Law Schools

20 Questions Answered About The Bar Exam

Make sure you research the specific requirements in your jurisdiction and formulate financial and study plans ASAP.

By  
on

Okay, we aren’t actually going to play 20 questions, but I am going to provide answers to 20 frequently asked bar exam questions. That is just as fun, right?

  1. What is the Uniform Bar Exam? According to the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) website, “The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is coordinated by the NCBE and is composed of the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), two Multistate Performance Test (MPT tasks), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score that can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions.” Thirty jurisdictions have adopted the UBE to date. You can learn more about the UBE here.
  2. What is the Multistate Bar Exam? The Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) is a 200-question multiple-choice test that is administered on the last Wednesday of July and February.
  3. What is the Multistate Essay Exam? The Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) is a 6-question essay test that is administered in the afternoon of the last Tuesday of July and February.
  4. What is the Multistate Performance Test? The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is a 2-question practical exam that is administered in the morning of the last Tuesday of July and February.
  5. How many MBE questions do I need to complete during my bar exam prep? I recommend you aim for 3,000 and be satisfied with crossing the 2,500 mark.
  6. How many essays do I need to complete during my bar exam prep? Generally, I suggest you write 20-30 essays under timed, exam-like conditions. At a minimum, you should write 2 essays on each subject.
  7. How many MPTs do I need to complete during bar exam prep? Depending on your familiarity and comfort level with the MPT, aim to complete between 4 and 8 practice tests.
  8. Which jurisdiction should I take the bar exam in? Should I take the bar exam in more than one jurisdiction? If you have a post-grad job offer, you should take the bar exam in that jurisdiction. If you don’t quite know where you will be working, take the exam where you hope to practice. With the emergence of the UBE, it is no longer common (or even possible in some jurisdictions) to take more than one bar exam in the same administration. Check the websites of the jurisdictions you are interested in to learn about score transfers and the process it entails. Also, note that some jurisdictions have additional requirements to pass their bar exam.
  9. When do I need to start studying? Typically, bar exam prep starts at the end May for the July administration and the end of December for the February administration. If you will be working during bar prep or have other significant time commitments (which is highly discouraged), you will want to start studying earlier.
  10. Where should I study? Somewhere quiet. J/K. But seriously, give some thought to this question. You need to study somewhere that is conducive to long hours of learning and memorization with little to no distractions. Only you know whether that is a busy coffee shop or a silent library.
  11. How much money will bar prep cost? A lot. When thinking about how much to budget for the bar exam, consider the following: bar prep course cost, bar exam fees, character and fitness fees, laptop fees, living expenses, and travel and accommodations expenses.  All of these expenses can easily add up to $5,000 or more, so it is important to plan ahead for how you will pay for them.
  12. Do I really have to give up my entire social life? Well, yeah. Kind of. Look, bar prep only lasts for 8-10 weeks. Remind yourself: short-term sacrifice, long-term gain. The last thing you want to do is have regrets about how you spent your precious time during bar review.
  13. Should I handwrite or type the exam? Most people these days type the bar exam due to convenience and being accustomed to it. That being said, you should do what feels most comfortable for you. If you have always handwritten your tests, you should handwrite the bar exam. Whichever method you choose, make sure you practice in the same way you intend to take the exam. Also, if you are handwriting, make sure you have legible penmanship.  And if you are typing, you should have some practice in handwriting just in case there is a Doomsday scenario with your computer during the bar exam and you must switch to handwriting the exam. A friend of mine had her laptop crash at the very beginning of the bar exam. She debated walking out, as she thought to herself, “I will never finish if I handwrite.” She took a minute to calm her nerves and jumped into handwriting. And she passed!
  14. Should I study alone or with a group? In my experience, bar prep is more of a solo activity. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t study “near” a friend, take breaks together, and bounce ideas off of one another. But, in terms of day-to-day study, it is best for you to focus on only your own bar exam needs.
  15. Which bar review company should I choose? There is a high degree of personal preference involved in choosing a bar review course, and there are several excellent options on the market. The best advice I can give you is to ask a lot of questions before you sign on the dotted line. Some questions to ask: How many practice questions are available? How many essays do you grade? When do I get my books? Do you offer a repeater course or discount? What is your pass rate?
  16. When do I need to do to apply for the bar exam? What about my character and fitness application? Application deadlines vary widely by jurisdiction. I suggest looking them up at least one year before you intend to sit for the bar exam. Character and fitness deadlines can be the same or different from the bar exam deadline. For example, some jurisdictions don’t even allow you to submit your character and fitness application until you pass the bar exam, while others require it before you are even allowed to sit for the test.
  17. How many hours do I need to study?  500-600 hours. Yes, you read that right. It is a lot of hours. But that is what is required for you to master the test.
  18. Can I call myself a lawyer as soon as I pass the bar exam? It depends, but probably not. In most jurisdictions, you cannot call yourself a lawyer until you have completed all admissions requirements. The requirements typically include passing the bar exam, passing the MPRE, completing a character and fitness process, maybe having an interview, and being formally sworn in.
  19. How important are the videos? Okay, no one ever asks this question. But this answer is SO important that I fake asked myself. The answer is: the videos that all bar review companies provide are the least important part of bar review. Do NOT get wrapped up in the videos and allow them to suck up all of your time. That being said, you do need to watch them and absorb what is being said.
  20. Do you think I will pass the bar exam? Yes. Well, actually I couldn’t possibly know the answer to this question. But, I do know that you are already on the right track by seeking out information such as this article and are now armed with much more knowledge about the bar exam and preparation. Continue to build on this by researching the specific requirements in your jurisdiction and formulating financial and study plans.

Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at info@vincoprep.com.

Sponsored

Topics

, , , ,