How Much Time Do I Have To Answer An MBE Question?

How Much Time Do I Have To Answer An MBE Question?

If you are studying for the Multistate Bar Exam, one of your goals is probably to improve your speed in answering questions. On test day, you’ll need to answer 200 questions administered in two separate parts. You’ll have three hours in the morning to complete the first 100 questions and then another three-hour block in the afternoon to answer 100 more questions. So how much time do you have to answer an MBE question?

How Much Time Do I Have To Answer An MBE Question?

The math here is simple: if you have three hours to answer 100 questions, then you have 1.8 minutes (or one minute and 48 seconds) per question. While it’s important to keep this timing in mind as a general guideline, the actual time you should spend on an individual question will vary. Some questions are easier, and you may be able to “bank” time for other more difficult questions. However, if you find yourself spending over 2 minutes on a question, it’s time to make an educated guess and move on.

Also, keep in mind that if you have a disability, your jurisdiction may grant you extra time as an accommodation. Each jurisdiction will have a different deadline and require different materials to evaluate your accommodation request, so make sure you’re prepared in advance if you intend to request one.

What Should My Goal Time Per Question Be?

If you can work on improving your speed, you can save time for yourself at the end to go back and revisit any questions that gave you more trouble. If you can improve your question rate by as little as 8 seconds (so, 1 minute and 40 seconds per question instead of 1 minute and 48 seconds per question), you’ll finish with thirteen minutes to spare. Improving your timing will take practice, but it’s a skill you can learn just like any other topic tested on the bar!

How Can I Stay on Track On Test Day?

On test day, feeling nervous is totally natural. However, if you’ve practiced under timed conditions you’ll feel prepared to perform under pressure. A great way to stay on track is to keep an eye on the clock, or bring in a watch if your jurisdiction allows you to do so. Tracking your time and practicing under realistic conditions will put you in the position to succeed on test day!

Learn more MBE tips from our MBE Tip of the Day series that covers everything from memorization tips to how to eliminate wrong answers!

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