The Weekend Before the Bar Exam: Do’s and Don’ts

The Weekend Before the Bar Exam: Do’s and Don’ts

Bar preparation is a marathon, not a sprint. And just like training for a marathon, you’ll want to structure your study schedule so you can be at your best on test day. To help you maximize your performance, we’ve put together this list of do’s and don’ts for the weekend before the bar exam.

The Weekend Before the Bar Exam: Do’s and Don’ts

Do: Assemble Everything You’ll Need to Succeed

When the morning of the exam comes around, the last thing you’ll want to do is realize that you forgot some necessary item or task. Instead, use the weekend before the bar exam to get ready. Know where you’ll take the exam and double-check that you have everything you need during the exam.

If you’re taking an in-person exam, be sure you know how to get to the test venue, understand traffic patterns at that time of day, and entrances to the building.  If you’re taking the bar exam remotely, be sure to have the room you’ll take the test in set up for maximum focus and ensure everything is in compliance with bar exam regulations. Learn more about how to prepare for an online bar exam here!

Don’t: Take a Full Practice Exam

Just like you would not run a marathon the weekend before the actual race, do not spend the weekend before the bar exam taking a practice test. If you perform poorly, you run the risk of psyching yourself out. At this point, you probably will not get very much out of a full practice exam. Instead, focus on completing smaller sets of questions and review your outlines.

Do: Your Final Review

During the weekend before your bar exam, take some time to go through your outlines and other materials. The level of your final review will depend on your personal comfort. Some students like to work their way through a thorough review, while others prefer a quicker review. Do what makes the most sense for you and what will keep your mind at ease.

Don’t: Sacrifice Sleep

In order to perform your best on the exam, you’ll need to be physically and mentally healthy. Sacrificing sleep in order to spend more time studying might backfire. If you’re exhausted on the day of the exam, you probably won’t be able to perform your best! Check out this post for more tips on how to get sleep before the bar exam.

Do: Manage Your Anxiety

As the bar exam approaches, it is normal to feel anxious about the test. Try to find a way to manage that anxiety and mentally prepare for the exam. Some students find that tools like visualization or meditation can help. Others find that spending time with family and friends (who are not taking the bar) provides a welcome distraction. Here are four more tips for conquering bar exam anxiety. Also, remember that it’s perfectly normal to not feel ready for the bar exam. Check out this article where we explain why.

By the weekend before the bar, you’ve powered through the difficult part of bar prep. Now, it is time to take care of yourself and make sure you’re focused and ready to perform your best!

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