Law Schools

Don’t Forget To Do These 5 Things The Week Before The Bar Exam

If you ignore all the other advice in this article, follow this one piece: Do NOT study the day before the bar exam.

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The February 2019 bar exam starts in seven days. There I said it. I didn’t want to, but it needed to be done. Now that we are all operating with the same level of urgency, let’s discuss a few important things you must do this week to save yourself a bunch of headaches and stress.

1. Confirm all travel plans

No matter where you are taking the bar exam, there is some degree of travel involved (even if it is just a short drive or train ride). If you are commuting the day of the exam, look up your travel route and see if there is any scheduled construction or maintenance. Also look up potential alternative ways to get there in the event that something unexpected comes up.

If you are traveling a significant distance for the exam, now is the time to confirm your transportation (train, plain, rental car, bus, ferry, etc.) and hotel plans. Make sure that all your confirmations have the correct dates and times on them. When in doubt, call and talk to someone to confirm.

2. Make a test day checklist

It would be very stressful to show up on test day without something you need. The best way to ward against this happening is to make a checklist. Every jurisdiction is different as to what is allowed or prohibited. Be sure to double-check what you must have and what you are allowed to have with you. Some common items to bring include:

  • Any admission documents you need (ticket, ID, etc.)
  • Laptop and charger
  • Pens, pencils, and highlighters
  • Earplugs
  • An analog watch
  • Any medication you may need
  • Water bottle (you may need to peel off labels)
  • Snacks 
  • A comfy outfit
  • Feminine care products (if applicable)

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Equally as important is knowing what not to bring in with you.  The most important thing for you to not bring anywhere near the testing room is your cell phone. If it is at all possible, just leave it home. If that’s not feasible, come up with a game plan as to where you will leave it because most testing facilities do not offer anywhere to store your belongings.

Also, if you will be traveling for the exam and spending a few nights out of town, you may want to make another general packing list so you don’t forget anything important back home.

3. Plan out what you will do the day before the bar exam

There is basically no studying you can do the day before the exam that will help you,  but there are lots of things you can do that will hurt you. If you ignore all the other advice in this article, follow this one piece: Do NOT study the day before the bar exam. Seriously. And if you are going to ignore THAT as well, at least don’t do any practice questions. You’ve got to give your brain the opportunity to rest and fully absorb all the information you’ve been cramming in it over the last few months. Better ways to spend your time include: relaxing, double-checking your list, traveling to your testing location, planning an after the bar exam trip, or doing something low-key but fun.

4. Protect yourself from burnout

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At this point, you are both your greatest asset and greatest potential liability in passing the bar exam. You want to show up on test day feeling like you have the stamina and energy to take on the exam. That means that you can’t run yourself into the ground in the final week. Even if you’ve been studying 12+ hours a day up until this point, it is now the time to start pulling back a little. It is also a good time to get on a good sleep schedule, one that will allow you to get up on time on test day and not feel absolutely exhausted. Your test-day self will thank you for preserving your energy!

5. Avoid an epic meltdown

Above all else, your number one goal this week is to not have an emotional breakdown. I know this might seem obvious, but it is worth spending some time thinking about. You’ve spent months preparing for this exam, so chances are whatever you do academically in the last week isn’t going to make or break your results. However, allowing stress, anxiety, and negative self-talk to take over can absolutely have an impact on your ability to pass.

Now more than ever, it is important to preserve your mindset and mental health. Don’t talk to people who stress you out and go out of your way to avoid other stress triggers. While it isn’t great life advice to avoid your problems, it is excellent advice during bar prep as a temporary solution to a temporary problem.

However you choose to spend your final week of bar prep, the good news is that all of this is over one way or the other very, very soon. You’ve just got to hang in there a little bit longer.

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.

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