。
LR这一阶段应该持续在1个半月到2个月。
第二阶段:
LG buckle down, LR DRIll, RC Manhattan RC+Drill
这个阶段是为了最后的Full time practice做的准备。
LG依然是不断的重复重复再重复， LR要集中处理自己薄弱的环节了。比如Parallel，比如Assumption family，记得要drill ruthlessly，你一旦放过自己的薄弱环节，LSAC就会在考场上狠狠的摧毁你。
RC
1) Read for structure - you've probably heard this before, but it really is the main thing that RC tests you on. When you read the passage, don't focus on the details. Screw the details. You should be able to follow the content of the argument as you go on, but what you should be thinking about is
What was the purpose of that paragraph I just read?
What is the main point (almost always hinted at in the last sentence of paragraph 1)?
What are the opposing views?
How is this paragraph connected to the overall passage, i.e argument flow?
The thing is, once you get good at figuring out what the purpose of each paragraph is, and the order in which the argument flows, it becomes much easier to find the details you're looking for in specific question.
It's much harder, however, to try and figure things like main point and argument flow out AFTER you've finished the passage. Doing so will require a fair bit of rereading, and you'll waste time.
2) Develop a SIMPLE annotation system, but don't rely on it too much.
Honestly, annotations might help, but if you really want to get to the level of acing RC, you can't rely on them, at least in my opinion. You need to be able to hold that information in your head. You only have 7-10 minutes PER passage, and obsessing over annotating is just not that effective within that period.
The thing is, these passages are pretty short.
3) EVERY question has an answer in the text.
That's right. The text wins over your intuition, 100% of the time (Well, except when you simply have no time, but that shouldn't happen if you've practiced enough).
4) PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
5) Isolate your weaknesses and work on them.
If your score is fluctuating like that, you may not have some specific recurring weaknesses. But maybe a certain subject matter always gives you trouble. Maybe science passages go slowly for you. Don't let this be an issue. Read Scientific American, or the Economist, or any well-written magazine in the subject that gives you trouble. Spend 30 minutes a day on their website reading articles.
6) When you review question you missed, go in the passage and find out exactly why your answer was wrong, why any answers you failed to eliminate were wrong, and why the correct answer was right.
上面六条建议应该是RC最中肯的建议了。Manhattan RC建议在读完RC以后要在脑子里有一个map，也就是你清楚地知道每一个段落的作用。这就是第一条建议。
RC拼的就是速度和理解。
Rule #1:Rush your time on easy passages.尝试用5分钟甚至4分钟读完做完第一篇文章
Rule #2:一切答案都在文章，不要YY
建议RC drill一天8篇 back to back，RC是制约大多数人分数的存在。
基本这一阶段就是 LG重复， LR buckle down + RC的back to back drill
关于订正错题
这应该是整个备考阶段最重要的东西
Blind review，在你做错题后，不要记答案，而是重新去做一遍这道题，看看为什么你选的选项是错的。
LR可以采取的方法就是写出来错误的原因。而RC建议找到具体的行，然后用这四个问题来思考并且写在纸上。
搞懂每一个选项，不要放过任何一个漏洞
1) why the right answer is right?
2) why the wrong answers are wrong?
3) what makes me think the right answer is wrong?
4) and what makes me think the wrong answer is right?
3)和4)是非常重要的，这样你可以意识到LSAC的一些trap
第三阶段: Full time practice
终于到了最后的时刻了。
February: (Just to show what has already been done)
(2/4).......... PT 40
(2/15).......... PT 41
(2/18).......... PT 50
(2/25).......... PT 51
March:
(3/2).......... PT 67
(3/9).......... PT 66 and RC from PT 38, Review on 3/10
(3/12).......... PT 52, Review 3/16
(3/14).......... PT 53 and RC from PT 37, Review 3/17
(3/19).......... PT 65, Review 3/23
(3/21).......... PT 64 and RC from PT 36, Review 3/24
(3/26).......... PT 54, Review 3/30
(3/28).......... PT 55 and RC from PT 35, Review 3/31
April:
(4/2).......... PT 56, Review 4/6
(4/4).......... PT 63 and RC from PT 33, Review 4/7
(4/9).......... PT 57, Review 4/13
(4/11).......... PT 58 and RC from PT 32, Review 4/14
(4/16).......... PT 62, Review 4/20
(4/18).......... PT 61 and RC from PT 31, Review 4/21
(4/23).......... PT 59, Review 4/27
(4/25).......... PT 60 and RC from PT 30, Review 4/28
May: the final stretch, all at the test center review
(4/30).......... PT 68, Review 5/4
(5/2).......... PT 43 and RC from PT 29, Review 5/5
(5/7).......... PT 44 and PT 63, Review 5/11
(5/9).......... PT 45 and PT 62, Review 5/12
(5/14).......... PT 46 and Preptest B, Review 5/18
(5/16).......... PT 47 and Preptest C, Review 5/19
(5/21).......... PT 48 and PT 64, Review 5/25
(5/23).......... PT 49 and PT 50, back to back, Review 5/26
(5/28).......... PT 65 and 66, back to back, Review 6/1
(5/30).......... PT 42 and PT 67 back to back, Review 6/2
June:
(6/1 - 6/9).......... Mental prep, more on this when the time comes
(6/10).......... PT 69 at the test center
我的建议是从新的开始做起，新老交叉在一起。
把所有50以后的PT全部做三遍。我认识两个180，一个是Yale的summa cum laude，所有PT做了3遍，另一个是我的朋友，也是所有PT3遍。我自己做了也大概3遍左右。所以记住 LSAT is a lot of hard work.
做PT时候建议去下载一个LSAT proctor的app， IOS上有，大概是9.99美金的样子。
之后按照blind review来执行订正。
Full time PT过程你可能会有心理起伏，这时候可以多找父母或者好朋友吐槽。
另外这个时候可以把结果输入到LSATQA里面，它里面会帮你记录，免去了用excel记录的麻烦。
最后 Test day experience
早点去考场，拿着前一天准备好的LG (几个类型的各准备一个)+若干LR，热身，之后不要过早去排队，尽量晚一点，提前去厕所。准备好表，吃的和ticket。
一些背景
美本，4.0/180
Offer情况, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia with $174000, Duke
Waitlist: Chicago (Withdraw)
I owe much of my success on LSAT to my college and Daily_Double from TLS。特别感谢我的American Literature老师逼着我们大一一周读四本书, American Revolution的老师让我们各种写东西。
Myth #1: LSAT是一个阅读速度和理解力的考试，如果你阅读速度很慢，这将极大制约你的发挥
Myth #2: LSAT是一个以英文为载体考察Critical thinking & Reasoning的考试，所以如果你的英文基本功不过关的话建议多读书。多准备
Myth #3: 这个世界上本没有天翼禀赋一说，你要看到别人之前努力过多少。读过多少书。你现在流的汗水就是你昨天虚度年华脑子里进的水
Myth #4: LSAT准备建议4个月以上。如果你想1个多月挑战自己体能极限的话，我建议还是不要试了。
Myth #5: LSAT is a lot of hard work.
准备工作
单词：LSAT所需要单词应该和SAT基本是持平的，所以如果你词汇量不够1w左右的话建议拿一本Barron 800去看看，这是SAT最核心的词汇。如果LSAT碰到不会的单词就抄在本子上看看就好了
所需材料
Bible (LG+LR仍然需要)
Manhattan LR+RC
LSAT Trainer (这本书非常好强烈推荐)
HB铅笔
一个LSATQA.com的账号
Cambridge Bundle LG+LR 1-38 by type
PT 40 - 71?(到71了？)
Manhattan LSAT forum
Steve LG视频解析
正文
第一阶段：
读Bible LG+LR，并开始下手LG 历时一个半月左右。建议这个期间你好好的读一读Economist和New Yorker，可以为你RC稍微打打基础
我LG是按照Steve的分类来的，Drill的时候基本也一样。其实按照那个都无所谓，各有千秋。
LG Myth: 重复重复再重复。 我1-38的LG Drill了不知道有没有15遍？大概是有吧。我基本每隔一段时间就回去反复的做那些老题，那些pattern非常的明显。 Pure Sequencing，也就是ordering game，你应该在2分钟之内就解决掉。
根据需要看是否适当延长自己的LG节奏，一般45天应该可以读完做完并且drill一部分的LG
LG bible读完后，一直不停的drill LG，这个过程应该持续到你做 Full time practice为止
LR：
在读完Bible以后开始用Manhattan LR drill
建议把LR重新分类
Assumption
Necessary Assumption
Sufficient Assumption
Strengthen
Weaken
Flaw
Evaluate the Argument
Inference
Must Be True
Most Strongly Supported
Complete the Passage
Cannot Be True
Main Conclusion
Point at Issue
Paradox
Principle (Identify)
Principle (Apply)
Structure
Method (Argument)
Method (Statement)
Parallel (Reasoning)
Parallel (Flaw)
Assumption - these questions revolve around a gap, which is to say, there's at least one reason why the core might not necessarily follow from the supporting premises. I try to identify the gap, then come up with an answer, usually I just come up with one and move to the answers, sometimes it's right, usually it's not, but I'm working on that. Anyways, wrong answers for these questions will reverse the logic, or not address the core, although sometimes you do see premise boosters/premise weakeners as correct answers, this is rare though, you just have to eliminate as many as possible on your first pass. There are additional things to look for in these such as a correlation supporting causation, causation in general, conditionality in general, and formal logic.
Inference - these questions require you to use the information provided to you in the stimulus to select an answer which must follow from that information. Scope is your biggest obstacle in these, you have to possess a very narrow sense of scope, cut down the wrong answers, diagram if you must, and remember the information is in the stimulus, and the correct answer will always follow from it. I'll diagram conditional and formal logic, the rest I usually just work from my notations in the stimulus.
Structure - these questions require you to understand the abstract nature of the argument and pay attention to subtle shifts in terms, degree, division, etc. and select an answer which either conforms to the information in the stimulus or to describe it in an abstract fashion. I usually diagram matching questions, argument part questions are usually pretty straightforward.
按照上面的分类开始Drill，先拿下Assumption family，这占了LR考试50%的分量
对于Assumption Family的问题的思考，建议采取这个过程
1, Author makes a statement (conclusion)
2, He draws whatever evidence to support/refute his conclusion
3, Gap?
4, The argument flows logically.
这个过程是可以写在纸上的。也就是先找结论，然后找premise，自己paraphrase一个gap，然后扫选项的节奏。
对于Non-assumption family的Inference question，唯一的技巧就是需要读懂，快速读懂整个paragraph的意思。
而对于Structure question一个小技巧就是从modifier的certainty来处理，must和should的程度就不同。
LR这一阶段应该持续在1个半月到2个月。
第二阶段:
LG buckle down, LR DRIll, RC Manhattan RC+Drill
这个阶段是为了最后的Full time practice做的准备。
LG依然是不断的重复重复再重复， LR要集中处理自己薄弱的环节了。比如Parallel，比如Assumption family，记得要drill ruthlessly，你一旦放过自己的薄弱环节，LSAC就会在考场上狠狠的摧毁你。
RC
1) Read for structure - you've probably heard this before, but it really is the main thing that RC tests you on. When you read the passage, don't focus on the details. Screw the details. You should be able to follow the content of the argument as you go on, but what you should be thinking about is
What was the purpose of that paragraph I just read?
What is the main point (almost always hinted at in the last sentence of paragraph 1)?
What are the opposing views?
How is this paragraph connected to the overall passage, i.e argument flow?
The thing is, once you get good at figuring out what the purpose of each paragraph is, and the order in which the argument flows, it becomes much easier to find the details you're looking for in specific question.
It's much harder, however, to try and figure things like main point and argument flow out AFTER you've finished the passage. Doing so will require a fair bit of rereading, and you'll waste time.
2) Develop a SIMPLE annotation system, but don't rely on it too much.
Honestly, annotations might help, but if you really want to get to the level of acing RC, you can't rely on them, at least in my opinion. You need to be able to hold that information in your head. You only have 7-10 minutes PER passage, and obsessing over annotating is just not that effective within that period.
The thing is, these passages are pretty short.
3) EVERY question has an answer in the text.
That's right. The text wins over your intuition, 100% of the time (Well, except when you simply have no time, but that shouldn't happen if you've practiced enough).
4) PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
5) Isolate your weaknesses and work on them.
If your score is fluctuating like that, you may not have some specific recurring weaknesses. But maybe a certain subject matter always gives you trouble. Maybe science passages go slowly for you. Don't let this be an issue. Read Scientific American, or the Economist, or any well-written magazine in the subject that gives you trouble. Spend 30 minutes a day on their website reading articles.
6) When you review question you missed, go in the passage and find out exactly why your answer was wrong, why any answers you failed to eliminate were wrong, and why the correct answer was right.
上面六条建议应该是RC最中肯的建议了。Manhattan RC建议在读完RC以后要在脑子里有一个map，也就是你清楚地知道每一个段落的作用。这就是第一条建议。
RC拼的就是速度和理解。
Rule #1:Rush your time on easy passages.尝试用5分钟甚至4分钟读完做完第一篇文章
Rule #2:一切答案都在文章，不要YY
建议RC drill一天8篇 back to back，RC是制约大多数人分数的存在。
基本这一阶段就是 LG重复， LR buckle down + RC的back to back drill
关于订正错题
这应该是整个备考阶段最重要的东西
Blind review，在你做错题后，不要记答案，而是重新去做一遍这道题，看看为什么你选的选项是错的。
LR可以采取的方法就是写出来错误的原因。而RC建议找到具体的行，然后用这四个问题来思考并且写在纸上。
搞懂每一个选项，不要放过任何一个漏洞
1) why the right answer is right?
2) why the wrong answers are wrong?
3) what makes me think the right answer is wrong?
4) and what makes me think the wrong answer is right?
3)和4)是非常重要的，这样你可以意识到LSAC的一些trap
第三阶段: Full time practice
终于到了最后的时刻了。
先贴上我的schedule
February: (Just to show what has already been done)
(2/4).......... PT 40
(2/15).......... PT 41
(2/18).......... PT 50
(2/25).......... PT 51
March:
(3/2).......... PT 67
(3/9).......... PT 66 and RC from PT 38, Review on 3/10
(3/12).......... PT 52, Review 3/16
(3/14).......... PT 53 and RC from PT 37, Review 3/17
(3/19).......... PT 65, Review 3/23
(3/21).......... PT 64 and RC from PT 36, Review 3/24
(3/26).......... PT 54, Review 3/30
(3/28).......... PT 55 and RC from PT 35, Review 3/31
April:
(4/2).......... PT 56, Review 4/6
(4/4).......... PT 63 and RC from PT 33, Review 4/7
(4/9).......... PT 57, Review 4/13
(4/11).......... PT 58 and RC from PT 32, Review 4/14
(4/16).......... PT 62, Review 4/20
(4/18).......... PT 61 and RC from PT 31, Review 4/21
(4/23).......... PT 59, Review 4/27
(4/25).......... PT 60 and RC from PT 30, Review 4/28
May: the final stretch, all at the test center review
(4/30).......... PT 68, Review 5/4
(5/2).......... PT 43 and RC from PT 29, Review 5/5
(5/7).......... PT 44 and PT 63, Review 5/11
(5/9).......... PT 45 and PT 62, Review 5/12
(5/14).......... PT 46 and Preptest B, Review 5/18
(5/16).......... PT 47 and Preptest C, Review 5/19
(5/21).......... PT 48 and PT 64, Review 5/25
(5/23).......... PT 49 and PT 50, back to back, Review 5/26
(5/28).......... PT 65 and 66, back to back, Review 6/1
(5/30).......... PT 42 and PT 67 back to back, Review 6/2
June:
(6/1 - 6/9).......... Mental prep, more on this when the time comes
(6/10).......... PT 69 at the test center
我的建议是从新的开始做起，新老交叉在一起。
把所有50以后的PT全部做三遍。我认识两个180，一个是Yale的summa cum laude，所有PT做了3遍，另一个是我的朋友，也是所有PT3遍。我自己做了也大概3遍左右。所以记住 LSAT is a lot of hard work.
做PT时候建议去下载一个LSAT proctor的app， IOS上有，大概是9.99美金的样子。
之后按照blind review来执行订正。
Full time PT过程你可能会有心理起伏，这时候可以多找父母或者好朋友吐槽。
另外这个时候可以把结果输入到LSATQA里面，它里面会帮你记录，免去了用excel记录的麻烦。
最后 Test day experience
早点去考场，拿着前一天准备好的LG (几个类型的各准备一个)+若干LR，热身，之后不要过早去排队，尽量晚一点，提前去厕所。准备好表，吃的和ticket。
Good luck with your LSAT prep. Fighting.
原文作者：crazyrobin
原文链接：http://bbs.gter.net/thread-1699964-1-1.html
寄托天下原创 转载请注明出处
- 相关阅读
- 寄托热选