Tips on the Day of the Bar Exam First and foremost, when you are taking a test for multiple days, you want to be comfortable. The air conditioning might be blasting or not working at all. Additionally, on days when exam takers are using a computer for essays, the rooms will be much hotter than multiple choice days. However, you should be prepared no matter what your test environment may feel like. Individuals also should eat breakfast and lunch on the day of the exam. This is going to be a very long test, so you don't want to skip a meal or go a full day without eating properly. Believe it or not, managing stress is a big part of passing the bar exam. Since there might be 1,000 test-takers at the examination center, you want to arrive early and know where you are going to park. You will not be permitted to take the test if you arrive late. In addition, some test takers get hotel rooms close to the exam center. One of the major tips for taking the bar exam is to avoid discussing the bar exam with others. There is no benefit in discussing the exam and it only increases stress, so you should avoid this altogether. For example, if you discuss an essay during a break and every party to the conversation had a different opinion about the essay, this could throw off a test taker's confidence. Some people suggest eating a heavier breakfast early in the morning and a lighter lunch so that the test taker stays sharp in the afternoon. Further, a test taker should stay hydrated because dehydration may lead to headaches and a decreased attention span. (Depending on the test center, a student may not be allowed to bring water into the exam. However, we suggest drinking a lot of water during breaks. The bar exam is a marathon not a sprint.) An additional tip to calm the nerves is to do some light cardio before the test; however, a student should not overdue it on testing days. A test taker should do some exercise before the test so that the first time a test taker's heart rate jumps in the morning is not at the beginning of the test. When a test taker's heart rate jumps, a test taker could have a difficult time calming down and focusing on the test. After a bit of light exercise, a test taker will often be able to refocus quickly. Finally, do not freak out before the exam or while you are taking the exam. You must be thinking rationally and if you do freak out, stop taking the exam and take three depth breaths, physically stop typing, and put your pencil down. After these breaths, get back in the game. You took the preparation courses and you are ready for the bar. Remaining calm is one of the keys to passing. Preparing for the Bar Exam In order to prepare for the bar exam you need to build your confidence. You need to work extremely hard in order to pass the bar exam the first time. You never want to take the bar exam as a “trial run.” Sitting for the exam with the intention of taking the test over will only make things more difficult for you. Next, you need to prepare yourself financially. The bar exam is expensive. According to Southwestern Law School, the application and the fees for a preparation course could exceed $4,000. You don't want to have to work while preparing for the bar exam. You should talk to your school and look into applying for one of the various loans available or other available financial aid. Remember, studying for the bar exam is a full-time job. It is highly recommended that you study eight or more hours a day for a six day week. An individual will typically study for three months after he/she has graduated from law school. It is also recommended that you take a Bar Exam preparation course. In fact, people will often take multiple courses. For example, in addition to the standard overall courses a number of students will seek out additional seminars, tutoring, or books to strengthen areas of weakness. There are many good courses, which provide a wide variety of teaching methods. When you attend these bar prep courses you need to pay attention, complete as much of the suggested exercises as possible, and review the sample answers and notes on any submitted practice exams because these bar preparation classes are prepared by experts in the field. You must attend lectures, study the outlines, and take some timed practice exams. You should try and get a taste of what it feels like to take the MBE questions, performance test, and essays while being under timed pressure. Another suggestion you might take into consideration is creating your own schedule during the last month. Taking the bar exam is a demanding process that involves attending Bar Review classes and taking practice exams, so you need to set aside a plan for how you will review the materials leading up to the bar exam. The best way to do this is by creating a schedule. A lot of students will review the different topics for three days and then do one day to one half day reviews before the exam. However, each student approaches the bar exam in a unique and individual way, so do what works for you. What Should a Student Expect? Related Article The Importance of MBE in the Bar Exam Page 4 How is the exam structured? With a few exceptions (like the aforementioned California and Texas), most states' bar exams consist of two days of testing: the Wednesday MBE and a Tuesday or Thursday state-specific exam. .... Prep course for taking the Bar Exam and PMBR (Professional Multistate Bar Review) Page 5 It's all in the preparation. Preparing for the bar exam is absolutely essential. Law firms recognize this, and most give their incoming first-year associates the summer off after graduation (sometimes salaried) to study for the late-July administration. Many firms will even pick up the tab for ex .... How to prepare for the Bar Exam Getting good grades and earning that degree in law are the first goals for students enrolled at the many law schools nationwide. However, graduating with a J.D. is just the first step to becoming a lawyer. Law school graduates must successfully pass the bar exam to become certified and licensed to practice la .... So what does the 200 MBE questions entail? The MBE tests six topics which are based on Constitutional Law, Contracts/Sales, Criminal Law/Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. These six subjects are not lumped into one section of the bar exam, but are distributed evenly throughout the examination. Individuals who are taking the bar exam receive three hours in the morning to finish the first hundred questions. The test-takers will also receive an additional three hours in the afternoon session to complete the final hundred questions. All the multiple choice questions have four answer choices. Out of the 200 MBE questions, 190 are scored and the remaining ten will be evaluated for future use. Although the ten questions that are not scored are indistinguishable to the test-takers, each individual must answer all 200 questions on the examination. The MBE portion of the bar exam takes about six hours to complete divided into two three hour -sessions. Individuals who want to transfer their MBE scores from one jurisdiction to another are permitted to do so, however, you must follow deadlines regarding when the MBE was scored. For instance, some states allow an individual's MBE score from concurrent exams while other states only permit scores from up to five years prior to the current bar exam administration. Test takers are advised to check their MBE scores and the applicable time limits for transferring the scores to other jurisdictions. For more information on the transferability of MBE scores to different jurisdictions click here. How is the Bar Exam Administered and who participates? The bar examination is administered twice a year on the last Wednesday in July and the last Wednesday in February. Since the MBE is a standardized multiple-choice test it must be administered on the same day across the country. The exam is overseen in forty eight states and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Republic of Palau. There are two states that currently do not administer the MBE, Louisiana and Washington. Since Louisiana follows a civil law system, which is considerably different than the rest of the United States, it does not participate in the MBE. Washington plans to administer the MBE in July 2013. Puerto Rico also does not take part in the MBE due to the fact these states follow a civil law system. Delaware and North Dakota only distribute the MBE once a year on the last Wednesday in July because they typically do not have enough applicants to administer a second sitting. The History of the Bar Exam and What's On The Test In 1763, Delaware created the first bar exam and soon after other American colonies established the exam. Today, in the United States and in its territories, the bar examination is at least two days long (a few states have three-day exams). Louisiana, Montana, California, Alabama, Nevada, Delaware, Texas, and South Carolina have three- day exams. The bar exam consists of the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), essays, multistate standardized examinations, and complicated questions that precisely test knowledge of that state's law, although these state law questions are only administered in some jurisdictions. These jurisdictions also administer multiple questions that test knowledge of general legal principles, and may also test knowledge of the state's own law such as family law, constitutional law, community property, torts, wills, and trusts. Jurisdictions frequently use the Multistate Essay Examinations (MEE) to test an individual's knowledge of the state's own law. State By State Bar Exam Pass Rate According to California-bar-exam-pass.com, which lists state by state bar exam pass rate as well as the U.S. territories, California had a 51 percent pass rate in 2011 and 49 percent in 2010. Below is a complete list of pass ratings in the U.S. and its territory's. 2009 2010 2011 Alabama 65% 67% 65% Arizona 73% 73% 70% Arkansas 67% 65% 71% California 49% 49% 51% Colorado 74% 74% 79% Connecticut 75% 71% 71% Delaware 63% 66% 67% DC 49% 41% 48% Florida 68% 69% 72% Georgia 76% 75% 76% Hawaii 76% 68% 75% Idaho 81% 78% 79% Illinois 84% 84% 83% Indiana 75% 75% 74% Iowa 89% 87% 84% Kansas 82% 84% 86% Kentucky 77% 77% 80% Louisiana 69% 61% 66% Maine 77% 88% 68% Maryland 69% 71% 74% Massachusetts 79% 81% 80% Michigan 81% 80% 76% Minnesota 85% 86% 88% Mississippi 78% 76% 72% Missouri 87% 86% 89% Montana 87% 89% 90% Nebraska 78% 81% 78% Nevada 60% 59% 65% New Hampshire 84% 80% 78% New Jersey 77% 76% 77% New Mexico 84% 81% 82% New York 65% 65% 64% North Carolina 67% 68% 70% North Dakota 80% 78% 83% Ohio 76% 78% 79% Oklahoma 82% 82% 83% Oregon 69% 68% 68% Pennsylvania 76% 74% 77% Rhode Island 74% 74% 69% South Carolina 72% 73% 73% South Dakota 83% 94% 94% Tennessee 68% 70% 69% Texas 78% 76% 80% Utah 83% 82% 84% Vermont 61% 76% 68% Virginia 69% 70% 72% Washington State 67% 71% 66% West Virginia 73% 65% 74% Wisconsin 89% 90% 84% Wyoming 75% 71% 62% Guam 52% 80% 67% N. Mariana Islands 100% 63% 83% Palau 17% 57% 25% Puerto Rico 41% 42% 44% Virgin Islands 65% 71% 49% For the exam-takers who participated in the summer examination, they historically have 64 percent correct. The average scaled sore was around 140. 2012 Test Center Address List (State's Test Centers Are Subject To Change) Alameda County Fairgrounds 4501 Pleasanton Avenue Pleasanton, CA Crown Plaza Hotel 1177 Airport Blvd. Burlingame, CA Oakland Convention Center 1001 Broadway Oakland, CA Sacramento Convention Center 1400 J Street Sacramento, CA Sacramento Doubletree 2001 Point West Way Sacramento, CA Santa Clara Convention Center 5001 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA California Market Place 110 East Ninth Street Los Angeles, CA Century Plaza Hotel 2025 Avenue Of The Stars Los Angeles, CA Doubletree Hotel 100 The City Drive Orange, CA Ontario Convention Center 2000 Convention Center Way Ontario, CA Pasadena Convention Center 300 East Green Street Pasadena, CA Doubletree Hotel- Westside 6161 W. Centinela Ave Culver City, CA Sheraton Four Points 8110 Aero Drive San Diego, CA Town and Country Resort Hotel 500 Hotel Circle North San Diego, CA Jacob Javits Convention Center 11th Avenue at West 35 St., New York, NY 10001 Armory Track and Field Center 216 Fort Washington Avenue at West 168 St., New York, NY 10032 New York State Judicial Institute 78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603 Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center 153 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 Empire State Plaza Concourse Level, Albany, NY 12242 Times Union Center 51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 The Desmond Hotel 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211 Saratoga City Center 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 1200 Ballpark Way Arlington, Texas 76011 900 Barton Springs Rd Austin, Texas 78704 1001 Avenida de las Americas Houston, Texas 77010 Texas Tech Law School 1802 Hartford Lubbock, Texas 79409 901 North Loop 1604 West San Antonio, Texas 78232-1040 1114 S. University Parks Dr. Waco, Texas 76798 355 Plaza Drive Secaucus, NJ 07094 Garden State Exhibit Center 50 Atrium Drive Somerset, NJ 08873 Doubletree Hotel 200 Atrium Drive, Somerset New Jersey 08873 Somerset Hotel 110 Davidson Ave. Somerset, NJ 08873 Atlantic City Convention Center 1 Miss America Way Atlantic City, NJ 08401 The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-418-4700 or 800-428-9000 David L Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 Phone: 412-565-6000 Radisson Penn Harris Hotel 1150 Camp Hill Bypass Camp Hill, PA 17011 Phone: (717) 763-7117 At Widener School of Law 4601 Concord Pike Wilmington DE 19083 John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center (Hynes) - Boston, MA 900 Boylston Street Boston, MA, 02115 Phone: 617-954-2000 Fax: 617-954-2299 Western New England University School of Law - Springfield, MA 1215 Wilbraham Road Springfield, Massachusetts 01119 Phone: 413-782-3111 Roanoke Civic Center 710 Williamson Road, NE. Roanoke, Virginia, 24016 (540) 853-2241 Connecticut Convention Center 100 Columbus Boulevard Hartford, CT 06103 (860) 249-6000 Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa At The Convention Center 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, Al 36104 Hotel Murano 1320 Broadway Plaza Tacoma, WA 98402 253-238-8000 Courtyard Tacoma Downtown Hotel 1515 Commerce St. Tacoma, WA 98402 253-591-9100 Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel 2611 East E St. Tacoma, WA 98421 253-272-7737 La Quinta Tacoma Hotel 1425 East 27th St. Tacoma, WA 98421 253-383-0146 Holiday Inn Express Downtown Spokane 801 N. Division St. Spokane, WA 99202 509-328-8505 Doubletree Hotel Spokane City Center 322 N. Spokane Falls Ct. Spokane, WA 99201 509-455-9600 Red Lion Hotel on the River – Jantzen Beach 909 N. Hayden Island Drive Portland, OR 97217 Phone: 503-283-4466 Boise, Idaho – Boise Centre – 850 West Front Street Boise, ID 83702 Phone: 208-336-8900 Moscow, Idaho – University of Idaho – College of Law 691 Ash Street Moscow, ID 83844 Phone: 208-885-6380 Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street Albuquerque, NM 87102 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Student Union, 2nd Floor 4505 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89154 University of Nevada, Reno Lawlor Events Center 1664 N. Virgina St. Reno, NV 89557 Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (previously Vet's Auditorium) 833 Fifth Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309 515-564-8100 The Universities at Shady Grove (480 seats) (NOT CONFIRMED) 9630 Gudelsky Drive Rockville, MD 20850 (see website at www.shadygrove.umd.edu) University of Maryland School of Law (480 seats) 500 W. Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201 University of Baltimore Law School/Business School (240 seats) 1420 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Exhibition Hall at Timonium Fairgrounds (240 seats) 2200 York Road Timonium, MD 21093 The Truman Hotel & Convention Center 1510 Jefferson Street Jefferson City, Missouri 65109 Phone 573-635-7171 Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 West McCarty Street Jefferson City, Mo 65101 (573) 635-1234 Holiday Inn World's Fair Park 525 Henley St. Knoxville, TN 37902 Memphis Cook Convention Center 255 North Main St. Memphis, TN 38103For the exam-takers who participated in the summer examination, they historically have 64 percent correct. The average scaled sore was around 140.

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