BarBri - NY Exam - July 2014 Forum

[turquoiseturtle]

Holy shit the MPT is 90 minutes? Why do people think it's a time crunch? Cause it's easy points and they try to be absolutely fucking perfect?

They're getting a general structure from me and that's it. I need to spend more time making up laws in the essays

My theory is that some people are very slow readers. Many of us in law school are used to reading tons of info, and the MPT does't have that much really, but I know people who read very slowly. It'll take them half the time to even read the cases and such.

[turquoiseturtle]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

Absolutely no way. I'm guessing less than an hour. I'm shooting for 50%.

[rivkah]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

I'd agree with you. I'm doing NYMC first, get through it and spend the time on the essays. If I have left over, go back to NYMC but no more than an hour on those Qs.

I'm doing the essays first in PM bc I know I can bullshit a memo crazy fast if necessary. The law is always so simple, never takes much longer than 45-50 min.

[turquoiseturtle]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

I'd agree with you. I'm doing NYMC first, get through it and spend the time on the essays. If I have left over, go back to NYMC but no more than an hour on those Qs.

I'm doing the essays first in PM bc I know I can bullshit a memo crazy fast if necessary. The law is always so simple, never takes much longer than 45-50 min.

I'm actually weirdly stressed about the MPT, probably because I've only read 1 total. I should probably get on that tomorrow.

[PennBull]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

[rivkah]

Holy shit the MPT is 90 minutes? Why do people think it's a time crunch? Cause it's easy points and they try to be absolutely fucking perfect?

They're getting a general structure from me and that's it. I need to spend more time making up laws in the essays

My theory is that some people are very slow readers. Many of us in law school are used to reading tons of info, and the MPT does't have that much really, but I know people who read very slowly. It'll take them half the time to even read the cases and such.

It's important to remember where the points come from. 10% MPT 10% MC, we spend 6 hours on 40% for the MBE but they want us to only spend 3.5 hrs total on the 40% from NY essays? Suuuuuure.

[Guchster]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

Depending on your speed, I heard people get through it in like 40-50 minutes generally. The questions are pretty short and basically call for pretty specific knowledge.

[AJS30]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

This may be a good approach. Now I'm having anxiety thinking which I am going to do first. I had planned to do the essays first.

I'm terrified on the essays I'm just going to black out and not remember anything.

[lawyerwannabe]

Anyone else a little freaked out about the essays still? Like, I feel like I cannot remember even the most basic rules for the core subjects . . .

[Guchster]

Anyone else a little freaked out about the essays still? Like, I feel like I cannot remember even the most basic rules for the core subjects . . .

I wake up and go to sleep terrified of this.

Just got to remember to do your best to identify the right issue give a clear rule statement and apply it--even if the rule is completely wrong or made up.

Looking at the model answers, some of them gave different rules for parts of questions but had good analyses. Also, we get a good chunk of points for just doing proper analysis and using the facts. So if you're stumped on part of a question, look at the facts its playing with and figure out a rule you know that contends with it. Maybe you'll get lucky--worst case scenario you'll get partial credit if you're clear.

Doesn't make it any less terrifying.

[Helpful]

I feel like I've looked at enough practice essays to know that on the whole I probably won't feel overwhelmed. I've only forgotten/not known individual rules within essays rather than entire essays, and in most cases, my guessed rule was pretty close. However, it's obviously more subjective/difficult to predict your score than the MBE, so naturally it's going to be more worrisome.

With the MBE you can look at your BarBri/NCBE scores and say roughly where your score is going to be. With essays it's more a matter of knowing that main core and then if something really obscure/difficult comes up, having the confidence to work through it, and knowing that the scaling will hopefully make up for it. Impossible to feel satisfied until this is all over.

[Guchster]

Yeah this is a great point. I fixate on all the stuff I don't know and I think that's what is scaring me to death. I have no idea what score I'm going to get.

The only thing Erica Fine was right about was that I couldn't wait to take the fucking bar and get it out of the way the weekend before.

[belowthelaw57]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

Depending on your speed, I heard people get through it in like 40-50 minutes generally. The questions are pretty short and basically call for pretty specific knowledge.

So nothing like Barbris? Barbri's can be just as long as MBE property questions.

Also there is no way I will spend 75 minutes on MC on the exam. Essays and MPT are the only subjective part of the exam you have control over and a chance to raise your score piling on the bs.

[Guchster]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

Depending on your speed, I heard people get through it in like 40-50 minutes generally. The questions are pretty short and basically call for pretty specific knowledge.

So nothing like Barbris? Barbri's can be just as long as MBE property questions.

Also there is no way I will spend 75 minutes on MC on the exam. Essays and MPT are the only subjective part of the exam you have control over and a chance to raise your score piling on the bs.

From my friends and TLS posters on here, I've heard they are nothing like Barbri's--not even remotely similar down to the structure and character of questions.

[Helpful]

I feel like I've looked at enough practice essays to know that on the whole I probably won't feel overwhelmed. I've only forgotten/not known individual rules within essays rather than entire essays, and in most cases, my guessed rule was pretty close. However, it's obviously more subjective/less difficult to predict your score than the MBE, so naturally it's going to be more worrisome. Impossible to feel satisfied until this is all over.

I think it's more difficult though to predict your score than the MBE.

Yeah, that was a typo. Edited. Sorry.

[TrustMeI'mAnActress]

There's no way anyone actually spends 75 minutes on the NYMC, right?

Depending on your speed, I heard people get through it in like 40-50 minutes generally. The questions are pretty short and basically call for pretty specific knowledge.

So nothing like Barbris? Barbri's can be just as long as MBE property questions.

Also there is no way I will spend 75 minutes on MC on the exam. Essays and MPT are the only subjective part of the exam you have control over and a chance to raise your score piling on the bs.

From my friends and TLS posters on here, I've heard they are nothing like Barbri's--not even remotely similar down to the structure and character of questions.

Do they even give fact patterns or are they basically like "what is the rule?"

[alphagamma]

Do people have thoughts as to a NY-day game plan? I can't decide if I'd rather outline essays before doing MC, then go finish essays, or do all of one before moving to the other, and if so in what order. Same with afternoon, not sure if it makes since to do MPT first or last.

I don't even know the schedule. Three essays and multiple choice in the morning, two essays and an MPT in the afternoon? How much time for each?

According to NYS Bar Website:

AM:
NYMC: 75 min
Essay 1: 40 min
Essay 2: 40 min
Essay 3: 40 min
PM:
Essay 1: 45 min
Essay 2: 45 min
MPT: 90 min

The NYMC is worth 10%. The MPT is worth 10%. Each essay is worth 8%. In the morning we have 195 minutes. In the afternoon we have 180 minutes. Thus, to give each segment the approximate amount of time it's actually "worth" for your score:

AM:
NYMC: 57 min
Essay 1: 46 min
Essay 2: 46 min
Essay 3: 46 min
PM:
Essay 1: 55 min
Essay 2: 55 min
MPT: 70 min

[turquoiseturtle]

Do people have thoughts as to a NY-day game plan? I can't decide if I'd rather outline essays before doing MC, then go finish essays, or do all of one before moving to the other, and if so in what order. Same with afternoon, not sure if it makes since to do MPT first or last.

I don't even know the schedule. Three essays and multiple choice in the morning, two essays and an MPT in the afternoon? How much time for each?

According to NYS Bar Website:

AM:
NYMC: 75 min
Essay 1: 40 min
Essay 2: 40 min
Essay 3: 40 min
PM:
Essay 1: 45 min
Essay 2: 45 min
MPT: 90 min

The NYMC is worth 10%. The MPT is worth 10%. Each essay is worth 8%. In the morning we have 195 minutes. In the afternoon we have 180 minutes. Thus, to give each segment the approximate amount of time it's actually "worth" for your score:

AM:
NYMC: 57 min
Essay 1: 46 min
Essay 2: 46 min
Essay 3: 46 min
PM:
Essay 1: 55 min
Essay 2: 55 min
MPT: 70 min

Oooh, thank you for this! That basically confirms what people are thinking about the MC timing. I'll have to force myself to go faster on the MPT.

[peanut123]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

This may be a good approach. Now I'm having anxiety thinking which I am going to do first. I had planned to do the essays first.

I'm terrified on the essays I'm just going to black out and not remember anything.

Yeah this was my thinking as well. I'm still pondering whether I might skim the essays first just to have them in the back of my mind while doing the MC, but I'm not sure if it's worth the time it'd take. And then if I skim the essays, I'll have a really hard time resisting the impulse to start outlining, at which point I might as well write them.

On a separate note, I had a nightmare about forgetting my Examsoft password and then being kicked out for checking my email in the exam room to find it. I don't mean to add to any anxiety, but just keep that issue in mind! I'm not sure if it's an option to change passwords, but mine is a jumble of letters and numbers.

[TrustMeI'mAnActress]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

This may be a good approach. Now I'm having anxiety thinking which I am going to do first. I had planned to do the essays first.

I'm terrified on the essays I'm just going to black out and not remember anything.

Yeah this was my thinking as well. I'm still pondering whether I might skim the essays first just to have them in the back of my mind while doing the MC, but I'm not sure if it's worth the time it'd take. And then if I skim the essays, I'll have a really hard time resisting the impulse to start outlining, at which point I might as well write them.

On a separate note, I had a nightmare about forgetting my Examsoft password and then being kicked out for checking my email in the exam room to find it. I don't mean to add to any anxiety, but just keep that issue in mind! I'm not sure if it's an option to change passwords, but mine is a jumble of letters and numbers.

Oh good thinking! Is there a way to change your password?

[AJS30]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

This may be a good approach. Now I'm having anxiety thinking which I am going to do first. I had planned to do the essays first.

I'm terrified on the essays I'm just going to black out and not remember anything.

Yeah this was my thinking as well. I'm still pondering whether I might skim the essays first just to have them in the back of my mind while doing the MC, but I'm not sure if it's worth the time it'd take. And then if I skim the essays, I'll have a really hard time resisting the impulse to start outlining, at which point I might as well write them.

On a separate note, I had a nightmare about forgetting my Examsoft password and then being kicked out for checking my email in the exam room to find it. I don't mean to add to any anxiety, but just keep that issue in mind! I'm not sure if it's an option to change passwords, but mine is a jumble of letters and numbers.

Oh good thinking! Is there a way to change your password?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I already thought about this. I don't believe you need your password, you just open examsoft and click on "take an exam", since we already downloaded the file, it will be there for us to take and we will just need the password they give us on exam day?

[harmonep07]

Is physical injury always required in NY for negligent infliction of emotional distress?

[AJS30]

Also, I'm too lazy to scroll back in the thread but I think someone mentioned something about constructive trusts. I just looked at one of the past essays where people wrote like huge paragraphs about them. I feel like we never got that much detail on them in our lectures? I would honestly be able to write 2 or 3 sentences on it and that would be it, not the 10 sentences these people wrote.

[peanut123]

Also, I'm too lazy to scroll back in the thread but I think someone mentioned something about constructive trusts. I just looked at one of the past essays where people wrote like huge paragraphs about them. I feel like we never got that much detail on them in our lectures? I would honestly be able to write 2 or 3 sentences on it and that would be it, not the 10 sentences these people wrote.

Agreed. My lecture notes consist of five lines of bullets, tops. The discussion earlier got me anxious enough to read a bit more in the CMR, but I'm at the point where I'm not really retaining things anyway.

[Helpful]

I'm doing NYMC first because it'll start my recall of law for the essays haha

This may be a good approach. Now I'm having anxiety thinking which I am going to do first. I had planned to do the essays first.

I'm terrified on the essays I'm just going to black out and not remember anything.

Yeah this was my thinking as well. I'm still pondering whether I might skim the essays first just to have them in the back of my mind while doing the MC, but I'm not sure if it's worth the time it'd take. And then if I skim the essays, I'll have a really hard time resisting the impulse to start outlining, at which point I might as well write them.

On a separate note, I had a nightmare about forgetting my Examsoft password and then being kicked out for checking my email in the exam room to find it. I don't mean to add to any anxiety, but just keep that issue in mind! I'm not sure if it's an option to change passwords, but mine is a jumble of letters and numbers.

Don't we just open the exam files and then they will be available? The instructions seemed to suggest to me that we would upload the files later, when we got home (but no later than a certain number of hours, I forget). So I presume how it works is we have to hit some button to save it at the conclusion of each session. But I don't think we need the password except maybe to upload it later? Can someone explain the Examsoft process?