UPDATE: Waivers are permitted, you may use your old MBE score for the February 2015 bar exam.
There is a considerable amount of concern around the DC Bar Exam for this February as Federal Civil Procedure is being added to the MBE for the first time as a 7th subject. The primary area of concern is around test takers who have previously (within 2 years) taken a bar exam and scored a 133 or higher on the MBE. Normally, DC allows these folks to waive in their score and not take the MBE, allowing them to take only the essay day. However, the Committee on Admissions Rules state that if the subjects on the MBE change then this does not have to be permitted. The DC Committee on Admissions has previously stated that they are only observing the 2 year rule and waivers would be permitted for this February. However, after speaking in detail with the office they have not yet finalized their official position for this Feb 2015. They have indicated they will do so by the first week of January. The best thing to do now if you were planning on waiving in your MBE score is to apply for the exam and fill out the forms to waive in your MBE score as if nothing has changed. If the committee changes its mind and does not allow waivers for anyone this time, you will be notified during the first week of January (or thereabouts) and will need to send in payment for the MBE and take the entire exam in February.
As for study preparation, this is a very individual decision. If you have previously scored a 133 or higher, you may be able to put off studying for the MBE until we know officially from the Committee on Admissions whether or not waivers will be allowed. However, if you barely got a 133 and are not as comfortable in your MBE abilities, you will probably want to hedge your bets and start studying for the MBE at the same time as you begin studying for the essays. The good news is MBE subjects are tested on the MEE (Essays) so you are not completely wasting your time if the waivers end up being allowed.
I will post more here as I hear from the Committee. I know this is a frustrating situation for anyone who was considering only taking the essay day in February but we have to wait until the committee gives its official position.
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