Best strategies for closed book exams Forum

[Thrive]

1L at t-14 here.

What are people's recommendations for semester long strategies for such an exam besides the generic going to class, taking good notes etc.

Thanks

[baal hadad]

Learn to apply the law to facts

[thesealocust]

Learn to apply the law to facts

^ Definitely the most important part.

I would do very little differently, to be honest. Most law school exams, in my experience, are open book - but if you prepare thoroughly for it, you shouldn't be using your materials extensively anyway.

[Thrive]

Guys, I apologize. The test is closed book hence my desire for aid. You guys have already done a good job helping out with open book exam strategies.

[thesealocust]

Same answer, really. Spend a little more time drilling memorization, but I'd still make an outline just like for your open book classes. That's what I did and it worked well.

[BVest]

This is written generally but also includes some good closed-book-specific exam tips. http://douglaswhaley.blogspot.com/2012/ ... -exam.html

[ymmv]

Same answer, really. Spend a little more time drilling memorization, but I'd still make an outline just like for your open book classes. That's what I did and it worked well.

Pretty much this. Just memorize your attack outline, basically. More thoroughly than usual.

[baal hadad]

Guys, I apologize. The test is closed book hence my desire for aid. You guys have already done a good job helping out with open book exam strategies.

Memorize the law and learn to apply the law to facts

[Tiago Splitter]

Same answer, really. Spend a little more time drilling memorization, but I'd still make an outline just like for your open book classes. That's what I did and it worked well.

Agreed. It's largely the same study process. Flashcards can be a useful tool for memorization, but they're helpful on open book exams too.

[jbagelboy]

Same answer, really. Spend a little more time drilling memorization, but I'd still make an outline just like for your open book classes. That's what I did and it worked well.

Agreed. It's largely the same study process. Flashcards can be a useful tool for memorization, but they're helpful on open book exams too.

as others have said, if you find yourself turning to your outline or other materials often in an open book exam, you probably weren't as prepared as you needed to be since that time is valuable for writing. thus, closed book just means you are taking the test the way you would ideally be taking it in open book. what will differentiate an open from closed book exam is typically that the prof won't expect you to know obscure case names (like notes cases) or statutory language/numbers, which you could find digging through an outline or casebook but aren't crucial to making an argument.

i actually spent a little less time prepping for closed book, because while I made a rough outline I didn't format it or write down the details of every case to refer to. I did review the name and central holding of each important case to the point where it was memorized though. but the basic structure throughout the semester of crafting an outline and taking practice exams remained the same.