Tips For Repeat Takers Of The California Bar Exam

Tips For Repeat Takers Of The California Bar Exam

Failing the California Bar exam is one of the most gut-wrenching feelings you can experience throughout your professional career. After all the studying, preparation, and anxiety you may be left feeling like you don’t know where to turn. Well to begin, you’re in the right place and you’re not alone on your journey to pass the exam.  Check out this list of these wildly successful people who have also failed the bar exam. Many repeat test-takers have gone on to pass the exam using the tips outlined below. These tips are designed to boost confidence and help repeat takers of the California Bar Exam.

Tips For Repeat Takers Of The California Bar Exam

Forgetting Old Habits

You may feel as though you did everything in your power to study and prepare for the California Bar Exam. While that might be true, obviously something wasn’t right the first time around. What does that mean? It means that it is time for you to forget your old study habits and try something new. You may already know what that “something” is based on areas you feel you need to improve. If you don’t, take some time and review your past performance for areas you know you can improve on. You’ll be surprised how effective new strategies and study methods can be at increasing your score. Be open to change!

Gauging Your Improvement

You need to carefully monitor your performance and any improvements (or declines in performance) you exhibit. As a repeat test-taker, you have an advantage over others because you already know what subject areas to work on. Take time to analyze and review your performance to ensure that score improvements are steadily occurring. Blindly answering questions and writing out essays is futile unless you have a context to measure your performance.

Balancing Obligations

The first time you took the California Bar Exam you likely were fresh out of law school. One of the luxuries that many first-time examinees enjoy is the ability to fully dedicate themselves to bar preparation. You likely took a couple of months off from other obligations and created a schedule that revolved around the exam.

As a repeat test-taker, you likely will not have that luxury. This time around you may have to work, take care of family, and study. While at first, this may seem daunting, this is generally par for the course as a repeat test-taker. In order to ensure your success, creating a balanced relationship between your obligations is a must. A detailed schedule, along with the discipline to follow it, can provide you with the foundation to pass the exam.

Here are more tips on how to make a bar exam study schedule.

Staying Motivated 

You’re human and taking the California Bar Exam as a repeat test-taker is not an easy task. As we mentioned above, you’re likely juggling different aspects of your life on top of studying, which can be difficult. A common issue many repeat test-takers face is the ability to stay motivated during the lead up to the exam. This is totally normal and even expected.

It can be tough to get a string of MBE questions wrong or forget the law during an essay question. It does happen (more often than you think) and how you respond to the resulting lack of motivation is important. Remember your end goal. Remember why you went to law school. Think of the opportunities a passing score on the California Bar Exam can bring. Most importantly, remember that you’ve got this!

Here are our five extra tips on how to stay motivated during bar prep.

Dealing With Doubt

Self-doubt is an intrinsic part of the human existence. In the context of taking the California Bar Exam as a repeat test-taker, managing self-doubt is vital to your success. You’ve taken the exam once before and know exactly what it brings to the table…and that’s the scary part. You may have studied like crazy the first time and are now thinking, “do I really have what it takes?” The answer is a resounding: YES!

Don’t let everything you don’t know dwarf everything you do know. Thousands of people pass the California Bar Exam every year and it is totally, unequivocally, absolutely passable. Do whatever it takes to keep your self-doubt at bay. Post affirmations on every wall of your bedroom. Reach out to friends and family and let them know how you’re feeling. Listen to motivational speeches. Check out these uplifting and inspirational lists of quotes we compiled for you! You get the idea.

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