July 2015 MBE Scores/Results Forum

[robinhoodOO]

My thoughts are why start us at 40 points rather than 0? I've looked all over trying to find the answer and nada. Sadly with my luck I am the one who guesses the wrong 50 of the 50/50. Is CA unique in this or do other states start essay scoring at some arbitrary number.

Aw; I hear you. I doubt it's random. My guess is that it's in part due to the fact that they don't generally give "high" grades. I mean, a high is a 70 or 75 and the average pass is around 61 or something. They've basically created a range of 40-80, with the mean a pass near right in the middle of that. Since they cap out at around 80 (although, I guess it's possible for a few to go higher, but I have no idea), they set a baseline minimum to balance this out.

[mike.alexander23]

For what it's worth, I got at least a 150 scaled MBE score on the CBX. California doesn't release MBE scores if you pass, but you are able to check if your score meets minimum requirements to transfer your score. I was advised that my scaled score meets or exceeds the 150 scaled score required for ND. I took Themis, did 90% of the course, averaged 71-75% on MBE practice sets, and got ~150 on the simulated MBE exam.

[corpora_delicti]

My thoughts are why start us at 40 points rather than 0? I've looked all over trying to find the answer and nada. Sadly with my luck I am the one who guesses the wrong 50 of the 50/50. Is CA unique in this or do other states start essay scoring at some arbitrary number.

Aw; I hear you. I doubt it's random. My guess is that it's in part due to the fact that they don't generally give "high" grades. I mean, a high is a 70 or 75 and the average pass is around 61 or something. They've basically created a range of 40-80, with the mean a pass near right in the middle of that. Since they cap out at around 80 (although, I guess it's possible for a few to go higher, but I have no idea), they set a baseline minimum to balance this out.

I don't think that an 80+ is impossible, its just implausible given that we cannot bring written materials into the exam or use legal research tools. An experienced attorney who knows all of the relevant case law and citations by memory could write an analysis of the issues that is worthy of being published, but such a scenario is likely only going to occur if its some attorney who has been practicing for years and happens to get a fact scenario in an area of law in which they have experience writing hundreds of motions. Such a response is what would earn higher than an 80.