New Jersey Bar Exam February 2016 Forum

[Njbar]

got my result back and failed by 3 point. I had a 21 raw score but this is only equivalent to a 127.2 scaled score. I'm so confused and I think that 24 raw or an average of 3.5 on each essays is 136. 21 raw is not enough.

[jl1004]

also passed NJ, MBE 160. (132 last July, 131 Last Feb). Did not take NJ last July, but did take it on Feb 2015.

I changed from Barbri to Themis after my second time, and while I thought Barbri was very good at helping you with NY bar essays, I didn't see too much difference between the two for NJ.

I also believe studying heavily on MBE is the way to go for NJ bar exam (also NY to certain extent but they are going UBE so who knows), and I also think Adaptibar is the best way to practice for it. I only used Barbri last July/Feb and I think combination of Themis and adaptibar are very good to prep you for the exam.

It might have been that I did not study hard enough on those two other exams, but I did feel like adaptibar gave you a sense of what a typical MBE questions are like. Since adaptibar has the questions released by the NCBE, the language/format of the question seems familiar. I liked themis's questions because they give you very hard questions that majority of the students get wrong.

For studying, since I already had unfortunate advantage of studying more than others, I basically went 80% MBE and 20% essays. I did about 75 to 100 questions a day (50 adaptibar + whatever themis gives you that day + more if i feel like it) for about 2 months. Maybe did one essay per week. I looked over NJ civ pro for about 2 days. I took both nj/ny but I focused mostly on MBE subjects so I only spent about 2 weeks for studying for NY subjects. So overall, I did about 2 months of MBE questions/outline reading, + 2 weeks of reading/essay outlining for NY subjects sprinkled in those 2 months + 2 days of NJ civ pro during the last week before the exam.

[njnybartaker2015]

After taking the summer off to study, I took NY/NJ in July 2015 and passed NY but failed NJ with a 131.7 MBE. I failed NJ by less than a point. Reflecting on the experience, I think I did not practice enough MBE questions that time around; probably only 1,000 at most. This time around, I passed NJ with a 151.9 MBE. I practiced over 3,000 MBE questions in preparation for the exam. However, I also did not skimp on essay practice. I recommend Themis Bar Review, as that is the program I used. Also, Themis gives you a free re-take. In addition, I note that I was working full time while studying for the February bar exam but that did not hinder my exam performance. I started studying at the recommended start date and did my best to keep up with the course, completing around 75-80%. I did take some days off as well for studying; the week before the bar exam I did not go to work.

I hope that my sharing this information is helpful to those that are trying to pass the bar still. You can do it!

[barchallenger]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

[FallonJ]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

When considering transfer your MBE score to DC, it is important to consider that your transferred MBE score will not count toward a portable UBE score. All components of the DC UBE exam must be taken in the same sitting in order to gain a portable score.

[MZaf]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

When considering transfer your MBE score to DC, it is important to consider that your transferred MBE score will not count toward a portable UBE score. All components of the DC UBE exam must be taken in the same sitting in order to gain a portable score.

I also believe generally, you cannot transfer an MBE score from a failing overall exam. In order to transfer MBE to D.C. you would have had to successfully passed the bar in a jurisdiction.

[Em_Banc]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

When considering transfer your MBE score to DC, it is important to consider that your transferred MBE score will not count toward a portable UBE score. All components of the DC UBE exam must be taken in the same sitting in order to gain a portable score.

I also believe generally, you cannot transfer an MBE score from a failing overall exam. In order to transfer MBE to D.C. you would have had to successfully passed the bar in a jurisdiction.

DC is pretty complicated with this. You can transfer a 133+ MBE score from a failing overall exam and sit for just the essay portion (even now with UBE adoption in July). If you received a 133+ MBE and ALSO passed a state overall and are now barred in that state, you can simply apply to waive in. I.e., you don't have to sit for DC essays. However, although DC has adopted UBE and still allows for these MBE transfers, in order to have a portable UBE score that you can use in another state, you need to sit for the entirety of the UBE in one sitting. That goes for ANY UBE jurisdiction. To obtain a portable UBE score, you need to sit for the entirety of the exam in a UBE jurisdiction in one exam session.

It is also worth noting that each UBE jurisdiction has its own age limit for transferring portable scores. For example, New York won't allow transfers of UBE scores that are older than 3 years.

[Jewelgirl4]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

When considering transfer your MBE score to DC, it is important to consider that your transferred MBE score will not count toward a portable UBE score. All components of the DC UBE exam must be taken in the same sitting in order to gain a portable score.

I also believe generally, you cannot transfer an MBE score from a failing overall exam. In order to transfer MBE to D.C. you would have had to successfully passed the bar in a jurisdiction.

DC is pretty complicated with this. You can transfer a 133+ MBE score from a failing overall exam and sit for just the essay portion (even now with UBE adoption in July). If you received a 133+ MBE and ALSO passed a state overall and are now barred in that state, you can simply apply to waive in. I.e., you don't have to sit for DC essays. However, although DC has adopted UBE and still allows for these MBE transfers, in order to have a portable UBE score that you can use in another state, you need to sit for the entirety of the UBE in one sitting. That goes for ANY UBE jurisdiction. To obtain a portable UBE score, you need to sit for the entirety of the exam in a UBE jurisdiction in one exam session.

It is also worth noting that each UBE jurisdiction has its own age limit for transferring portable scores. For example, New York won't allow transfers of UBE scores that are older than 3 years.

I'm contemplating waiving into DC, but am having trouble finding information their site that doesn't only address waiving in if you've been practicing for more than 5 continuous years.

[Em_Banc]

I'm contemplating waiving into DC, but am having trouble finding information their site that doesn't only address waiving in if you've been practicing for more than 5 continuous years.

This is the info for waiving in (admission without examination): http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/docume ... le-UBE.pdf

You have to read this super closely. Note the "or" after section (3)(i) dealing with those who have been practicing for more than 5 years. Paragraph (3)(ii) deals with waiving in for those who are barred in another jx and received at least a 133 MBE on that state's exam. Hope this helps.

[Jewelgirl4]

I'm contemplating waiving into DC, but am having trouble finding information their site that doesn't only address waiving in if you've been practicing for more than 5 continuous years.

This is the info for waiving in (admission without examination): http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/docume ... le-UBE.pdf

You have to read this super closely. Note the "or" after section (3)(i) dealing with those who have been practicing for more than 5 years. Paragraph (3)(ii) deals with waiving in for those who are barred in another jx and received at least a 133 MBE on that state's exam. Hope this helps.

It very much does, thank you!

[Njbar]

Guys, i need some help to understand the nj grading. I had a 132 mbe , and a 21 raw essay which is then scaled to only 127.2 for a total of 129 combined . This is insane. so does this mean that if you have a 21 raw essay score then you need a 144.8 scaled MBE to pass the first phrase, or 138.8 to pass the second phrase? This is too harsh becuase the national average MBE is only 135. Can anyone explain this. For those of you who failed by 5 or less, can you post your raw mbe score?

[sdimo]

Guys, i need some help to understand the nj grading. I had a 132 mbe , and a 21 raw essay which is then scaled to only 127.2 for a total of 129 combined . This is insane. so does this mean that if you have a 21 raw essay score then you need a 144.8 scaled MBE to pass the first phrase, or 138.8 to pass the second phrase? This is too harsh becuase the national average MBE is only 135. Can anyone explain this. For those of you who failed by 5 or less, can you post your raw mbe score?

My score was 131/133
I had raw 25.5 on the essays which scaled to 137.6
my MBE was 124.5
looks like you'd need around a 139 MBE to pass with that essay score.

[Njbar]

Guys, i need some help to understand the nj grading. I had a 132 mbe , and a 21 raw essay which is then scaled to only 127.2 for a total of 129 combined . This is insane. so does this mean that if you have a 21 raw essay score then you need a 144.8 scaled MBE to pass the first phrase, or 138.8 to pass the second phrase? This is too harsh becuase the national average MBE is only 135. Can anyone explain this. For those of you who failed by 5 or less, can you post your raw mbe score?

My score was 131/133
I had raw 25.5 on the essays which scaled to 137.6
my MBE was 124.5
looks like you'd need around a 139 MBE to pass with that essay score.

You have a very solid essay score and if you keep working on your mbe, you will pass next time for sure.
But i mean an average of 3 on the essays need a 144.8 mbe to pass first phrase or 139 to pass second phrase is insane.

[barchallenger]

Guys, i need some help to understand the nj grading. I had a 132 mbe , and a 21 raw essay which is then scaled to only 127.2 for a total of 129 combined . This is insane. so does this mean that if you have a 21 raw essay score then you need a 144.8 scaled MBE to pass the first phrase, or 138.8 to pass the second phrase? This is too harsh becuase the national average MBE is only 135. Can anyone explain this. For those of you who failed by 5 or less, can you post your raw mbe score?

My score was 131/133
I had raw 25.5 on the essays which scaled to 137.6
my MBE was 124.5
looks like you'd need around a 139 MBE to pass with that essay score.

You have a very solid essay score and if you keep working on your mbe, you will pass next time for sure.
But i mean an average of 3 on the essays need a 144.8 mbe to pass first phrase or 139 to pass second phrase is insane.

My raw NJ essay score was a 20, which gave me a scaled essay score of 124.8. I needed a 141.2 MBE to pass, which I didn't.

I thought I had that MBE score, but didn't. That was the real cause of this demise. Honestly, a raw NJ essay score of 20 was pretty much a job well done for me. With that essay score, even if I could manage to score in the upper 130s on the MBE next time, I would still fall short. I would need at least a 140, or a mid-140s for success, unless I further improve my essays, which I believe is even more difficult than upping my MBE score (though I would still try).

That's why I'm debating myself between re-taking the traditional NJ bar for one last time in July 2016, or transferring my MBE to DC and trying to hammer out a 133 on the essay portion of the UBE singlehandedly (the score won't be a portable UBE as someone mentioned). Seems tough. Maybe tougher?

[njnybartaker2015]

In July a 21 essay raw equated to a 132.6.

[Njbar]

Guys, i need some help to understand the nj grading. I had a 132 mbe , and a 21 raw essay which is then scaled to only 127.2 for a total of 129 combined . This is insane. so does this mean that if you have a 21 raw essay score then you need a 144.8 scaled MBE to pass the first phrase, or 138.8 to pass the second phrase? This is too harsh becuase the national average MBE is only 135. Can anyone explain this. For those of you who failed by 5 or less, can you post your raw mbe score?

My score was 131/133
I had raw 25.5 on the essays which scaled to 137.6
my MBE was 124.5
looks like you'd need around a 139 MBE to pass with that essay score.

You have a very solid essay score and if you keep working on your mbe, you will pass next time for sure.
But i mean an average of 3 on the essays need a 144.8 mbe to pass first phrase or 139 to pass second phrase is insane.

My raw NJ essay score was a 20, which gave me a scaled essay score of 124.8. I needed a 141.2 MBE to pass, which I didn't.

I thought I had that MBE score, but didn't. That was the real cause of this demise. Honestly, a raw NJ essay score of 20 was pretty much a job well done for me. With that essay score, even if I could manage to score in the upper 130s on the MBE next time, I would still fall short. I would need at least a 140, or a mid-140s for success, unless I further improve my essays, which I believe is even more difficult than upping my MBE score (though I would still try).

That's why I'm debating myself between re-taking the traditional NJ bar for one last time in July 2016, or transferring my MBE to DC and trying to hammer out a 133 on the essay portion of the UBE singlehandedly (the score won't be a portable UBE as someone mentioned). Seems tough. Maybe tougher?

My mbe was less than 133 so I cant transfer. My opinion is with a 3 across all essays and still need 144 or 139 mbe to pass, you should really think transfer to DC.

[jwilson56]

Is anyone taking or re-taking New Jersey this summer in addition to a UBE jurisdiction?

[sdimo]

Is anyone taking or re-taking New Jersey this summer in addition to a UBE jurisdiction?

i'm going for a second shot at NJ. too late to sign up for anything else and since I live in NJ, i didn't want to have to go upstate for the ube right now

[jwilson56]

Is anyone taking or re-taking New Jersey this summer in addition to a UBE jurisdiction?

i'm going for a second shot at NJ. too late to sign up for anything else and since I live in NJ, i didn't want to have to go upstate for the ube right now

I will be too. Failed by 1 measly point.
Will also be taking DC and wanted to see how it works when taking NJ and a UBE jurisdiction. On the website there is an announcement about it but it doesn't say what the options are.

[sdimo]

Is anyone taking or re-taking New Jersey this summer in addition to a UBE jurisdiction?

i'm going for a second shot at NJ. too late to sign up for anything else and since I live in NJ, i didn't want to have to go upstate for the ube right now

I will be too. Failed by 1 measly point.
Will also be taking DC and wanted to see how it works when taking NJ and a UBE jurisdiction. On the website there is an announcement about it but it doesn't say what the options are.

i failed by 2
why are you taking NJ if taking UBE? NJ will allow you to waive July UBE scores into the state starting in October.

[jwilson56]

Because I am thinking worst-case scenario, there is less to know for the NJ essays than for the UBE/MEE essays. I just need to be admitted somewhere and if I were to fail DC but pass NJ, that'd be ok. Does that make sense?

[sdimo]

got you. that makes sense. i'm just trying to get through nj right now lol but i respect the efforts. good luck to you.

[LWilson]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

Take NJ. This is the last opportunity to take it before it becomes MUCH more difficult. Like I said before, I graduated at the bottom of my class and I was manhandled by the NY bar. I passed Jersey on my third attempt. My MBE was mediocre (130.2). However, I wiped the floor with the essays. The easiest essays are criminal law and Torts. Those are the essays in which you need to get at least a 5 on. I recommend outlining as many past essays as possible since the issues are predictable and they always repeat. Also, enroll in this course called Ameribar essay graders. They give you a bunch of essays and they grade them. And they're tougher graders than the actual bar examiners. And in NJ, if you forget a rule then spot an issue and make up some BS rule. And in my past posts, I included other tips about tackling the NJ bar.

[barchallenger]

I have taken the NJ bar exam multiple times and have just failed again with an MBE score of just above a 133 and a scaled essay score in the mid-120s. Honestly, I thought that I had scored above a 140 on the MBE, in which case, I would have passed.

I'm debating between re-taking the NJ bar in July 2016, or transferring my MBE score to DC and only taking the essay portion of the UBE (the MEE and MPT) there on the first day (but I would need to score a 133 on the first day alone to pass in DC). Which option do you think I have a better chance for success?

I feel like it's hard for me to improve my MBE score further, if not impossible. On the other hand, I'm clueless as to studying for the essay only (though I could use MBE study materials for it), and scoring a 133 singlehandedly on the essay portion of the UBE seems very intimidating. My study strategy has always been to study pretty much only for the MBE and hope for the best on the NJ essays. So, I don't know how to study for the essay only.

Plus, DC now imposes the exam-taking limit of four times, whether or not you take the UBE in DC or elsewhere. So, taking the one last traditional NJ bar exam won't hurt at all in that sense, because taking a non-UBE exam outside DC won't count towards their exam-taking limit. But, it's a tough call for me, either way.

Thanks in advance.

Take NJ. This is the last opportunity to take it before it becomes MUCH more difficult. Like I said before, I graduated at the bottom of my class and I was manhandled by the NY bar. I passed Jersey on my third attempt. My MBE was mediocre (130.2). However, I wiped the floor with the essays. The easiest essays are criminal law and Torts. Those are the essays in which you need to get at least a 5 on. I recommend outlining as many past essays as possible since the issues are predictable and they always repeat. Also, enroll in this course called Ameribar essay graders. They give you a bunch of essays and they grade them. And they're tougher graders than the actual bar examiners. And in NJ, if you forget a rule then spot an issue and make up some BS rule. And in my past posts, I included other tips about tackling the NJ bar.

Thanks, LWilson, for your kindly responding to my post. Although I had a few options to explore in the aftermath of failing the NJ bar in February by a few points, taking the one last traditional NJ bar this July appeared to be the winning choice in the end, based on pretty much the same thinking as yours, and that's what I'll be doing.

So, I've already signed up for Adaptibar for my MBE exercises. I was going to sign up with Themis, but you recommended Ameribar. Is Ameribar better than Themis? A couple of others here recommended Themis. Because I liked the NJ study strategies you described before, I'm intrigued with your recommendation of Ameribar. Based on their web site, it appeared to be a little outdated, though.

I'm also planning on outlining the past NJ essays on my own. However, I don't know exactly how I should outline. All I know at this point is to spot the legal issues on the past essay questions, try to list out legal analyses and possible defenses, and the like. If you had anything to elaborate on this, I would appreciate it.

I'm really struggling to be admitted to at least one bar, and your strategies on the traditional NJ bar appear to be something that would work for a person like me, so I would really appreciate your inputs. Thanks in advance.

[L_William_W]

(I'm LWilson, forgot my password)

I'm not a big fan of Adapibar- the questions there are deceptively easy. And remember that you'll be taking the MBE section using a pencil and paper, not online. I found that Strategies and Tactics was also too easy.

I recommend the Kaplan big book. It's the Holy Grail of bar prep. The questions in that book are tricky...just like the real MBE.

http://www.amazon.com/Multistate-Workbo ... oks&sr=1-1

Pay the money for the new book. And may the force be with you.