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How To Prepare For The Bar Exam As An ESL Student

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bar exam as an ESL student

How To Prepare For The Bar Exam As An ESL Student

Taking the bar exam is tough enough if English is your first language. If you are an English as a second language (ESL) student, you will have additional barriers to overcome, beyond just memorizing the law. In this post, we provide some practical tips on how to prepare for the bar exam as an ESL student.

How To Prepare For The Bar Exam As An ESL Student

1. Practice a lot of MBE questions.

The MBE is part of every bar exam in the United States, and is worth a significant portion of your grade. Regardless of where you take the bar exam, the MBE is the most predictable part of the exam. The essay portion of the bar exam can differ significantly from state to state. The language used to develop essay questions can be simple or complex, depending on who writes the questions. Even looking at previous essays for your jurisdiction might not be helpful if the authority who writes them has a change in personnel.

The MBE, however, does not change much from administration to administration. There’s not much unpredictability when it comes to language or the subjects/topics covered. So, use this to your advantage! Acquire previous MBE questions, and practice a lot in preparation for the bar! You’ll pick up on the language patterns and unfamiliar vocabulary much more quickly if you experience it repeatedly before you sit for the bar exam.

2. Look for bar prep services that are tailored to your language needs.

Not every bar preparation course of study is geared toward ESL students. If spoken language is more difficult for you than written (which tends to be the case for anyone’s second language), live group lectures might not be ideal. Instead, look for one-on-one tutoring. Not only does this allow you to have the undivided attention of your tutor, but you can also build a relationship with someone who understands your needs. If your tutor knows you struggle with certain parts of English, they can work around those with you, and look to minimize any problems moving forward.

Many ESL students also find pre-recorded lectures very helpful. Pausing a lecture, and resolving any subject or language confusion, is hugely helpful for some. The only downside is that if you cannot resolve your confusion, there’s no live human there to assist you.

3. Focus on grammar even outside of bar essay practice.

Grammar is so important when you write your essays. Being able to cogently and quickly summarize your points is pivotal to doing well on the bar exam. Therefore, work on mastering grammar before you sit for the bar. Grammar mistakes can muddy your argument, losing you valuable points on your essays. Some ESL students hire English tutors to help them iron out these problems. This is by no means necessary, but getting feedback from someone who speaks English expertly can be really helpful in resolving grammatical mistakes.

4. Give yourself extra prep time.

This might go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: you most like will need more prep time as an ESL student. This is not an indictment on you. Anyone who learns a second language will have certain weaknesses. Don’t rush to take the bar before you are ready. Make sure to master the law and have confidence in your language abilities before attempting the bar. A deficiency in either will really hurt your chances of doing well.

With everything mentioned above, it is definitely possible to pass the bar exam as an ESL student. You just need to recognize your weakness and compensate for them during your preparation. Be realistic about your goals, and diligent in your preparation, and the results will come!

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