With just about 6 weeks left until the February 2012 bar exam, I wanted to share some advice and thoughts for all the bar exam takers out there.
First of all, if you have been putting off studying until now, stop putting it off. The bar exam is not something many people can cram for. It requires many weeks of studying to retain the large amount of material that will be tested. If you have started studying, but have been letting other things (work, personal life, travel, etc.) prevent you from studying as much as you had planned, this is the time to really prioritize your study time and create a plan and stick to it.
Speaking of a plan, everyone should have a plan for the bar exam. You need to focus on your weak areas, prioritize those areas along with heavily tested subject areas. Few people have the time or stamina to spend months and months studying every day to learn every subject equally, so we must make trade offs. Those of us who work full time have one of the biggest challenges as juggling a full time job and studying for the bar don’t mix too well. So, come up with a plan of how many hours a day you can realistically study and stick to it. No excuses. If you are serious about passing the bar exam, then excuses should not be part of your universe.
For DC bar exam takers, I can tell you to not underestimate the MBE or MPT. The MBE is a very difficult exam for most people. It’s 200 questions in 6 hours (1.8 minutes per question) that test fine line knowledge of 6 major subjects. The MPT is a closed universe of law but it requires practice and sharp legal research and writing skills. It’s a speed reading and speed writing exercise. And, since you cannot use a laptop, you are either handwriting or using a typewriter. Either one is probably not something many of us are used to doing so keep that in mind.
For VA bar exam takers, realize that Virginia is, in my opinion, the hardest bar exam in the country. They test a huge number of subjects (almost 30) and the essays are very well written and the graders are usually looking for a clear and concise answer (i.e. – B.S. on the VA bar exam won’t get you far). So, be sure you know the format of the VA bar exam well so you are not surprised on test day. They recently switched and instead of testing 20 multiple choice and short answer questions, they now are testing 10 multiple choice and short answer questions.
Also, for VA takers, be sure and read the laptop or handwritten instruction letter carefully. The bar examiners have a strict dress code (yes, you must wear a suit and tie) and what you bring into the exam room is strictly controlled.
11 replies on “6 weeks until the Feb 2012 bar exam”
Has anyone received their application confirmation letters from the bar examiners yet? I know admission tickets aren’t sent until a couple weeks before the exam.
You say prioritize the bar over work, but I am currently working at a small firm and they understanding that I am taking the bar, but yet I can’t leave before 5.30 – 6. I also don’t want my work to suffer, because lets be serious, I am as fungible as they come. I started studying after Christmas, but I feel that I don’t know anything, because when I do get home, I am exhausted, and then I study for another 5 hours, but I just don’t feel it seeping in as well as it did when I passed my first bar. OVerall, I am freaking out right now, and worried that I might get fired if I don’t pass, and I actually don’t feel like I am going to pass, simply because there aren’t enough hours in the day to study the 500 subjects Virginia tests on. Any kind of calming advice you may have is appreciated. Now its back to studying.
Here are a few good pieces of advice for you:
1) First, try not to freak out. Also, stop feeling that you are not going to pass. I know it is impossible to “stop feeling” a certain way, but having negative thoughts and stressing does not help. So, just realize that you will do your best and the outcome will be what it is. Worrying and stressing will not help you pass :)
2) Prioritize! If you don’t have the time to study all 25+ subjects, then focus on the most heavily tested ones. No one has the time to learn everything 100% for any bar exam, but we pass because you don’t need to know 100% for the bar exam, more like 60-70%. Keep that in perspective.
3) Don’t burn yourself out. Many people have failed because they worked + studied 20+ hours a day non-stop and by the time the exam came around they were so exhausted they could not think. You must balance your personal health with your work + studying schedule. Do the best you can and be happy with that. Good luck!
Well this is a valid question, do you think I have enough time, I mean I regret everyday that I should have started studying one, two or three weeks earlier, just to have more times to cram this crap into my head, but at this point I just study as much as possible, but I know that it is highly unlikely that I pass, considering having started late, the amount of time I work and VA’s ridiculously low passage rate.At this point any encouraging stories, personal experiences are handy.
As stated in the previous comment, it’s not a good idea to think that you will not pass, so try and stay positive. Everyone needs a different amount of time to study for the bar exam. As far as an encouraging story goes, I know people who studied 2 weeks before the exam and passed, so anything is possible.
Has anyone received their application confirmation letters? Mine’s not here yet lol I’m seating for DC by the way…
No, I haven’t received my DC application confirmation or admission ticket either. However, I believe the admission tickets aren’t actually sent out until about February 10th.
According to the folks at the addmissions office, they mailed the tickets out this past Friday.
Ah, great … thanks for the info! Best of luck to you on the exam.
I am in the same boat with the previous poster re: VA bar exam. It’s impossible to find a balance b/c I work so much – I am trying to focus on the essays since they are worth 60% in VA. Really worried they will test on some obscure piece of law that I’ve never seen before.
If they do test on some obscure piece of law then most others taking the exam will not know the answer either and of course, it will just be a few points on one essay. Don’t stress.