can someone explain the Barbri percentile rankings? Forum

[ellewoods123]

I can't decide if I'm in a bad place or not. I've been working through the workshops/mpqs, and for *most* I'm hitting the target. however, there have also been sets where I'm either 1 or 2 below target (so instead of being in ~60% correct, I'm around 50-55). So, that has me worried. But here's my confusion - in my state (NY) with a pass rate of about 70% - barbri tells you you're goal is to be within the 30th or 40th percentile. So I'm scoring slightly below the average Barbri students - but, can I have some comfort in believing that I can still fall above the 30th percentile overall?

I just need some reassurance. appease me.

*edit - for the record I started early because I have to take some time off this month, so I'm ahead in subjects/mpqs assigned

[BVest]

I can't decide if I'm in a bad place or not. I've been working through the workshops/mpqs, and for *most* I'm hitting the target. however, there have also been sets where I'm either 1 or 2 below target (so instead of being in ~60% correct, I'm around 50-55). So, that has me worried. But here's my confusion - in my state (NY) with a pass rate of about 70% - barbri tells you you're goal is to be within the 30th or 40th percentile. So I'm scoring slightly below the average Barbri students - but, can I have some comfort in believing that I can still fall above the 30th percentile overall?

I just need some reassurance. appease me.

*edit - for the record I started early because I have to take some time off this month, so I'm ahead in subjects/mpqs assigned

Not answering your specific question, but as I recall, the percentiles change as more people take the questions (as in they're based on current barbri students; not historical numbers), so the fact that you're ahead will make your percentiles less meaningful generally.

[rpollock11]

Did you ever end up finding out the answer to this question? Did you pass? I'm in basically the same position here in Arizona right now. Some reassurance would be really helpful. Thanks!

[deepseapartners]

I recently took and passed the New York bar. If you are consistently scoring above the 30th percentile, you will almost certainly pass. If you are scoring between 20-30, you will probably pass, but your issues with the test/material may give you trouble. If you are below the 20th percentile, you need to get help because you are probably not getting a passing score.

The percentile thing should probably be written by grades instead of percentiles, because I wasn't also extremely confused until I asked my BarBri rep about it 2 weeks before the exam. As a point of reference, I consistently scored between the 40-50 percentile marks and passed with a lot of room to spare.

[deepseapartners]

I totally understand your uncertainty, it made an already stressful time even worse. That was my only real complaint about BarBri (I already knew they gave students way too much material and factored that into my studying from the start).

[okaygo]

Where are you getting the percentile rankings from?

[Futuregohan14]

Where are you getting the percentile rankings from?

Go to StudySmart, click "view results", and then select the "percentile rank" tab.

[okaygo]

Thanks!

[Tiredbuthappyitsover]

What hindsight taught me, hindsight being 20/20, is that the barbri percentile rankings probably actually matter (including StudySmart). My percentiles for MBE weren't very good overall, and I ranked in the 20th percentile of all test takers for the full length exam and I ended up failing the real thing by a few points. In February, I ditched barbri for another program and studied differently, so my practice scores were better and I ended up passing with 30 points to spare.