Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about best practices for studying for an online bar exam, based on the two virtual exams that have been given so far.
In this episode we discuss:
- What were the results of the virtual bar exams given so far?
- What exam-takers liked and what they found challenging about taking an online exam
- Tips for preparing for a virtual exam, versus an in-person exam
- Planning ahead for possible computer issues or necessary accommodations
- How to practice under real exam conditions
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 125: Best Practices for Studying for an Online Bar Exam
Before the last month of bar preparation, I had a pretty solid idea where I stood. Having scribbled copious notes and made ample flashcards in the extended first few months of bar prep (see: pandemic), I was pretty confident that only 2% of the substantive law was in my head (if even that). But 30 days before, and leading up to exam day, THAT is where you really need to have an effective plan in place to review your MBE questions and essays. 
As a heavily overweight child, I struggled to participate in any physical activity like running. The mile run in middle and high school was a miserable experience. Pretty ironic considering years later I became a half-marathon addict and have run numerous half marathons, 5ks and 8ks.
I think it’s probably safe to say that the bar exam in 2020 was a bit of a disaster. So many news stories, headlines, and examples of the bar exam gone wrong. In several lawyer groups I’m involved in, there have been frequent complaints, disparaging comments, and outright arguments about the bar exam and its usefulness. Comments like, “Just let students apprentice!” or “I never learned a thing from the bar” are all too common.