THEMIS JULY 2018 - DISCUSSION Forum

[dabigchina]

76, 76, 76, 80 on the first 4 mixed MBE sets. Going to do the 100 question set later today.

Feel pretty good about that. Definitely seeing a lot fewer surprise questions about obscure topics I don't remember seeing, which is nice. I don't know if that's Themis finally being reasonable, or if I've just seen all the curveballs at this point.

My mixed sets have been in the same range. Hope the actual MBEs are this level of difficulty and not like the ungodly difficult specific topic sets.

[midtrains]

Is anyone here sitting for the Missouri bar?

If not, what JX are you sitting for?

Missouri here. After seeing other states worrying about state essays I'm really glad our state requirement is such a joke!

Isn't Missouri also UBE and same as NY? Aren't the questions going to be same as other UBE jurisdictions?

Looking at it now, the places where I've seen people talking about state specific stuff don't do the UBE. I guess I just assumed most states did and they had that plus extra stuff or something.

[Pajsa18]

Personally I didn't see the point. Themis has plenty of PQs (I did 2400 by the end but I'm pretty sure there're like 6000 or so?) and they also have decent analytics to reveal your weaknesses, time taken, how hard each PQ is, etc. Themis PQs are also (as I just stated above) very similar to NCBE questions, and even include plenty of actual NBCE PQs. So I didn't see the point in oversaturating myself with study aids.

If you're going to supplement Themis, it should be with something that Themis doesn't do. I got Critical Pass flashcards which were a good way to drill/memorize. I didn't use them all that much but found they still helped.

Thanks for this. I've bought Critical Pass also and have found them moderately useful, but haven't found much time to use them. Weirdly, as of right now, I actually prefer reading through the Themis Lecture Handouts than doing flashcards. Anyone else feel this way?

Also, does anyone here consistently do practice questions through the MBE Quiz Builder? Wondering how useful this is for practice.

I use the Quiz Builder sparingly because I noticed that it counts toward your total number of questions answered, as well as your % correct. I do find it helpful, however.

[landshoes]

Bombing con law and I've been trying to focus on it. Got a 38% on MBE set 4. Makes studying altogether really hard when some things look so grim

I am at 55%. Hope to get to 70% at least.

Conlaw is rough for me, too. I ended up using the Quimbee flashcards (fairly cheap) and after going through all of those I'm doing much better.

[CBlaw]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

[BlueLaw11]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

[dabigchina]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

Oh that's interesting. So i guess the mixed sets are representative for how difficult MBEs are in general, since I can't see themis randomly giving us only easy questions.

(this is me grasping at straws, hoping my average MBEs are closer to 75 than they are to 65)

[smile0751]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

Dumb question, but how do you pause the question sets?

[Transfer2016]

Wow, set #5 was tough. 76, 85, 82, 78, 64.

[abogado2018]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

That might be true, but I've noticed the first two sets had a "goal" score of 65 and 60, respectively, and then all the rest of the sets had goal scores of 70. Seems weird they'd have specific goals for the first two...?

[1Abimrdjur3]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

That might be true, but I've noticed the first two sets had a "goal" score of 65 and 60, respectively, and then all the rest of the sets had goal scores of 70. Seems weird they'd have specific goals for the first two...?

Yeah, I would think that they would select each question for the sets to make sure that there is a decent cross-section of subjects and sub-topics, but I have only done like 10 quiz-builder questions and gotten 1 or 2 repeats from the PQs, so idk.

[Lawworld19]

Got a 64% on the 100 question set and a 64% on question set 6.

FYI for lower scoring people. I pretty much forgot about MBE subjects besides torts. I didn't remember jack. Practically started guessing on 80% of evidence questions int he beginning of Themis because I didn't know anything. Started out here scoring in the 40's and 50's. Not because I am a horrible test taker, I just didn't really know the law. I went from a baseline knowledge of practically nothing starting in May to being within passing range for my state. (Need about a 136-138 scaled). Even with three weeks left we have a ton of time left to fine tune and memorize. Not saying 64% is good, but within passing and giving an example how this test is learnable while working 60 hours a week at a stressful billable firm job.

[landshoes]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

Dumb question, but how do you pause the question sets?

IDK what the other guy did, but it pauses when:

1) you're on the explanation part, if you do it in interactive mode
2) you click onto another tab in your browser (but not another window)

[dabigchina]

holy shit. just got 0/8 in civ pro on one of my sets.

i think i may be retarded.

[BlueLaw11]

Mixed Question Sets 1-4: 76; 88; 80; 78 - Thought the 4th one was pretty hard and that I did way worse on it than I actually did

Im starting to think that our mixed practice sets are not in the same order for everyone. I just finished the 4th set and that one seemed by far easier that the other three prior.

I think they're totally random. There was one set I had to pause due to a phone call and when I clicked back into the questions, that question never appeared for the rest of the session. It came back up in a subsequent set a few days later, so I'm assuming it's randomized

Dumb question, but how do you pause the question sets?

Not dumb at all, I just click the “Themis” home page at the top of the screen in between questions. If you go back to load the MBQs, it’ll pick up where left off, including the timer. A helpful tool, but easy to abuse

Also what’s with having to do math problems after every attempt to post (on TLS)? Don’t remember this ever being a thing here but now I get it every time I make a comment

[Neilt001]

Personally I didn't see the point. Themis has plenty of PQs (I did 2400 by the end but I'm pretty sure there're like 6000 or so?) and they also have decent analytics to reveal your weaknesses, time taken, how hard each PQ is, etc. Themis PQs are also (as I just stated above) very similar to NCBE questions, and even include plenty of actual NBCE PQs. So I didn't see the point in oversaturating myself with study aids.

If you're going to supplement Themis, it should be with something that Themis doesn't do. I got Critical Pass flashcards which were a good way to drill/memorize. I didn't use them all that much but found they still helped.

Thanks for this. I've bought Critical Pass also and have found them moderately useful, but haven't found much time to use them. Weirdly, as of right now, I actually prefer reading through the Themis Lecture Handouts than doing flashcards. Anyone else feel this way?

Also, does anyone here consistently do practice questions through the MBE Quiz Builder? Wondering how useful this is for practice.

No problem! Agree about CP - I used them a bit and found them helpful, but maybe not as helpful as I had expected them to be.

Re your query about the quiz builder - not much point in using it now because you've got plenty of assigned MBE PQs which you need to get through.

I used the quiz builder at the end of my study when I had some extra time so I could drill weak areas and just generally get more practice. It's pretty useful, but I wouldn't recommend doing it now unless you have some reason to do so?

[2015_Splitter]

Mixed Problem Sets 1-6: 68, 74, 62, 74, 67, 62, 52(!!!)

I've never been great, but it looks like I'm getting worse and worse. I really hope Themis is just fucking with me and giving me harder sets, but I doubt that's the case. I really don't understand what I'm doing wrong and how I'm doing worse despite feeling like I know more.

[sproutz]

Is there any way to mark the review assignments done if they are not assigned for the current day?
Like, if I have "Review Torts" on my directed study for tomorrow, but want to keep working through it today, is there any way to mark it complete?

[LawIsLyfe33]

Mixed Problem Sets 1-6: 68, 74, 62, 74, 67, 62, 52(!!!)

I've never been great, but it looks like I'm getting worse and worse. I really hope Themis is just fucking with me and giving me harder sets, but I doubt that's the case. I really don't understand what I'm doing wrong and how I'm doing worse despite feeling like I know more.

I have gone: 67-76-62-64-58-62-60

And I'm honestly not worried at all about my MBE. If you're above 60% you're fine

[dabigchina]

Is there any way to mark the review assignments done if they are not assigned for the current day?
Like, if I have "Review Torts" on my directed study for tomorrow, but want to keep working through it today, is there any way to mark it complete?

Also curious.

[Pajsa18]

Does anyone understand the Con Law question about the avocado growers and standing to sue?

None of the growers suffered an injury, but the correct answer says that they can still sue - without suffering injury - by getting an injunction to prevent "future" injury??

I thought that you must suffer injury first in order to have standing?

[NYYNYR]

Is it smart to wait until you've done some Mixed MBE Q's before doing the simulated exam? I'm a bit behind (60%) and just finished the MBE Practice #2 (the Civ Pro/Con Law etc.) and I am wondering if I should follow the schedule and learn Agency/Partnerships next or if I should focus on reviewing the old subjects for a Friday test.

[Neilt001]

Is there any way to mark the review assignments done if they are not assigned for the current day?
Like, if I have "Review Torts" on my directed study for tomorrow, but want to keep working through it today, is there any way to mark it complete?

Also curious.

Unfortunately I don't think so. I remember being frustrated about that too. Those are one of the few tasks that cannot be marked complete until the day arrives. Don't understand the thinking on that one...

[Neilt001]

Mixed Problem Sets 1-6: 68, 74, 62, 74, 67, 62, 52(!!!)

I've never been great, but it looks like I'm getting worse and worse. I really hope Themis is just fucking with me and giving me harder sets, but I doubt that's the case. I really don't understand what I'm doing wrong and how I'm doing worse despite feeling like I know more.

I have gone: 67-76-62-64-58-62-60

And I'm honestly not worried at all about my MBE. If you're above 60% you're fine

I would agree that you're fine with those grades at this stage of the game. I hovered in the 60s for most of my study and was fine in the end.

[Neilt001]

Is it smart to wait until you've done some Mixed MBE Q's before doing the simulated exam? I'm a bit behind (60%) and just finished the MBE Practice #2 (the Civ Pro/Con Law etc.) and I am wondering if I should follow the schedule and learn Agency/Partnerships next or if I should focus on reviewing the old subjects for a Friday test.

Have you completed all the MBE subjects yet? I would agree that there's little point doing mixed MBEs or the simulated exam (which is mixed) until you're done all the subjects.

But if you're done all the MBE subjects, then I would forge ahead with mixed MBEs and the simulated exam. Partnerships (a non-MBE subject) can wait.