BarBri - NY Exam - July 2014 Forum

[5ky]

Anyone else anxious about the NY MC? It is only 10% of our score but Barbri says a typical passing student scores 30/50 correct. The sample questions tend to test obscure and highly specific things. I was kind of counting on being able to know the general basics and BS-ing through the essays, but I'm doubting that strategy now.

I have almost always done worse than 50% on these, so I am just hoping to make up for it with an above average MBE (and maybe essays if I'm lucky). Don't know if that's the best strategy, but I don't feel like there is time to do much else than at most study the distinctions mentioned in the CMR/lectures, and hope my general NY essay prep carries over.

I've been getting less than half right each time. It's not like the MBE where you can kind of narrow it down to two good answers. It's basically unless you studied or read the particular point they're testing on, you're not getting the question right.

Barbri's NYMC are literally nothing lke the real thing

[peanut123]

Barbri's NYMC are literally nothing lke the real thing

Ah for some reason I thought they were released questions and so while maybe not representative of an entire test, at least "real."

[klankenburger]

The Secured Transactions portion of the CMR is about 10 pages longer than the lecture handout. Do folks think it's really necessary to spend the time reading the CMR for a subject like this? Reading a 25-page CMR actually takes me a while, and I feel like my time would be better spent on something else.

[5ky]

The Secured Transactions portion of the CMR is about 10 pages longer than the lecture handout. Do folks think it's really necessary to spend the time reading the CMR for a subject like this? Reading a 25-page CMR actually takes me a while, and I feel like my time would be better spent on something else.

None of the NY subject CMRs are necessary. Plenty of people find them helpful, though I did not.

[TLSNYC]

Barbri's NYMC are literally nothing lke the real thing

Ah for some reason I thought they were released questions and so while maybe not representative of an entire test, at least "real."

Where can we find real NYMC questions again?

[5ky]

Barbri's NYMC are literally nothing lke the real thing

Ah for some reason I thought they were released questions and so while maybe not representative of an entire test, at least "real."

Where can we find real NYMC questions again?

I don't think you can. Strongly suggest you not worry about NYMC

[Helpful]

Barbri's NYMC are literally nothing lke the real thing

Ah for some reason I thought they were released questions and so while maybe not representative of an entire test, at least "real."

Where can we find real NYMC questions again?

I don't think you can. Strongly suggest you not worry about NYMC

This might be an individual thing, but between the MBE and NY essays, do you think study time should be split fairly equally, or should you give greater emphasis to one? FWIW I did well on the sim MBE, but it just still feels easier to me to get even more points there than to master all of these NY nuances.

[AJS30]

I did the assigned MBE Set for today and actually did well on them. Does this mean I've actually learned stuff or did everyone find this set just to be really easy?

[Guchster]

I did the assigned MBE Set for today and actually did well on them. Does this mean I've actually learned stuff or did everyone find this set just to be really easy?

Well the mean on it is 72% according to the document at the top of the menu in "practice question."

I thought it was easier because a lot of the questions seems to closely track what we covered in the MBE exam review this weekend. I just hope it'll be like this for the real thing.

[encore1101]

At first, I found Franseze's constant reassurances annoying during Property.

Now, as the bar exam looms closer and closer, I wrap myself in her words like nice, warm tortilla.

[Guchster]

At first, I found Franseze's constant reassurances annoying during Property.

Now, as the bar exam looms closer and closer, I wrap myself in her words like nice, warm tortilla.

LOL same. I think after a few really awful lectures in July, I came to appreciate Paula so much more. So clear, warm and soothing--definitely needed for the anxiety that's starting to bubble.

[salvage]

Does anyone know about the availability of outlets at the Albany test center? My laptop (old macbook) certainly won't last 3, let alone 6 hours on a charge, and I pretty much only feel comfortable using it if it is plugged in.

[Guchster]

Question on the secured transaction problem assigned.

I gThe question says that Bank A didn't perfect until it distributed the loan. But Paula F's handout (page 6) suggest that perfection occurs for a secured creditor when they file a financing statement (there is no additional step requirement that proceeds need to be distributed or the creditor needs to do some additional action).

Is this because in order to perfect, you first need to attach, and you can't attach when value isn't given?

[thetashster]

Does anyone know about the availability of outlets at the Albany test center? My laptop (old macbook) certainly won't last 3, let alone 6 hours on a charge, and I pretty much only feel comfortable using it if it is plugged in.

I'm handwriting but i asked about this too. outlet available is supposed to be pretty universal and something to not worry about. no problem with everyone having outlets.

however, i would just call the board and double check.

has anyone gotten their seat ticket yet?

[greenjuice]

Question on the secured transaction problem assigned.

I gThe question says that Bank A didn't perfect until it distributed the loan. But Paula F's handout (page 6) suggest that perfection occurs for a secured creditor when they file a financing statement (there is no additional step requirement that proceeds need to be distributed or the creditor needs to do some additional action).

Is this because in order to perfect, you first need to attach, and you can't attach when value isn't given?

Yeah, I think it's because there was no value given. But since "UCC gives effect to early filing," perfection related back to the date of filing. At least that's how I went about that q.

(edited to fix typo, said attachment instead of perfection, oops)

[3Lennui]

Someone please confirm that barbri MBE questions are much harder than the actual ones on the bar. I find in the barbri questions sometimes there are arguably two right answers and find them difficult very very overall.

[raregem]

I found that the MBE and essay calculator on Seperac (http://www.seperac.com) to be tremendously helpful in easing my anxiety. I just plugged in how mediocre I had to be in order to pass and I found I was right on track. For example, from July 2013, if you average 50's on the essay and MPT and a scaled 139 you only have to get 11 NYMC questions correct to pass.

[Guchster]

Question on the secured transaction problem assigned.

I gThe question says that Bank A didn't perfect until it distributed the loan. But Paula F's handout (page 6) suggest that perfection occurs for a secured creditor when they file a financing statement (there is no additional step requirement that proceeds need to be distributed or the creditor needs to do some additional action).

Is this because in order to perfect, you first need to attach, and you can't attach when value isn't given?

Yeah, I think it's because there was no value given. But since "UCC gives effect to early filing," perfection related back to the date of filing. At least that's how I went about that q.

(edited to fix typo, said attachment instead of perfection, oops)

Awesome. Thanks green. Very helpful!

[Stringer6]

I found that the MBE and essay calculator on Seperac (http://www.seperac.com) to be tremendously helpful in easing my anxiety. I just plugged in how mediocre I had to be in order to pass and I found I was right on track. For example, from July 2013, if you average 50's on the essay and MPT and a scaled 139 you only have to get 11 NYMC questions correct to pass.

it's even better if you assume 25/50 in NYMC

You can pass with sub-50 scores on all essays and the MPT if you get a reasonable MBE score (140s I think)

[Helpful]

I found that the MBE and essay calculator on Seperac (http://www.seperac.com) to be tremendously helpful in easing my anxiety. I just plugged in how mediocre I had to be in order to pass and I found I was right on track. For example, from July 2013, if you average 50's on the essay and MPT and a scaled 139 you only have to get 11 NYMC questions correct to pass.

it's even better if you assume 25/50 in NYMC

You can pass with sub-50 scores on all essays and the MPT if you get a reasonable MBE score (140s I think)

Yes, I have been relying upon this as well. If you use their essay calculator it also seems like a scaled "50" is about between a 3 and a 4 raw--so hopefully not too demanding.

[Stringer6]

I found that the MBE and essay calculator on Seperac (http://www.seperac.com) to be tremendously helpful in easing my anxiety. I just plugged in how mediocre I had to be in order to pass and I found I was right on track. For example, from July 2013, if you average 50's on the essay and MPT and a scaled 139 you only have to get 11 NYMC questions correct to pass.

it's even better if you assume 25/50 in NYMC

You can pass with sub-50 scores on all essays and the MPT if you get a reasonable MBE score (140s I think)

Yes, I have been relying upon this as well. If you use their essay calculator it also seems like a scaled "50" is about between a 3 and a 4 raw--so hopefully not too demanding.

wait wait wait

they scale the essays too? so you can actually score below 5 and get a 5 after it's curved?

[Guchster]

wait wait wait

they scale the essays too? so you can actually score below 5 and get a 5 after it's curved?

CAN SOMEONE CONFIRM THIS? I will weep tears of joy if this is true.

[greenjuice]

wait wait wait

they scale the essays too? so you can actually score below 5 and get a 5 after it's curved?

CAN SOMEONE CONFIRM THIS? I will weep tears of joy if this is true.

from NYS BOLE website (http://www.nybarexam.org/thebar/thebar.htm)

GRADING OF BAR EXAMINATION - The answers to the five essay questions and the MPT are each graded in accordance with a predetermined marking formula, and the grades attained by the applicant on the respective questions are the raw essay scores. The total number of questions answered correctly by an applicant on the 50 New York multiple choice questions is the raw score for that portion, and the number of questions answered correctly on the MBE questions is the applicant's raw score for the MBE portion.

Through psychometrically approved scaling procedures, the raw scores attained by the applicants on each portion of the examination are converted to scaled scores on a common scale of 0 to 1000, and the three scaled scores are then weighted and combined to yield total weighted scaled scores on the same 0 to 1000 scale. The relative weights assigned are 50% to the written portion (40% essays and 10% MPT), 10% to the New York multiple choice, and 40% to the MBE portion.

I guess a better question is whether barbri's advice to aim for a 5/6 is in reference to the raw or scaled score. somehow i feel like it would be raw, but i have nothing to back that up.

[turquoiseturtle]

Question on the secured transaction problem assigned.

I gThe question says that Bank A didn't perfect until it distributed the loan. But Paula F's handout (page 6) suggest that perfection occurs for a secured creditor when they file a financing statement (there is no additional step requirement that proceeds need to be distributed or the creditor needs to do some additional action).

Is this because in order to perfect, you first need to attach, and you can't attach when value isn't given?

Yeah, I think it's because there was no value given. But since "UCC gives effect to early filing," perfection related back to the date of filing. At least that's how I went about that q.

(edited to fix typo, said attachment instead of perfection, oops)

Awesome. Thanks green. Very helpful!

I was also confused about this question because from taking secured transactions in law school (admittedly in 2L, so I could definitely be remembering wrong) I'm pretty sure that a promise to make a loan is the future is considered to be "giving value." So that if you've entered into the agreement for the loan but it hasn't actually dispersed yet, it still counts as "giving value."

[klankenburger]

Are you guys still doing the Paced Program? If so, how far are you? I'm in the 60%s (definitely still behind) and am wondering where others are.