What To Do If You Failed The MPRE

What To Do If You Failed The MPRE

Receiving the news that you failed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is not a great feeling. You likely took the exam for the first time while you had a lot on your plate.  Between juggling responsibilities as a law student, clerking, and possibly even preparing for graduation, finding time to study for the MPRE can be incredibly difficult!

Once the shock settles in that you didn’t pass the exam, take a moment to relax and understand it’s not the end of the road. First, if you are one of the people who took the exam while still in law school, you can take the exam again before you head into bar study. If you can’t retake the MPRE for a while, most states still allow you to take the bar exam prior to passing the MPRE (although, be sure to check with your jurisdiction!). So, it is safe to breathe and consider what avenues you can take and create a game plan that works for you.

In this article is to provide you with a few things to ponder as you create a game plan for how you can pass the MPRE the next time you take it!  Read on for what to do if you failed the MPRE.

What To Do If You Failed The MPRE

1. Do I need to sign up for an MPRE course?

Everyone has different needs when it comes to the method and strategy for studying for the MPRE. However, most people can agree that signing up for an MPRE prep course can significantly boost your confidence—here’s why. Courses provide structure when you may already be feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start with your studies.  In addition to providing study schedules, most MPRE prep courses also provide access to lectures, outlines, simulated practice questions, and other materials to help you boost your chances of passing the MPRE.  Our free MPRE course also includes a “MPRE Crash Course” which can be perfect if you don’t have a lot of time to study or want a refresher before test day.

The MPRE tests very specific rules and sometimes it’s easy to take a very broad approach to the material. An MPRE prep course will help you to zone in on specific areas and give you a roadmap you may not be able to create on your own.

2.  Consider Using Released MPRE Questions

Most free MPRE courses include simulated MPRE practice questions.  There is no doubt that simulated practice questions can certainly be useful when preparing for the MPRE!  However, practicing with real MPRE questions released by the NCBE can be incredibly beneficial if you find yourself struggling with actually answering multiple-choice questions.  Released MPRE questions will also be in a format most similar to what you will see on the MPRE.  We have real MPRE questions available for purchase if you’re interested in exploring this option!

3. Do I need to hire a tutor?

While an MPRE prep course can be incredibly helpful while you prepare for the MPRE, you may find that it’s simply not enough.  If you find yourself spinning your wheels during MPRE prep, a one-on-one environment where you can receive tailored feedback might just be the way to go! A tutor may be a great avenue to consider if your study style requires a little more personal attention or if you feel you have more questions than answers. Working with a tutor may help you identify rules that you are struggling with–which is helpful information if you are somewhat unaware of where you went wrong. Tutors can also walk through pracitce questions with you which can help you better strategize for the MPRE.

Click here for more information on MPRE tutoring through JD Advising!  

4. Should I Change My Approach to Studying?

Sometimes we must change what we are doing to see different results. Maybe studying by yourself isn’t such a good idea. On the other hand, maybe participating in a study group wasn’t as effective as you had hoped.  Take a minute to evaluate what you thought worked well when you last prepared for the MPRE as well as what might be worth revisiting.  If something didn’t work well for you, don’t be afraid to step away from that method (even if others swear by it!).

Your study environment is also very important. Determine whether there are too many distractions that may have impacted your focus. You may have to lock your phone away or study in a quieter area to ensure you remain on task.

Finally, determine what types of study materials work best for you. If you find your eyes glazing over reading black and white outlines, find ones that are in color or include pictures.  If you’re easily distracted watchign lectures, try carefully working through an outline.  Knowing how you best study can help you jump right into studying for the MPRE!

5. Am I memorizing the rules?

It’s very important when studying for the MPRE to ensure you are memorizing the rules. The MPRE tests the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC).  Familiarity with the MRPC is crucial to passing the MPRE! Reading the rule over and over again likely won’t be enough to commit something to memory! Instead, try covering the rule while you try to recite it.  Keep track of what rules you don’t yet have committed to memory so you can be sure to review them in more detail.

Need some help with memorization? Ask people around you to help you memorize the rules. Maybe you have a great friend who wouldn’t mind quizzing and talking through the rules with you. Sometimes being able to explain things to a person who isn’t familiar at all with the material you are studying helps you realize where your knwoledge gaps are.

6. Did I complete enough practice questions?

Not to take anything away from the importance of memorizing the rules because it is very important! However, it is equally important to ensure you understand how the rules you commited to memory can be applied. To accomplish this, working your way through practice questions is going to be crucial. Don’t just keep track of questions you answer incorrectly.  Make sure you understand why you got a question right or wrong!  This will allow you to make any necessary corrections before exam day!

You may have completed hunderds of practice questions, but did you pay attention to how long it took you complete a set of questions? When completing practice questions, be sure to pay attention to the timing. We recommend not timing yourself when you first start practicing questions. Give yourself some time to ensure you know the rules and identify any issues you have with memorization. This is the period where you should be very analytical, not necessarily strategic.

However, over time, you should begin to time yourself. Some students walk into the MPRE with all the knowledge they need, but they can’t complete questions in the time period allotted.  By spending some time with timing, you’ll be that much more prepared when you sit downt to take your exam!

7. Did I devote enough time to my studies?

We get it. It can be tough managing your time. This is especially true if you are one of the people taking the MPRE while you are still in law school. You have your classes, you may be president of an organization, or you may be doing and externship. All of your studying and activities can certainly add up! By the time the end of the day comes around, the time you plan to devote to the MPRE might not exist.

The good thing is that a time management issue can be fixed with a few easy steps:

• First, make a schedule that works for you. Don’t be intimidated by this suggestion or see it as just another task you don’t have time for. Make it very informal if that works better for you! Use an electronic or paper planner if you are already in the habit of doing so.  If you don’t use this type of organizaitonal structure, try making some notes in your phone or posting sticky notes with different tasks on your desk. As you complete tasks, check them off on yoru phone or toss the sticky note in the trash.  Keeping track of what you have and haven’t completed can help you stay on track as you study!
• Next, try limiting your social distrcations so you can focus on studying. You may not be able to squeeze in a lunch date leading up to the exam if that’s usually the time you review practice questions. You may have to hold off on watching that upcoming Netflix series so you can memorize your outline.  As disappointing as this might be, saying “no” now might give you more opportunities to say “yes” in the future when you pass the MPRE!

Conclusion

In short, you cannot put this exam on the back burner and assume you will walk into the exam and pass.  The MPRE is hard work, and you have to put in the time in order to pass!  This exam can be quite tricky even if you are familiar with the rules. That’s why it’s important to devote the necessary time required to feel as confident as possible that you are prepared for the questions that will be coming your way.

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