Last few weeks, focus on the law (memorization), mass MBE study, or mass essay study? Forum

[redblueyellow]

Now that we're three weeks away, I'm debating between the following. For background information, I am feeling significantly less prepared in terms of memorization than February (where I was able to list elements out pretty well for most of the big stuff). However, I am feeling more confident conceptually (but then failing at the intricacies).

Over the next two weeks, how should I direct my energies? Focus on doing primarily MBE questions during the day, essays, memorize?

I could knock out 7 essays in a day (write for 30 minutes, doing outlining and issue spotting primarily, and then review for the next 20 minutes) for random topics each day; or I could do about 300 MBE questions until I run out, or just grab some critical pass flash cards for the MBE subjects and my outlines for memorization?

My weak areas tend to be essays (55-65 range), and I should probably aim to get 65-70 on both PT to get some buffer room. I would probably do, to completion, 3-4 PT prior to the exam. MBE scores are "ok," close to average, but I'm definitely not helping myself with getting bonus points in any one section.

[odoylerulez]

I'd hit the MBE hard. Don't completely neglect the essays. If you're still at average/slightly below average on the MBE, you can make up a lot of points there.

And, 50% or more of the points on the essay questions tend to come from MBE topics. This exam can be defeated quite easily if you master the MBE subjects and bullshit your way through the rest.

[kykiske]

I'm finally starting to study for the essays.

I don't know anything about certain topics. For example, still don't know much about secured transactions, wills, or trusts.

If I do hit a blank on exam day, I may just resort to bs'ing a ton.

"As between these two perfected creditors, the first to perfect or file has the superior claim ... [enter bs]."

[redblueyellow]

I'm finally starting to study for the essays.

I don't know anything about certain topics. For example, still don't know much about secured transactions, wills, or trusts.

If I do hit a blank on exam day, I may just resort to bs'ing a ton.

"As between these two perfected creditors, the first to perfect or file has the superior claim ... [enter bs]."

Luckily, I don't have to deal with secured transactions, but I can say that wills/trusts isn't *terrible* solely because there is a very finite amount of information to test there. Now, being able to recall it all during test day with great accuracy might be a different thing (since there isn't so much "stuff," you're likely to expected to be more detailed and precise), though. I think the same applies for Community Property (if you have to deal with that).

My main thing is that the MBEs are doable somewhat because you have answer choices that may help (or not) spur your mind into remembering the rules/elements in order to determine what the right rule is.

[redblueyellow]

I'd hit the MBE hard. Don't completely neglect the essays. If you're still at average/slightly below average on the MBE, you can make up a lot of points there.

And, 50% or more of the points on the essay questions tend to come from MBE topics. This exam can be defeated quite easily if you master the MBE subjects and bullshit your way through the rest.

I hear you-- my main concern, and hopefully you have an answer or idea for this, is that I am able to do the MBE subjects on the MBE to some measure of competence, but I can't for example, put an entire essay together from the study of MBE law.

Does that make sense? I can prep MBE law for the MBEs, but I can't seem to retain/transition that over to the essays.

[soj]

.

[redblueyellow]

i'm having the same problem, but i decided to say fuck it and just do some essays. sometimes it's a shitshow, but most of the time i end up sucking less than i thought i would because essays tend to be less legally complex than these gotcha mbe questions. just knowing the top 10 rules from the subject should get you started, and then you can memorize more rules with practice. so do that on top of MBEs

You know what would be good? A template that breaks it down exactly what you have to do. I don't want that information buried in an outline (such as what Kaplan does: e.g. "when you have a strict liability question, make sure to talk about negligent product liability, express/implied warranties for max points). I want it a 1-2 page max template of every major topic broken down by topic sentence and elements. That would be an ideal study material for the essays.

Does this exist?

[Notmyfavbar]

i'm having the same problem, but i decided to say fuck it and just do some essays. sometimes it's a shitshow, but most of the time i end up sucking less than i thought i would because essays tend to be less legally complex than these gotcha mbe questions. just knowing the top 10 rules from the subject should get you started, and then you can memorize more rules with practice. so do that on top of MBEs

You know what would be good? A template that breaks it down exactly what you have to do. I don't want that information buried in an outline (such as what Kaplan does: e.g. "when you have a strict liability question, make sure to talk about negligent product liability, express/implied warranties for max points). I want it a 1-2 page max template of every major topic broken down by topic sentence and elements. That would be an ideal study material for the essays.

Does this exist?

I. KNOW. After barbri assigned the first graded essay in the beginning of the course and I told myself that I would make a template like this so I wouldn't be so effing lost on the essays and could memorize that shit. Well now its july and i still don't have anything like that.

I'm hoping that maybe reading through model answers will help... It's so annoying because come the fuck on barbri, you know a fucking template like that would help EVERYONE! WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THIS. (sorry i tried not to curse, but i had to let it out). shit pisses me off so much.

[Calicakes]

i'm having the same problem, but i decided to say fuck it and just do some essays. sometimes it's a shitshow, but most of the time i end up sucking less than i thought i would because essays tend to be less legally complex than these gotcha mbe questions. just knowing the top 10 rules from the subject should get you started, and then you can memorize more rules with practice. so do that on top of MBEs

You know what would be good? A template that breaks it down exactly what you have to do. I don't want that information buried in an outline (such as what Kaplan does: e.g. "when you have a strict liability question, make sure to talk about negligent product liability, express/implied warranties for max points). I want it a 1-2 page max template of every major topic broken down by topic sentence and elements. That would be an ideal study material for the essays.

Does this exist?

I. KNOW. After barbri assigned the first graded essay in the beginning of the course and I told myself that I would make a template like this so I wouldn't be so effing lost on the essays and could memorize that shit. Well now its july and i still don't have anything like that.

I'm hoping that maybe reading through model answers will help... It's so annoying because come the fuck on barbri, you know a fucking template like that would help EVERYONE! WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THIS. (sorry i tried not to curse, but i had to let it out). shit pisses me off so much.

How about Lean Sheets? I have Tony Breeden's attack sheets. These would be for the last week before the bar. They are very cursory.

[Pleasye]

i'm having the same problem, but i decided to say fuck it and just do some essays. sometimes it's a shitshow, but most of the time i end up sucking less than i thought i would because essays tend to be less legally complex than these gotcha mbe questions. just knowing the top 10 rules from the subject should get you started, and then you can memorize more rules with practice. so do that on top of MBEs

You know what would be good? A template that breaks it down exactly what you have to do. I don't want that information buried in an outline (such as what Kaplan does: e.g. "when you have a strict liability question, make sure to talk about negligent product liability, express/implied warranties for max points). I want it a 1-2 page max template of every major topic broken down by topic sentence and elements. That would be an ideal study material for the essays.

Does this exist?

I. KNOW. After barbri assigned the first graded essay in the beginning of the course and I told myself that I would make a template like this so I wouldn't be so effing lost on the essays and could memorize that shit. Well now its july and i still don't have anything like that.

I'm hoping that maybe reading through model answers will help... It's so annoying because come the fuck on barbri, you know a fucking template like that would help EVERYONE! WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THIS. (sorry i tried not to curse, but i had to let it out). shit pisses me off so much.

How about Lean Sheets? I have Tony Breeden's attack sheets. These would be for the last week before the bar. They are very cursory.

Lean sheets are good for rote memorization, but not attacking the essays.

I also would like a roadmap of how to approach the essays since my LS "just write everything as it comes to mind" method doesn't work for the bar

[Notmyfavbar]

i'm having the same problem, but i decided to say fuck it and just do some essays. sometimes it's a shitshow, but most of the time i end up sucking less than i thought i would because essays tend to be less legally complex than these gotcha mbe questions. just knowing the top 10 rules from the subject should get you started, and then you can memorize more rules with practice. so do that on top of MBEs

You know what would be good? A template that breaks it down exactly what you have to do. I don't want that information buried in an outline (such as what Kaplan does: e.g. "when you have a strict liability question, make sure to talk about negligent product liability, express/implied warranties for max points). I want it a 1-2 page max template of every major topic broken down by topic sentence and elements. That would be an ideal study material for the essays.

Does this exist?

I. KNOW. After barbri assigned the first graded essay in the beginning of the course and I told myself that I would make a template like this so I wouldn't be so effing lost on the essays and could memorize that shit. Well now its july and i still don't have anything like that.

I'm hoping that maybe reading through model answers will help... It's so annoying because come the fuck on barbri, you know a fucking template like that would help EVERYONE! WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THIS. (sorry i tried not to curse, but i had to let it out). shit pisses me off so much.

How about Lean Sheets? I have Tony Breeden's attack sheets. These would be for the last week before the bar. They are very cursory.

Lean sheets are good for rote memorization, but not attacking the essays.

I also would like a roadmap of how to approach the essays since my LS "just write everything as it comes to mind" method doesn't work for the bar

I caved and bought smart bar prep for NY. I also started doing practice essays based on the subjects I was reviewing on a given day, rather than following barbri's essay assignments. It's def a lot easier to write essays when I've been reviewing the subjects that same day. But also makes me worry about the actual exam bc not like we'll have the time to review everything before.

Basically, this entire BAR examination is a money making scheme. im convinced.

[redblueyellow]

It's def a lot easier to write essays when I've been reviewing the subjects that same day. But also makes me worry about the actual exam bc not like we'll have the time to review everything before. .

This is my problem.

[old_soul]

My plan is to do a rough pass through all my subjects as well as outline all the barbri essays -- finish this in the next couple of days. I have like 6-7 subjects left over.

Then in the last two weeks, start memorizing specific language.

[Good Guy Gaud]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

[Pleasye]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

[Notmyfavbar]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

Literally feel like the dumbest piece of shit ever. I'm sitting here going through my Crim law/pro notes and critical pass cards because guess who doesn't remember ANYTHING... ME. and they want me to study the ny state specific stuff... haha that's funny.

ok, time for some positive vibes. We got this. stupid people pass the bar all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. and we're not stupid so

[old_soul]

I feel like if I'm preparing at least the median amount, I should be ok.

I keep telling myself, this is a preparation test which is about daily effort, things will come together in the end (gulp -- hopefully).

Yeah, I hear you all about the state specifics. I'm just went through a rough pass on Corporations this morning and internally died b/c of how much I don't know.

[colonial108]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

Yes, yes you are. Remember when you are in the exam, EVERYONE is having a rough go of it. Sure there may be a handful of people who know it all, but seriously, who cares? The goal is to PASS. This isn't law school. Just PASS. If you have been studying diligently and working hard, you should be just fine. It's a lot of material, but when you are reading the questions (MBE or essay) you will lock in to that area of law.

It's a grind on the MBE. Once you get to around question 150, just take a deep breath, relax and plow on through to the end. You have come this far, you can finish the job.

[robinhoodOO]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

stupid people pass the bar all the time. ALL. THE. TIME.

Fact.

[despina]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

stupid people pass the bar all the time. ALL. THE. TIME.

Fact.

This does NOT make me feel better when I struggle through an essay or get a bunch of MBEs wrong in a row.

[Pleasye]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

Yes, yes you are. Remember when you are in the exam, EVERYONE is having a rough go of it. Sure there may be a handful of people who know it all, but seriously, who cares? The goal is to PASS. This isn't law school. Just PASS. If you have been studying diligently and working hard, you should be just fine. It's a lot of material, but when you are reading the questions (MBE or essay) you will lock in to that area of law.

It's a grind on the MBE. Once you get to around question 150, just take a deep breath, relax and plow on through to the end. You have come this far, you can finish the job.

Thanks for this. I'm just having a very not confident day today.

[robinhoodOO]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

stupid people pass the bar all the time. ALL. THE. TIME.

Fact.

This does NOT make me feel better when I struggle through an essay or get a bunch of MBEs wrong in a row.

The one thing that makes me feel better is talking to my severely manic buddies from LS...Knowing they're freaking out twice as badly gives me comfort. Woosah

[robinhoodOO]

We're all gonna be fine, right?

Yes, yes you are. Remember when you are in the exam, EVERYONE is having a rough go of it. Sure there may be a handful of people who know it all, but seriously, who cares? The goal is to PASS. This isn't law school. Just PASS. If you have been studying diligently and working hard, you should be just fine. It's a lot of material, but when you are reading the questions (MBE or essay) you will lock in to that area of law.

It's a grind on the MBE. Once you get to around question 150, just take a deep breath, relax and plow on through to the end. You have come this far, you can finish the job.

Thanks for this. I'm just having a very not confident day today.

You must believe...Believe harder than Beliebers and nothing will stop you. We will all make the CBX (or your respective Bar) our [fill in pejorative here].