BarBri Bar Review Hangout - February 2016 Exam Forum

[MrMustache]

Yeah, I gathered as much. My thought is that I should stop worrying about overloading myself with MBE questions, and to study for the essays. That's where I can actually make up points (since the MBE is either right or wrong, you can't appeal for them to look at it again for points they may have missed if I don't pass), plus that should help me learn the BLL which should in turn help with the MBE anyway. The CP cards are so detailed - I pretty much learned all of the Con Law ones, but it only improved my score by a marginal amount. Moved on to property, which is hands down one of my worst subjects, and it's just so minute that it overwhelms me. But such is life for bar prep, eh?

That's the mistake I made in July. I prioritized MBE prep over essays. Unfortunately, the MBEs on the real bar felt very different compared to practice questions. I walked out of the first half of the MBE not knowing wtf was up with it, and I wasn't the only one with the deer-in-the-headlight look. In the end, I still ended up passing the MBE portion of the exam with a scaled 1500 score.

BUT, because I was so under-prepared for essays , three of my essays scored a 50(!). Had those 3 essays been a 65, 65, and a 60 I would be a member of the bar right now

[cjusticenu]

Yeah, I gathered as much. My thought is that I should stop worrying about overloading myself with MBE questions, and to study for the essays. That's where I can actually make up points (since the MBE is either right or wrong, you can't appeal for them to look at it again for points they may have missed if I don't pass), plus that should help me learn the BLL which should in turn help with the MBE anyway. The CP cards are so detailed - I pretty much learned all of the Con Law ones, but it only improved my score by a marginal amount. Moved on to property, which is hands down one of my worst subjects, and it's just so minute that it overwhelms me. But such is life for bar prep, eh?

That's the mistake I made in July. I prioritized MBE prep over essays. Unfortunately, the MBEs on the real bar felt very different compared to practice questions. I walked out of the first half of the MBE not knowing wtf was up with it, and I wasn't the only one with the deer-in-the-headlight look. In the end, I still ended up passing the MBE portion of the exam with a scaled 1500 score.

BUT, because I was so under-prepared for essays , three of my essays scored a 50(!). Had those 3 essays been a 65, 65, and a 60 I would be a member of the bar right now

Yeah, that's what I keep seeing over and over again in posts here. Is the same true about the essays Barbri gives us, or are those pretty spot on? Also, how are you prepping for essays? I'm terrible at memorizing BLL, which obviously puts me at a grave disadvantage. General concepts I understand (dare I say, I know it when I see it ) , but regurgitating the elements for adverse possession for example, are a massive struggle. I wish Barbri would help me tailor my studying better than "work and review subjects you're struggling with."

[storge]

What are everyone's scoring goals for the MIXED MBE SETS? I don't see goals posted anywhere by BarBri (if they are please let me know).
Do you feel the mixed sets vary in difficulty like the subject-specific MBE sets?

[jackbauer10]

What are everyone's scoring goals for the MIXED MBE SETS? I don't see goals posted anywhere by BarBri (if they are please let me know).
Do you feel the mixed sets vary in difficulty like the subject-specific MBE sets?

Goals are in ESC > Practice Questions > Question Set Goals. I believe they're at the bottom of the PDF.

[amk110]

Question for any BARBRI re-takers...

When I used BARBRI's 2013 materials, (consisting of an MPQ1 book with six sets of 25 questions for each of the six MBE subjects, and an MPQ 2 book with 9 sets of 50 questions mixed subject); it was widely considered that sets #5 and #6 in the single subject sets were mercilessly difficult and not at all worth doing.

I'm now using the S '15 / W '16 MPQ book. I'm not sure if this is the most current one. It has six sets of 18 questions for each of the 7 MBE subjects.

My question for anyone using this book... are sets 5 and 6 still considered to be too hard to be worth doing? I don't want to torpedo my confidence and overall practice score with questions that are unrepresentative of the actual difficulty encountered on the exam.

[cjusticenu]

What are everyone's scoring goals for the MIXED MBE SETS? I don't see goals posted anywhere by BarBri (if they are please let me know).
Do you feel the mixed sets vary in difficulty like the subject-specific MBE sets?

Goals are in ESC > Practice Questions > Question Set Goals. I believe they're at the bottom of the PDF.

Sadly, I don't see the goals there. It would be nice to know if they are evenly weighted or what I should expect to get on these in order to have a decent shot at passing the MBE

[THE_U]

Mixed Subject Question Sets (50 questions each)
Set 1 – 31 correct (62%)
Set 2 – 33 correct (66%)
Set 3 – 33 correct (66%)
Set 4 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 5 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 6 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 7 – 34 correct (68%)

[cjusticenu]

Mixed Subject Question Sets (50 questions each)
Set 1 – 31 correct (62%)
Set 2 – 33 correct (66%)
Set 3 – 33 correct (66%)
Set 4 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 5 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 6 – 34 correct (68%)
Set 7 – 34 correct (68%)

Thanks!!

[amk110]

Can I ask what edition of the BARBRI materials you're using that have these 50 question mixed sets?

My version that says S' 15 / W' 16 on the cover seems to only have 6 single sets of 18 questions each for the 7 MBE subjects.

The only mixed sets it has are a 100 question "MBE refresher" and the 100 question half-day and 200 question full day exams.

[THE_U]

Can I ask what edition of the BARBRI materials you're using that have these 50 question mixed sets?

My version that says S' 15 / W' 16 on the cover seems to only have 6 single sets of 18 questions each for the 7 MBE subjects.

The only mixed sets it has are a 100 question "MBE refresher" and the 100 question half-day and 200 question full day exams.

They aren't in the book. They are in the Enrolled Student Center, under "Practice Questions"

[NY_Sea]

Yeah, I gathered as much. My thought is that I should stop worrying about overloading myself with MBE questions, and to study for the essays. That's where I can actually make up points (since the MBE is either right or wrong, you can't appeal for them to look at it again for points they may have missed if I don't pass), plus that should help me learn the BLL which should in turn help with the MBE anyway. The CP cards are so detailed - I pretty much learned all of the Con Law ones, but it only improved my score by a marginal amount. Moved on to property, which is hands down one of my worst subjects, and it's just so minute that it overwhelms me. But such is life for bar prep, eh?

That's the mistake I made in July. I prioritized MBE prep over essays. Unfortunately, the MBEs on the real bar felt very different compared to practice questions. I walked out of the first half of the MBE not knowing wtf was up with it, and I wasn't the only one with the deer-in-the-headlight look. In the end, I still ended up passing the MBE portion of the exam with a scaled 1500 score.

BUT, because I was so under-prepared for essays , three of my essays scored a 50(!). Had those 3 essays been a 65, 65, and a 60 I would be a member of the bar right now

Yup... This is what I'm going to the last week or so. Review the outlines for the subjects they tell me to on a certain day and then read and outline every essay in the essay book on that subject. My friend did this and I remember thinking "wow, that doesn't seem like it would work", but he swore by it.

[MrMustache]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

[NY_Sea]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Dude... SO READY for this to be done.

[cjusticenu]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Dude... SO READY for this to be done.

My liver is ready....

But seriously, this needs to be over. My body is basically rejecting everything it needs because of this stress (sleep, food, exercise, everything).

[THE_U]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Same exact thing happens to me. I envy the people who are able to consume food while stressed out.

[fadedsunrise]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Same exact thing happens to me. I envy the people who are able to consume food while stressed out.

Not that I can't keep food down, but I forget to eat when studying. I'll be in a library from 9-3, wonder why I got so cold around 2 and then realize oh...lunch was supposed to be about 3 hours ago.

I think I'm a stress exerciser When I was aw work I'd workout maybe 3 days a week but it's gone up to daily after studying, so I can't not eat, but it won't be on schedule lol.

[NY_Sea]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Dude... SO READY for this to be done.

My liver is ready....

But seriously, this needs to be over. My body is basically rejecting everything it needs because of this stress (sleep, food, exercise, everything).

Me too... I'm popping a few aspirin a night just to stay asleep. Ready to crush this test and be done with it forever... And hopefully get a good enough MBE to waive into D.C. lol

[MTBike]

For anyone testing in a UBE state, would any of you be willing to send me some of Barbri's writing prompts? I chose not to give them the 250 deposit again since I had the app (and the fact that I despise having to pay for access to content I already paid to access), but the app doesnt have writing prompts and I cannot find them ANYWHERE

[THE_U]

I'm getting intermittent internet outage today and it keeps interrupting my lecture. Thanks a lot Time Warner Cable.


That said, TWO WEEKS! Finally! I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. I'm a stress-starver, instead of being a stress-eater. I weighed myself today....10lb of my hard-earned gains are GONE. My work bench-press dropped 30lb, squats dropped 40lb. All that hard work gone! I used to feel big, like a truck, now I'm tiny like a postage stamp!

But maybe, it's also a sign that I'm getting wiser, I'm turning into what Khal Drogo would classify as a "wise man with skinny arms."

Same exact thing happens to me. I envy the people who are able to consume food while stressed out.

Not that I can't keep food down, but I forget to eat when studying. I'll be in a library from 9-3, wonder why I got so cold around 2 and then realize oh...lunch was supposed to be about 3 hours ago.

I think I'm a stress exerciser When I was aw work I'd workout maybe 3 days a week but it's gone up to daily after studying, so I can't not eat, but it won't be on schedule lol.

Lmao, that also happens to me. In fact, I am eating my first meal of the day, as I type this because I got caught up studying.

[Sue]

Quick bar question.

Contracts

Can a gratuitous assignment be revoked if the assignee knows and relied on it, or assented to it? (his rights have "vested")

The reason I'm confused it that with normal assignments - if it vests, you can't revoke. And If assignment was for consideration, assignee automatically assents to it because he is the one giving consideration, so it also vests. I don't see why the "gratuitous" distinction even matters.

EDIT: I mixed up assignment of rights and third-party beneficiary.

Third-party beneficiary is someone who was intended to benefit in the original contract, from the examples I've seen, the third party will be named in the contract, and his rights will vest when he either (1) knows and relies on the contract, or (2) assents to the contract in a way that he was requested to do.

Assignment of Rights, is when you try to pass your rights in the contract to someone else. They were never named in the contract and could be anyone. So unless there is consideration on their part, your promise to give them your rights under the contract for nothing is just that, a "promise," and not a contract. The only thing that could stop you is Promissory Estoppel.

So this is from Adaptibar explanation for gratuitous assignment:
"When a contract right is assigned to a party gratuitously (i.e., without receiving anything in exchange), the assignor retains the power to revoke the assignment if done prior to receiving payment from the obligor, or before the assignee has relied on the assignment or brought suit to enforce it.
"

I don't know the number of the question (it was one of the practice exam questions without the number), but can copy the Q and explanation and paste it here.

[Sue]

Here is another one from Adaptibar:

Although contract rights generally are freely assignable, when a contract right is assigned to a party gratuitously (i.e., without receiving anything in exchange), the assignor retains the power to revoke the assignment unless and until the assignee obtains performance from the obligor

[jamescastle]

Can I ask what edition of the BARBRI materials you're using that have these 50 question mixed sets?

My version that says S' 15 / W' 16 on the cover seems to only have 6 single sets of 18 questions each for the 7 MBE subjects.

The only mixed sets it has are a 100 question "MBE refresher" and the 100 question half-day and 200 question full day exams.

They aren't in the book. They are in the Enrolled Student Center, under "Practice Questions"

Are the mixed set questions pulled from the other MBE stuff in the MPQ book maybe? I think there's a full MBE in there and some other mixed stuff. Any idea?

[THE_U]

Can I ask what edition of the BARBRI materials you're using that have these 50 question mixed sets?

My version that says S' 15 / W' 16 on the cover seems to only have 6 single sets of 18 questions each for the 7 MBE subjects.

The only mixed sets it has are a 100 question "MBE refresher" and the 100 question half-day and 200 question full day exams.

They aren't in the book. They are in the Enrolled Student Center, under "Practice Questions"

Are the mixed set questions pulled from the other MBE stuff in the MPQ book maybe? I think there's a full MBE in there and some other mixed stuff. Any idea?

No, I believe the mixed set questions are their own questions. From what I've read/heard, they are supposed to be more similar to the real MBE than some of the other mixed stuff in the MPQ book (such as the 100 question "refresher" which is supposed to be pretty challenging)

[amk110]

I have the 2015-2016 MPQ book (but not online access) and am finding many of these single subject questions recycled from the 2013 materials I used to prepare the first time I took the exam.

Those 2013 materials contained a book with 9 sets of 50 question mixed subject sets that were indeed, very much easier than the single subject sets of questions. I recall averaging about 55% on the single subject sets, and 69% on the mixed.

Given BARBRI's propensity for recycling the single subject questions, I can only assume these online mixed sets are similar to the ones I'm describing.

[amk110]

I have the 2015-2016 MPQ book (but not online access) and am finding many of these single subject questions recycled from the 2013 materials I used to prepare the first time I took the exam.

Those 2013 materials contained a book with 9 sets of 50 question mixed subject sets that were indeed, very much easier than the single subject sets of questions. I recall averaging about 55% on the single subject sets, and 69% on the mixed.

Given BARBRI's propensity for recycling the single subject questions, I can only assume these online mixed sets are similar to the ones I'm describing.