How To Build Endurance For The MBE On The Bar Exam

How To Build Endurance For The MBE On The Bar Exam

The MBE will test your legal knowledge, your ability to stay calm under pressure, and your endurance. Over the course of six hours, you’ll need to work through 200 multiple-choice questions without losing focus — which is easier said than done! Today, we want to share some tips on how to build endurance for the MBE so you’re ready to perform your best on test day.

How To Build Endurance For The MBE On The Bar Exam

1. Quality over Quantity

Some students think that answering 100 practice MBE questions will get them the score they need. While this may work for the rare few, this strategy is much more likely to lead to burnout. Instead, your preparation should also leave time for you to memorize and understand the law. Here are some tips on memorizing your bar exam outlines. If you want to build endurance for the MBE, you should focus on the quality of your answers instead of worrying about an arbitrary question goal.

If you want to incorporate a total number of MBE questions into your study schedule, plan ahead and check out our post on how many MBE questions to complete before the bar exam.

2. Have a Plan for the Test

To answer 100 questions in each 3-hour session, you’ll have about 1.8 minutes (or one minute and 48 seconds) per question. While this pace may seem difficult at the beginning of your bar prep, you’ll get more comfortable over time. Additionally, have a system for bubbling in your answer sheet — we usually recommend that students transfer their answers after every 2 pages of questions (or an open booklet). If you have a plan for pacing and for bubbling in your answers in advance, you’ll be able to stay focused on the questions during the test.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Take A Break

During the exam, the time pressure may make you feel like you can’t take a break. However, even a 10-second break after a tough question can help you with endurance for the MBE. This short rest will give your brain a chance to refocus and move on to the next question.

Here are some other factors to consider when deciding to take a break during the MBE on test day.

4. Take Care of Yourself

During bar prep, it may be tempting to spend all of your time studying. However, sacrificing good habits like exercise, sleep, and healthy meals can backfire. If you want to build endurance for the MBE, you need to make sure your body and your brain are in peak condition. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, taking regular breaks for physical activity, and getting all the nutrients you need — your brain will thank you on test day!

Learn more about tips and strategies in our guide to self-care during the bar exam!

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