How To Practice For The California Performance Test

How To Practice For The California Performance Test

When approaching the California Bar Exam, many students aren’t entirely sure how to prepare for the performance tests.  After all, there are no outlines to memorize and all of the information you need is included on the exam!  So how do you practice for the California performance test? We discuss this in more detail below!

How To Practice For The California Performance Test

Become Familiar With the Format

The California Performance Test has a unique format. Each performance test is comprised of a task memo, a file, and a library. The best way to familiarize yourself with these documents and how they work is to read through previous performance tests.  Research what kinds of tasks you may be expected to complete so you know what to expect on exam day!

Practice Outlining

Once you know how a performance test works, practice outlining an answer to one. The Task Memo and the foundational law from the Library will give you a good idea of how to organize your answer. It is usually a good idea to outline as you read through the Library and File, noting important facts and laws as you come across them. Experiment and decide what outlining strategy works best for you on the performance test. Whatever you choose, though, always practice reading through the material, and ask yourself “How can I use this to answer the question?” Understanding the task and putting together an outline are the first steps to performing well on a performance test!  A solid outline can be of incredible assistance when you begin writing your answer!

Perfect Your Timing

Once you know how to answer a California Performance Test, it’s time to make sure you can do it within the allotted time. You have 90 minutes for the California Performance Test. See if you can spend roughly 45 minutes reading and the remaining time outlining and typing your answer.  You can adjust this slightly depending on your typing and reading speed. Again, practice and decide what works best for you, however you feel comfortable using your 90 minutes to answer the question.

Remember What You’re Dealing With

The performance test is not just another essay. Be sure to only use the laws and facts found in the materials in front of you.  Do not get sidetracked with what you already know when answering performance tests!  You will not earn points for citing statutes or caselaw that strays from the performance test materials.  Be sure to use all the cases from the Library in your answer. They are there for a reason, and using all of them to support your argument will make your answer the most complete. Finally, try to leave yourself a few minutes at the end to make sure your answer is clear and mostly free of typos. See more performance test tips here!

Like anything else on the bar exam, the California Performance Test is a skill set that you can master with some practice and patience.  Even though all of the relevant materials will be provided to you, there’s still plenty to practice leading up to exam day!

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