July 2015 MBE Scores/Results Forum

[robinhoodOO]

*Big update (172 Reporters): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Congrats to everyone in TX, NJ, MD, etc., with good news (and thanks for sharing)! To those that didn't pass, do not despair. Many people reporting having passed have failed prior Bar exams. It can be done, and all is not lost for retakers. If I fail, I'll be right back up on the horse with you getting ready for February!

And, to everyone waiting in CA: 11 days left!!! Since CA is the last state to release data, I will not be updating to include CA MBE scores. Hopefully this thread has been as much of a stress reliever for you as it has been for me. So, thanks to everyone who has contributed, and here's hoping us CA takers get some good news next week. And, if any of you happen to be in the Bay Area (particularly Sonoma County), feel free to PM me. I'll be around and hopefully practicing

Lastly, if anyone would like to carry on the spreadsheet for future takers, feel free to contact me about editing privileges.

[eloise16]

Passed in Maryland -- first timer! Took Themis, completed just over 90% of course, and scored a 141 on the MBE. I think I had around 115 on the midterm.... and I was averaging around 65% on MBE practice tests toward the end... so let it be said that I am very happily surprised

I thought the actual test day MBE was insurmountably difficult, nothing like the practice tests, and I was convinced that there was no way I could have passed it.

Thanks everyone - this thread and TLS as a whole has been insanely helpful.

[daveaa]

157 scaled in MD. I was getting 70%+ on themis by the end of prep. I felt HORRIBLE about it leaving the testing site.

[Backpacker]

Passed MD. Barbri, 145 mid term, 68 Refresher, 75% on Mixed practice sets. Probably averaged the lower end of 6 hours a day, 5/6 days a week. 154 MBE. Felt OK about it after, but obv according to Barbri under performed (less motivation after the high midterm?).

Good luck Feb '16!

[Stevoman]

Passed TX, 153.3. Used barbri, here was my general study strategy:

MBE: Focused way too much on this up to the simulated MBE. Got a raw 135 on Barbri simulated MBE, didn't do the refresher or focus on MBE much afterwards, as I was very far behind on the state essay materials. The MBE is only 40% of the Texas exam, so spend your time accordingly.

MPT: Almost completely blew off. I watched the MPT lecture, did the MPT assigned in the lecture and in the simulated half-day TX exam, and spent about half a day looking at and outlining answers for old questions.

State/Procedure/Evidence: I neglected these badly up until about 3 weeks before game time. In those last 3 weeks I did a ton of old bar exam questions. I was scraping the barrel by the end; I started in whatever the most recent year was in Barbri's TX book (2013?) and went back to like 1995. I watched all the lectures but did not outline much or memorize flashcards. My outlines were about 2-3 pages long each, and stylized as "look for these issues." Most of the Texas questions are recycled, so I just did a ton of old questions and started seeing common patterns for issues. I think my strategy worked, as on game day I knew almost all of the P/E cold, and knew 10 of the 12 essays cold. The only essay questions I missed were ones everyone else missed too.

Hope that helps someone! Law students: The best advice I can give to you right now is to take Evidence in law school, and take Con. Law seriously (learn it, don't just ride that curve to a B). Your MBE studying will be a lot easier in 2 years if you do this.

[1abc23]

154 Barbri midterm; 169 MBE

[crimsontide]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

[NYKfanAIesq]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

[robinhoodOO]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYKfanAIesq]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless Maryland for making the MBE only 1/3 of the passing score!!!

[mike.alexander23]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless Maryland for making the MBE only 1/3 of the passing score!!!

Similar to CA! (Which I think weighs the MBE at 35%, I believe)

[gaagoots]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless Maryland for making the MBE only 1/3 of the passing score!!!

Similar to CA! (Which I think weighs the MBE at 35%, I believe)

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

[kjartan]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless Maryland for making the MBE only 1/3 of the passing score!!!

Similar to CA! (Which I think weighs the MBE at 35%, I believe)

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

Mathematically, you get do get "free points" for guessing on the MBE. You have a 25% chance or arriving at the correct answer just by bubbling anything in. Assuming you guess your way through the entire MBE, you should receive ~47.5 "free points."

[robinhoodOO]

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

According to the one-timers calculator, if you received 50's across the board, you'd still fail even if your raw MBE score was 190/190 (a perfect score).

[mike.alexander23]

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

According to the one-timers calculator, if you received 50's across the board, you'd still fail even if your raw MBE score was 190/190 (a perfect score).

Which makes sense. Even in CA, I think you can guarantee yourself a 50 if you make an attempt at answering the question (this is what a professor who was once a bar grader told us)

[gaagoots]

Passed w/MBE 120..it's a (pre-Xmas) miracle...

LOL.. me too i passed with an MBE of 127. our fellow test takers helped pushed up through the finish line..

It can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless Maryland for making the MBE only 1/3 of the passing score!!!

Similar to CA! (Which I think weighs the MBE at 35%, I believe)

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

Mathematically, you get do get "free points" for guessing on the MBE. You have a 25% chance or arriving at the correct answer just by bubbling anything in. Assuming you guess your way through the entire MBE, you should receive ~47.5 "free points."

My thoughts are why start us at 40 points rather than 0? I've looked all over trying to find the answer and nada. Sadly with my luck I am the one who guesses the wrong 50 of the 50/50. Is CA unique in this or do other states start essay scoring at some arbitrary number.

[robinhoodOO]

In CA, the 65% written throws me off, e.g., my sister could take it and write some BS legal fan fiction about Sailor Moon and still get a 40 on each essay/PT (400/1000 points or 40%). Has anyone seen or heard of 10's or 15's or 30's on essays or PTs? I personally feel the pressure is on the MBE because we don't start with 400 free points for bubbling just anything. Mathematically this changes my perception of the given 35/65 split.

According to the one-timers calculator, if you received 50's across the board, you'd still fail even if your raw MBE score was 190/190 (a perfect score).

Which makes sense. Even in CA, I think you can guarantee yourself a 50 if you make an attempt at answering the question (this is what a professor who was once a bar grader told us)

I'd agree with that. I was just pointing out that the essays have huge significance in CA, unlike many states where the MBE is weighted at 50%. The fact that the baseline is 40 or 50 is besides the point. It does you no good to get 40's or 50's. They're basically an auto-fail. I suspect there are some who have had a 50 or a couple of 55's pass, but that basically means you're banking on at least a couple of 70's and/or stellar MBE's. And, after having read several 50's, I agree that they're likely the baseline for merely answering an essay. Missing big issues, awful/incorrect rule statements, conclusory statements and little to no analysis, etc. I suspect 40's and 45's are reserved for barely starting an essay.

As an aside, I'm pretty sure starting in 2017, the MBE will be weighted at 50% in CA. I think this is good news for takers, personally.

[robinhoodOO]

My thoughts are why start us at 40 points rather than 0? I've looked all over trying to find the answer and nada. Sadly with my luck I am the one who guesses the wrong 50 of the 50/50. Is CA unique in this or do other states start essay scoring at some arbitrary number.

Aw; I hear you. I doubt it's random. My guess is that it's in part due to the fact that they don't generally give "high" grades. I mean, a high is a 70 or 75 and the average pass is around 61 or something. They've basically created a range of 40-80, with the mean a pass near right in the middle of that. Since they cap out at around 80 (although, I guess it's possible for a few to go higher, but I have no idea), they set a baseline minimum to balance this out.

[mike.alexander23]

For what it's worth, I got at least a 150 scaled MBE score on the CBX. California doesn't release MBE scores if you pass, but you are able to check if your score meets minimum requirements to transfer your score. I was advised that my scaled score meets or exceeds the 150 scaled score required for ND. I took Themis, did 90% of the course, averaged 71-75% on MBE practice sets, and got ~150 on the simulated MBE exam.

[corpora_delicti]

My thoughts are why start us at 40 points rather than 0? I've looked all over trying to find the answer and nada. Sadly with my luck I am the one who guesses the wrong 50 of the 50/50. Is CA unique in this or do other states start essay scoring at some arbitrary number.

Aw; I hear you. I doubt it's random. My guess is that it's in part due to the fact that they don't generally give "high" grades. I mean, a high is a 70 or 75 and the average pass is around 61 or something. They've basically created a range of 40-80, with the mean a pass near right in the middle of that. Since they cap out at around 80 (although, I guess it's possible for a few to go higher, but I have no idea), they set a baseline minimum to balance this out.

I don't think that an 80+ is impossible, its just implausible given that we cannot bring written materials into the exam or use legal research tools. An experienced attorney who knows all of the relevant case law and citations by memory could write an analysis of the issues that is worthy of being published, but such a scenario is likely only going to occur if its some attorney who has been practicing for years and happens to get a fact scenario in an area of law in which they have experience writing hundreds of motions. Such a response is what would earn higher than an 80.