Tips For Bar Exam Testing Locations

Tips For Bar Exam Testing Locations

For those of you who secured a bar exam testing location close to where you live, consider yourselves lucky. For those of you assigned bar exam testing locations that require packed bags, an airplane, and a hotel – this blog post is for you. Not only do you have to take the bar exam, but you also have to navigate the logistics of getting to the bar exam. Fear not, many students (and JD Advising team members) traveled to take the bar exam. While traveling does add a layer of complexity, this post should hopefully provide some helpful advice to ease your mind and make traveling for the bar exam a little easier.

Tips For Bar Exam Testing Locations

Book Early

As soon as you are assigned to a testing location, we recommend booking your flight(s) and hotel accommodations. While flights may be plentiful depending on where you’re heading, hotels near bar exam testing sites tend to book quickly. Keep in mind that students who also attend your law school won’t be the only ones searching for hotel rooms. Students from all law schools in your state along with any student or practicing attorney who needs to take the bar exam to be licensed will also be on the lookout for hotel accommodations. Many hotels around testing centers offer group discounts for those taking the bar exam, so be sure to ask. Studying for the bar exam can be stressful! There’s no need to take on extra stress by searching for a room and flight at the last minute!

Getting To The Testing Center

Hopefully, you are able to snag a hotel room a few steps away from the testing center. If not, take some time to figure out how you’re getting to the testing center on the mornings of the bar exam. Many students prefer to call an Uber or Lyft while others choose to rent a car and drive themselves. No matter what option you ultimately select, be sure to do your homework to avoid surprises. Check beforehand what traffic patterns are like around the area you’re staying for the exam. Map out the quickest route to take to the testing center or take a practice drive the night before the exam. Explore parking options around the testing center prior to the first day of the bar exam. Taking steps like these can provide some peace of mind on the mornings of the bar exam.

Brain Food

While many students probably do not rank food as a high priority when traveling to take the bar exam, think twice! Remember, you’re not waking up in your home, which means you can’t run to the kitchen and pack a lunch. Therefore, it’s important to figure out what you’re eating for breakfast and lunch on testing days. Since you’re likely arriving a day before the bar exam, take time to grab breakfast essentials from somewhere nearby. Your hotel might also have a continental breakfast or to-go breakfast options.

Things get a little trickier when it comes to lunch. Since you don’t have a kitchen to prepare yourself lunch, you’re essentially left with two options. The first option is to find a grocery store near your hotel and pack your own lunch. The second option is to attempt to visit a local restaurant during the lunch break, which we generally recommend avoiding. Local restaurants sometimes get overwhelmed by the number of students flocking to them for lunch, and some students are not able to eat due to the long wait times!  With a little planning around your lunch, you’ll be all set for the afternoon portion of the bar exam!

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