February 2015 Bar Exam Forum

[Crazy23]

How do you all feel about adaptibar versus the critical flash cards

It seems adaptibar would be better just because it can track your progress

I can't say presently - but I do plan on investing in adaptibar once I have the BLL memorized, likely around January or late December.

...


I'm pretty sure that I'll just re-do Themis for free, but was wondering what y'all were planning.

I'm re-doing Themis as well, entirely skipping all of the damn lectures and handouts though and using it entirely in flex-mode. I refuse to spend an entire month on lectures again! Also plan on using lots of supplements since the MBE hates me.

Craziest thing to me was that somehow I bombed the essays. I will probably just re-take Themis. However, I will memorize everything using the cards. I think adaptibar will due just fine. I was just checking out their free trial. I see no need to do get that and the cards.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[numbertwo88]

Also, have y'all already started studying? I just got my July results Friday, and I figured that at least I'd have twice as much time for study this time around (and those of you who got results earlier, even more time). But actually, that's not the case. The first time around I studied for 9 weeks (Themis recommendation). The Feb exam is 16 weeks away (already not double the time), and I currently have plans to be home for about 4 weeks between now and then (and virtually no studying is gonna get done during that time). So I really only have 12 weeks to pass this exam which I couldn't do with 9 weeks. Fuck this is some bullshit (how long they took to get us the results).
/end rant

I'm starting up tomorrow! I kind of want to kill myself. Themis recommends starting December 22nd for the MA bar - but um, no

I figure Thanksgiving week and Christmas-New Years will be much lighter studying periods.

Every time I think about the 2 points I missed, I want to die.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[numbertwo88]

Missing it by two points sucks, but at least you know how much you need to study to essentially guarantee yourself a passing score. I'm hoping my score comes out to be the same thing (also because in MD we can ask for a regrade if we're within 10 points of the 406 passing score). If it turns out I wasn't even close, that'd make me feel so much worse.

I'm also starting tomorrow, btw. Emailed Themis and waiting for them to get back to me. In the mean time I'll just be reviewing my old Themis outlines (I assume they'll be sending new ones free of charge?).

If you already have the new materials, mind telling me how many pages the mbe civ pro outline is?

I'm most likely going to compare the hardcopy Civ Pro outline from the summer to the outline online in the Themis portal tomorrow because I was not down with sending Themis $200 for new books. But I also think I'm going to stick with the critical pass flashcards in lieu of the long outline ... but I'll listen to the lecture too. Probably the only lecture I'll listen to

Also, off topic, but how is the MD bar? I WAS going to take the MD bar this February (had I passed the MA bar but now that's not happening -- I'm from Maryland, hence taking it to have some room for career change/moving/travel) so now I have to postpone it.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[Holly Golightly]

Ugh checking in. I'm already admitted in IL but I got a job in the state I clerked in and need to take the bar here. I think I'm going to self-study but am contemplating paying for the Themis MBE-only course. I really have no idea how much I'm going to remember from the first time, and even though I know civ pro really well, I'm a little concerned about it being on the MBE since I have no idea what kinds of questions to expect.

I was also a mental disaster last time. NOT looking forward to this...

[IndyHCKM]

I failed the July bar by 6 points. I decided last week to take the February bar.

I took Kaplan and hated it. Listening to all those lectures was a horrible waste of my time. I should have just spent the time synthesizing the outlines, hammering out tons of practice questions, and practicing essays.

That's my plan this time. I kept the Kaplan books and already own Lean Sheets and Emmanuel's Strategies and Tactics. I'm going to use those along with some other resources (I'm debating right now between some combination of Adaptibar, Baroutlines, Barmax, and the Critical Pass flashcards). I'm studying part-time (4 hours a day, 5 days a week), working part-time, and starting sometime this week (I'm spending the first half of the week coming up with a study plan).

I wish you all the best!

[CourtneyElizabeth]

I failed the July bar by 6 points. I decided last week to take the February bar.
I took Kaplan and hated it. Listening to all those lectures was a horrible waste of my time. I should have just spent the time synthesizing the outlines, hammering out tons of practice questions, and practicing essays.

Yeah, KAPLAN was such a friggen waste of time and energy. Used it SPARINGLY the second time and did so much better. Not good enough, mind you, as I'm taking the bar for the third time. Going to start reviewing the subjects this week and getting myself familiar with the material again.

Other than Critical Pass flash cards, anyone suggest anything simialr to use? Anyone know of any killer outlines to buy/memorize? I'm trying everything this time.

[Holly Golightly]

I loved Themis, but $1k seems like a lot for MBE review. That said, I don't know that I have the motivation to completely self-study.

[chihuahua12]

Missed it by 5points both times.

Any chance you were able to get your exam regraded?

I've accepted the fact that I failed, but a part of me is hoping that my score is close enough to challenge and that I'll end up passing on the first try.

I'm pretty sure that they automatically do the regrade before the results come out, and once they come out there's no regrade/appeal....

[target]

I failed the July bar by 6 points. I decided last week to take the February bar.
I took Kaplan and hated it. Listening to all those lectures was a horrible waste of my time. I should have just spent the time synthesizing the outlines, hammering out tons of practice questions, and practicing essays.

Yeah, KAPLAN was such a friggen waste of time and energy. Used it SPARINGLY the second time and did so much better. Not good enough, mind you, as I'm taking the bar for the third time. Going to start reviewing the subjects this week and getting myself familiar with the material again.

Other than Critical Pass flash cards, anyone suggest anything simialr to use? Anyone know of any killer outlines to buy/memorize? I'm trying everything this time.

Posts in the California Bar threads suggested leansheets for BLLs for essays. But after getting a set of critical pass flashcards, I think those flashcards look good enough in terms of BLLs. Also, thank you (and numbertwo88) for answering my question on the previous page. I heard about Critical Pass flashcards, and felt good to hear some others endorse them.

[target]

I loved Themis, but $1k seems like a lot for MBE review. That said, I don't know that I have the motivation to completely self-study.

BarMax MBE review is $499 if you are looking for cheaper option. I probably will buy access to their MBE question bank and practice the questions. I wonder though if anyone would share their experience with BarMax's MBE question bank.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[CourtneyElizabeth]

I'm so sorry you guys came so close. I was in 30's. Gross. A few points here, a few points there...But those of you who missed by a couple, you're sooooo close and I know you'll nail it next time.

[Holly Golightly]

I loved Themis, but $1k seems like a lot for MBE review. That said, I don't know that I have the motivation to completely self-study.

BarMax MBE review is $499 if you are looking for cheaper option. I probably will buy access to their MBE question bank and practice the questions. I wonder though if anyone would share their experience with BarMax's MBE question bank.

Hmmm, thanks, I'm going to look into that!

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[IndyHCKM]

I feel like I've asked this somewhere already, but any of you have insight into which is a better bet?

Barmax or Adaptibar?

My understanding is Adaptibar has explanations, but Barmax doesn't necessarily. I'm not really sure how important the explanations are though. I didn't like a lot of Kaplan's explanations and often had to figure out the reason for the right answer myself anyways. Maybe it would be better if I had great explanations? Maybe it would be worse? I don't know.

[numbertwo88]

I feel like I've asked this somewhere already, but any of you have insight into which is a better bet?

Barmax or Adaptibar?

My understanding is Adaptibar has explanations, but Barmax doesn't necessarily. I'm not really sure how important the explanations are though. I didn't like a lot of Kaplan's explanations and often had to figure out the reason for the right answer myself anyways. Maybe it would be better if I had great explanations? Maybe it would be worse? I don't know.

I don't know about Barmax but I know Adaptibar has 200 civil procedure questions they're adding into the mix. Granted, they're not "official" questions but I figure it's better than nothing. Unless Barmax has something comparable to somehow prep for the civil procedure MBE component, I'd probably go against it.

I plan on using Adaptibar once I finish memorizing the BLL.

edit: just looked - Barmax is adding some civ pro questions. So basically I am of no help.

[gaagoots]

I feel like I've asked this somewhere already, but any of you have insight into which is a better bet?

Barmax or Adaptibar?

My understanding is Adaptibar has explanations, but Barmax doesn't necessarily. I'm not really sure how important the explanations are though. I didn't like a lot of Kaplan's explanations and often had to figure out the reason for the right answer myself anyways. Maybe it would be better if I had great explanations? Maybe it would be worse? I don't know.

I have both. One is good for offline--the other is when you have access to the internet. I am updating my Barmax now--not sure how improved it will be

As for AdaptiBar--it has way more bells and whistles and you are allowed to 'pass' on some questions, especially those you know you will guess. You can also program your Adaptibar with tests and subject areas you feel weak in (i.e. mortgages which seem to be an MBE favorite). Otherwise it keeps throwing out questions you miss in that particular area. I do like to see how I am doing compared to examinees in my state (CA) and in the country so I know I am not that far off. Right now I am about 67.5% overall--for 4 subjects, I've done 306 questions so far. The explanations are good--not as good as Strategies and Tactics (Emanuel) but its pretty decent.

A guy I went to school with used Adaptibar for the July CalBar, he felt very good about the MBEs and thinks he scored high (guess he will know if that helped him pass the bar on the 21st).

I also have the Kaplan Redbook--that just depresses me haha.

As for Civ Pro--I bought the civ pro MBEs for Siegels--they sell e-Chapters for $12.00. If you have a device like iPad or iPhone you read them in Bluefire reader. Siegels answers are pretty good.

[mouse89]

I failed IL by 14 points. Not so small that I want to kick myself but also not large enough to make me feel like I had gaping flaws in my study method.

Took Themis. Completed all of the course, started a few days early, didn't take breaks, devoted every god damn day to the bar, etc. Average or above average scores on essays, not as great as I wanted on the MBEs but I was confident. Smiling on test day. Failed. Shockingly, the essays were what got me. I guess I'm that 1/10 that does over 75% of the course and still fails.

This time around I'm retaking Themis. Going to use Acing Civ Pro for supplemental civ pro review. Going to use a friend's barbri mbe books to get in more practice for that. I think my fatal flaw was being short on time to memorize which is why I started studying two weeks ago.

I don't know how I'm going to do this again. Notoriously high stress and high anxiety. But I fully intend to walk out after February 2015 with my 14 points.

Do other states allow you to review the essay answers? For the multiple repeat test takers- did you find it useful?

[mouse89]

I should note that I will be working at least part time this time around. I don't think I can do this again if the only thing I have to look forward to when I wake up is the bar exam.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[Holly Golightly]

I wish IL would give you your fucking score when you pass so I would know how much of a cushion I had last time.

[Crazy23]

So the consensus is that the adaptibar flash cards online would not be detailed enough? I do not want to buy adaptibar and critical flash but oh well...looks like I have to.