Themis July 2019 Forum

[Dcc617]

Finished the 3rd practice test, did well, feeling good.

In the future, please use spoilers when discussing practice exams and stuff. That way someone casually perusing this thread doesn't accidentally get a question answered if they're a little behind.

[ipsares]

Does anybody think that the critical pass flashcards would be useful for last three weeks? I am considering to order that but a bit hesitant.

Any recommendations about this? Also, any tips for last 17days?

depends on how you learn, if you are into flashcards they could be helpful. i have them but was never able to even get through them because reading straight up rules doesn't stick - if that were to work for me i would prefer to just read condensed outlines to save the time of flipping the cards back and forth- anyways -i prefer learning through doing the practice questions - its one thing to know the BLL but another to know the application and how it is tested. i think better bang for the buck might be emanuels s & t and finz - or running through all of the themis q's and then going through all of the explanations - i raised my con law a lot just by re-reading qs i already did

[AussieAustin]

Does anybody think that the critical pass flashcards would be useful for last three weeks? I am considering to order that but a bit hesitant.

Any recommendations about this? Also, any tips for last 17days?

depends on how you learn, if you are into flashcards they could be helpful. i have them but was never able to even get through them because reading straight up rules doesn't stick - if that were to work for me i would prefer to just read condensed outlines to save the time of flipping the cards back and forth- anyways -i prefer learning through doing the practice questions - its one thing to know the BLL but another to know the application and how it is tested. i think better bang for the buck might be emanuels s & t and finz - or running through all of the themis q's and then going through all of the explanations - i raised my con law a lot just by re-reading qs i already did

I have Emmanuel’s (and flash cards) but have realized that Emmanuel’s questions are mostly the ones that I’ve done on Themis. Mine is the 2016 version, not sure if a later version would be different. It does have some good tips, but I’m disappointed that I’ve seen the questions already.

[ipsares]

Does anybody think that the critical pass flashcards would be useful for last three weeks? I am considering to order that but a bit hesitant.

Any recommendations about this? Also, any tips for last 17days?

depends on how you learn, if you are into flashcards they could be helpful. i have them but was never able to even get through them because reading straight up rules doesn't stick - if that were to work for me i would prefer to just read condensed outlines to save the time of flipping the cards back and forth- anyways -i prefer learning through doing the practice questions - its one thing to know the BLL but another to know the application and how it is tested. i think better bang for the buck might be emanuels s & t and finz - or running through all of the themis q's and then going through all of the explanations - i raised my con law a lot just by re-reading qs i already did

I have Emmanuel’s (and flash cards) but have realized that Emmanuel’s questions are mostly the ones that I’ve done on Themis. Mine is the 2016 version, not sure if a later version would be different. It does have some good tips, but I’m disappointed that I’ve seen the questions already.

oh yeah that's true - i believe finz has all different questions because they write them themselves - they are a little weird sometimes but definitely have some stuff i have not seen on themis or adaptibar -

[other guy]

Whats everyones essay strategy?

[HairySmokeball]

I have been doing poorly on my last couple of mixed sets but just had to smile when I came across this question:

A local philanthropist, during a lecture to a class of high school students, promised to pay the college tuition of any student who received a perfect score on a college admissions test. Immediately after the lecture, a student told the philanthropist that he accepted the philanthropist’s promise. The student thereafter signed up for a preparatory class for the test, hired a private tutor at significant expense, and quit all of his extracurricular activities. Shortly before the student took the test, the philanthropist’s assistant contacted the student and told the student that the philanthropist withdrew his promise to pay for college. The student took the test and received a perfect score. The student sued the philanthropist based on the promise.

Is the student likely to receive relief in his suit against the philanthropist?

Are they talking about Michael Scott and his "Scott's Tots?"

[cherryfilter]

Does anyone know if Themis ever told us how much of a point increase we can expect on the actual MBE? I know Barbri tells their students they can expect around 16-20 pt increase on the actual MBE.

[RioGrandeLaw]

Anyone else make a bunch of bonehead mistakes on the PE 3/4? In going back over my questions, I probably missed like 5-10 questions that were not a knowledge issue, it was just carelessness- not reading the question close enough. I have not had any issue with my overall time on any test, I almost always finish with a few minutes to spare, and I think I had about 10 minutes left on the PEs.

[AussieAustin]

Anyone else make a bunch of bonehead mistakes on the PE 3/4? In going back over my questions, I probably missed like 5-10 questions that were not a knowledge issue, it was just carelessness- not reading the question close enough. I have not had any issue with my overall time on any test, I almost always finish with a few minutes to spare, and I think I had about 10 minutes left on the PEs.

Yep, I always get a few wrong from just carelessness (and second guessing myself). I figure that now it’s about building up stamina for the real thing. I think It’s impossible to have the same concentration over so many days, compared to the concentration you’ll have on the day. I’m hoping anyway.

[cavalier1138]

I want to compare thoughts with someone on one of the essay questions. Only reveal the spoiler if you've completed Torts Practice Essay 2609 (the Ferris wheel question), and please only reply using spoiler tags to avoid letting others see the analysis.

[+] Spoiler

The sample answer for negligence focused on foreseeability, which I caught. But the sample answer focused on the foreseeability of the boys' injuries and argued that it was foreseeable because some vague "injury" had happened once in 40 years due to car-rocking. I came out the other way on foreseeability, but I also said it wasn't relevant, because the foreseeability analysis has to focus on the foreseeability of the plaintiff's harm. Even if the boys' fall was foreseeable, I have a hard time making the argument that Paul's minor injuries were. And I don't see how Paul being an invitee changes the analysis, because the core issue is still the foreseeability of his injuries.

Anyone else make a similar argument? Or thoughts on that analysis? I was weirded out by the focus on the boys and not Paul in the model answer.

[AussieAustin]

So, This morning I did a practice exam at my law school for 100 questions. They used Kaplan. The questions were soooo much better than Themis questions and supposedly of the standard that we’ll get on the day. Considering on the first session of our simulated MBE I only got 44%, I’m stocked with my 66% for today’s effort, plus there were a few that I talked myself out of and changed that I got wrong. Themis questions are hard!

[HairySmokeball]

So, This morning I did a practice exam at my law school for 100 questions. They used Kaplan. The questions were soooo much better than Themis questions and supposedly of the standard that we’ll get on the day. Considering on the first session of our simulated MBE I only got 44%, I’m stocked with my 66% for today’s effort, plus there were a few that I talked myself out of and changed that I got wrong. Themis questions are hard!

I used Kaplan last time I tested and disliked the practice questions. Granted, I didn't complete much of the program (illness in family, other stuff) but the 500 or so PQs I took were painful...really, painful. All of the fact patterns were terrible and way, way too long. Although I haven't appreciated the Themis excessive testing of little/silly rules, the fact patterns are smaller and more representative of the actual exam (length wise, answers? Not so much). For the record, I didn't take any Kaplan practice exams and I will do the 200q #3 Themis exam tomorrow. Depending on how I do, I might do the Kaplan exam too, just to see how the scores compare.

[AussieAustin]

So, This morning I did a practice exam at my law school for 100 questions. They used Kaplan. The questions were soooo much better than Themis questions and supposedly of the standard that we’ll get on the day. Considering on the first session of our simulated MBE I only got 44%, I’m stocked with my 66% for today’s effort, plus there were a few that I talked myself out of and changed that I got wrong. Themis questions are hard!

I used Kaplan last time I tested and disliked the practice questions. Granted, I didn't complete much of the program (illness in family, other stuff) but the 500 or so PQs I took were painful...really, painful. All of the fact patterns were terrible and way, way too long. Although I haven't appreciated the Themis excessive testing of little/silly rules, the fact patterns are smaller and more representative of the actual exam (length wise, answers? Not so much). For the record, I didn't take any Kaplan practice exams and I will do the 200q #3 Themis exam tomorrow. Depending on how I do, I might do the Kaplan exam too, just to see how the scores compare.

See how you feel after you do the Themis practice exam. I’m not sure what Kaplan questions were used in the exam today but the questions were way shorter than the Themis ones. The property questions were completely different. No massive long foreclosure questions like Themis. And there wasn’t really many little nuances that Themis insists on testing. I’m just happy since my result today is where I want to be

[other guy]

anyone done Mixed pqs set 8 yet?
Its brutal

[cavalier1138]

anyone done Mixed pqs set 8 yet?
Its brutal

I ate it on those contracts questions, but otherwise it went pretty well for me.

[+] Spoiler

Also, the con law question about the department of corrections employment tests was such bullshit. Why would the jury even return a verdict based on substantial relationship if it was supposed to evaluate the policy based on rational relation? It was just needlessly confusing.

[cherryfilter]

anyone done Mixed pqs set 8 yet?
Its brutal

Yep, it was my lowest score. Set 9 is much easier.

[Dunnkirk85]

anyone done Mixed pqs set 8 yet?
Its brutal

That was my best set so far. Are they different for all users?

[Dcc617]

They are. Apparently they focus on your weaknesses.

I know they're different for sure because I talked to some of my friends also doing themis

[dianetics08]

They are. Apparently they focus on your weaknesses.

I know they're different for sure because I talked to some of my friends also doing themis

Ah. I was about to bitch that Mixed PQ set 13 was by far the hardest set of PQ's I've done, but I guess it doesn't matter if people can't compare.

Every god damn question was a weird exception to the rule. There's just no way that on the day of the actual bar exam that I'll remember any of these ticky tacky tiny exceptions to the rule, so I don't know why they bother. Like, I've done 1758 MBE questions with Themis (and that doesn't include the practice exams I think?), and these were new exceptions that I had absolutely never ran into before.

Honestly, I find myself beginning to second guess myself and miss slam dunk easy questions because I'm looking for exceptions when there aren't any. Themis is causing me multiple choice paranoia.

[barryzee]

So does that leave the subject PQs and primers/exams as the only real "fixed" material?

If so, I'm assuming those are a best gauge of how you're doing on the material. Or they are if can estimate how you'd do on them if you did them today.

[kasap]

I just did Mixed PQ-9 and it was terrible. There is only two weeks left and I feel terrible...

[kenken637]

They are. Apparently they focus on your weaknesses.

I know they're different for sure because I talked to some of my friends also doing themis

Ah. I was about to bitch that Mixed PQ set 13 was by far the hardest set of PQ's I've done, but I guess it doesn't matter if people can't compare.

Every god damn question was a weird exception to the rule. There's just no way that on the day of the actual bar exam that I'll remember any of these ticky tacky tiny exceptions to the rule, so I don't know why they bother. Like, I've done 1758 MBE questions with Themis (and that doesn't include the practice exams I think?), and these were new exceptions that I had absolutely never ran into before.

Honestly, I find myself beginning to second guess myself and miss slam dunk easy questions because I'm looking for exceptions when there aren't any. Themis is causing me multiple choice paranoia.

I'm a retaker. In all honesty, your last point is exactly what caused me to underperform in February's bar. I put so much emphasis on minor exceptions that I missed the bigger picture. The small exceptions is what had me feeling unprepared. I recall during the exam, every time I was unsure about an answer choice, I would see Themis wrong answer message in my mind (traumatized?)... I think this was also due to the fact that during the last week or so before the exam, I kept doing mixed pq's and I guess the new tested exceptions caused me dissatisfaction and frustrated me.

I reached out to Themis two weeks ago, because the "keep moving toward program completion," just didn't convince me (as it didn't in February either, considering I completed about 90% of the program and about 2,300 MBE Pq's). I was told to review every topic and sub-topic, focusing on the most frequently tested areas (prioritizing), and spend more time reviewing wrong answers and the quiz builder. Also, I was told that the questions that appear on the quiz builder are the same ones that show up on the Mixed sets. I feel a sense of relief knowing that it's ok to ditch the "daily assignments" and just focus on memorizing, practicing, and strengthening my weaker areas.

[Anon2468]

I'm a retaker. In all honesty, your last point is exactly what caused me to underperform in February's bar. I put so much emphasis on minor exceptions that I missed the bigger picture. The small exceptions is what had me feeling unprepared. I recall during the exam, every time I was unsure about an answer choice, I would see Themis wrong answer message in my mind (traumatized?)... I think this was also due to the fact that during the last week or so before the exam, I kept doing mixed pq's and I guess the new tested exceptions caused me dissatisfaction and frustrated me.

I reached out to Themis two weeks ago, because the "keep moving toward program completion," just didn't convince me (as it didn't in February either, considering I completed about 90% of the program and about 2,300 MBE Pq's). I was told to review every topic and sub-topic, focusing on the most frequently tested areas (prioritizing), and spend more time reviewing wrong answers and the quiz builder. Also, I was told that the questions that appear on the quiz builder are the same ones that show up on the Mixed sets. I feel a sense of relief knowing that it's ok to ditch the "daily assignments" and just focus on memorizing, practicing, and strengthening my weaker areas.

This makes me really anxious. Did you find that the Themis MBE questions were not that representative of the real thing? I've plowed through tons and tons of MBE questions, and now i'm doubting whether that was a smart use of my time/energy.

[nthp]

I'm a retaker. In all honesty, your last point is exactly what caused me to underperform in February's bar. I put so much emphasis on minor exceptions that I missed the bigger picture. The small exceptions is what had me feeling unprepared. I recall during the exam, every time I was unsure about an answer choice, I would see Themis wrong answer message in my mind (traumatized?)... I think this was also due to the fact that during the last week or so before the exam, I kept doing mixed pq's and I guess the new tested exceptions caused me dissatisfaction and frustrated me.

I reached out to Themis two weeks ago, because the "keep moving toward program completion," just didn't convince me (as it didn't in February either, considering I completed about 90% of the program and about 2,300 MBE Pq's). I was told to review every topic and sub-topic, focusing on the most frequently tested areas (prioritizing), and spend more time reviewing wrong answers and the quiz builder. Also, I was told that the questions that appear on the quiz builder are the same ones that show up on the Mixed sets. I feel a sense of relief knowing that it's ok to ditch the "daily assignments" and just focus on memorizing, practicing, and strengthening my weaker areas.

Hi. I passed the Bar exam on the first try last year using Barbri, which from what I hear is very similar to Themis. For those of you who are retakers, I wanted to pass along this advice as it helped me immensely in my own preparation: the biggest thing to do to do well on the MBE, is to practice MIXED sets of questions in your Bar prep course, AND old questions from other sources (no matter if you've gone over the subject matter [my Tort video completely disappeared from my class and I just had to wing it]). I am by no means a great exam taker, but there were tricks that I learned from practicing over and over again that helped me in the end to pass.

kenken637, you are right that by focusing on the minor exceptions you will miss the bigger picture. The focus should be on figuring out the patterns seen in answers to questions. There are so many ways that they can write questions and answers. Your ultimate focus should be on questions that you get wrong (for me, I learn best from learning from my mistakes than the ones that I do get right the first time around [it just seers into your brain]). All I can say is, there is only so much memorization you can do in so few weeks. I studied 12 hour days starting in Mid-May, dwindling down to less than 6 hour days in the last two weeks. I followed Barbri to a tee, and included AdaptiBar in my study rotation. Both helped enormously. Not because of memorization, but just practicing mixed sets over and over again, and writing down (or cut and paste) wrong and right answers to questions. That act just makes it easier to memorize.

And as assurance to you, my percentage correct jumped from anywhere between 15%-85% correct in mixed sets, and I did fairly poorly on the midterm and the follow up 100 questions. I believe all of you will be fine, and I am rooting for you guys to do well.

If you have any questions regarding how I prepared, please pm me and I will be more than happy to share it with you.

[strawberrieee]

I've plowed through tons and tons of MBE questions, and now i'm doubting whether that was a smart use of my time/energy.

My Themis person sent a message to people in my state that "you should not feel compelled to complete every set of PQs assigned at the expense of foregoing substantive learning. If you have completed more than 1000 MBE PQs plus the 300 questions from the Milestone Exams, you have likely done enough."

I now focus my energy and time on the essays, which make me more nervous than the MBE.