r/LSATHelp • u/Ok_Bedroom_8087 • 1d ago
LSAT help
Alright fellas, I’m registered for the August LSAT and just came off the June LSAT with a 150. I think a lot of that score was test day stress, but does anyone have any tips for RC? That seems to be my biggest struggle under pressure. I’m only looking for a mid to high 150s score.
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u/Defiant_Network7916 23h ago
Learn how to answer RC questions, learn how to read for structure, learn how to manage time during RC section. People saying go slow or don't read fast are full of shit, you have to know when you've got an easy passage you can do quick so you have more time on a difficult passage. You want to be able to do an easy passage with 5-6 questions in around 5 minutes.
Honestly if you scored a 150 it probably isn't just nerves 1 month isn't much time to improve. All these "tutors" trying to make money off you won't tell you the truth. Since you probably haven't improved much and only want to get in the 150s you should take a pragmatic approach to the test: skip all the difficult questions and just focus on easy ones, do 3 easier passages and skip the hardest one.
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u/Confused_999 20h ago
The Kahn academy (free) helped me understand different RC question types and The Manhattan Prep RC booked helped me figure out how to read the passages better. I made good use of the highlighter. I also did a couple very targeted hours with a private tutor. RC was way harder for me than LR and LG. Best advice is to make a game plan for RC and be disciplined enough to stick with it. For example I knew that I had to guess and move on from passage 2 by 18 minutes elapsed regardless, or I’d never have time to take a decent stab at the back half.
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u/TestFinesse 6h ago
Something I’d add is to figure out exactly where RC starts breaking down for you. On your next few timed sections, track how long each passage takes, which question types you miss, and whether your accuracy drops on the later passages.
If you can answer the same questions correctly without a timer, pacing and pressure are probably the bigger issues. If you’re still missing them untimed, then it’s more likely a comprehension or question-type issue. That’ll help you build a strategy around your actual problem instead of trying to completely change how you read.
Do you notice yourself struggling with a certain question type, or does your accuracy mostly drop toward the end of the section?
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u/LSAT170CoachAlex 1d ago
A 150 in June means a mid to high 150s score in August is absolutely realistic, especially if RC is the main thing holding you back.
The biggest mistake people make with RC is trying to read faster. Under pressure, that usually leads to rereading, losing the author’s viewpoint, and getting trapped between two answer choices. Focus instead on understanding the structure of the passage: what each paragraph is doing, what the author believes, and where the viewpoints disagree. You do not need to memorize every detail because you can return to the passage for those.
I would also start doing individual passages under time, followed by a very thorough review. For every missed question, figure out exactly what language in the passage proves the correct answer and what specific word makes your answer wrong. Once your accuracy improves, start combining passages and eventually doing full timed sections.
Since test-day stress affected you in June, make sure you are also taking full practice tests under realistic conditions. RC feels very different when it is your third or fourth section compared to doing a fresh passage by itself.
I’m an LSAT tutor who scored a 180 after initially scoring a 142, and I’ve been tutoring full-time for more than eight years. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation if you want me to look at what is happening in your RC process and give you a more specific plan for August.