THEMIS JULY 2018 - DISCUSSION Forum

[thisiswater]

Out of curiosity, do anyone know if we lose points on the graded essays if we go over the time limit?

Nope. I also don't think they actually grade the essays and just give you a barely failing grade to motivate you to study harder.

I got an above passing grade on my first graded essay. I havent gotten the second one back yet

[LawIsLyfe33]

Out of curiosity, do anyone know if we lose points on the graded essays if we go over the time limit?

Nope. I also don't think they actually grade the essays and just give you a barely failing grade to motivate you to study harder.

I'm also convinced they give you relatively arbitrary scores.

[Ohnt]

How is everyone staying motivated? So scary yet so exciting! How much work are you able to do in a productive day percentage wise? Sometimes 0% for me because I’m spending time rereading notes I didn’t understand.

Also is anyone at 75% completion yet?

[deacon]

My essays are epic fails. Gotta find a way to make them right.

How are the first practice exam coming? I got %71 and will be starting the MEE portion.

[thisiswater]

I'm going to take my first practice exam wednesday, I'm hoping. No MEE here so just so fucking many practice essays for texas subjects

[ambrajdurbra131313]

Anyone know if the "Essay Practice Exam" is graded or if it will just show a model answer?

[Ohnt]

My essays are epic fails. Gotta find a way to make them right.

How are the first practice exam coming? I got %71 and will be starting the MEE portion.

Was there a goal? Did Themis rank your score? Does the test automatically shut off when time is up?

Haven’t taken it yet.

[deacon]

the goal is %56. I took the hardcopy exam and entered my answers later to make myself ready to the real exam. If you take online, it will give you 81 mins but I am not sure whether it will shut off when the time is up

[deacon]

Anyone know if the "Essay Practice Exam" is graded or if it will just show a model answer?

It will not be graded, just sample answers are provided

[Ohnt]

Also do you guys think it’s better to complete all assigned MBE PQs before trying out the Practice Exam? Advice, thoughts, strategies?

[Ohnt]

the goal is %56. I took the hardcopy exam and entered my answers later to make myself ready to the real exam. If you take online, it will give you 81 mins but I am not sure whether it will shut off when the time is up

Wow! Congrats! You jumped way over the hurdle.

[BlueLaw11]

Are we supposed to do the essays without looking anywhere? I did my first one on contracts yesterday under exam conditions: timed and no reference but was wondering. Please help!

Interested to hear others' thoughts on this too. It feels like a waste to do it closed book when we haven't had time to memorize the rules yet, but at the same time using notes defeats the purpose of simulating testing conditions.

[ambrajdurbra131313]

Anyone know if the "Essay Practice Exam" is graded or if it will just show a model answer?

It will not be graded, just sample answers are provided

Thank you!

[RareExports]

I think it's unhelpful to use your notes on the essays. The essays aren't assigned until you've completed the relevant subject, at which point you should be trying to memorize the rules. Just my two cents.

[barprep2018]

Just finished my MBE Test #1. 51%
Have to practice a lot to improve that percent.

[barprep2018]

Above poster what bar exam? And have you gotten thru all the lectures?

I'm taking TX. I cannot read the outlines, I don't have the time for that.
Federal job, kids, husband, house and bar. I'm dying.

same hustle: hubs, toddler, pregnant and throwing up like crazy, moving to a new house in two weeks plus so much more going on. I feel you. We have thrice the struggle.

Good to read that I'm not alone.

[deacon]

the goal is %56. I took the hardcopy exam and entered my answers later to make myself ready to the real exam. If you take online, it will give you 81 mins but I am not sure whether it will shut off when the time is up

Wow! Congrats! You jumped way over the hurdle.

Thank you. Still having problem with MEE and MPT part though since I am not native. I have to work hard on these for my MBE scores to mean something

[Ohnt]

I think it's unhelpful to use your notes on the essays. The essays aren't assigned until you've completed the relevant subject, at which point you should be trying to memorize the rules. Just my two cents.

I agree. Better to feel the heat now so I sit up fill in the memory gaps than to feel the burn in the exam room.

[dabigchina]

Out of curiosity, do anyone know if we lose points on the graded essays if we go over the time limit?

Nope. I also don't think they actually grade the essays and just give you a barely failing grade to motivate you to study harder.

What's considered "barely failing?" I got 17% on my property essay, even worse than contracts. But in then some of the comments say that I'm making the right arguments, and at the end they say "Your response was great, but be cognizant of how you go on time limits." I'm not sure if the particular person grading my essay decided to ding me points for going over the time limit, or if there was an error at some point, or if I just completely bombed. But if I got literally everything wrong to warrant such a low score, they need to make that clearer in the comments, rather than telling me I made "great" arguments.

I'm in CA. passing is 65/100. I've gotten 60/100 on every single graded exam. The quality of my essays has varied dramatically based on my own estimation. This, combined with the very brief comments my grader has been giving me, tells me that they don't really read the essay and just give you a arbitrary grade with some generic comments.

I've never gotten a comment on time. I've also never really gotten any comment besides "good rule statement" or "remember to use IRAC".

[Lawworld19]

Just completely bombed that 45 question test. Did way lower than my normal average. Was it harder than the normal pratice sets? Feel like I want to jump out of my window right now. Not even close to doing well enough to pass this damn test.

[ithrowds]

I'm in CA. passing is 65/100. I've gotten 60/100 on every single graded exam. The quality of my essays has varied dramatically based on my own estimation. This, combined with the very brief comments my grader has been giving me, tells me that they don't really read the essay and just give you a arbitrary grade with some generic comments.

I've never gotten a comment on time. I've also never really gotten any comment besides "good rule statement" or "remember to use IRAC".

Also California. Also positive that the quality of my essays varies DRAMATICALLY. Have also gotten 60/100 on every single one.

[smile0751]

I'm starting to feel really bad about this exam. I'm doing fine on the MBE, but between trying to retain knowledge and getting the new stuff added in I feel incredibly overwhelmed and feel like things are quickly slipping away. My essays SUCK because I cannot for the life of me remember what the rules are or spot the right issues (which is very frustrating bc I've always been a good writer and law school exam taker). I have a terrible memory and I feel like I'm doing so much more than my peers, but also like I'm not doing enough...

[Lawworld19]

I'm starting to feel really bad about this exam. I'm doing fine on the MBE, but between trying to retain knowledge and getting the new stuff added in I feel incredibly overwhelmed and feel like things are quickly slipping away. My essays SUCK because I cannot for the life of me remember what the rules are or spot the right issues (which is very frustrating bc I've always been a good writer and law school exam taker). I have a terrible memory and I feel like I'm doing so much more than my peers, but also like I'm not doing enough...

I am the opposite. I feel ok about the essays but I just don't get the MBE.

[smile0751]

I'm starting to feel really bad about this exam. I'm doing fine on the MBE, but between trying to retain knowledge and getting the new stuff added in I feel incredibly overwhelmed and feel like things are quickly slipping away. My essays SUCK because I cannot for the life of me remember what the rules are or spot the right issues (which is very frustrating bc I've always been a good writer and law school exam taker). I have a terrible memory and I feel like I'm doing so much more than my peers, but also like I'm not doing enough...

I am the opposite. I feel ok about the essays but I just don't get the MBE.

If only we could tag-team this thing...

[Lawworld19]

I just dont see how you guys can pick up on those questions enough to get to that 70% mark on mixed sets. I just dont get it.