Kaplan Bar Review Discussion Forum

[ThisSucks1]

Noticed that BarBri and Themis had a good amount of discussion but not Kaplan. How is everyone doing on the MBE questions and checkpoint quizzes? Im fluctuating between 50-80%. Anyone taken the MBE midterm yet? Curious as to what we should score on that

[LeDique]

I've been solid around 65-70% on the MBE questions and CPQs, fwiw. I have a few lower scores around 55% (my original diagnostic and the contracts cpq) and a couple higher, but everything else is right there.

I *think* for UBE states if you're hitting ~75%, you're around autopass territory

[ThisSucks1]

im mainly in the 60-65% territory so i guess i have some work to do. any ideas on the mbe midterm?

[Mr. Pink]

I scored ~50% on Con law and 68% on Evidence.... all other subjects have been over 75%. I need to start writing more essays and some PTs after i get through this midterm.

[Mr. Pink]

Oh and there is a Kaplan thread, its just in the Students forum. I havent read through the whole thing but it may have some answers to other qjestions in there.

[JenDarby]

My MBE scores are consistenly 70-90%, but I am really behind on everything outside of MBE practice questions and the MBE videos (haven't done any distinctions or essays things...). I am really going to bank on the MBE portion of the exam I think.

My midterm isn't scheduled until June 23 but I think I am going to do it this weekend.

[LeDique]

My MBE scores are consistenly 70-90%, but I am really behind on everything outside of MBE practice questions and the MBE videos (haven't done any distinctions or essays things...). I am really going to bank on the MBE portion of the exam I think.

My midterm isn't scheduled until June 23 but I think I am going to do it this weekend.

holy shit, yeah dude you're fine

[Mr. Pink]

I really like the feedback we get on the essays.

So far my grades have looked pretty decent, but the info just doesn't feel like it's sinking in. I guess I've gotten pretty damn good at guessing.

[ThisSucks1]

just finished the mbe midterm. 134/200 (67%). Clearly still have work to do. anyone else take it?

[Mr. Pink]

just finished the mbe midterm. 134/200 (67%). Clearly still have work to do. anyone else take it?

Just finished mine and an underwhelming 130/200. I scored a 117/150 on the diagnostic so I'm going in the wrong direction. After all that, I'm taking the rest of the day off and will look over the incorrect answers tomorrow.

[shock259]

Doing my midterm tomorrow or Friday. It's probably going to be bad. I've been doing a lot of MBE practice, but I still get a lot wrong. I usually know the BLL, but don't always apply it right. Meh.

I think I'm going to do a couple of essays after the MBE midterm. I haven't done one yet.

[JenDarby]

I do substantially better on MBE QBank questions than on checkpoint quizzes, regardless of the order that I do them in lol.

[Pokemon]

Does the tort lecturer keep on missing points on the outline, or is it just me?

[LeDique]

Does the tort lecturer keep on missing points on the outline, or is it just me?

Yes. He was the worst.

[shock259]

Just did the midterm. Got 133 (67%). Not really sure what that score would translate to on the actual bar exam. Anyone have any thoughts or insight? According to the Kaplan video, the average score on their midterm is 115-117. And if you score below 100, you should be concerned.

[Mr. Pink]

Just did the midterm. Got 133 (67%). Not really sure what that score would translate to on the actual bar exam. Anyone have any thoughts or insight? According to the Kaplan video, the average score on their midterm is 115-117. And if you score below 100, you should be concerned.

They say you need to score between a 124-126 out of the graded 190 in order to equate to the 1440 needed to pass. Basically, anything over 60% is "good enough", but better is better because it can make up for a low grade on an essay or PT.

I think those of us scoring in the 130 range with a month to spare are in decent shape. With more practice and recognizing more fact patterns, it should only go up from here.

[a_ela1]

Substantive evidence question if anyone feels like answering (my ask-an-expert isn't letting me submit questions at the moment):

Regarding the admission vs. the statement against interest. Kaplan says for an admission there's no personal knowledge required and for the the statement against interest it is required.

Im still trying to understand who's personal knowledge they're talking about, and what would qualify. Is it personal knowledge that the statement was made? As in the witness heard the declarant make the statement? And if so, why would a declarant be able to testify to a statement against interest if he didnt actually hear the statement made...

[ThisSucks1]

Just noticed that some of the kaplan essay answer questions are stolen from the bar examiner's website model answers . . . which are student written answers. Just a heads up that Kaplan could be feeding misinformation in their sample answers

[Naked Dude]

Does the tort lecturer keep on missing points on the outline, or is it just me?

Yes. He was the worst.

That guy was kind of funny. The worst lecturer was the Evidence dude who kept saying "ladies and gentlemen" every other sentence.

[Naked Dude]

Does the tort lecturer keep on missing points on the outline, or is it just me?

Yes. He was the worst.

That guy was kind of funny. The worst lecturer was the Evidence dude who kept saying "ladies and gentlemen" every other sentence.

But as far as lecturers go, I love doing all the Distinction videos (at least for New York) with Chris Fromm. That dude's the shit. Motivates me every time.

[dogfan14]

Hi all,

So I guess I'm looking for a bit of feedback, because I've reached out to Kaplan and I'm not really getting the support I feel like I need. Taking the NY bar.

Basically, my midterm performance equaled my diagnostic (40th percentile). That's REALLY frustrating after a month of doing this program, outlining, and otherwise trying to get everything together. I'm also really overwhelmed now because I have to learn all these new NY topics on top of what feels like a failure to learn the MBE topics sufficiently.

To that end, I'm treating the next four weeks as if I haven't studied much for the bar to this point. Cram time. I bought the Critical Pass flashcards (the Kaplan Flexcards did not work for me, because I felt like they often just pulled random sentences out of a subject outline and expected you to know the entire context of the question from them). I also got Emanuel's MBE strategy book because part of my problem I think is like, simply not understanding how to determine which answer is right between two because of some nitpicky language. Some of this is endurance -- I definitely missed more problems in the second half of the midterm than the first, so also plan on doing 30-50 MBE questions a day on top of NY review.

But other than that, I was wondering if anyone was in the same boat or had any advice? I'm really at a loss.

[JJDancer]

just finished the mbe midterm. 134/200 (67%). Clearly still have work to do. anyone else take it?

Just finished mine and an underwhelming 130/200. I scored a 117/150 on the diagnostic so I'm going in the wrong direction. After all that, I'm taking the rest of the day off and will look over the incorrect answers tomorrow.

You're at 65% - that's passing. We should all still have some work to do since we still have a month but I don't think its "underwhelming."

Fwiw, I scored higher on my diagnostic as well. I think half knowing the rules is messing me up lol (compared to either knowing it or just guessing on the diagnostic.)

[JJDancer]

Hi all,

So I guess I'm looking for a bit of feedback, because I've reached out to Kaplan and I'm not really getting the support I feel like I need. Taking the NY bar.

Basically, my midterm performance equaled my diagnostic (40th percentile). That's REALLY frustrating after a month of doing this program, outlining, and otherwise trying to get everything together. I'm also really overwhelmed now because I have to learn all these new NY topics on top of what feels like a failure to learn the MBE topics sufficiently.

To that end, I'm treating the next four weeks as if I haven't studied much for the bar to this point. Cram time. I bought the Critical Pass flashcards (the Kaplan Flexcards did not work for me, because I felt like they often just pulled random sentences out of a subject outline and expected you to know the entire context of the question from them). I also got Emanuel's MBE strategy book because part of my problem I think is like, simply not understanding how to determine which answer is right between two because of some nitpicky language. Some of this is endurance -- I definitely missed more problems in the second half of the midterm than the first, so also plan on doing 30-50 MBE questions a day on top of NY review.

But other than that, I was wondering if anyone was in the same boat or had any advice? I'm really at a loss.

I feel you. I suck at memorizing so I'm worried about that. And I got 51% on the midterm. Also bought the critical pass cards and emmanuel's strategy book (just got it today - will start going through it over the weekend).

Just need to remember to study smart, not necc put in 80 hours/week. So focus on where you can rack up the most points (ex: don't get stuck on a small st topic that doesn't get tested much if you don't know contracts really well) and where you struggle (property, evidence and memorization for me).

There's still time. You can do it!

If you've been putting in the effort maybe see how you are studying. Instead of reading the endless book of outlines, maybe try to create a chart by hand of the main issues/considerations for important rules. and focus on getting smaller chunks down like ok for the next hour or two I will go over 804 unavailability exceptions and just get it DOWN. then go do like 20 evidence (hearsay only) questions on the online Q bank (of course these will have other non 804 exception Qs but still).
Definitely go over every question, answer choice (wrong and right) in the midterm (I haven't done this yet, it will probably be a BITCH so break it up like 30 Qs/day or whatever works for you.) if there are rule statements in the explanation that you just dont know write them out or copy paste into a doc. organized by the 6 subjects. and read them every night before bed or right when you wake up/b4 you start for the day - maybe just read them for one subject area. Should help get those down more solid.
Then in a week do a 66 Q MBE Q bank with all subjects or the ones you studied and see how the percentage is.

[a_ela1]

Just noticed that some of the kaplan essay answer questions are stolen from the bar examiner's website model answers . . . which are student written answers. Just a heads up that Kaplan could be feeding misinformation in their sample answers

I believe its not supposed to be a "model answer", just an example of a passing answer. So sometimes the rule statements or analysis or whatever might always be the best (or all the way correct even), which is annoying.

[Mr. Pink]

Just noticed that some of the kaplan essay answer questions are stolen from the bar examiner's website model answers . . . which are student written answers. Just a heads up that Kaplan could be feeding misinformation in their sample answers

I believe its not supposed to be a "model answer", just an example of a passing answer. So sometimes the rule statements or analysis or whatever might always be the best (or all the way correct even), which is annoying.

This. It is not a model answer, just passing answers. It helps to show you the wide ranges of passing essays- some may not have correct rule statements, some may miss a minor issue, some reach crazy conclusions (but are argued well).