Five Easy Steps to Follow If You Failed the MPRE

Five Easy Steps to Follow If You Failed the MPRE

Having failed the MPRE, you are undoubtedly a little stressed. This means having to retake your exam, which only makes you more anxious. If you are disappointed with your grade and worried about what people may think, hope should not be lost!

Five Easy Steps to Follow If You Failed the MPRE

First, it’s important to remember that no one will know you failed the MPRE unless you tell them. There is no published list of pass/fails, and it is entirely within your control who gets to know. Second, the MPRE is a tricky test, and many students end up taking it multiple times. So, don’t beat yourself up! To help you get started, we have 5 easy steps to follow if you failed the MPRE.

1. Put Together a Study Schedule

One of the biggest mistakes MPRE test-takers make is underestimating the exam. For some reason unknown to us, there always appears to be a rumor that the MPRE is easy. This is not the case! Studying for the MPRE requires a structured plan, just like any other exam. It also requires a sufficient time investment. Avoid studying just a week or so before the MPRE. Instead, plan to begin at least a month before your testing day. You can use this free MPRE study schedule to get yourself started!

Creating a schedule will keep you on track to review Model Rules of Professional Conduct earlier and more thoroughly. Remember, as a student that failed the MPRE, you want to be studying differently and more efficiently than last time. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result will get you nowhere new. Creating a schedule will help you structure your new study plan and keep you accountable until the end.

2. Read, Remember, and Understand the Model Rules

Creating a reliable study schedule will help you accomplish this crucial step – memorizing and fully understanding the model rules. To best achieve this goal, be sure you are using a solid outline to review. We have a comprehensive free outline and MPRE course to get you started.

It is best to review all the rules, especially after having failed the MPRE. This time around, you will want to go more in-depth than your previous time studying. Begin by focusing on a highly tested section (e.g., conflicts of interest, the lawyer-client relationship, and litigation and other forms of advocacy). This way, if you are or become strapped for time, you have covered the most critical material. You can get more information on the highly tested areas here.

Don’t take this step lightly. You will want to thoroughly learn the law before you jump into practice tests. Be sure to dedicate enough time and energy to this period before moving on to other study focuses!

3. Practice with the Right Questions

When you are ready to begin practicing, be sure you are doing so with the best available questions. You may have failed the MPRE previously because you did not study with problems similar to those on the actual test.

Look to begin with questions that will help you work through difficult parts of the law. You can find these by referencing examples in the Model Rules comments. A lot of MPRE fact patterns are derived from these comments. Additionally, these comment sections are created to help you work through material that may have you puzzled. By practicing these, you will conquer a problematic area and get excellent question exposure for the MPRE! You can find the model rules and the parallel comments on the American Bar Association’s website for free!

Next, focus your practice on real MPRE questions. There are a few options for finding real MPRE questions, so you will never find yourself without a source for exam material. These questions will reflect the format and level of difficulty that you can expect to see on exam day. These will test your knowledge where it needs to be tested and leave you with far fewer exam-day surprises than before. Additionally, we recommend completing two exams under properly timed conditions, but only after you have fully memorized and understood the Rules.

4. Mentally Prepare Yourself

Feeling disappointed that you failed the MPRE is understandable. But, don’t let that feeling ruin your next chance to pass! Take steps to mentally (and physically) prepare yourself for the next MPRE. You will want to maintain a steady sleep schedule, eat right, and stay active. A healthy mind and body is essential for exam success. Fight the urge to focus on your past failure and give yourself a clean slate to work with on your next test day. Follow these tips on how to stay mentally and physically strong for the bar exam as an example of what you can do to prepare!

5. Consider Tutoring

Not every student requires private tutoring for the MPRE. However, it can be the key to success for many. Having failed the MPRE before, you should consider every option available to you. If you did not have tutoring for the first time around with the MPRE, consider this an extra step to ensure a pass next time. Additionally, it can be beneficial to hear material verbally from a subject matter expert rather than just studying alone. We offer competitive personal tutoring that has helped many repeat MPRE takers pass! Even if it is for just a few private sessions and a practice test, consider getting personalized study to push your way through to a passing grade!

• Looking to Ace the MPRE?

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