Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2016 Forum

[1down1togo]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

You are probably fine not doing it. Me, I'm at 98%, and I have to do it. It's a sickness. I'm working full time so I've been studying since late MARCH. To be this close, and then not get 100%- I coudln't do it. But, I'm not right in the head. I imagine, at this point, realistically, you know what you need to do to be prepared, and it doesnt matter if you do the last 5% or your own way of studying.

[ndp1234]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

You are probably fine not doing it. Me, I'm at 98%, and I have to do it. It's a sickness. I'm working full time so I've been studying since late MARCH. To be this close, and then not get 100%- I coudln't do it. But, I'm not right in the head. I imagine, at this point, realistically, you know what you need to do to be prepared, and it doesnt matter if you do the last 5% or your own way of studying.

You could just enter in a character for the MPT to get it mark done.

[WinSome]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

You are probably fine not doing it. Me, I'm at 98%, and I have to do it. It's a sickness. I'm working full time so I've been studying since late MARCH. To be this close, and then not get 100%- I coudln't do it. But, I'm not right in the head. I imagine, at this point, realistically, you know what you need to do to be prepared, and it doesnt matter if you do the last 5% or your own way of studying.

You could just enter in a character for the MPT to get it mark done.

Yeah. My state doesn't have MPT, but when I don't feel like doing a full essay I'll just outline it instead of actually typing out the full answer.

[kishy]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

You are probably fine not doing it. Me, I'm at 98%, and I have to do it. It's a sickness. I'm working full time so I've been studying since late MARCH. To be this close, and then not get 100%- I coudln't do it. But, I'm not right in the head. I imagine, at this point, realistically, you know what you need to do to be prepared, and it doesnt matter if you do the last 5% or your own way of studying.

You could just enter in a character for the MPT to get it mark done.

Yeah. My state doesn't have MPT, but when I don't feel like doing a full essay I'll just outline it instead of actually typing out the full answer.

I've been wondering about this - Themis uses the 75% mark as a tipping point in correlation to chances of passing, but a lot of tasks can be marked complete with less than even half-assed effort or with no real standard of what constitutes "complete". Does that mean that a certain amount of "cheating" is built in to that 75%? Or maybe that's what explains the people who don't pass even after hitting the 75% mark? I'm at 94%, but I don't feel like it's an accurate representation of my chances of passing - I still don't feel prepared for the Florida side of the bar. Of course, I felt this exact same way 5 months ago before Michigan, and I passed Michigan, so I'm optimistic.

[blach0987]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

You are probably fine not doing it. Me, I'm at 98%, and I have to do it. It's a sickness. I'm working full time so I've been studying since late MARCH. To be this close, and then not get 100%- I coudln't do it. But, I'm not right in the head. I imagine, at this point, realistically, you know what you need to do to be prepared, and it doesnt matter if you do the last 5% or your own way of studying.

You could just enter in a character for the MPT to get it mark done.

Yeah. My state doesn't have MPT, but when I don't feel like doing a full essay I'll just outline it instead of actually typing out the full answer.

I've been wondering about this - Themis uses the 75% mark as a tipping point in correlation to chances of passing, but a lot of tasks can be marked complete with less than even half-assed effort or with no real standard of what constitutes "complete". Does that mean that a certain amount of "cheating" is built in to that 75%? Or maybe that's what explains the people who don't pass even after hitting the 75% mark? I'm at 94%, but I don't feel like it's an accurate representation of my chances of passing - I still don't feel prepared for the Florida side of the bar. Of course, I felt this exact same way 5 months ago before Michigan, and I passed Michigan, so I'm optimistic.

Yeah, just for the reasons stated above, I have wondered how truly accurate their 75% mark is and how they calculate the likelihood of passing...

There are lots of ways to get to 75% without completely doing 75% of the work

[blach0987]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

Anyone who got to 100%, I am curious if anything happens A huge CONGRATS? or just, you have reached 100%? I definitely won't get to 100%, probably like 90% or 95%

[ndp1234]

So I'm just curious, does Themis do anything if you hit 100%? Like do lights go off, balloons drop? Or is it just nothing? Asking because I'm at like 95% and I don't wanna do any more performance tests, so I won't hit 100.

Anyone who got to 100%, I am curious if anything happens A huge CONGRATS? or just, you have reached 100%? I definitely won't get to 100%, probably like 90% or 95%

I wonder if it's the same message or slightly more climactic message as the one we get when we finish the tasks for the day.

[TLSModBot]

When you hit 100, the program starts screaming 'NERD' and then gives you a wedgie.

Amazing what technology can do these days

[TLSModBot]

Barbri just gives you a certificate to print out and hang so passerby know to give you wedgies and call you nerd.

[Tyler_Durden]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

[ndp1234]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

All the essay questions I've come across have been actual NCBE questions. Because I tend to not like Themis' sample answers since they confuse me more, I look at the Minnesota BLE good representative answers for the ones I do on Themis.

[Tyler_Durden]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

All the essay questions I've come across have been actual NCBE questions. Because I tend to not like Themis' sample answers since they confuse me more, I look at the Minnesota BLE good representative answers for the ones I do on Themis.

Is it possible that Themis is simplifying the questions and/or removing excerpts from longer questions? If you do a plain comparison between the February 2011 questions on the NCBE website, and questions that Themis has been giving us, the NCBE questions seem significantly more difficult.

[ndp1234]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

All the essay questions I've come across have been actual NCBE questions. Because I tend to not like Themis' sample answers since they confuse me more, I look at the Minnesota BLE good representative answers for the ones I do on Themis.

Is it possible that Themis is simplifying the questions and/or removing excerpts from longer questions? If you do a plain comparison between the February 2011 questions on the NCBE website, and questions that Themis has been giving us, the NCBE questions seem significantly more difficult.

Each year will be different. I definitely had the Corps question and the Civ Pro question come up in full.

[1down1togo]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

All the essay questions I've come across have been actual NCBE questions. Because I tend to not like Themis' sample answers since they confuse me more, I look at the Minnesota BLE good representative answers for the ones I do on Themis.

Is it possible that Themis is simplifying the questions and/or removing excerpts from longer questions? If you do a plain comparison between the February 2011 questions on the NCBE website, and questions that Themis has been giving us, the NCBE questions seem significantly more difficult.

I think that there are certainly varying degrees of difficulty on exam questions. I have a hard time believing that themis would intentionally make their quesitons easier or pick easy ones. That would be a horrible business strategy.

[Vantwins]

FINALLY passed the 75% mark, woo hoo! I'm feeling decent about passing - if it truly is a test of minimum competency then I think I'm good! Going to keep trucking though - I'd still like to feel more comfortable spouting off BLL by Tuesday.

And I'm in awe of those of you getting to 100%! With three kids, I don't think I ever expected that to happen, so I'm pretty happy that I'll be edging my way to 80% at least.

[Vantwins]

FYI for people taking the Multistate Essay Exam, the actual questions released by NCBE are significantly harder than the MEE practice essays that themis assigns. It's worth taking a shot at these: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Look at their sample answers too

All the essay questions I've come across have been actual NCBE questions. Because I tend to not like Themis' sample answers since they confuse me more, I look at the Minnesota BLE good representative answers for the ones I do on Themis.

Is it possible that Themis is simplifying the questions and/or removing excerpts from longer questions? If you do a plain comparison between the February 2011 questions on the NCBE website, and questions that Themis has been giving us, the NCBE questions seem significantly more difficult.

I think that there are certainly varying degrees of difficulty on exam questions. I have a hard time believing that themis would intentionally make their quesitons easier or pick easy ones. That would be a horrible business strategy.

Agreed. And it's all relative. Even an "easy" corporations essay is difficult for me because I have zero interest in that topic, making it hard for me to retain the law and make a great argument in that area. Even a "hard" crim pro essay is fairly easy for me because I clerked for a trial judge on a criminal docket and I was a public defender for a year, so that law and those arguments come pretty easy for me.

[Fivedham]

I got a 91/100 on the NCBE OPE 100 question test from 2013, but it feels tainted because I had seen a lot of the questions before in Themis. Good for a confidence boost I suppose since I guess I retained the rules, but it felt a bit like cheating. But dang, a 180 raw on the MBE would be insane.

[ndp1234]

I would like to personally lobby the NCBE to please allow us extra time for property essay questions. Why are all property questions so ridiculously long??

[Hmasterflex]

I would like to personally lobby the NCBE to please allow us extra time for property essay questions. Why are all property questions so ridiculously long??

Property questions generally. Remember the half-page property MBE question on the sim?

[Fivedham]

I would like to personally lobby the NCBE to please allow us extra time for property essay questions. Why are all property questions so ridiculously long??

They make up for it with the two line evidence and crim questions.

[ndp1234]

I would like to personally lobby the NCBE to please allow us extra time for property essay questions. Why are all property questions so ridiculously long??

Property questions generally. Remember the half-page property MBE question on the sim?

Yes, I remember - the one that was like the last question for that session... That is just sadistic after subjecting us to 3 hours and the last question being sooooo long.

[Easy-E]

Those who did secured transactions essay #2454, did you talk about whether Banks interest was attached/perfected? The model answer just assumes it, which seems fine I guess, but it seemed worth discussing.

[Hmasterflex]

Just got totally themed.

"Bernard and Beulah are considering forming a corporation, general partnership, LLP, and LLC. Which would you suggest?"


...Proceeds to discuss LPs

[1down1togo]

Just got totally themed.

"Bernard and Beulah are considering forming a corporation, general partnership, LLP, and LLC. Which would you suggest?"


...Proceeds to discuss LPs

Ahh the classic self-theme. I've done that many a time.

[1down1togo]

Those who did secured transactions essay #2454, did you talk about whether Banks interest was attached/perfected? The model answer just assumes it, which seems fine I guess, but it seemed worth discussing.

My state has its own state-specific essay, So I can't answer your question, but just wanted to share my general frustration on this topic. I never know when we are supposed to completely lay out the elements for some stuff. Like in contracts- do we have to go over offer, acceptance, consideration every time? Themis doesnt always. I looked at the model answers- my state bar has some 10-point answers available- and in certain situations they don't.

Likewise, for questions that involve agents- sometimes you have to explain why they are an agent, and sometimes its given.

Honestly, I think you have to just take the contextual clues- what does the problem seem to be focusing on? That being said, IMO, if you size up the question,and you feel like it wont be a long one- might as well throw in the definitions and really hit everything. Explaining unncessary stuff isn't oging to hurt you as long as you maintain good time.

That being said, I share your frustration on that point.