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5 Tips to Figuring Out How Many Weeks To Study For The Bar Exam

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weeks to study for the bar exam

5 Tips To Figuring Out How Many Weeks To Study For The Bar Exam

A common question all bar exam takers have is how many weeks to study for the bar exam.  Unfortunately there is no easy answer.  Everything depends on you!  Each person will have their own ideal amount of time that they should spend studying.  The key is to think about everything you know about yourself as a student.  Consider the techniques that work best for you.  Also evaluate where you are in your life and what things you might have going on in the months before the bar.  All of these things can affect the number of weeks you should spend studying.  You have to create a study plan that is personalized for you.  The same one won’t work for everybody.

5 Tips To Figuring Out How Many Weeks To Study For The Bar Exam

Since there really is no simple formula, here are five factors to consider when determining how many weeks to study for the bar exam

1. Are you a first time taker or a repeat taker?

Your requisite number of weeks to study for the bar exam will vary greatly depending on whether you are a first time or repeat taker.  If you’ve taken the bar exam before, you have obviously been exposed to all of the material already.  It could take you less time to study this go-around as a result since the law isn’t new.  But it is more important for repeat takers to evaluate what went wrong last time and try something new now.  Don’t take the same path and expect things to go differently.  Maybe you didn’t study enough last time. You might need a few more weeks to study for the bar exam.  Maybe you went too hard and so you need to find a way not to burn out.

First time takers are advised to treat the bar exam like a full time job.  There is a ton of material for you to get through, and so you need to dedicate yourself to getting the job done, and done correctly.  The goal is to pass on your first try.  You don’t want to walk out of the bar exam with any regrets on how you prepared.  Give it your best effort from beginning to end.  Since you haven’t seen bar exam material in this format before, expect to need more weeks to study for the bar exam than most repeat takers.

2. Consider how well you did in 1L year.

Most bar exam “experts” agree that how well you did during your 1L year is a strong indicator of how well you’ll do on the exam.  Almost every class you take during 1L year is one of the main subjects tested on the bar.  If you had a solid grasp of those subjects back then, it will be easier for you to pick them up again now.  As a result, it’s possible you’ll need fewer weeks to study for the bar exam.  Or at least you can devote more of your time to unfamiliar subjects.  Think about what study techniques worked well for you during that year.  If you had lots of success, try to replicate those strategies during your bar prep.  If you didn’t do well, you will need to change your approach and adjust your amount of study time accordingly.

3. Quality is more important than quantity.

When thinking about how many weeks to study for the bar exam, remember that quality is more important than quantity.  You could study for 6 months but none of it will matter if you aren’t studying properly.  Reduce distractions during your study time.  Take breaks of course, but when you are studying, don’t let yourself get sidetracked by the internet or television.  Thus, if you commit yourself to making sure your time spent studying is quality, you might not have to spend as many weeks as someone who is messing around.  8 dedicated weeks is always better than 10 unfocused weeks.

4. Are you working during bar prep?

If you intend to work at another job while you study for the bar exam, you should probably begin your prep program earlier than someone who doesn’t.  You will have much less time to devote to the bar if you have to split your attention between work and studying.  It is absolutely possible to do both, you’ll just have to manage your time differently.  See this post for tips on working and studying for the bar at the same time!  If you don’t plan on working during bar prep, you might find that you can spend a couple fewer weeks studying, as long as you make the best use of your time.  Regardless, studying efficiently is always the key!

5. Weeks to study for the bar exam vs. hours to study for the bar exam.

If you want to succeed on the bar exam, you can’t burn out ahead of time.  You need to learn how to manage your studying time in order to keep yourself in the best shape possibly on test day.  When you ask people how many hours you need to study for the bar, you’ll probably get an answer anywhere from 150-600.  The high end of the spectrum might seem absurd, but if you spread that out over a lengthy period of time you will be fine.  It is critical to find the right balance.  Cramming 600 hours into 6 weeks of studying is a bad idea, but spreading it out over 10 is much better.

So when considering how many weeks to study for the bar exam, think about how many hours you plan on studying as well and find your balance. For related advice, see this post on how many hours a day you should spend studying for the bar exam!

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