PA Bar exam Feb 2019 (or MBE Discussion 2019) Forum

[jemi1588]

What did everyone think? I thought there were parts of the essays I wasn't sure about and then other parts that were simple. As for the MBE definitely thought there were lots of questions I was unsure about...I took NY in 2016 and passed but am now taking PA for a job. I don't know anyone taking it this time around so curious for everyone's thoughts!

[KunAgnis]

Is PA essay section structured similar to IL? Like 3 PA essays 1 MPT 6 MEEs?

I honestly thought it's weird how I wrote so much on some essays but like very little on others

[kms181]

Is PA essay section structured similar to IL? Like 3 PA essays 1 MPT 6 MEEs?

I honestly thought it's weird how I wrote so much on some essays but like very little on others

PA's structure is 6 Essays that can cover any of 15 topics (which are usually predictably grouped, for example contracts + property + estates) and 1 PT, which has a higher weight than an individual essay.

[fpkjd]

The essays weren't so bad this time around-but some of those MBE questions-especially the ones about zoning...Hoping I did well enough to pass since a lot of the other questions seemed to be very simple, although the fact patterns were weird.

[kms181]

Wondering if PABLE will send out the "results will be posted Friday..." email today

Wishing everyone luck!

[kms181]

Wondering if PABLE will send out the "results will be posted Friday..." email today

Wishing everyone luck!

Edit: Looks like they did announce it today. Anxiously awaiting Friday's results and hoping for the best for some of my classmates who weren't successful in July. Giving me bad memories of waiting in October

[jemi1588]

Did you get an email or just see it on the PA bar exam site?

[fpkjd]

My e-mail hasn't come yet, but I just saw on the site that it'll be up on the 12th after 4 PM.

[fpkjd]

PA results are up. I didn't pass...again. I'll find out how far I missed next week when I get the score report.

--fpkjd

[kms181]

PA results are up. I didn't pass...again. I'll find out how far I missed next week when I get the score report.

--fpkjd

Sorry to hear this, fpkjd. I was hoping you'd get good news. Interested to see your score report- I'm sure you'll figure this beast out!

[fpkjd]

Thanks. I'll post my scores when I get my report. What my report says will determine when I try to retake the Bar. If I'm only a few points off, I'll retake this July, but if I'm off by more than a few points, I may wait until next February to give myself more time to study.

--fpkjd

[fpkjd]

This is how far I was off this time: I've seen some improvement, but only a little:

Total score: 239 (needed 272 to pass)

Essay: 120.979

MBE: 118

Picked up my MBE score by only 3 points from last time.

I'm going to wait until February 2020 to try again. I'll need much more time to study.

--fpkjd

[JoeSeperac]

This is how far I was off this time: I've seen some improvement, but only a little:

Total score: 239 (needed 272 to pass)

Essay: 120.979

MBE: 118

Picked up my MBE score by only 3 points from last time.

I'm going to wait until February 2020 to try again. I'll need much more time to study.

--fpkjd

Does PA still release the individual PT and Essay scores? if so, can you post those too.

FYI, based on your scaled MBE score of 118, your estimated raw MBE score was about 92/175 correct (based on my estimate of the MBE scale). This means you answered about 52.6% of the graded MBE questions correctly. This places you in the 11.8% percentile for the MBE. This means that 88.2% of Feb examinees nationwide did better than you on the MBE based on your scaled MBE score of 118 (based on national data for the past 7 years).

The 20 year pass rate for February PA examinees is 56.7%. You can't expect to pass an exam where you need to be better than about 43.3% of examinees to pass, but on the most objective part of the exam (the MBE), you were better than only 11.8% of examinees nationwide.

How many MBE questions did you do in practice for the F19 exam, what sources did you use (e.g. Kaplan, Barbri, NCBE, Adaptibar), and what was your overall % correct for these practice questions?

[fpkjd]

I have my individual essay scores at home. (at work right now).

I used Adaptibar, took 2200 questions, and was averaging around 65% up to the exam. I was using materials from Ameribar from when I had purchased the course for the previous attempt.

For the next exam, I'll have to purchase a full course from Themis or Bar/Bri (I'm leaning towards Themis) and stick religiously to the exercises. Since money is a little tight, even with my recent work promotion, I can't afford the review course in a month or so, so I will be waiting for the February exam. I'll be buying a full course ASAP in October after studying with the materials I have now.

--fpkjd

[JoeSeperac]

I have my individual essay scores at home. (at work right now).

I used Adaptibar, took 2200 questions, and was averaging around 65% up to the exam. I was using materials from Ameribar from when I had purchased the course for the previous attempt.

For the next exam, I'll have to purchase a full course from Themis or Bar/Bri (I'm leaning towards Themis) and stick religiously to the exercises. Since money is a little tight, even with my recent work promotion, I can't afford the review course in a month or so, so I will be waiting for the February exam. I'll be buying a full course ASAP in October after studying with the materials I have now.

--fpkjd

Thanks. Feel free to shoot me an email joe [@] seperac.com with your scores (I'm attempting to make a PA calculator) and I'll send you some useful info on the PA essays in return.

[fpkjd]

Joe:

I apologize that I haven't gotten you the essay figures you were requesting yet. I'll e-mail you tonight when I get home from work. I've been very busy with my new position and it slipped my mind.

Sincerely,

fpkjd

[b290]

This is how far I was off this time: I've seen some improvement, but only a little:

Total score: 239 (needed 272 to pass)

Essay: 120.979

MBE: 118

Picked up my MBE score by only 3 points from last time.

I'm going to wait until February 2020 to try again. I'll need much more time to study.

--fpkjd

Your MBE improvement would've been better but the MBE curve (basically since July 2017) has been particularly nasty. It kind of makes it mandatory that you work on your essays. I'm talking a fundamental reworking of how you do them.

Since you have the time now, take a model answer and break it down. Go over it over and over. Pick a subject you're good in - it'll make the process a little easier. Get familiar with what gets placed, where, and why. Bar examiners don't have the time to get super creative (like with law school essays) due to the sheer number that need to be graded (and re-graded). You'll only need a few model essays to get that done.

Get the word count from a model answer and divide by the time you get per essay. That'll give you approximate typing speed you'd need to be at. Expect to make it higher because of organization time (pre-essay), and possible revisions. (Hint: it's likely very high - like close to 50 WPM). Also see what your typing speed is, and what you can get out of that within the time allotted. If possible, do one un-timed, just to compare.

Bonus points if you can get an actual scored passing answer (or if someone who passed can give you theirs - presuming that (s)he has it of course). You'll be able to see (literally) that a passing answer is nowhere close to the model answer. Model answers usually, but not always, . In many states, actual attorneys write them, with resources unavailable to you on exam day (unlimited time, notes, etc).

You also need to review your subjects. In most cases, just the confusion of where/what to remember to write down, you're going to miss basic issues. But If you've got your time management down, you can get away with answers that aren't even 100% correct and still get points.

Note: the same process applies for PTs.

Good luck!

My $.02