2018 February CA Bar Forum

[justanotheruser]

Just got the big packet in the mail from the State Bar about getting sworn in, etc!

[Snowflake1]

Just got the big packet in the mail from the State Bar about getting sworn in, etc!

Congrats!! I'm still waiting for the mail.

[chicoalto0649]

got my scores..

1st read/second/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

my MBE improved a few points, my PT improved, but my essays dropped slightly form July 17

Still waiting on my letter. Can I ask you which area you are located in? Congrats on the MBE btw, this was a tough one.

That's a tough one. Based on the current scale you prob needed to have a 1550+ to give yourself a chance of passing. How many MBEs did you do this time around and how did you prepare? I feel it's the one part of the exam that's more within your control than essays. As far as essays are concerned I think I failed before because of a misguided preoccupation with memorizing the perfect rule statement and in turn relying on outlines as opposed to actual practice essays. I think on the most recent exam, straight 60s + a 1515 would have been enough to snag a P.

I had a 1611 MBE and failed last July 2017. Do not gamble on the essays or bet the MBE will take you over the edge. Practice essays every day. The advice above on comparing your essays to real graded ones that scored 55, 65, 75 (and then figuring out what you did right and wrong) on BarEssays is very good. That's basically what I did too.

By no means was I suggesting neglecting the essays, in fact getting a strong handle on essays could improve your MBE scores too. The way the current test is set up a 50 or two could be fatal for any hopes of passing since each essay is weighted more. I'd also say a 55 on a PT could also be fatal even though it's only worth 14%. You need to get to the point where you can contently say I hit a 60+ on an essay for XYZ reasons. What I didn't know the last few times, but what baressays and their template showed me, is there's MANY ways to rack up easy points, even if you make a mistake here or there.

On the other hand, and what stats show, is that it's prob easiest to make the biggest gains on the exam by mastering the MBE. Essays are super subjective. Personally I feel fortunate because almost all the essay topics were in areas I was naturally strong in (including wills). I struggle with contracts and prof resp and that was made up of 1 instead of two essays. Looking at Feb 2017's essays I feel as if there was no way I would have passed even with months of studying.

Really summing it up, you should be shooting for the moon when it comes to MBEs because almost all subjectivity is removed while learning how to rack up easy points on the essays.

[Pema]

got my scores..

1st read/second/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

my MBE improved a few points, my PT improved, but my essays dropped slightly form July 17

62.5% written and MBE = 1400 (passing). Your written 58% + a raw MBE 132 = passing, correct?

[scard]

My scores are all over the place and its tough to gauge where I need help versus what is the result of subjective grading and bad luck.

heres the data I'm dealing with

1st attempt scores - Feb 2016 (no second read) - I did 1200 adapitbar questions, made my own study outline from multiple study guides and used that only, 1 practice PT, numerous practice essay outlines, and 3 practice essays

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 50
Essay 3: 55
Essay 4: 60
Essay 5: 50
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 65
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 585.0
Scaled Written: 1328.8888
Scaled MBE: 1480.000

Overall: 1381.7777

2nd attempt scores - Jul 2016 (no second read) - only about 200 adapitbar questions, used the same outline, no practice essays or PTs

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 65
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 50
PT B: 50

Raw Written: 540.0
Scaled Written: 1220.4888
Scaled MBE: 1294.000

Overall: 1246.2177

3rd attempt scores - Feb 2017 (no second read) - 120 MBE's on adaptibar, signed up for bar exam toolbox to help with essays, used same study outlines I have made, and did about 4 practice essays with tutoring on bar exam toolbox.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 55
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 65
PT A: 55
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 590.0
Scaled Written: 1324.9400
Scaled MBE: 1389.000

Overall: 1347.3610

4th attempt scores - Jul 2017 (got a 2nd Read this time) - did 10 bar exam toolbox tutored essays, about 600 barmax MBE's, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65/60/62.5
Essay 2: 55/55/55
Essay 3: 65/65/65
Essay 4: 65/50/65
Essay 5: 60/55/57.5
PT A: 55/60/57.5


Raw Written: 420
Scaled Written: 1387.0307
Scaled MBE: 1434.000

Overall: 1410.5154

5th attempt scores - Feb 2018 (got a 2nd read) - review my tutored essay that I already did, no practice essays, 600 barmax MBEs, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.
first read/2nd/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

Overall: 1387.8532

iv switched from adapitbar to barmax mbes because barmax has a better system for getting you in the groove and they don't charge every time you retake the bar. iv noticed my mbe confidence is higher since the switch because barmax mbe lets you studying subtopics within a subject that adaptibar doesn't. (ie: only want to be drilled on joinder questions within civ pro, whereas I think adaptibar will only throw you all civ pro questions) bar exam toolbox seemed to help me greatly but at $100/practice essay it gets expensive so I am not sure if I should just review the 14 iv already done with them. magic sheets are genius and my study outline simplifies memorization so I'm not sure what else to do.

[stella2016]

I am interested in buying books by Mary Basick. Please post a reply with your email address if you are interested in selling them to me. I will reply to your email. Thank you!

[chicoalto0649]

My scores are all over the place and its tough to gauge where I need help versus what is the result of subjective grading and bad luck.

heres the data I'm dealing with

1st attempt scores - Feb 2016 (no second read) - I did 1200 adapitbar questions, made my own study outline from multiple study guides and used that only, 1 practice PT, numerous practice essay outlines, and 3 practice essays

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 50
Essay 3: 55
Essay 4: 60
Essay 5: 50
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 65
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 585.0
Scaled Written: 1328.8888
Scaled MBE: 1480.000

Overall: 1381.7777

2nd attempt scores - Jul 2016 (no second read) - only about 200 adapitbar questions, used the same outline, no practice essays or PTs

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 65
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 50
PT B: 50

Raw Written: 540.0
Scaled Written: 1220.4888
Scaled MBE: 1294.000

Overall: 1246.2177

3rd attempt scores - Feb 2017 (no second read) - 120 MBE's on adaptibar, signed up for bar exam toolbox to help with essays, used same study outlines I have made, and did about 4 practice essays with tutoring on bar exam toolbox.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 55
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 65
PT A: 55
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 590.0
Scaled Written: 1324.9400
Scaled MBE: 1389.000

Overall: 1347.3610

4th attempt scores - Jul 2017 (got a 2nd Read this time) - did 10 bar exam toolbox tutored essays, about 600 barmax MBE's, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65/60/62.5
Essay 2: 55/55/55
Essay 3: 65/65/65
Essay 4: 65/50/65
Essay 5: 60/55/57.5
PT A: 55/60/57.5


Raw Written: 420
Scaled Written: 1387.0307
Scaled MBE: 1434.000

Overall: 1410.5154

5th attempt scores - Feb 2018 (got a 2nd read) - review my tutored essay that I already did, no practice essays, 600 barmax MBEs, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.
first read/2nd/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

Overall: 1387.8532

iv switched from adapitbar to barmax mbes because barmax has a better system for getting you in the groove and they don't charge every time you retake the bar. iv noticed my mbe confidence is higher since the switch because barmax mbe lets you studying subtopics within a subject that adaptibar doesn't. (ie: only want to be drilled on joinder questions within civ pro, whereas I think adaptibar will only throw you all civ pro questions) bar exam toolbox seemed to help me greatly but at $100/practice essay it gets expensive so I am not sure if I should just review the 14 iv already done with them. magic sheets are genius and my study outline simplifies memorization so I'm not sure what else to do.

Your highest scaled MBE came with doing 1,200 adaptibar questions, which I feel was on the low end for what I would consider being ready. part of MBE prep is just becoming familiar with every way a topic can be tested and that only comes through actually working through the problems and review. I personally think you should aim for finishing the entire course (~2,000 questions) and believe it or not they've updated their database and they have actually CivPro mbe questions which were just released. Also finish Emmanuels S&T front to cover. Adaptibar 100% has a way to filter questions by topic as well.

[JoeSeperac]

I just made a score calculator for the F18 CA exam:
https://ubeessays.com/california-score-calculator/

You can toggle between J17 and F18 to compare the scales.

[chicoalto0649]

My scores are all over the place and its tough to gauge where I need help versus what is the result of subjective grading and bad luck.

heres the data I'm dealing with

1st attempt scores - Feb 2016 (no second read) - I did 1200 adapitbar questions, made my own study outline from multiple study guides and used that only, 1 practice PT, numerous practice essay outlines, and 3 practice essays

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 50
Essay 3: 55
Essay 4: 60
Essay 5: 50
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 65
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 585.0
Scaled Written: 1328.8888
Scaled MBE: 1480.000

Overall: 1381.7777

2nd attempt scores - Jul 2016 (no second read) - only about 200 adapitbar questions, used the same outline, no practice essays or PTs

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 55
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 65
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 55
PT A: 50
PT B: 50

Raw Written: 540.0
Scaled Written: 1220.4888
Scaled MBE: 1294.000

Overall: 1246.2177

3rd attempt scores - Feb 2017 (no second read) - 120 MBE's on adaptibar, signed up for bar exam toolbox to help with essays, used same study outlines I have made, and did about 4 practice essays with tutoring on bar exam toolbox.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65
Essay 2: 55
Essay 3: 50
Essay 4: 55
Essay 5: 60
Essay 6: 65
PT A: 55
PT B: 65

Raw Written: 590.0
Scaled Written: 1324.9400
Scaled MBE: 1389.000

Overall: 1347.3610

4th attempt scores - Jul 2017 (got a 2nd Read this time) - did 10 bar exam toolbox tutored essays, about 600 barmax MBE's, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.

first read/2nd/op
Essay 1: 65/60/62.5
Essay 2: 55/55/55
Essay 3: 65/65/65
Essay 4: 65/50/65
Essay 5: 60/55/57.5
PT A: 55/60/57.5


Raw Written: 420
Scaled Written: 1387.0307
Scaled MBE: 1434.000

Overall: 1410.5154

5th attempt scores - Feb 2018 (got a 2nd read) - review my tutored essay that I already did, no practice essays, 600 barmax MBEs, used my same study outlines along with magic sheets.
first read/2nd/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

Overall: 1387.8532

iv switched from adapitbar to barmax mbes because barmax has a better system for getting you in the groove and they don't charge every time you retake the bar. iv noticed my mbe confidence is higher since the switch because barmax mbe lets you studying subtopics within a subject that adaptibar doesn't. (ie: only want to be drilled on joinder questions within civ pro, whereas I think adaptibar will only throw you all civ pro questions) bar exam toolbox seemed to help me greatly but at $100/practice essay it gets expensive so I am not sure if I should just review the 14 iv already done with them. magic sheets are genius and my study outline simplifies memorization so I'm not sure what else to do.

Your highest scaled MBE came with doing 1,200 adaptibar questions, which I feel was on the low end for what I would consider being ready. part of MBE prep is just becoming familiar with every way a topic can be tested and that only comes through actually working through the problems and review. I personally think you should aim for finishing the entire course (~2,000 questions) and believe it or not they've updated their database and they have actually CivPro mbe questions which were just released. Also finish Emmanuels S&T front to cover. Adaptibar 100% has a way to filter questions by topic as well.

Edit, one other point on importance of MBE, just see what's required from the essays to get a 1440 total while scoring below 1500. https://ubeessays.com/california-july-2 ... alculator/

[3rdTimePassed]

Hi All,

I passed and I still am in shock! It was my third time. I am not sure if what I have to share will help anyone but here goes. I am 50 years old, went to a traditional brick and mortar law school in my 20's but dropped out the end of my 2nd year. Late 40's I went back to finish but at NWCU a correspondence school.

Took the Bar in July 2016. Did Barbri for a review course and worked about 30 hours a week at my current job. Scored a total of 1311 with a 1228 MBE score and 50's on the PT's. I don't have the scaled written score in front of me but it was a pretty pitiful Bar exam. I got bogged down in the Barbri lectures and did not have time to do the whole program. Only did about 800 MBE's.

February 2017 landed in emergency surgery before the Bar and was unable to take it.

July 2017 retook Barbri and this time signed up for AdaptiBar. Made my own outlines with a combination of Leansheets and Magicsheets and what I had from school. Did 1600 of the Adaptibar and all of the Barbri MBE' so well over 3000 MBE's. Did 50 everyday pretty much in one sitting. Weekends did 100 in one sitting. Over all score 1403 with a 1441 MBE score and 1365 written. PT 55 and the re-read 60.

February 2018 retook. No review course. Redid Adaptibar and every question I got wrong wrote out the rule three times. Went over short outlines everyday. Often looked at Barbri materials if confused. Last three weeks outlined 10 essays for each subject and talked out the analysis part. Typed rules over and over. PT's learned how to follow the directions. Result passed.

I am a slow typer as in really slow so I tackled the essays differently this time. I spotted most all the issues I think in my read through the question but due to typing I had to pick which issues I was going to tackle and write about. I did not tackle every issue I saw but I tackled what I thought was the "meat" of the question.

I had luck this time to as I reviewed Crim Pro, Takings and Nuisance in the car the morning of the exam.

This exam is hard but it is doable. You have to find your weakness and build on that. Realize where you are weak and hope for some luck as well. Don't give up. It is passable.

[Cem2030]

I am interested in buying books by Mary Basick. Please post a reply with your email address if you are interested in selling them to me. I will reply to your email. Thank you!

cem3284@gmail -- Happy to give you my used book for free.

[Snowflake1]

got my scores..

1st read/second/op

essay 1: 55/50/52.5
essay 2: 60/60/60
essay 3: 55/55/55
essay 4: 60/55/57.5
essay 5: 50/50/50
PT: 65/65/65

Raw Written: 405.0
Scaled written: 1299.7064
Scaled MBE: 1476.0000

my MBE improved a few points, my PT improved, but my essays dropped slightly form July 17

Still waiting on my letter. Can I ask you which area you are located in? Congrats on the MBE btw, this was a tough one.

That's a tough one. Based on the current scale you prob needed to have a 1550+ to give yourself a chance of passing. How many MBEs did you do this time around and how did you prepare? I feel it's the one part of the exam that's more within your control than essays. As far as essays are concerned I think I failed before because of a misguided preoccupation with memorizing the perfect rule statement and in turn relying on outlines as opposed to actual practice essays. I think on the most recent exam, straight 60s + a 1515 would have been enough to snag a P.

I had a 1611 MBE and failed last July 2017. Do not gamble on the essays or bet the MBE will take you over the edge. Practice essays every day. The advice above on comparing your essays to real graded ones that scored 55, 65, 75 (and then figuring out what you did right and wrong) on BarEssays is very good. That's basically what I did too.

I had a 1500 MBE and failed last July 2017 as well. Finally passed last week thanks in large part to improving on the PT as well as putting in the requisite work/practice on essays. I would second the BarEssays recommendation along with the Mary Basick Essays Study Guide (big blue book). Continually betting on just my MBE performance got me nowhere, so I really changed things up and decided to grind through essays and the PT this time.

YMMV, but I did not do any rote memorization of rule statements. I did write full essays (open book and a 2-hour limit) for my very first 2-3 essays on every subject. Then I outlined the next 7-8 essays for each subject. In the last 2 weeks leading up to the exam, I basically did issue spotting which allowed me to get through 7-8 essays a day.

Probably the biggest thing was referring to real essays on BarEssays. It showed me things I was frequently missing, it reminded me there's only a finite number of issues passing essays actually cover, and it revealed how even the better scoring essays still had tons of mistakes, etc.

Congrats!!! Your story sounds very similar to mine. And I took pretty much the same approach.

[yelal]

I am a first time taker that passed. I've already passed in one other state. I bought the Barbri prep course but did not follow the study plan at all.

I ignored my MBE prep beyond ~400 questions, because I knew from past experience that I would not be able to improve beyond 60% performance.

I spent almost all my time reviewing the detailed outlines from Barbri, writing out my own lengthy outlines as I reviewed each subject. I never used the outlines I made from the first round of studying the detailed outlines - this was purely just a learning warm-up. They were painfully detailed, and perhaps even a bit of a waste of time in hindsight.

In the two weeks leading up to the exam, I made condensed outlines for each subject. I continued to review the detailed Barbri outlines for the majority of each day.

I did a few practice essays (maybe 5 total), 3 of which I sent to Barbri for grading. I did not like their feedback on the first one in that it wasn't detailed, critical, or groundbreaking. I did 2 more after that just to get my money's worth, but I didn't read their comments.

I read through Barbri's model essays, compared them to the CA Bar's model essays on the same subjects, and made mental notes on the structural difference and styles. Most of Barbri essays are also from very very old exams, so I gave slight more weight to the recent essays on CA Bar's website.

I did 0 PT because I had done 2 in my life (one in preparing my first exam, and another one at that first exam) and it would not have been helpful. Instead, I spent that time reading the outlines some more.

On exam day, I did the following:

I read through every prompt first, writing down the main issues I spotted. In the morning, after reading all three prompts, I started writing my strongest essay first. Then I wrote the second strongest. Then I wrote my weakest topic last. I had 15 min left, which I used to add some straggling points to my second strongest essay which was a crossover prompt - I figured they might expect more in the answer (the K/PR essay). In the afternoon, I read through the two essay topics, wrote down the main issues, then started triaging the PT. I meant to spend 2 hours on PT, but I was done in an hr and 10 min - there just wasn't much to discuss given the amount of materials they gave. Then I went to the first essay, which was my weaker one (Crim), then the Estates essay which I also wasn't that thrilled about. I added some mathematical conclusions in the Estates essay just to show that I care which adopted son/daughter gets what.


I know my approach is a bit eccentric in that I almost completely disregard MBE prep, but it works for me in that whatever I learn for the essays somewhat carries over (not completely) into MBE anyway, and I have given up trying to have a multiple-choice brain and writing brain at peak shape at the same time. I solidly commit to one skill, and it has worked out.

[flamingo]

Anyone have the swearing in ceremony locations/dates?

[Cem2030]

Anyone have the swearing in ceremony locations/dates?

Yes, got the information in the mail yesterday

[Cem2030]

Anyone have the swearing in ceremony locations/dates?

Yes, got the information in the mail yesterday

[Mxmasterr]

Anyone have the swearing in ceremony locations/dates?

Yes, got the information in the mail yesterday

Man I passed the bar but C&F still dragging on. How long does this take, they received my c&f on January 4. I'm already admitted in two other jurisdictions ... so .... sigh

[horriblegb]

Not yet still waiting on my moral character app to go through (mid-November), got a very sternly worded congratulations letter though.

[Mxmasterr]

Not yet still waiting on my moral character app to go through (mid-November), got a very sternly worded congratulations letter though.

I got that too. congratulations you PASSED, but check online for more info, but you do not qualify to be admission.

[LawQueen777]

I am mad as %$#@ right now looking at my scores. Would appreciate any feedback regarding the arbitrary "scaled" scoring process for the CA essays. In July 2017 my scores were as follows:

1) 65
2) 55
3) 55
4) 55
5) 55
PT) 60

Raw Written: 405
Scaled Written: 1322.4737
Scaled MBE: 1539
Total score: 1430.7369

Feb 2018:
1st 2nd Operant
1) 50 55 52.5
2) 50 55 52.5
3) 65 60 62.5
4) 60 55 57.5
5) 65 60 62.5
PT) 55 55 55

Raw Written: 397.5
Scaled Written: 1264.4962
Scaled MBE: 1570
Total score: 1417.2481

For February's exam, I hired a former bar grader as an essay tutor, focused mostly on essays, and felt quite prepared for the exam. I know for a fact that my essay performance was better this time based on my grasp of the topics and practice. My essay scores this time just seem artificially low, and the scaling is clearly a lot lower than the July administration. How the heck are we supposed to prepare and pass when they keep moving the goal post and being secretive about the way CA is scoring the essay portion? Looking at my scores proves to me that the CA bar examiners have purposely set out to make the CA portion almost impossible to get passing scores so that they can keep these ridiculous low passing rates.

There is no way CA exam takers are less competent than other states. This is just bull$*%#. My percentile ranking for the MBE was 92.3 locally and 92.7 nationally. I clearly know the law. Additionally, I write professionally in the legal field, so I know I'm a decent writer. WTF???

[Mxmasterr]

I am mad as %$#@ right now looking at my scores. Would appreciate any feedback regarding the arbitrary "scaled" scoring process for the CA essays. In July 2017 my scores were as follows:

1) 65
2) 55
3) 55
4) 55
5) 55
PT) 60

Raw Written: 405
Scaled Written: 1322.4737
Scaled MBE: 1539
Total score: 1430.7369

Feb 2018:
1st 2nd Operant
1) 50 55 52.5
2) 50 55 52.5
3) 65 60 62.5
4) 60 55 57.5
5) 65 60 62.5
PT) 55 55 55

Raw Written: 397.5
Scaled Written: 1264.4962
Scaled MBE: 1570
Total score: 1417.2481

For February's exam, I hired a former bar grader as an essay tutor, focused mostly on essays, and felt quite prepared for the exam. I know for a fact that my essay performance was better this time based on my grasp of the topics and practice. My essay scores this time just seem artificially low, and the scaling is clearly a lot lower than the July administration. How the heck are we supposed to prepare and pass when they keep moving the goal post and being secretive about the way CA is scoring the essay portion? Looking at my scores proves to me that the CA bar examiners have purposely set out to make the CA portion almost impossible to get passing scores so that they can keep these ridiculous low passing rates.

There is no way CA exam takers are less competent than other states. This is just bull$*%#. My percentile ranking for the MBE was 92.3 locally and 92.7 nationally. I clearly know the law. Additionally, I write professionally in the legal field, so I know I'm a decent writer. WTF???

do u feel you bombed the PT though?

[LawQueen777]

I am mad as %$#@ right now looking at my scores. Would appreciate any feedback regarding the arbitrary "scaled" scoring process for the CA essays. In July 2017 my scores were as follows:

1) 65
2) 55
3) 55
4) 55
5) 55
PT) 60

Raw Written: 405
Scaled Written: 1322.4737
Scaled MBE: 1539
Total score: 1430.7369

Feb 2018:
1st 2nd Operant
1) 50 55 52.5
2) 50 55 52.5
3) 65 60 62.5
4) 60 55 57.5
5) 65 60 62.5
PT) 55 55 55

Raw Written: 397.5
Scaled Written: 1264.4962
Scaled MBE: 1570
Total score: 1417.2481

For February's exam, I hired a former bar grader as an essay tutor, focused mostly on essays, and felt quite prepared for the exam. I know for a fact that my essay performance was better this time based on my grasp of the topics and practice. My essay scores this time just seem artificially low, and the scaling is clearly a lot lower than the July administration. How the heck are we supposed to prepare and pass when they keep moving the goal post and being secretive about the way CA is scoring the essay portion? Looking at my scores proves to me that the CA bar examiners have purposely set out to make the CA portion almost impossible to get passing scores so that they can keep these ridiculous low passing rates.

There is no way CA exam takers are less competent than other states. This is just bull$*%#. My percentile ranking for the MBE was 92.3 locally and 92.7 nationally. I clearly know the law. Additionally, I write professionally in the legal field, so I know I'm a decent writer. WTF???

do u feel you bombed the PT though?

Not at all! Quite the contrary. I thought I passed it. I definitely missed more issues with the July one than in February.

[JulyRepeater]

1) 60
2) 50
3) 70
4) 60
5) 75
PT: 60

Raw Written: 435
Scaled Written: 1440.5474
Scaled MBE: 1201

Total Score: 1320.7737

I need serious help with MBE. I used AdaptiBar and Emanuel both the first and second time I took it and did many practice questions. Anyone have any word of advice on how to improve MBEs??

[a male human]

1) 60
2) 50
3) 70
4) 60
5) 75
PT: 60

Raw Written: 435
Scaled Written: 1440.5474
Scaled MBE: 1201

Total Score: 1320.7737

I need serious help with MBE. I used AdaptiBar and Emanuel both the first and second time I took it and did many practice questions. Anyone have any word of advice on how to improve MBEs??

How did you do during practice? Did you learn from doing the practice questions? Just because you do them doesn't mean you learn from them.

I would spend at least as much time reviewing and understanding the answer explanations as you spend doing questions. For example, it took me over a day to review my 200Q mock MBE. Don't be afraid to redo the questions either going through the analysis even if you're familiar. If you really "get" it, then you should get 100% of them correct (but you won't).

That said, they've been testing some weird obscure rules lately, so I don't blame you for being unprepared. I'm preparing a new email on 5 counterintuitive truths about the MBE, to be sent this Saturday. Sign up here. I think it'll be helpful.

[Bla Bla Bla Blah]

So haven't had a chance to check the mail. Work and kids are eating up all my time again. But they don't give us any clues as to how we did score wise if we passed, is that right? And if so, why do you think this is the case? I kinda want to know how I did exactly. Could come in handy for my approach if I need to take this thing in, let's say, Delaware... where a current case I'm working on is pending in the District Court.