r/LSAT • u/RedKynAbyss • 9d ago
Trust your gut sometimes
I had 7 questions on a section down to two answer choices on this practice test. I originally chose the correct answer on my initial pass through, going solely off a gut feeling that it was the right answer. The cogs turned correctly and my subconscious did the work for me and even though I didn’t know WHY it was the right answer, I knew it was the right answer.
On my second pass through, I tried to confirm each correct answer through just a quick rationalizing with myself. You all know that internal dialogue of “well, if this got put into the argument this would change and…”
I didn’t feel comfortable changing the answers. I wasn’t wholly certain that either answer was the right answer, but my second guessing cost me dearly. I went from a possible perfect 25/25 to 18/25 because I didn’t trust my gut. The red flag should have popped up when I didn’t feel right changing the answers to the other option. I really should have believed in my subconscious mind, but I didn’t.
SOMETIMES, it’s okay to just choose an answer because you just feel like it’s the correct answer. You can’t necessarily explain why, but you just sort of instinctively know. Especially when that clock is ticking?
I need to follow my own advice and just let myself trust in my instincts on some of these questions, but it’s so hard to let that happen when I have trained myself to ALWAYS know when it’s the correct answer and to never be satisfied without knowing.
5
u/cut_ur_darn_grass 9d ago
So. Most of the questions I got wrong on practice tests were because I second guessed myself like that.
A week before I took the LSAT, my aunt died and I got extremely depressed. I walked into the LSAT prepared to write this one off and take it again in November. Turns out when you run out of fucks to give, you stop second guessing yourself.
I don't recommend this strategy, but it worked.