10 Essential Tips for Surviving the Bar Exam

Prepare yourself for the bar exam and you will survive it. Keep reading for 10 essential tips for surviving the bar exam.

Graduates hoping to practice law in the United States must take the bar exam. The test aims to evaluate the competency of candidates in their area of jurisdiction. In 2018, first-time takers of the examination had a pass rate of 74.82%, compared to 77.34% in 2017.

The set of questions that comes each year is different, and individuals from various schools vary in performance. Anyone can pass or fail the bar exam.

What matters most is the preparedness before taking the test. It takes hard work, diligence, and knowing the pitfalls to avoid.

If a forthcoming bar exam is making you nervous? We will take you through the preparation period and instruct you on how to approach the test when it comes. Here is our advice.

1. Get Rid of Distractions

Assess yourself and determine how you work best. Plan your day right from the time to get up, your venue for studying, and define the revising hours. Create a schedule of what you will study and when you will do it.

Starting early works best for most students, especially those who want to study as they work. Also, candidates who didn’t do well at law school or the anxious type may need plenty of time to revise.

If taking a paid course, you may have to go by the program’s calendar, but it should be in phase with your interests. Taking control of your studies will ease anxiety, and it will be less-stressful to follow the schedule.

2. Take Time Off

Preparation for the bar exam can alter your day to day activities in significant ways. You may not have enough time for your family and friends. Inform those who matter that you won’t be available as frequently as before, so you could miss some events.

If there are some time-consuming activities bestowed to you, seek help beforehand and explain your reasons. Let everybody understand that you are dedicating a significant chunk of your time to your studies for a particular period. Discussing your position informs your loved ones and reduces the risk of breaking relationships.

Studying for the bar exam and working can be strenuous. If employed, consider taking time off work, or see how you can reduce your working hours. Find a way to make up for lost time if you must be at your job.

3. Study How You Like

One issue with students is following the methods advised in a course religiously even if they don’t work for them. You don’t have to do everything, or you will be wasting time, and money if in a commercial course.

Some people can read a handout of hundreds of pages per lecture, while others will prefer Barbri AMP. Others will listen to talks the whole day and absorb nothing, yet it’s about familiar topics.

Understand that it’s fine to skip unhelpful things and spend more time on practical techniques. Many first-time bar exam candidates appreciate this when it is too late, especially those in commercial courses. They waste time following the to-do-list as is and realize they haven’t been gaining much some weeks to the examination.

4. Gather Quality Study Materials

However hard you work, the quality of the content you read will impact your performance significantly. The organization of your materials is paramount. If you cannot comprehend the outlines, make your own or buy alternatives.

Understanding your area of study begins with recalling what you studied in law school. Leverage it with a course or hire a private tutor, and you’re home free.

During the bar exam, you will have to remember many things; therefore, memorizing what you study is essential. Many students skip this critical part of learning due to the burden they assume from most commercial courses.

They take multiple lectures, reading and writing assignments, AMPs, and practice problems, all in quick succession. For this reason, the learner goes from understanding straight to practicing questions.

Grasping a few principles cannot guarantee you a pass in the bar exam. You must revisit your outlines and take breaks rather than skimming through a load of materials and learning nothing.

5. Evaluate Your Progress Weekly

Take some time every week to find out if what you are doing is bearing fruit. Are you furthering any of your goals? If no, identify your impediments and get rid of them. You can also seek help from qualified lawyers at Verhaeghe Law Office for guidance and exam tips.

If a lecture, for example, is awful, don’t waste more time watching it, or if you hate AMP, drop it. Don’t spend too all the time on subjects that you understand in depth. Strive to improve yourself, and you can do this by learning and perfecting new things.

By defining the areas you need to put effort and employing the effective learning techniques, your studies will be smooth. You won’t have to spend all day perusing handouts or listening to lecturers.

6. Practice MBE, MPT, and Essay Questions

It’s essential to practice the kind of questions found in bar examinations, particularly the MBE, MPT, and essay questions. They are many, so you should start reviewing them early and frequently. Don’t wait until you think you are ready.

Know the most assessed areas of law. For instance, you will find that criminal procedure, negligence, and individual rights constitute about half of MBE. Shift your focus there.

When taking practice questions, you might get tempted to do it quick to cover as many as possible. Many students set high targets such as 50 and above per day. It’s not helpful if you don’t retain much.

Slow down to understand the question and think it through to answer it to your level best. Most areas require critical thinking, though you can be reasonably fast if you are knowledgeable about the subject.

7. Dealing with Incorrect Answers

When you issue an incorrect answer, find out where you went wrong. Examine the choices provided and the explanation for each to understand why yours is not right. Do the same even when you answer correctly to see if your reasoning agrees with the provided justification.

If it’s a multiple-choice question that you went wrong, put it down. Writing the law you don’t understand, or the reason you failed can improve your retention of the subject. You won’t just be copying the answer, but you will be conceptualizing the idea too.

You will also realize why you are giving the wrong answers. If you are incorrect because you were too fast, learn to take your time. If you answered based on your hypothesis, revisit your notes.

You have learned how to prepare for the bar exam. The next three tips will revolve around the day of your examination. Let’s see what you will need.

8. Prepare Enough Supplies in Advance

Find out what you need to bring to the exam room. To start with, know the protocol of your center since the rules may vary. You may not remember all the things you will require, so make a list.

Pack things like pens, pencils, erasers, extra clothes, and other essentials a day before the exam. It’s better to have extra than a shortage. And, can you forget your ID?

Think about snacks and fluids to keep you running through the day. Again, the rules of the center will dictate what you can bring in and what you cannot. Don’t attempt to sneak any prohibited items, lest you get yourself in trouble.

9. Be Punctual

Your center can recommend a hotel where you should spend the night before the examination. If it doesn’t, find a room a few minutes to the venue.

Get up early and spare enough time to get you to the exam on time. The last thing you want is some inconvenience, like a traffic jam or a tire puncture in the morning.

Visit the testing center and explore the hall in advance. You will want to have a picture of where you will be sitting for the next few days. The orientation will help your mind to relax and prevent last minute panics.

10. Taking the Test

Be sharp and read the questions carefully. You could scan through a problem and assume it is the very same one you memorized yesterday, yet there’s a little alteration. The minor twist could get you selecting the wrong answer.

Watch your time too since you are taking a timed test. Some centers may have timers that you can view from any point in the room, but bring yours just in case. If you finish before time, why not give the paper another run as you confirm your answers?

Final Thoughts

Bar exam requires adequate, organized preparation. The questions are tricky, yet they cover multiple subjects. Therefore, you need to have a solid plan, like the one outlined in this post to pass.

Determination is critical when preparing for the examination. You have to sacrifice many good times and working hours and devote them to revision. However, the loss is nothing compared to earning the green light to practice law in your favorite field.

Considering the number of tests you have had to take in your life, you can pass the bar exam too. If you fail, prepare more adequately and take another shot.

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