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Hey all:

I'm a repeat taker preparing for my second attempt at the exam. The first time I took it, I prepared using BARBRI's 2013 materials. This time, I've got an updated version of the MBE questions book from the 2015-2016 set.

I'm recognizing quite a few questions. Especially ones that I recall tripped me up the last time I did them. As a result, I'm getting a ton of these correct.

I'm wondering if there's any utility in doing this. Not that I have another question book to work from if there isn't.

Conversely, is it safe to assume there IS some utility in doing this, if BARBRI would give the same materials to repeat takers?

amk110 wrote:Hey all:

I'm a repeat taker preparing for my second attempt at the exam. The first time I took it, I prepared using BARBRI's 2013 materials. This time, I've got an updated version of the MBE questions book from the 2015-2016 set.

I'm recognizing quite a few questions. Especially ones that I recall tripped me up the last time I did them. As a result, I'm getting a ton of these correct.

I'm wondering if there's any utility in doing this. Not that I have another question book to work from if there isn't.

Conversely, is it safe to assume there IS some utility in doing this, if BARBRI would give the same materials to repeat takers?

Personally, I don;t like the Barbri MBE stuff because they don't seem similar to the real MBE questions. I prefer studying for the actual past MBE questions. You can access them from the NCBE website (kinda expensive $50 for just 100 questions). Or you could use Emanual's MBE study guide: http://www.amazon.com/Strategies-Tactic ... 1454809922. I think the best way is Adaptibar.com though. PM me with your email address if you want a discount code.

If you are picking an answer solely because you remember the answer and not the actual explanation, then I would say it's not helpful.

If you are picking an answer that you remember and are able to say "Oh yeah, I remember this question/answer and that it is the correct answer because_______" then I would say it is definitely helpful because you are reinforcing your knowledge of that rule and how it's tied to the facts.

Ultimately, I'd still try to get some new questions to practice with, though.

I have the Strategies and Tactics book already.

I shelled out a pretty hefty sum to acquire a new copy of BARBRI's latest MBE question book. I get too distracted trying to do MBEs in a used book with someone else's scribblings and thoughts. So, I'm pretty much out of cash to get something different at this point.

I'd say I'm choosing the answers with an understanding of why they're correct. Every question I got wrong previously preparing, I put on a flash card with an explanation of the rule and why I got it wrong. I made sure to incorporate all of those flash cards into my outlines this time around.

I was set on using BARBRI again because I've prepared with their materials before and found them to be adequate. Though I haven't used anyone else's preparation materials, I only missed the exam by 9 points, with only 1000 BARBRI practice MBEs under my belt, and zero essay or MPT practice. So I'd say that, in my experience, they're helpful to prepare me for the real thing.

I do wish I'd known they recycled questions though. I'm only 36 questions in to this new BARBRI book and I've recognized nearly 10 of them from the 2013 materials.