Will I Fail the Bar Exam? Bar Exam Prep Red Flags

Will I Fail the Bar Exam? Bar Exam Prep Red Flags

Studying for the bar exam is a commitment. For approximately two months, you’ll eat, sleep, and breathe bar prep. Completing the work isn’t enough, however, as many smart students fail the bar each year. If you’re asking yourself, “Will I fail the bar exam?”, it might be time to evaluate your study habits. We’ve put together this list of bar prep red flags to help you get back on track.

Will I Fail the Bar Exam? Bar Exam Prep Red Flags

1. Too Much Time Spent Watching Lectures and Reading

When it comes to bar prep, you can’t be passive about it. Yes, watching lectures is useful for learning and reviewing the material. However, if you don’t spend time memorizing and engaging with that material, you could find yourself in trouble. We recommend creating a regular memorization schedule, so you can focus on memorizing the corresponding sections of your outline as you watch your lecture videos.

2. Refusal to Focus on Highly Tested Topics

The bar exam tests an incredible volume of information. If you set out to learn it all, you could find yourself in trouble. Instead, shift your focus to the more frequently tested topics and rules. Check out our frequency charts where we plotted how often each subject has been tested for the essay exams for:

• Michigan
• UBE (MEEs)
• California

Additionally, here is the same information for the most highly-tested MBE questions.

While you’re at it, make sure you’re developing the other skills you’ll need so you don’t fail the bar exam: issue spotting, creating rule statements, working under time constraints, etc.

3. Ignoring the Essay Section

Some students devote all their energy to practicing for the multiple-choice section of the bar exam (the “MBE”). You might think that because you were a good writer in law school, you’ll be able to “wing” the essay section when the time comes. If you take that attitude, there’s a good chance you’re leaving points on the table. With a little practice, you can significantly improve your essay score. Check out these tips on how to write better and faster bar exam essay answers!

4. Self-Doubt

Studying for the bar exam is stressful. If you are constantly thinking that you will fail the bar exam, your self-doubt may be preventing your success. One of the ways you can prevent self-doubt from taking over is to prioritize your mental health. Take a break to check in with friends, prepare yourself a nice meal, or take 30 minutes and do a restorative yoga video. Your brain will thank you! Here are 7 tips to de-stress during bar exam prep!

To pass the bar exam, you need to efficiently use the study time you have without letting stress and self-doubt derail your progress. If any of the red flags above sound familiar to you, take this opportunity to adapt your study methods and put yourself on the path to passing the bar.

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