MEE Frequency Chart: Analyzing February vs. July Multistate Essay Exams

MEE Frequency Chart: Analyzing February vs. July Multistate Essay Exams (MEEs)

Many students ask us if there is a big difference between February and July MEEs. The short answer is: while there are some differences, you shouldn’t depend on specific subjects appearing just because you are taking a February or July exam. However, there are some interesting patterns to be aware of.

We have analyzed exams from February 2011 to February 2018. (Keep in mind that this post does not include exams past February 2018. Check out this post for our updated frequency chart!) We have only looked at the MEE subjects that the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has used in the MEE it has promulgated.

(Before, the NCBE used to write between 7 and 9 questions for jurisdictions to choose from in administering their own MEEs. But, since the NCBE writes the six essays that appear on the multistate essay exam now, what they have deemed important enough to put on their MEE in the past is the most salient data because it tells us what is most likely to appear on their MEEs in the future.)

MEE Frequency Chart: Analyzing February vs. July Multistate Essay Exams (MEEs)

So, here are a few differences or patterns we have noticed between February and July Exams:

• When Civil Procedure has been skipped, it has always been skipped on a February exam. We suspect Civil Procedure will start showing up less in the coming years. (Since it is now a subject on the multistate bar exam, the NCBE shouldn’t feel like it “needs” to test Civil Procedure every single MEE administration, especially given that the other MBE subjects are not tested with nearly as much frequency!) Maybe the NCBE feels more comfortable skipping it in February administrations. Note: Civil Procedure was skipped on the July 2018 bar exam! 
• Agency & Partnership has been tested more in February and Corporations has been tested more in July. Note: Corporations was tested in July 2018. 
• Conflicts, Contracts, Evidence, Family Law, Trusts, Decedents’ Estates, and Secured Transactions have been tested relatively evenly in February and July.
• Of the past five times Constitutional Law was tested, four of those were on February exams. The same goes for Real Property. Note: Real Property was tested in July 2018!
• Torts is tested slightly more in July.
• Criminal Law & Procedure shows up mostly in July.
• MEE-specific subjects tend to be tested more in February and MBE subjects tend to be tested more in July. The number of MEE subjects in February were: 2018 -2, 2017 – 4, 2016 – 4, 2015 – 2, 2014 – 3, 2012 – 3. The number of MEE subjects in July were: 2018 – 2, 2017 – 2, 2016 – 2, 2015 – 2, 2014 – 2, 2013 – 2, 2012 – 3. The rest were MBE subjects. Note: This held true for the July 2018 bar exam. 

These are the primary differences we have noted between the February and July MEE’s as we analyze the MEE frequency chart. Please leave us your questions and comments below!

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