Feb 2016 bar results waiting thread Forum

waiting06 · Post by **waiting06** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 5:14 pm

boquita44 wrote:
KTnKT wrote:The am was 10x harder to me than pm. Very demoralizing actually.
Based on everybody's conversation, I feel like they flip the exams for each person. My morning morning was much easier than the afternoon, I felt. The afternoon session left me feeling dejected. The kid next to me finished the afternoon session way earlier.

smh.. I meant the am was 10x easier for me. But I agree with you! Just give us our results already..lol

Sam0406 · Post by **Sam0406** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:06 pm

boquita44 wrote:
KTnKT wrote:The am was 10x harder to me than pm. Very demoralizing actually.
Based on everybody's conversation, I feel like they flip the exams for each person. My morning morning was much easier than the afternoon, I felt. The afternoon session left me feeling dejected. The kid next to me finished the afternoon session way earlier.

I think each row had different forms, bc I heard some people who sat next to each other after taking it had same set of last qs. But all this talk about Mbe is making me nervous, I felt it was equally difficult compared to July (scored 139). I hope somehow the curve turns out to be beneficial.

apm5743 · Post by **apm5743** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:13 pm

boquita44 wrote:Based on everybody's conversation, I feel like they flip the exams for each person. My morning morning was much easier than the afternoon, I felt. The afternoon session left me feeling dejected. The kid next to me finished the afternoon session way earlier.

With respect to the questions that count, I think there is a set of a.m. questions and a set of p.m. questions. Of course the question sets are put in different orders to discourage cheating. But I don't think the NCBE would flip the exams for different test-takers. They know that some students discuss the questions over the lunch break, during which time those students could look up answers to questions their friends saw in the a.m. that they did not see (and that they would therefore know were coming in the p.m. session).

My belief that the question sets are consistent is bolstered by the fact that there has been a general consensus both times I've taken the MBE that either the a.m. or p.m. session was more difficult. For example, about 95% of the people to whom I've spoken about the Feb. 2016 MBE reported that the a.m. session was more difficult (I'm in this camp). If the questions were random throughout the a.m. and p.m., you'd expect that number to be a lot closer to 50/50.

caveman2 · Post by **caveman2** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:55 pm

"The Pennsylvania February 2016 bar exam results are scheduled to be released on Friday, April 8, 2016, after 4:00 pm, EST."

It's official!

JayRock2015 · Post by **JayRock2015** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:20 pm

DueProcess, do you mind adding a column on the spreadsheet about points improved on MBE for TLSers who have received their MBE scores?

As a repeater, it would be nice to know how much people improved from the first MBE to the second. Thanks and good luck to all my fellow bar exam takers!!!!

slavetothebar · Post by **slavetothebar** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:17 pm

I'm sure they are the exact same question for everyone in the test - just 10 different AM versions and 10 PM versions of it with the questions in different orders.

apm5743 wrote:
boquita44 wrote:Based on everybody's conversation, I feel like they flip the exams for each person. My morning morning was much easier than the afternoon, I felt. The afternoon session left me feeling dejected. The kid next to me finished the afternoon session way earlier.
With respect to the questions that count, I think there is a set of a.m. questions and a set of p.m. questions. Of course the question sets are put in different orders to discourage cheating. But I don't think the NCBE would flip the exams for different test-takers. They know that some students discuss the questions over the lunch break, during which time those students could look up answers to questions their friends saw in the a.m. that they did not see (and that they would therefore know were coming in the p.m. session).

My belief that the question sets are consistent is bolstered by the fact that there has been a general consensus both times I've taken the MBE that either the a.m. or p.m. session was more difficult. For example, about 95% of the people to whom I've spoken about the Feb. 2016 MBE reported that the a.m. session was more difficult (I'm in this camp). If the questions were random throughout the a.m. and p.m., you'd expect that number to be a lot closer to 50/50.

DueProcessDoWheelies · Post by **DueProcessDoWheelies** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:25 pm

JayRock2015 wrote:DueProcess, do you mind adding a column on the spreadsheet about points improved on MBE for TLSers who have received their MBE scores?

As a repeater, it would be nice to know how much people improved from the first MBE to the second. Thanks and good luck to all my fellow bar exam takers!!!!

Done. You are referring to real MBE improvement over simulated MBE correct?

Also, does anyone know if Illinois ever releases MBE scores?

JayRock2015 · Post by **JayRock2015** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:06 am

Thanks a million!!!!

StaceyS · Post by **StaceyS** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:15 am

Stopping in to check on how everyone is holding up.

I have been decompressing after getting my happy news on Monday in Kansas which just said "pass". Thanks to everyone who congratulated me. I'm still on cloud 9!

Today, my actual scores came in the mail.

I am in Kansas which is a UBE state. Kansas requires a 266 to pass. I got a 308.

My MBE score was 165. (For those interested my simulated MBE was 133 which was 80th percentile.)

Edit...there is a site that shows the percentile and says it is nationwide but it is the Illinois chart. I don't know if the Illinois percentiles are the same as the nationwide percentiles or only for that state. On the Illinois February 2016 chart a 165 was the 99th percentile. https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/feb-201 ... ent-charts

I can't tell you how shocked I am about this. Like I said on Page 9 of this thread, it had been YEARS since I graduated law school. Statistically my chance of even passing after that long was very low. I can't believe I did so well.

I will tell you that I studied like crazy. I put in so much time that it was ridiculous. But, honestly the key was the BarBri video lectures. I've heard so many people say they are a waste of time...but I couldn't disagree more. I watched them all and I used the lecture handouts to fill in the blanks like they suggested. But, I went WAY beyond that and took copious notes in the lecture handout book as the speakers were talking. I mean...ridiculous notes. I didn't just passively listen. I wrote down everything.

I took practice MBE's...but, my main source of studying was my purple lecture handout book. They said in the lectures that they would teach you virtually everything you needed to pass the bar and I'm telling you it worked for me. Some of the people who lectured were super funny. Some were corny. It didn't matter. They taught me the damn law.

I'm not trying to push BarBri...but, I just want to encourage future test takers who read this thread to use those lectures and handouts. I'm a believer.

I'm still pinching myself that I passed. I felt really good after the exam. I actually felt like I slayed it. But, as the weeks went on and I was waiting on the scores soooo much doubt crept in. I thought to myself, "What if you are wrong? What if you are over-confident?" Sometimes people are sure they passed and then they failed...and I think the main reason is they don't know what they don't know. They see a question and go for the main rule that jumps out at them but they don't know all the exceptions.

By the time my scores came out I was feeling so much despair that I went from being super confident to sure I failed. It was awful.

The bar exam is torture. I tell you it just screws with your mind on every level. I am so thankful that I passed.

I'm soooo happy for those of you who are posting that you passed. I'm reading every post!

I'm very sorry for those who failed. Don't give up. When you finally pass you will be so proud of yourself!

Hugs and good luck to you guys. I'll be watching the state-by-state results come out and cheering you on!

slavetothebar · Post by **slavetothebar** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:57 am

Lawst - I'm sorry you're going through this. One thing I would suggest is not "overthinking" the MBE. Most of the bar study programs give you trick questions - like questions where the answers hinge on "may" or "shall" do something. The bar isn't really like that. I failed IL the first time. For the second time I challenged myself to not fret about the MBE part so much - and to read the questions for what they say - not looking for any tricks. I passed. I didn't get my scores - so I can't say 100 percent that was the difference, but I'm pretty sure it was. Bar Prep courses write questions "practice" questions - that are more difficult than the bar - and they do that to teach you to look for certain things - like the "may" "shall" - but on the real exam - those questions are rare - if they are there at all. But also - 3 points is NOTHING - and you can do this! Feel free to message me if you want to talk. I'd be happy to share what i used to study the second time. I also was 15 points down last time - but passed Feb.

lawst_ wrote:Ended up failing IL by 3 points, which is a massive improvement from failing by 14-15 points last time. The MBE, even though I felt it was easier this time, still managed to kill me. I absolutely killed the essays, with a majority of 5 and 4.5 scores. Didn't do great on the MPT, did about average or a little below.

If someone, anyone, can help me master the MBE, I'd be forever indebted. I've struggled with multiple choice exams for most of my life, but have no trouble putting together very solid essays on the law. It's super discouraging.

slavetothebar · Post by **slavetothebar** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:01 pm

If anyone is interested - I have the 2016 Critical Pass cards - they were Life SAVERS! Bought them to study for the Feb exam - they were just what I needed to focus my studying without the distractions of wanting to quickly skim ahead in the books.

No writing on the cards, no highlighting, no bending - I'm OCD about keeping my stuff in like new shape. Selling new on Amazon for $140. These are essentially "new". I'll sell them for $125

I also have How to Write Bar Exam Essays by Racine - 2nd Edition - $5.00

JoeAccidentally · Post by **JoeAccidentally** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:19 pm

DueProcessDoWheelies wrote:Also, does anyone know if Illinois ever releases MBE scores?

Unfortunately, Illinois does not release a passing test taker's score, not even for a fee.

iowalum · Post by **iowalum** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 4:06 pm

A little over 24 hours.... my concentration has gone completely out the window. Tomorrow is going to be miserable.

Njbar · Post by **Njbar** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 4:53 pm

iowalum wrote:A little over 24 hours.... my concentration has gone completely out the window. Tomorrow is going to be miserable.

Same here, waiting for pa at 4pm tomorrow

JayRock2015 · Post by **JayRock2015** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:12 pm

Give me strength....I have went to the Indiana Board of Law Examiners----a hundred times, looking for a sign, any sign!!!! Less than 24 hours!!!

rinkrat19 · Post by **rinkrat19** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:31 pm

slavetothebar wrote:If anyone is interested - I have the 2016 Critical Pass cards - they were Life SAVERS! Bought them to study for the Feb exam - they were just what I needed to focus my studying without the distractions of wanting to quickly skim ahead in the books.

No writing on the cards, no highlighting, no bending - I'm OCD about keeping my stuff in like new shape. Selling new on Amazon for $140. These are essentially "new". I'll sell them for $125

I also have How to Write Bar Exam Essays by Racine - 2nd Edition - $5.00

Completely disagree that Critical Pass was useful. It's literally the CMR re-worded very slightly and typed onto cards instead of pages.

KTnKT · Post by **KTnKT** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:51 pm

rinkrat19 wrote:
slavetothebar wrote:If anyone is interested - I have the 2016 Critical Pass cards - they were Life SAVERS! Bought them to study for the Feb exam - they were just what I needed to focus my studying without the distractions of wanting to quickly skim ahead in the books.

No writing on the cards, no highlighting, no bending - I'm OCD about keeping my stuff in like new shape. Selling new on Amazon for $140. These are essentially "new". I'll sell them for $125

I also have How to Write Bar Exam Essays by Racine - 2nd Edition - $5.00
Completely disagree that Critical Pass was useful. It's literally the CMR re-worded very slightly and typed onto cards instead of pages.

I second their uselessness. They were way too much work to look after. I just stuck with the condensed themis outline. Same info, but only one thin book instead of hundreds of slippery cards.

StaceyS · Post by **StaceyS** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:09 pm

So what states are coming out tomorrow? Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania???

Is that right? Anyone else?

I'm soooo hoping for great news for you guys tomorrow!! The last 24 hours is by far the worst. But it is almost over!!

Good luck!!

rinkrat19 · Post by **rinkrat19** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:23 pm

stranlaw wrote:So what states are coming out tomorrow? Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania???

Is that right? Anyone else?

I'm soooo hoping for great news for you guys tomorrow!! The last 24 hours is by far the worst. But it is almost over!!

Good luck!!

Oregon.

Food poisoning still present, btw. Unsure whether it's been a useful distraction or just cumulatively making my week even worse.

StaceyS · Post by **StaceyS** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:29 pm

slavetothebar wrote:Lawst - I'm sorry you're going through this. One thing I would suggest is not "overthinking" the MBE. Most of the bar study programs give you trick questions - like questions where the answers hinge on "may" or "shall" do something. The bar isn't really like that. I failed IL the first time. For the second time I challenged myself to not fret about the MBE part so much - and to read the questions for what they say - not looking for any tricks. I passed. I didn't get my scores - so I can't say 100 percent that was the difference, but I'm pretty sure it was. Bar Prep courses write questions "practice" questions - that are more difficult than the bar - and they do that to teach you to look for certain things - like the "may" "shall" - but on the real exam - those questions are rare - if they are there at all. But also - 3 points is NOTHING - and you can do this! Feel free to message me if you want to talk. I'd be happy to share what i used to study the second time. I also was 15 points down last time - but passed Feb.

lawst_ wrote:Ended up failing IL by 3 points, which is a massive improvement from failing by 14-15 points last time. The MBE, even though I felt it was easier this time, still managed to kill me. I absolutely killed the essays, with a majority of 5 and 4.5 scores. Didn't do great on the MPT, did about average or a little below.

If someone, anyone, can help me master the MBE, I'd be forever indebted. I've struggled with multiple choice exams for most of my life, but have no trouble putting together very solid essays on the law. It's super discouraging.

Lawst_ ... I am sorry you failed and were sooo close...but, what a big improvement. That is really amazing. You must be a great essay writer to get those kind of scores. The essays for me were the part that was so daunting. You have to really know the law and be a good writer to do well on essays.

I will tell you how I did the MBE questions...I wish I could take a picture and show you...but, as I read each question I mark key words with circles and underlines and arrows out with notes. I basically dissect the question as I'm reading it. I look for key words that can flip the entire answer. Sometimes there is one small word that switches an answer from the general rule to the exception. I always remembered the phrase "all facts matter". I'd ask..why is that fact or word given? (For example if they give a date it is virtually ALWAYS important.) By circling and making notes as I read, it would help me to rule out answers and pick the best one.

I bought the 4 practice MBE tests on the NCBE site... http://store.ncbex.org/mbe/

I thought they were very helpful to see actual retired bar questions. Have you tried those?

Honestly...so many questions are narrowed down by most people to 2 answers that the next time you take it you might do just the same level of prep and guess luckier and pass. But, you see from your progress from bar 1 to bar 2 that you are capable of really increasing your score. I bet you get it next time!!

slavetothebar... Wow! Amazing that you raised your score up 15 points and passed. That is really, really inspiring. I agree with you that the bar prep questions sometimes go into crazy levels of detail...and test things that can be way trickier than the actual bar. The only good thing about those ridiculous questions is the detailed explanations because then you get the general rule down to whatever crazy rare exception they are testing. But, if you just took those questions and didn't use the explanations they are pretty useless...and can be really discouraging.

StaceyS · Post by **StaceyS** » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:31 pm

rinkrat19 wrote:
stranlaw wrote:So what states are coming out tomorrow? Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania???

Is that right? Anyone else?

I'm soooo hoping for great news for you guys tomorrow!! The last 24 hours is by far the worst. But it is almost over!!

Good luck!!
Oregon.

Food poisoning still present, btw. Unsure whether it's been a useful distraction or just cumulatively making my week even worse.

Are you sure it's food poisoning and not nerves? My stomach was a mess that last couple days waiting on the results. I felt all twisted up inside.

Food poisoning is horrible...I've had that too. Uggggh. You poor thing. So you are in Oregon then? Good luckkkkkkk rinkrat!!!!

Sam0406 · Post by **Sam0406** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 12:36 am

I never understood how the curve works, but does anyone know how February curve turned out to be compared to July..?

BVest · Post by **BVest** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 1:48 am

Sam0406 wrote:I never understood how the curve works, but does anyone know how February curve turned out to be compared to July..?

Since most states scale exams to MBE scores, the MBE distribution is informative. Here are distributions for the last two exams (at least for IL examinees, but their MBE distribution shouldn't be vastly different from the rest of the country):

https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/feb-201 ... ent-charts
https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/percent ... -july-2015

atcushman · Post by **atcushman** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 9:51 am

UHG--no sleep last night--one more hour to go...

NY_Sea · Post by **NY_Sea** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 9:58 am

atcushman wrote:UHG--no sleep last night--one more hour to go...

I'm sure you did great, dude!! And then you can sleep like a baby!

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