Barbri paced program question? Forum

[forty-two]

I think I got a 132, or something around there. So my score went up about 40 points.

What do you think was most helpful in those three weeks in raising that score? You said you made outlines for the state subjects, but how did you increase your MBE score? Just the assigned practice questions?

Also, did you find that your "percentile rank" in the Barbri system accurately reflected your eventual percentile rank on the real thing?

I did the assigned questions (but I skipped some of the harder sets, and I did more mixed subject sections instead to get used to not knowing what subject was next), and I carefully reviewed every question, whether I got it right or wrong. This is because I thought that getting questions right for the wrong reasons was just as bad as getting them wrong. And after reading the explanations I would sometimes go back to my lecture notes or the CMR for more explanation. I also watched all of the video explanations, which took a long time but I thought was very helpful in the end, and I would make sure to do the AMPs for the subjects I did poorly on if I hadn't done them already. Oh, and I didn't make outlines for the MBE subjects. I just read my lecture notes a lot and looked in the CMR or even my law school outlines if I needed more detail. I also made sure to do between 30-50 practice MBE questions per day so I got used to doing them straight for long periods of time. But everyone learns differently, this is just what worked for me.

And my percentile rank was higher on the real thing. It was close though, like the difference between 80something and 90something. I don't remember exactly though.

[jd20132013]

Con Law lecture was the biggest waste of time so far.
Thank God I took most of these classes in law school...

[jarofsoup]

So anyone going to get the Kaplan Q Bank? My simulated MBE score was ~100.

[ph14]

So anyone going to get the Kaplan Q Bank? My simulated MBE score was ~100.

I'm probably going to get something, I don't know what yet. I haven't taken the simulated MBE yet, though. Will probably get around to it this weekend.

[jrf12886]

I've been doing: (1) watching the lectures, filling out the outlines in PDFs, (2) creating flash cards from the outline, (3) do the graded essays, (4) do the practice multiple choice questions. I've given up on doing AMPs or looking at the CMR before lectures.

[lalala21]

So anyone going to get the Kaplan Q Bank? My simulated MBE score was ~100.

I'm probably going to get something, I don't know what yet. I haven't taken the simulated MBE yet, though. Will probably get around to it this weekend.

You already took the simulated MBE? I am scheduled to take it July 7th.

[ph14]

So anyone going to get the Kaplan Q Bank? My simulated MBE score was ~100.

I'm probably going to get something, I don't know what yet. I haven't taken the simulated MBE yet, though. Will probably get around to it this weekend.

You already took the simulated MBE? I am scheduled to take it July 7th.

Sorry, the 200 question practice MBE or whatever Barbri called it, that was assigned for this past Monday.

[lalala21]

So anyone going to get the Kaplan Q Bank? My simulated MBE score was ~100.

I'm probably going to get something, I don't know what yet. I haven't taken the simulated MBE yet, though. Will probably get around to it this weekend.

You already took the simulated MBE? I am scheduled to take it July 7th.

Sorry, the 200 question practice MBE or whatever Barbri called it, that was assigned for this past Monday.

Hmm. I guess my schedule is completely different. I don't see anything like that besides the simulated mbe... at least not in the next few weeks.

[jarofsoup]

Had it last week.

[Helpful]

I think I got a 132, or something around there. So my score went up about 40 points.

What do you think was most helpful in those three weeks in raising that score? You said you made outlines for the state subjects, but how did you increase your MBE score? Just the assigned practice questions?

Also, did you find that your "percentile rank" in the Barbri system accurately reflected your eventual percentile rank on the real thing?

I did the assigned questions (but I skipped some of the harder sets, and I did more mixed subject sections instead to get used to not knowing what subject was next), and I carefully reviewed every question, whether I got it right or wrong. This is because I thought that getting questions right for the wrong reasons was just as bad as getting them wrong. And after reading the explanations I would sometimes go back to my lecture notes or the CMR for more explanation. I also watched all of the video explanations, which took a long time but I thought was very helpful in the end, and I would make sure to do the AMPs for the subjects I did poorly on if I hadn't done them already. Oh, and I didn't make outlines for the MBE subjects. I just read my lecture notes a lot and looked in the CMR or even my law school outlines if I needed more detail. I also made sure to do between 30-50 practice MBE questions per day so I got used to doing them straight for long periods of time. But everyone learns differently, this is just what worked for me.

And my percentile rank was higher on the real thing. It was close though, like the difference between 80something and 90something. I don't remember exactly though.

Thanks so much -- very useful.

Re: bombing the Property workshop -- it's stuff like that that makes me wait a few days later than the program suggests and make sure I get some flash card review in before I take the workshop. I feel like some of the workshops/sets are scheduled too early for you to actually take in the material.

[pkt63]

I think I got a 132, or something around there. So my score went up about 40 points.

What do you think was most helpful in those three weeks in raising that score? You said you made outlines for the state subjects, but how did you increase your MBE score? Just the assigned practice questions?

Also, did you find that your "percentile rank" in the Barbri system accurately reflected your eventual percentile rank on the real thing?

I did the assigned questions (but I skipped some of the harder sets, and I did more mixed subject sections instead to get used to not knowing what subject was next), and I carefully reviewed every question, whether I got it right or wrong. This is because I thought that getting questions right for the wrong reasons was just as bad as getting them wrong. And after reading the explanations I would sometimes go back to my lecture notes or the CMR for more explanation. I also watched all of the video explanations, which took a long time but I thought was very helpful in the end, and I would make sure to do the AMPs for the subjects I did poorly on if I hadn't done them already. Oh, and I didn't make outlines for the MBE subjects. I just read my lecture notes a lot and looked in the CMR or even my law school outlines if I needed more detail. I also made sure to do between 30-50 practice MBE questions per day so I got used to doing them straight for long periods of time. But everyone learns differently, this is just what worked for me.

And my percentile rank was higher on the real thing. It was close though, like the difference between 80something and 90something. I don't remember exactly though.

Thanks for sharing all this info on your experience! So helpful!

I have one more question, if you remember…did you have a surprising amount of extra time at the actual MBE? I've heard people say they have more time on the real thing left over than on Barbri practice exams (esp b/c the Qs are supposed to be harder) but one Barbri lecturer said we'll spend MORE time on the real thing because we'll agonize over the decision between two good choices on a lot of questions a lot longer on the real thing than we would on the practice. Just curious as to your experience...

[beachbum]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

[ph14]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

I think that the question sets get progressively harder. Question Set 1 is a easier than 3 which is easier than Set 5.

[beachbum]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

I think that the question sets get progressively harder. Question Set 1 is a easier than 3 which is easier than Set 5.

That was set 3 for me. There were a lot of case names being thrown around in the answer explanations.

[eng2law]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

I think that the question sets get progressively harder. Question Set 1 is a easier than 3 which is easier than Set 5.

Surely, you can't be serious.

[ph14]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

I think that the question sets get progressively harder. Question Set 1 is a easier than 3 which is easier than Set 5.

Surely, you can't be serious.

Well if you look at the MPQ averages, you'll see that generally that the average score on Question Set 1 is easier than Question Set 5. It's not a perfect trend though and I might be reading too much into it.

[eng2law]

Currently getting ripped apart by a conlaw problem set. I swear the questions in this set have been almost exclusively on topics not covered in the lecture/CMR.

I think that the question sets get progressively harder. Question Set 1 is a easier than 3 which is easier than Set 5.

Surely, you can't be serious.

Well if you look at the MPQ averages, you'll see that generally that the average score on Question Set 1 is easier than Question Set 5. But I do appreciate the constructive response.

No, didn't mean it that way. That was just my reaction because I have been doing only a couple of sets on each topic.

[ph14]

No, didn't mean it that way. That was just my reaction because I have been doing only a couple of sets on each topic.

I might be reading too much into it. The trend isn't perfect now that I'm actually looking at it.

[eng2law]

No, didn't mean it that way. That was just my reaction because I have been doing only a couple of sets on each topic.

I might be reading too much into it. The trend isn't perfect now that I'm actually looking at it.

You are right in that the first set seems to have the highest average. The rest of them don't show a trend. But anyway we are talking a range of a couple of questions.

[adonai]

Is everyone satisfied with their essay grading so far? Did any of you actually find grading to be "accurate"? Their grading is absolutely horrible and inconsistent. I got zero credit on some issues because I didn't state the rules in the exact wording and format as it was in a model answer, even though the rule I stated was technically right. Missed 2 small issues and got a 50. Did another essay where I missed like 4 pretty big issues and got a 70. I just can't tell how I'm doing or where I'm at, and I can't afford baressays.com to compare myself.

Failing almost every essay is really demotivating me as opposed to motivating me to study harder. I just feel like its useless to continue. If I'm really going to fail as barbri tells me I am, I'm gonna go with one of those former bar grader tutors for the next test. Should have done that from the get go but I gave in to fear and went with the herd.

[eng2law]

Is everyone satisfied with their essay grading so far? Did any of you actually find grading to be "accurate"? Their grading is absolutely horrible and inconsistent. I got zero credit on some issues because I didn't state the rules in the exact wording and format as it was in a model answer, even though the rule I stated was technically right. Missed 2 small issues and got a 50. Did another essay where I missed like 4 pretty big issues and got a 70. I just can't tell how I'm doing or where I'm at, and I can't afford baressays.com to compare myself.

Failing almost every essay is really demotivating me as opposed to motivating me to study harder. I just feel like its useless to continue. If I'm really going to fail as barbri tells me I am, I'm gonna go with one of those former bar grader tutors for the next test. Should have done that from the get go but I gave in to fear and went with the herd.

I found them to be inconsistent as well. I got an 85(!) and a 60. But remember, I think the real thing could be pretty inconsistent as well. Perhaps some Barbri graders intentionally try to be extra-strict which won't be the case in the real exam (one hopes).

[adonai]

Is everyone satisfied with their essay grading so far? Did any of you actually find grading to be "accurate"? Their grading is absolutely horrible and inconsistent. I got zero credit on some issues because I didn't state the rules in the exact wording and format as it was in a model answer, even though the rule I stated was technically right. Missed 2 small issues and got a 50. Did another essay where I missed like 4 pretty big issues and got a 70. I just can't tell how I'm doing or where I'm at, and I can't afford baressays.com to compare myself.

Failing almost every essay is really demotivating me as opposed to motivating me to study harder. I just feel like its useless to continue. If I'm really going to fail as barbri tells me I am, I'm gonna go with one of those former bar grader tutors for the next test. Should have done that from the get go but I gave in to fear and went with the herd.

I found them to be inconsistent as well. I got an 85(!) and a 60. But remember, I think the real thing could be pretty inconsistent as well. Perhaps some Barbri graders intentionally try to be extra-strict which won't be the case in the real exam (one hopes).

Compare this to PTs where I am doing okay (but everyone's killing those for some reason), even though I felt like I bombed every single one of them. I just don't know what to think or feel. I'll get a graded essay back that says good/great/excellent/perfect rule statement/analysis, nice headings/organization, with nothing marked "wrong" and i'll get a 50 or 55 on it. If I miss issues, I'll look at their little box checklist and deduct the points. According to that, I'd still pass or above pass (faililng to spot and analyze more than half of the issues still gets you a passing score according to that checklist), but apparently missing that issue to them counted as a 50 point deduction. Congrats on the 85 btw, if barbri is BSing us on purpose, that's like a 100 on the real thing.

[jd20132013]

What's the best way to integrate notes you take on the ME practice questions into studying?

I've been going through each wrong question and writing down the key rules that would have given me the right answer. right now I have them in their own OneNote folder, but not sure if that'll be easy to access. maybe I should make them into a flashcard set?

[lisavj]

So here's my issue, I suck at the single subject question sets. 50%or less. I rock the multiple subject timed "practice" tests (70-80%). Is there a reason for the discrepancy? Do they put easier qus on the 30 minute timed tests?

Edit: I can't spell.

[At the Drive-In]

I hate to be that guy, but I am stressing out horribly over the essay part of the bar. I have done good/passable on most MBE subjects (except Real Property) but when it comes to essay questions, it's sand and a sieve. I look at the question, I read the answers, and it seems to make sense to me, but it fades so quickly. I am just having a hard time pulling something out of nothing when it comes to essay fact patterns, and I have no idea why.

How are you guys preparing for essays as compared to the MBE? What in the hell can I do to make myself remember better?