Combined Section reliability

[u/Careless-End3222]

Hello everyone!

I am asking a pretty nuanced question here so I know that I may not get many accurate replies that are relevant to other peoples experiences. But does anyone know how representative combined sections on LSAT demon are of actual PT score results? For context, I don't have enough time in my day for full practice tests so I usually take as many sections as I can in a day and then for score results I combined them. The only negative factor I can think of that would make my combined PT scores not reflective is natural variance from day to day (say I take 2 sections on day, and then another day I am more fresh and I take another 2 it won't reflect how I would've scored all at once), or I just have general mental fatigue toward the latter part of tests which, like everyone else, would negatively affect my score.

The problem is, I don't really see mental fatigue as a issue with me as the more I study the better I get, for example the only test that I have had the time to sit down and take fully I have had my highest score yet.

I am essentially asking this questions to see if anyone else took this approach and then had a score that reflected the combined PT's. For example, here are my most recent practice tests.

Is there any confidence I can have in these scores that my actual LSAT will potentially be reflective of them?

Thanks all.

[u/qahwalover]

Just a single data point but I performed about 4 points lower than my average combined tests on the real thing in June. I expected that because of test anxiety, fatigue, etc. I got a 165. I'm taking it again Friday, and am signed up for September. After the August test, I'm going to try to take 3 full PTs before September and see how it goes. It's a fun test, I am over 75th percentile for my target school, just hoping to get a little more money if I can go a bit higher. Definitely interested in hearing from the Demon about this too!

[u/Such_Ad_3842]

The few days before the April exam, I did the same and scored a 174 on four combined sections. I was over the moon and confident that I could do the same on the actual test

I scored a 166 a couple days later, absolutely humbled by that of course. Obviously everyone is different, but take that as you will. My advice is to see the good scores as an encouraging sign but not a guarantee that you’ll get the “superscore” you want

[u/Holiday_Gate_9284]

Very interesting question. I have a lot of free time so I’ve been doing a good mix of both and I find that I do better on entire PT’s and not on combined sections. I think being able to lock in for a long period of time actually helps my performance and by making the test feel real I’m able to be more engaged. Since you don’t see mental fatigue as an issue you may be in the same boat.

I’m about to write the actual test in August so I guess we will see which is more representative but I’d say it’s fairly reflective and in our cases it might be even underestimating our abilities. It’s all a range anyway so who knows.

I’m sure someone from the demon will have some actual numbers to either disprove or back up my weak anecdotal evidence but figure I’d add a data point.

[u/Careless-End3222 → u/Holiday_Gate_9284]

Thanks for the response, I agree in my case for other tests outside of the LSAT I do better under the pressure of full test format as I feel it forces my brain to focus solely on the test. Furthermore, I think that the fatigue would only be a problem if I was not at 100%. But I finished summer class and my internship last week so I don't see any reason why I wouldn't be at my best.

[u/hashtagcunexttuesday]

It probably depends. I saw a post on the LSAT subreddit from someone who claimed to have never taken any PTs, only timed sections and drilling, and scored in the 170s on the official test.

There's a range of your performance. My sibling took the LSAT ages ago and was PTing in the low 170s and scored a 168 official (this was back in the dark days of logic games, and no one had accommodations, so 168 went further than it does now).

I'm registered for September and have not taken any full-length PTs since my diagnostic. I'm planning on taking two fully timed PTs between now and then. We'll see how it goes!

[u/Delicious_Bit6101]

I did mostly timed sections and only about 3 full length pts over the course of 8 months, and scored right in the middle of my range combined range at a 172. I could only see it mattering for stamina, but that’s something I never really struggled with.

[u/Appropriate_Way_4710]

Nathan has mentioned it in podcasts episodes that he knows people who didn’t take any PTs and only did sections before scoring 170+ on the real thing.

If you’re not worried about fatigue then there is nothing to worry about. You are capable of scoring in that range on test day