Feb. 2018 Themis Forum

[PSK_246]

Does anyone have any suggestions with respect to how to improve on timing on the MBE? That's my struggle at the moment, I can't seem to get through all of the questions before time runs out, and I'm left with just filling in answer B, so as not to leave any blank

Themis' advice is probably the best - read the call of the question, try to come up with the answer while reading the prompt, and hopefully it's one of the choices.

[Neilt001]

Milestone #4 sucked

The 100 question Test (#4)? I think it was intentional, or so my rep told me.

I did crappy on set 10 or 11 today. Ugh.

I feel like I have so much work still left to do (memorize essay rules, take more MBEs), and I am SO exhausted. I just want my normal life back.

Totally agreed. That final practice exam was brutal. I hope your rep was right, but then again the average was 61, which is the same as the past exams. But I definitely did worse than before and was left totally guessing lots of em.

Old life? I don't eve remember that..?? Was so long ago...

[phillywc]

Hello everyone. Who else is convinced they are going to get an actual 0 on the essay exam?
Someone got a 148 on the MBE in July and failed. That's gonna be me. I can feel it in my bones.

[MakeItEnd2018]

Anyone else feel depressed/burn out/anxious/I can't sleep, eat or bathe because I feel like I know nothing?
...Juuuuust checking.

[JoLaw824]

Anyone else feel depressed/burn out/anxious/I can't sleep, eat or bathe because I feel like I know nothing?
...Juuuuust checking.

YES.

You can't let the past dictate your future, but once you fail this exam, (at least for me) you feel as though you will never pass.

[kc128]

Hello everyone. Who else is convinced they are going to get an actual 0 on the essay exam?
Someone got a 148 on the MBE in July and failed. That's gonna be me. I can feel it in my bones.

Not sure if you're a fellow re-taker too, but that seems highly unlikely to me, not to discredit the person you know. I received a low-end, but passing MBE score, and hit the median essay score on about 50% of the MEE and failed NY by 4 points (you can probably do the math). You will for sure do better on exam day than you think!

[JoLaw824]

Does anyone have any suggestions with respect to how to improve on timing on the MBE? That's my struggle at the moment, I can't seem to get through all of the questions before time runs out, and I'm left with just filling in answer B, so as not to leave any blank

Themis' advice is probably the best - read the call of the question, try to come up with the answer while reading the prompt, and hopefully it's one of the choices.

I agree with this. I never did this until this time around, and there's legit times I already find the answer and don't even read the beginning of the question.

I run up against time, too. So my thinking is - things you know you may not remember (Rule against perpetuities, claim preclusion, lol), just guess and move on. Better getting ones right that are slam dunks versus never getting to them in the first place.

[cho8583]

Ex-Themis repeater here. Until today, I've worked on 100qs sets from OPE 1-4, Themis #3 and #4 simulated exams. I got OPE 1 and 2 - 73 OPE 3 - 86 OPE 4 - 79, Themis #3 - 133 and #4 - 61. I did much better this time on OPEs and 10% better on Themis simulated sets, I failed MBE with 3 pts short (out of 133) So if you did around similar percentile on Themis, you should be at least passing range from my previous experience. The remaining time will be spent on reviewing qs that I've got wrong from those sets and the new study aid, which I've got around 65-70% (except for CP.. which was pretty horrible around 45%) and cramming MEE subs.

So be competent people. We got this

[phillywc]

Hello everyone. Who else is convinced they are going to get an actual 0 on the essay exam?
Someone got a 148 on the MBE in July and failed. That's gonna be me. I can feel it in my bones.

Not sure if you're a fellow re-taker too, but that seems highly unlikely to me, not to discredit the person you know. I received a low-end, but passing MBE score, and hit the median essay score on about 50% of the MEE and failed NY by 4 points (you can probably do the math). You will for sure do better on exam day than you think!

I don't know them, but PA published highest failing/lowest passing scores for each subtest. I graduated off cycle so this is my first go and... I don't know. Not actually gonna get a 0 but I couldn't be less confident about Essays if i tried.

[Sprout]

Anyone else feel depressed/burn out/anxious/I can't sleep, eat or bathe because I feel like I know nothing?
...Juuuuust checking.

Mostly just flagging this but imo close to the test you should rest, review some stuff, but try to mellow out. Youre not going to learn heavy material now and you DO know much more than you think you do, trust me.

I also booked a massage apt for between days of the bar and it was amazing and highly recommended (groupon is gold).

[Neilt001]

I don't know them, but PA published highest failing/lowest passing scores for each subtest. I graduated off cycle so this is my first go and... I don't know. Not actually gonna get a 0 but I couldn't be less confident about Essays if i tried.

I couldn't be less prepared for essays either. Just going through those from last July (http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2 ... ument%2F26) and think I'd be fucked if that was this year.

[MakeItEnd2018]

Anyone know about using a microsoft surface pro?
i downloaded examsoft/examplify wtvr and my keyboard is "attached"... but possibly not perfected. hehehe
SO. MUCH. FUN. IT'S ALL SO MUCH FUUUUUNNNN!!!!

[kc128]

Anyone know about using a microsoft surface pro?
i downloaded examsoft/examplify wtvr and my keyboard is "attached"... but possibly not perfected. hehehe
SO. MUCH. FUN. IT'S ALL SO MUCH FUUUUUNNNN!!!!

bhahah, I think I enjoyed this even more due to the hypo that ensued in my poor mush of a brain.

[Respondeat_Inferior]

Can anyone explain #200 for me on the simulated exam? So Me: I assumed "unavailable declarant" since he lacks memory of the subject matter of the statement and "dying declaration" believes death is imminent, statement pertains to cause or circumstance of the death , he didn't have to die, and only applies in homicide cases and civil cases, and this one is attempted murder. I selected "C" but the answer is "A" ........ What am I missing????? TY

Attempted murder isn't a homicide case. Nobody was killed, no homicide.

[macgirl]

Can anyone explain #200 for me on the simulated exam? So Me: I assumed "unavailable declarant" since he lacks memory of the subject matter of the statement and "dying declaration" believes death is imminent, statement pertains to cause or circumstance of the death , he didn't have to die, and only applies in homicide cases and civil cases, and this one is attempted murder. I selected "C" but the answer is "A" ........ What am I missing????? TY

Attempted murder isn't a homicide case. Nobody was killed, no homicide.

I just sat here and had a moment. TY!!!!!! while reading all I could focus on was if he can be "unavailable" and "not have to die" then how come attempt couldn't work. THANK YOU!!!!

[Sprout]

careful with quoting specific questions on here guys

also for essay people - if you don't know the issues make them up and write rules making lawyer noises along the way. if you know issues make up rules. you still get points, just try to get as much in as possible doing CIRAC or IRAC.
-former bar taker who didn't know law and did well on the essays

[kc128]

careful with quoting specific questions on here guys

also for essay people - if you don't know the issues make them up and write rules making lawyer noises along the way. if you know issues make up rules. you still get points, just try to get as much in as possible doing CIRAC or IRAC.
-former bar taker who didn't know law and did well on the essays

Is it actually a problem to reference specific Themis questions? (Not to troll, just looking out for all...)

[Chk05]

careful with quoting specific questions on here guys

also for essay people - if you don't know the issues make them up and write rules making lawyer noises along the way. if you know issues make up rules. you still get points, just try to get as much in as possible doing CIRAC or IRAC.
-former bar taker who didn't know law and did well on the essays

Which state graded your essays? I wonder if that makes a difference based on the accuracy of rule statements...

[Sprout]

careful with quoting specific questions on here guys

also for essay people - if you don't know the issues make them up and write rules making lawyer noises along the way. if you know issues make up rules. you still get points, just try to get as much in as possible doing CIRAC or IRAC.
-former bar taker who didn't know law and did well on the essays

Which state graded your essays? I wonder if that makes a difference based on the accuracy of rule statements...

New York.

[JoLaw824]

Anyone feel like they're regressing?

Starting to worry.

[KeepPushing1234]

Anyone feel like they're regressing?

Starting to worry.

Yes!! I don't know what's going on and it's freaking me out!, but my MBE scores are dropping each time I take the set of practice questions

[Neilt001]

Anyone feel like they're regressing?

Starting to worry.

Yes!! I don't know what's going on and it's freaking me out!, but my MBE scores are dropping each time I take the set of practice questions

OMG Yes!!!?? I was having this conversation two days ago. MBE scores are getting worse and worse. How on earth is this possible???! My theory is that before, I knew enough to BS my way through questions, but not so much that I confused myself and overthought it? But now I know more and maybe get too clever and just confuse myself with all these goddamn rules floating around in my head. but surely knowing more can't harm MBE scores. I just don't get it.

My Themis supervisor told me to stop doing MBE questions cause there's no point anymore - just focus on memorizing everything for MEEs.

Anyone else got any theories? At this rate my MBE score will be 50% at best!!

[Neilt001]

Anyone feel like they're regressing?

Starting to worry.

Yes!! I don't know what's going on and it's freaking me out!, but my MBE scores are dropping each time I take the set of practice questions

Or - if the reason is mental exhaustion, then we would be wise to take a proper break before the exam. But my problem is that if I take a break, I'm gonna forget stuff, and will also probably miss learning something important, and so won't feel/be prepared. What's the best approach?!

[kc128]

Anyone feel like they're regressing?

Starting to worry.

Yes!! I don't know what's going on and it's freaking me out!, but my MBE scores are dropping each time I take the set of practice questions

Or - if the reason is mental exhaustion, then we would be wise to take a proper break before the exam. But my problem is that if I take a break, I'm gonna forget stuff, and will also probably miss learning something important, and so won't feel/be prepared. What's the best approach?!

Personally, I actually feel totally guilt if a take a legit break (i.e. more than a few hours to eat, sleep, shower, etc.), so if you're guilt-strewn like me, it might make you feel worse. BUT... definitely don't try to cram more info in at this point- maybe reinforce/re-familiarze yourself w/ info you know?

Also, I've made to-do lists of things I need/want to review and a packing list. Sometimes, just doing something random things like that still makes me feel productive and focused, but gives my brain a bit of a breather.

You know more than you think you do!

[macgirl]

hope everyone's surviving!

Looking for some feedback on Exam 4... what was the average? what score were the reps saying we should be shooting for? Is there a "okay I can kinda breath if I fall within this percentage?" LOL