James Bond on Dial-up (Ep. 144)
The June test is behind us all and, well, it’s been eerily quiet in Nathan’s and Ben’s inboxes. The guys are guessing this means the test went pretty well for most folks, even though Nathan received a frantic email about canceling scores. Ben and Nathan go on to discuss their upcoming Thinking LSAT live course in NYC on July 14-15, they give a couple PSAs about the test from your fellow listeners, they dish some news about a class-action lawsuit regarding Halo Top, discuss whether there are benefits to untimed practice, and answer your burning LSAT-related questions. Plus, Ben shares an article about shifting your mindset when it comes to test anxiety.
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23:20 – Email 1—After dealing Ben a few backhanded insults, James Bond writes in with a helpful PSA to all you test-takers out there. It turns out LSAC only allows access to disclosed tests that you have taken for six months. After that, they’re gone. So if you are interested in reviewing a recent test, make sure you download it right away. And, of course, make sure you save it on Dropbox or something so you have it backed up! He also asks the guys to create an LSAT timer for accommodated test takers. Spoiler alert, dear listeners: it’s coming this week.
33:12 – Email 2—Well well well. All of Halo Top’s bullshit marketing claims about being ice cream are finally coming under fire. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Halo Top due to their spurious claims of being a full-fledged iced cream. Good riddance, we say! Some listeners have written in to encourage Nathan to become a lead plaintiff in the case. But with the choice words Nathan has for lawyers and law suits, there’s a halo-top-scoop’s chance in hell that’s gonna happen.
38:22 – Email 3—Another helpful tip from the field! Listener Jessica has some kick-ass information for everyone. After reviewing the LSAC website, Jessica found that you can indeed withdraw from the July LSAT and get a full refund if you took the June test and you’re satisfied with your score. Similarly, if you take the July LSAT and receive a great score, but you’ve already signed up for the September test, you can withdraw from the September exam and get your money back. Pretty effing great, don’t you think? There’s seriously no reason not to sign up for the September test if you’re planning on taking the July LSAT. Just do it. Give yourself more options to go to law school for free. The guys discuss Jessica’s excellent writing, and then go on to ponder the realities of working for LSAC.
47:03 – Email 4—Not too long ago, Nathan and one of his students got into a verbal scuffle over timed vs. untimed practice tests. As any longtime Thinking LSAT listener will know, the guys vehemently oppose untimed practice exams. Their argument is: practice under the same conditions as test day, and you’ll perform better when test day arrives. Nathan’s student feels differently. She believes that taking the LSAT untimed can give you confidence in your ability to perform well on the test. She argues that this will reduce your anxiety around taking the test because you know that you’re capable of achieving a high score. She offers not one, but three articles to back up her position.
http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-54548-001
http://www.tpmap.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/20.2.2.pdf
https://www.explorepsychology.com/single-blind-study/
1:02:32 – Email 5—E. asks the guys if they’ll take a look at her GPA addendum and offer feedback. The guys customarily shred the statement to pieces and offer some advice: deliver your argument briefly using specific facts, and then advocate your position with your best foot forward.
1:14:27 – Email 6—Annet’s been working hard on the LSAT. He’s been using Ben’s Score Tracker, watching videos, and practicing with consistency. And while he’s been doing OK on LG, he wants to know how he can get faster. It’s his most accurate section, but he can only really get through two games. Nathan and Ben share how they improved their speed and offer some advice for Annet. The pro tip is just to keep at it. Work hard. Fail. Learn. And repeat until things start to click. Then you won’t be “speeding up” – the answers will just come to you faster.
1:22:54 – Email 7—Are you ready to get some serious advice from “the most knowledgeable LSAT instructor in the world”? Well tune the fuck in. Katie shares a transcript of a law-school-themed podcast in which the host of the program encourages test takers to blaze through the test because, among several other considerations, “there’s no other exam where finishing is more important.” Ben and Nathan flay these serious turds of wisdom.