Bar Exam Study Schedule: A 45-Day Self-Study Plan

Bar Exam Study Schedule: A 45-Day Bar Exam Self-Study Plan

If you are doing bar prep on your own, you may wonder where to begin! Many students ask us how to create a great bar exam study schedule.

Below we have a 45-day bar exam self-study schedule for you to follow.  It tells you what to review, how many MBE questions to complete, and which questions to answer, We link to as many free resources as possible. (However, some resources are worth the investment, and we list them below as well.)

Note: We actually highly recommend students invest in a bar exam preparatory course and have our own great, affordable, highly rated option here. But if you cannot or choose not to, here is the next best thing!

Our 45-day bar exam study schedule will have you do all of the following:

• Review all of the Uniform Bar Exam subjects
• Complete 1,360 Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) questions
• Complete 70 Multistate Essay Exam essays (MEEs)
• Complete 19 Multistate Performance Test problems (MPTs)
• Study for 45 days with SIX days off (so 39 days of actual studying!)

Before you get started…

Before you get started, please review these resources — particularly the free MEE and MPT links as you will rely on them heavily if you follow the 45-day bar exam self-study schedule below.

FREE Resources to consult throughout: 

We tell you to complete MEEs and MPTs throughout the study schedule. Please find links to all of them for FREE here:

• MEE links: Find MEEs here on the NCBE’s website
• MPT links: Find MPTs here on the NCBE’s website

Supplements we highly recommend you invest in:

Investing in these supplements will help you pass the bar exam. They are WELL worth the investment.

• Our MOST recommended supplement is our MBE questions.
• We also recommend our MPT guide. Many students struggle with the MPT. This guide breaks down the MPT in a step-by-step format.

Other supplements we recommend if it is in your budget:

• Our MPT books contain the MPT question, NCBE answer, and a student answer. (We hand-picked the best student answers!). You can find all of this for free (listed above) but if you want them in one place – and to spend less time clicking around the internet – order hard copies instead.
• Bar exam essay feedback: If you want to hand in any of the MEEs or MPTs you complete, we offer stellar bar exam essay feedback. We can offer feedback on any of the essays of your choice!
• Our MEE One-Sheets contain the most highly tested areas of law on the MEE and are one of our best-selling products

Notes before beginning:

• This bar exam self-study schedule packs a lot into each day. If you can spread out your study schedule beyond these 45 days, please do!
• MEEs can be written or bullet-pointed. You should self-grade all of the MEEs you write. If you struggle with timing, you should write out more full MEEs and do so in a timed setting.

Bar Exam Study Schedule: A 45-Day Self-Study Plan

The 45-day bar exam self-study schedule is below! Please modify it as it suits your needs. This is just a general schedule for you to follow.

Day 1: Real Property

• Review Real Property outline
• July 2011 Real Property MEE
• 30 Real Property MBE questions
• Review our free guide on how to pass the MBE

Day 2: Real Property

• Review Real Property outline
• Feb 2013 Real Property MEE
• 30 Real Property MBE questions
• Review our free guide on the best way to study for the MEE

Day 3: Real Property

• Review Real Property outline
• Feb 2012 Real Property MEE
• July 2013 Real Property MEE
• 30 Real Property MBE questions
• Review our free guide on highly tested MEE topics (and save it as a reference)

Day 4: Torts

• Review Real Property outline
• Review Torts outline
• 30 Torts MBE questions

Day 5: Torts

• Review Torts outline
• Feb 2011 Torts MEE
• Feb 2012 Torts MEE
• 30 Torts MBE questions

Day 6: Review and Practice

• Review Torts and Real Property in depth
• July 2012 Torts MEE
• 30 Torts MBE questions
• Review entire MPT Guide

Day 7: OFF

Day 8: Evidence  / MPT – Objective Memo 

• Briefly review Torts and Real Property
• Review Evidence outline
• July 2014 Evidence MEE
• 30 Evidence MBE questions
• MPT – Read about Objective Memo in MPT Guide and complete Baby MPT
• MPT – look at July 2011 objective memo to see format (In re Field Hogs, Inc.) and jot out answer untimed. (Note: all other MPTs from hereonout should be timed!)
• MPT — 90 minutes Feb 2014 (In re Peterson Engineering Consultants)

Day 9: Evidence

• Review Evidence outline
• Feb 2011 Evidence MEE
• July 2013 Evidence MEE
• 30 Evidence MBE questions

Day 10: Evidence/MPT

• Review Evidence outline
• Feb 2012 Evidence MEE
• 30 Evidence MBE questions
• MPT — 90 minutes July 2014 (In re Kay Struckman)

Day 11: Review and Practice

• Review Torts, Real Property, Evidence,
• 30 Evidence, Torts, Real Property MBE questions (10 each, mixed)

Day 12: Wills (Decedents’ Estates) and Trusts

• Review Wills outline
• Review Trusts outline
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes
  • July 2013 Wills MEE
  • Feb 2013 Trusts MEE
  • Feb 2011 Trusts MEE
• July 2012 Trusts MEE
• Feb 2013 Evidence MEE
• 30 Evidence, Torts, Real Property MBE questions (10 each, mixed)

Day 13: MPT – Persuasive Brief

• Briefly review areas above you are having trouble with
• Review Wills and Trusts outlines
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes
  • July 2011 Trusts MEE
  • Feb 2012 Wills MEE
  • Feb 2011 Wills MEE
• MPT – Read about Persuasive Brief in MPT Guide and complete Baby MPT
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2014 (In re Rowan)
• MPT – 90 minutes July 2012 (Ashton v. Indigo Construction Co.)

Day 14: OFF

Day 15: Constitutional Law

• Review Constitutional Law outline
• July 2011 Constitutional Law MEE
• July 2012 Constitutional Law MEE
• 30 Constitutional Law MBE Questions
• MPT – 90 minutes July 2013 (Monroe v. Franklin Flags Amusement Park)

Day 16:  Constitutional Law, Conflicts of Law

• Review Constitutional Law outline
• Review Conflicts of Law outline
• Feb 2013 Constitutional Law MEE
• Feb 2014 Constitutional Law MEE
• 30 Constitutional Law MBE Questions
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2013 (In re Guardianship of Will Fox)

Day 17: Constitutional Law and MPTs – Demand Letter

• Review Constitutional Law outline
• Review Conflicts of Law outline
• July 2012 Wills/Conflict of Laws
• 30 Constitutional Law MBE Questions
• MPT – Read about Demand Letters in MPT Guide and complete Baby MPT
• MPT — 90 minutes July 2014 (In re Linda Duram)

Day 18: Contracts and Sales

• Briefly review Constitutional Law outline
• Review Contracts outline
• Feb 2011 Contracts MEE
• Feb 2012 Contracts MEE
• 30 Contracts MBE Questions

Day 19: Contracts and Sales and MPTs – Opinion Letter

• Review Contracts outline
• July 2014 Contracts MEE
• 30 Contracts MBE Questions
• MPT – Read about Opinion Letters in MPT Guide and complete Baby MPT
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2013 (In re Wendy Martel)

Day 20: Contracts and Sales

• Review Contracts outline
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes
  • Feb 2013 Contracts MEE
  • July 2013 Contracts MEE
  • Feb 2014 Trusts MEE
• 30 Contracts MBE Questions
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2012 (In re WPE Property Development)

Day 21: OFF

Day 22: Review and Timed Practice

• Review Constitutional Law and Contracts, MPTS
• Briefly Review Torts, Real Property, Evidence
• MPT – 90 minutes
• 30 Contracts and Constitutional Law MBE Questions (15 each, mixed)

Day 23: Criminal Law and Procedure

• Review Criminal Law and Procedure outline
• July 2011 Criminal Law and Procedure
• July 2012 Criminal Law and Procedure
• 30 Criminal Law and Procedure MBE Questions
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed (optional, without Civil Procedure)

Day 24: Criminal Law and Procedure

• Review Criminal Law and Procedure outline
• Feb 2014 Criminal Law and Procedure
• July 2014 Criminal Law and Procedure
• 30 Criminal Law and Procedure MBE Questions

Day 25: Civil Procedure

• Review Civil Procedure outline
• Feb 2012 Civil Procedure/Conflicts MEE
• July 2014 Civil Procedure MEE
• Feb 2014 Civil Procedure MEE
• 30 Civil Procedure MBE Questions

Day 26: Civil Procedure

• Review Civil Procedure outline
• July 2013 Civil Procedure MEE
• Feb 2011 Civil Procedure MEE
• 50 Civil Procedure MBE Questions timed

Day 27: Civil Procedure

• Review Civil Procedure outline
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes
  • Feb 2013 Civil Procedure MEE
  • July 2012 Civil Procedure MEE
  • July 2011 Civil Procedure MEE
• 30 Civil Procedure and Criminal Law/Procedure MBE Questions mixed (15 each)

Day 28: OFF

Day 29: Review and Timed Practice

• Review all MBE subjects and MEE subjects to date,
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed

Day 30: Secured Transactions

• Review Secured Transactions outline
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes
  • Feb 2011 Secured Transactions MEE
  • July 2011 Secured Transactions MEE
  • July 2012 Secured Transactions MEE
• 30 Civil Procedure and Criminal Law/Procedure MBE Questions mixed (15 each)

Day 31: Family Law, MPTs –  wildcard tasks

• Briefly review Secured Transactions outline
• Review Family Law outline
• July 2011 Family Law/Conflicts MEE
• Feb 2013 Secured Transactions MEE
• Feb 2014 Secured Transactions MEE
• More MBE questions as necessary
• MPT – Read about Wildcard Tasks in MPT Guide
• MPT – 90 minutes July 2013 (Palindrome Recording Contract)
• MPT – 90 minutes July 2012 (State of Franklin v. Soper)

Day 32: Corporations and LLC’s, Agency and Partnership

• Review Corporations and LLCs outline
• Review Agency and Partnership outline
• July 2013 Torts/Agency MEE (bullet point)
• Feb 2011 Corporations MEE (bullet point)
• Feb 2012 Corporations MEE (bullet point)
• July 2011 Partnership MEE (bullet point)
• Feb 2012 Partnership MEE (bullet point)
• Feb 2014 Agency and Partnership MEE (bullet point)
• Feb 2013 Agency MEE (bullet point)
• More MBE questions as necessary
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2012 (Franklin Resale Royalties Legislation)
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed (optional)

Day 33: Review and Timed Practice

• Review all MBE subjects and MEE subjects to date Part 1
• MEE 3 questions– 90 minutes – Feb 2010 exam (first half)
• If you need more Corporations practice, briefly bullet point
  • July 2012 Corporations MEE
  • July 2013 Corporations MEE
  • July 2014 Corporations MEE
• MPT – 3 hours Feb 2010 MPT if additional practice is needed

Day 34: Review and Timed Practice

• Continue to review all MBE subjects and MEE subjects Part 2
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed
• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2011 MPT #1 (In re Magnolia County)

Day 35: OFF

Day 36: Review and Timed Practice

• MPT – 90 minutes Feb 2011 MPT #2 (Franklin Resale Royalties Legislation)
• MEE 3 questions – 90 minutes – Feb 2010 exam (second half)

Day 37: Review and Timed Practice

• Review
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed

Day 38: Review and Timed Practice

• Review
• MBE – 100 question MBE timed

Day 39: Review and Timed Practice

• Review
• MPT – 3 hours July 2010 MPT (both MPTs administered)

Day 40: Review and Timed Practice

• Review
• MEE 6 questions – July 2010 exam

Day 41: Review and practice as necessary

Day 42: Review and practice as necessary

Day 43: Review and practice as necessary

• Pack for the bar exam. Check out our packing list here.

Day 44: Review and practice as necessary

• Finish packing for the bar exam

Day 45: OFF

Take the bar exam!

Hopefully, you found this bar exam self-study schedule useful! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!

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