Virginia- February 2016 Bar Exam- Waiting Thread Forum

[virginiavictim12]

So, as someone who is on my second go-round of the Virginia bar, I found it very helpful in July of last year to have a thread where we could all come to to talk about what we have heard as far as release dates (they are not always released on the day posted- sometimes they are released earlier), and a place just to talk about the bar in general (anxiety, worries, etc.). I did not see any Virginia threads, and we deserve one, so here it is

Just make sure that you do not discuss the actual contents of the bar on this thread.

Now...get to talking peeps...

[anon0515]

Repeater here, too. What were your issues in July and did you feel better coming out in Feb? Change of address email just reminded me how close we are

[virginiavictim12]

Yes, we are extremely close. It's terrifying, but I just want to get it over with. I felt much better coming out of the Feb bar exam compared to last July's, except for the second half of the MBE. But I looked up the MBE and the national average was lower than it has been in 33 years. So this could be a good thing if we all did horrible I think. It may help with the scaled score. I try and try to understand how the hell our scores are calculated, but it's so confusing.

And yes, I got that e-mail and freaked before I opened it. The VBBE is tricky, never know what they might do haha.

I got a 125 on the July bar, so I failed by 15 points. My issues were more the essays than anything, and maybe time allotment. To be honest, I didn't really study as much as I should. Mind you, I studied a lot...but not even nearly as much as I studied for the February bar. The July bar essay section seemed to focus mostly on what available defenses there were to crimes, and I am much better at the opposite side (I want to be a DA), so I think that hurt me as well back in July.

How about you? How would you compare the two?

[virginiavictim12]

Also, thanks for the comment. It's nice to see someone else that took the VA one on here, especially in February. For the July one, there was a forum that had a ton of people on it and I was able to keep up with everyone and see how people were feeling. This bar...not so much.

[anon0515]

Like you said I felt better about the AM session of the MBE but nervous about the last 50 questions or so of the PM MBE session (flashbacks to July when I stumbled through AM and PM). For me the MBE was the issue in July and I felt fine about essays. In July I missed passing by 2 points because of my low MBE score. I was working while studying this time and geared up with 2,000 mbe on adaptibar (didn't review lectures really, just dived in on MBE practice problems and the Emmanuel guide; I only did about 1,000 mbe before the July exam).

I'm worried this time about the essays (and PM MBE); feel like I wrote a lot for most, but some of the afternoon essays I just didn't know the specific rule elements they were looking for and had to make up a rule. In July, I felt confident about all the essays except one. Also concerned with scoring; my understanding of scoring is VA correlates the average essay score for the February takers to the MBE average, which, as you said, is at a 33 year low of 135. So, even if you do as well as the average February exam essay taker of say a 70% average on essays, it corresponds to a 135 in essay score points, which is five points below the 140 passing threshold. Do you know if VA scales on top of the final score calculations of scaled MBE score combined with Essay score scaled to the MBE? Either way, hoping as retakers that knew our problem areas we'll be able to pull off passing this round!

[virginiavictim12]

I have no idea if they do. I've noticed that the website is not very helpful at all when it comes to explaining the scoring, and then I hear different things from different people. I've kind of stopped trying to figure it out haha it only gives me more anxiety. Just sitting here, trying to be positive, praying, and crossing my fingers. It def. helped to have had the experience before because we knew what to expect, but the test was a hard one this go-around, especially the second half of the MBE. I am fortunate that almost everyone thinks that though, because I was terrified that I was the only one when I was filling those damn circles in haha.

[anon0515]

Last year they released results a week early... not sure I'm ready to find out tomorrow. http://www.dcbarexam.com/2015/04/virgin ... early.html

[ghramotron]

Deleted

[fedtaxed]

For those who have taken Virginia before, does the Board email you to let you know the results have been posted?

I know that they sometimes release the results early, and in case they release a few days early this year, I'm just wondering how I'll even KNOW that the results are up!

Also -- in case we do have to wait until Friday, does anyone know what time they typically post? Morning vs. afternoon?

[vabarbum]

No you don't get an e-mail, just have to keep checking online. They were posted in the afternoon, maybe 2-3 and I think that is common. For July they came out on the Friday they said they would, but that was unusual. My understanding is they are often released on the Thursday before, but Feb last year was released a week early so who knows.

[vabarbum]

Also if anyone wants to further torture themselves the next few days the essay suggested answers were posted a while back:

http://law.wm.edu/academics/howto/prepa ... %20QAs.pdf

[fedtaxed]

No you don't get an e-mail, just have to keep checking online. They were posted in the afternoon, maybe 2-3 and I think that is common. For July they came out on the Friday they said they would, but that was unusual. My understanding is they are often released on the Thursday before, but Feb last year was released a week early so who knows.

This is horrific! For some reason, I've just felt like today is the day. And now I just keep hitting refresh.

[anon0515]

Also if anyone wants to further torture themselves the next few days the essay suggested answers were posted a while back:

http://law.wm.edu/academics/howto/prepa ... %20QAs.pdf

this was terrifying. realizing I definitely didn't have the law memorized for some subparts... hoping for the best and results to come sooner than friday.

[fedtaxed]

Also if anyone wants to further torture themselves the next few days the essay suggested answers were posted a while back:

http://law.wm.edu/academics/howto/prepa ... %20QAs.pdf

this was terrifying. realizing I definitely didn't have the law memorized for some subparts... hoping for the best and results to come sooner than friday.

I know! I refresh the VBBE page about once an hour, and am also starting to wonder if the results might show up in the postal mail before Friday. --> Anyone who's taken Virginia before know if they mail the results before they're posted?

[annoyingchihuahua]

Hi All. I sat for the exam in July and sat again February. In both my experience and what I know, VA has never mailed the results before they were posted online. The online posting is always the first indication of how you did. At this point, I do not think the scores are coming early, and I think they will release on Friday as they stated. It almost seems like VA wants to start this tradition of sticking to its stated release date for some reason.

[vabarbum]

I think you are right that they are always posted online first, but when they released on the stated day in the fall that was unusual. From what I remember in the July thread they had almost always released the Thursday before.

[fedtaxed]

Please please please let the results come out today!!!!!

[philippian413]

It will be tommorow hopefully before noon

[fedtaxed]

I can't wait anymore!!!

[anon0515]

I'm convinced I failed by a point or so again and am trying to prepare myself to tell my office... this wait is too much.

[fedtaxed]

I'm convinced I failed by a point or so again and am trying to prepare myself to tell my office... this wait is too much.

Having people at the office know the results are coming out and asking about them is the worst! It really gets the "what ifs" running through my head.

Especially when I think back to those multiple choice questions. To me, that was the hardest part and I maybe got 4 right. And then I start thinking about parts of the essays that I didn't know.

Sigh. It's harder to think about all the things we DID know!

[vabarbum]

I'm convinced I failed by a point or so again and am trying to prepare myself to tell my office... this wait is too much.

Same boat, failed by 2 points. Whole office knows results are coming, not much work getting done today.

[fedtaxed]

I'm convinced I failed by a point or so again and am trying to prepare myself to tell my office... this wait is too much.

Same boat, failed by 2 points. Whole office knows results are coming, not much work getting done today.

I am SO SO SO tired of that "do not call" message. It was cute at first. Now it just feels passive aggressive. I just want to call and ask when do you think you'll post? That's really all I need to know!

[vabarbum]

I'm convinced I failed by a point or so again and am trying to prepare myself to tell my office... this wait is too much.

Same boat, failed by 2 points. Whole office knows results are coming, not much work getting done today.

I am SO SO SO tired of that "do not call" message. It was cute at first. Now it just feels passive aggressive. I just want to call and ask when do you think you'll post? That's really all I need to know!

Yeah they are really milking it now, can't imagine they are making last minute adjustments. July results were out at noon.

[virginiavictim12]

I'm so happy you guys are using this thread that I made. There was one for the July bar and I noticed we didn't have one for this bar exam and I needed people to freak out with. I can't believe it is 12:43 and they still haven't posted it, but then again i can definitely believe it because it is, after all, Virginia. I failed the July exam, and the posted the results around 2:00pm. I really don't want to wait that long again because I've been through what is almost a year of limbo now and I'm just ready to move on with my life, good or bad. Glad to see I have some people to talk through this experience with.