February 2015 Bar Exam Forum

[Kounselor]

I hate to (possibly) be the bearer of bad news, but according to the data released by Illinois, this may be statistically the most difficult exam in modern history, at least by Illinois standards.

In Illinois, your scored is composed of the mbe, worth 200 points, and your essays (mee, Illinois essays, Mpt), also worth 200 points.

A score of 264 is required to pass.

People who scored 260 or below for july 2014 exam (considered one of the worst performing exams ever)= 18%

People who scored 260 or below for Feb. 2015 exam= 31%

That translated to a roughly 67% pass rate for Illinois.

The Illinois Bar Exam has consistently stayed in the mid 80's for their bar passage rate throughout the last 10 years.

I don't know what this means for other states, but at lease it seems for Illinois this exam has been a bloodbath.


https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/july201 ... ent-charts
https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/percent ... ts-feb2015
http://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/Documents/C- ... rticle.pdf

The middle link doesn't work. Any other sources?

Does anyone have a rough idea how BarBri practice scores correlate to the actual MBE?

I believe I read an article over the weekend that IL is considering upping the passing score to 272/400 now. I wonder what will happen with that now that the scores are out officially.

[sparty99]

I hate to (possibly) be the bearer of bad news, but according to the data released by Illinois, this may be statistically the most difficult exam in modern history, at least by Illinois standards.

In Illinois, your scored is composed of the mbe, worth 200 points, and your essays (mee, Illinois essays, Mpt), also worth 200 points.

A score of 264 is required to pass.

People who scored 260 or below for july 2014 exam (considered one of the worst performing exams ever)= 18%

People who scored 260 or below for Feb. 2015 exam= 31%

That translated to a roughly 67% pass rate for Illinois.

The Illinois Bar Exam has consistently stayed in the mid 80's for their bar passage rate throughout the last 10 years.

I don't know what this means for other states, but at lease it seems for Illinois this exam has been a bloodbath.


https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/july201 ... ent-charts
https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/percent ... ts-feb2015
http://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/Documents/C- ... rticle.pdf

The middle link doesn't work. Any other sources?

Does anyone have a rough idea how BarBri practice scores correlate to the actual MBE?

I believe I read an article over the weekend that IL is considering upping the passing score to 272/400 now. I wonder what will happen with that now that the scores are out officially.

No. That article is old. Effective for the July 2015 bar examination, the minimum passing score is set at 266 (out of a possible 400) - a 2-point increase from the February 2015 bar examination. This passing score will remain in effect through the February 2017 bar examination. Effective for the July 2017 bar examination, the passing score is provisionally set at 268. Prior to that examination, the Deans and Board will review the results of the examinations with the 266 passing score and will make their recommendations to the Court.

[OklahomasOK]

Not that it matters much but I received my scaled MBE yesterday.

Keeping in mind my score was scaled by Oklahoma, I scored a 155. 10 points higher than last July. Reflects adding civ pro, I believe.

[L’Étranger]

Not that it matters much but I received my scaled MBE yesterday.

Keeping in mind my score was scaled by Oklahoma, I scored a 155. 10 points higher than last July. Reflects adding civ pro, I believe.

1) Is your avatar George Harrison?
2) What does 10 points higher than last July mean? You scored 10 points higher or the scale was 10 points higher for everyone?

[OklahomasOK]

Not that it matters much but I received my scaled MBE yesterday.

Keeping in mind my score was scaled by Oklahoma, I scored a 155. 10 points higher than last July. Reflects adding civ pro, I believe.

1) Is your avatar George Harrison?
2) What does 10 points higher than last July mean? You scored 10 points higher or the scale was 10 points higher for everyone?

1. Yessir/mam.

2. I scored 145 last July. I think Texas (July2014) and Oklahoma (Feb2015) scale to different points but I can't imagine they'd be too drastically different. So, I think my jump in performance was due to civil procedure replacing some tougher questions I missed in July. I know my study habits were much worse for the February bar and I didn't take Barbri this time around.

I wouldn't read into it too much unless you're taking it again. I think repeat takers who have some basic mastery of civ pro may be boosted a few points. My general impression of the February MBE was that it was difficult and demoralizing, but just a wee-bit less so than July.

[L’Étranger]

Not that it matters much but I received my scaled MBE yesterday.

Keeping in mind my score was scaled by Oklahoma, I scored a 155. 10 points higher than last July. Reflects adding civ pro, I believe.

1) Is your avatar George Harrison?
2) What does 10 points higher than last July mean? You scored 10 points higher or the scale was 10 points higher for everyone?

1. Yessir/mam.

2. I scored 145 last July. I think Texas (July2014) and Oklahoma (Feb2015) scale to different points but I can't imagine they'd be too drastically different. So, I think my jump in performance was due to civil procedure replacing some tougher questions I missed in July. I know my study habits were much worse for the February bar and I didn't take Barbri this time around.

I wouldn't read into it too much unless you're taking it again. I think repeat takers who have some basic mastery of civ pro may be boosted a few points. My general impression of the February MBE was that it was difficult and demoralizing, but just a wee-bit less so than July.

\

Thanks, man.

[psteele99]

Love hearing about all the passers. Gives me hope! To those of you who did not pass.... stick with it. It is what it is, and no amount of beating yourself up is going to change it. Persevere.

[MichBar]

I think everyone's score completely rises or falls whether or not they understand the intricacies of receiverships.

[Homiemomma]

Not that it matters much but I received my scaled MBE yesterday.

Keeping in mind my score was scaled by Oklahoma, I scored a 155. 10 points higher than last July. Reflects adding civ pro, I believe.

1) Is your avatar George Harrison?
2) What does 10 points higher than last July mean? You scored 10 points higher or the scale was 10 points higher for everyone?

1. Yessir/mam.

2. I scored 145 last July. I think Texas (July2014) and Oklahoma (Feb2015) scale to different points but I can't imagine they'd be too drastically different. So, I think my jump in performance was due to civil procedure replacing some tougher questions I missed in July. I know my study habits were much worse for the February bar and I didn't take Barbri this time around.

I wouldn't read into it too much unless you're taking it again. I think repeat takers who have some basic mastery of civ pro may be boosted a few points. My general impression of the February MBE was that it was difficult and demoralizing, but just a wee-bit less so than July.

A wee bit less difficult = a wee bit higher score, which is all I need! Mine was mailed today, so of course I won't be sleeping until I get The Envelope. I hate speculating, but it looks like February scores are turning out to be more on par than the July disaster. Fingers crossed!


Holy crap I hate this...

[Homiemomma]

PASSED!!!! There is no adrenaline high like the one I just experienced. Damn, y'all.

[minnbills]

PASSED!!!! There is no adrenaline high like the one I just experienced. Damn, y'all.

Congrats!!!

[psteele99]

PASSED!!!! There is no adrenaline high like the one I just experienced. Damn, y'all.

Yay! Congrats!

[aquasalad]

New Mexico... please release the pass list so I can get back to my work life.

[mouse89]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

[sparty99]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

No...Why don't you go with Themis. They have model essay answers. And then also buy the MBE Strategies & Tactics book off of Amazon, which contains real MBE questions.

[mouse89]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

No...Why don't you go with Themis. They have model essay answers. And then also buy the MBE Strategies & Tactics book off of Amazon, which contains real MBE questions.

I've done Themis both times in the past. My MBE scores are solid. I'm just missing a couple of points in my essays-I'm looking for my missing links.

Does MBE Strategies & Tactics include Civ Pro? Or is it still way too early for that? I may get a book of those just for practice

[sparty99]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

No...Why don't you go with Themis. They have model essay answers. And then also buy the MBE Strategies & Tactics book off of Amazon, which contains real MBE questions.

I've done Themis both times in the past. My MBE scores are solid. I'm just missing a couple of points in my essays-I'm looking for my missing links.

Does MBE Strategies & Tactics include Civ Pro? Or is it still way too early for that? I may get a book of those just for practice

There might be a new version of the MBE that has Civ Pro. But the one I used did not.

[Holly Golightly]

I used the Glannon multiple choice guide for civ pro and thought it was more than sufficient.

[Kounselor]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

Took the Feb. 2015 WI MEE portion and passed. I ordered books by Ameribar that had released questions and answers for MEE subjects from like 99 to 2010. For the MBE essays it had essays that I believe were made by them for years after 2010. It was useful because it gave me additional essays to do for a large range of issues that past MEE's might not have had on it. I assume anything after that you would want to purchase off of the NCBE website.

[cooperlaserpup]

so jealous of everyone who has passed! I probably have another MONTH or so before I hear back from NY and I think it is slowly killing me. I just have no confidence that I passed whatsoever! I passed MD in July, but the MBE this time around felt exceedingly more difficult (scored a 148 in July.) I'm hoping that civ pro lends itself to a very forgiving scale!

[sparty99]

so jealous of everyone who has passed! I probably have another MONTH or so before I hear back from NY and I think it is slowly killing me. I just have no confidence that I passed whatsoever! I passed MD in July, but the MBE this time around felt exceedingly more difficult (scored a 148 in July.) I'm hoping that civ pro lends itself to a very forgiving scale!

148 is pretty high. I doubt that you would drop off so far from a 148. I mean, isn't a 133 automatic admission in DC? Sounds like you will be fine.

[ashle484]

Didn't NY results come out on the April 24th last year?

[ALbartaker]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

I purchased the four MBE tests and the MEE essays from the NCBE website ... BUT, I don't know if I passed the exam yet, so it is hard to say how helpful (or not) they were!

The NCBE MBE questions were a nice addition to my studies after I had exhausted the Barbri MBE tests ... the questions, being actual old exam questions, are also shorter and more manageable than the Barbri advanced questions. They were worth every penny of the $200 to me ... as long as my name is on that pass list!

Two more weeks of waiting!

[JoanSloan]

Didn't NY results come out on the April 24th last year?

It looks like you're right
That's like ...next week.

I was mentally preparing to receive them in May.
New goal: no cromiting...

[numbertwo88]

Congratulations to everyone that passed!!!

I have a quick question-did any of you guys review official reports on MEEs and official MBE questions available for purchase on the NCBEX website? I ordered a digital copy of the July 2014 essays to review for myself and see if I can get any hints about where I've gone wrong in the past.

No...Why don't you go with Themis. They have model essay answers. And then also buy the MBE Strategies & Tactics book off of Amazon, which contains real MBE questions.

I've done Themis both times in the past. My MBE scores are solid. I'm just missing a couple of points in my essays-I'm looking for my missing links.

Does MBE Strategies & Tactics include Civ Pro? Or is it still way too early for that? I may get a book of those just for practice

There is a strategies and tactics civ pro supplement if you buy the book now. I have it but I didn't use it -- the supplement was just additional questions. And honestly the questions they provide as the supplement are awful.

... the book came with a code to download a pdf