What good are the past exams without sample answers? Forum

[YYC]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to study when the profs don't post any past exam answers (there are about 5 past essay exams, none with sample answers).

Something I noted from last semester was that I learn well by taking apart sample answers from past years. I did approx. 50% of all readings for CivPro, didn't outline, no supplements, mainly relied on past exams and answers and got A. By contrast, I did 90% of all readings in Torts, took great notes, outlined, skimmed past exams and answers, got low B.

What good are the past exams without sample answers?
Please help! Thanks!

[jrc223]

seriously, you asked this in three different places?

just a 1L, but the obvious answers would seem to be that past exams can at least show you what type of exam (e.g., racehorse issue spotter, policy, etc.) your professor will generally give and what sorts of issues he will generally test (e.g., always asks about Erie Doctrine but rarely asks about supplemental jurisdiction). also, just because there isn't a sample answer doesn't mean you can't take the exam and then review your answer/issue spotting with the professor in office hours or with friends in a study group.

[BVest]

seriously, you asked this in three different places?

just a 1L, but the obvious answers would seem to be that past exams can at least show you what type of exam (e.g., racehorse issue spotter, policy, etc.) your professor will generally give and what sorts of issues he will generally test (e.g., always asks about Erie Doctrine but rarely asks about supplemental jurisdiction). also, just because there isn't a sample answer doesn't mean you can't take the exam and then review your answer/issue spotting with the professor in office hours or with friends in a study group.

This. And even if you don't do study groups, this is a time that you would want to do one. Each of you will have seen something the others did not.

[whats an updog]

Yeah, I never did study groups, but in 1L I would just hit up people who were also solo and say, "hey lets do practice exam xyz and then compare answers in a few hours." together you will generally get almost everything there is to get and pick up a few things from the other person. I also found that for at least two of my profs in 1L, it was hugely profitable to look at their past exams because it was obvious they really honed in on one type of question and if you were ready for that type of question, you had a leg up on the actual exam.

[First Offense]

Also good for testing your outlines to see what you are missing in it, what doesn't have enough detail, what has too much detail, etc.

[BmoreOrLess]

As others have said, this is where I got the most out of study groups.