• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bar Exam Toolbox®

Get the tools you need for bar exam success

  • I Failed!
  • Tutoring
  • Courses
    • Writing Help: Essays/PT
    • MBE Help
    • Self-Study Program
    • Options – California
    • Options – UBE
    • Options – FYLSE (Baby Bar)
  • Bar Exam 101
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Login

Getting Ready to Start Bar Prep? Do These 5 Tasks First

December 15, 2016 By Jennifer Warren Leave a Comment

bar study prep

When your bar prep course starts that means that the actual bar exam is only 10-12 short weeks away. That may seem like a lot of time right now, but as it sets in that you really do have to learn and retain a massive amount of material, that 10 weeks won’t seem nearly long enough. Moreover, the closer and closer the exam gets, the busier and more stressed out you’ll feel. To help simplify your life in those final days before the exam and to ensure that you’re able to get the most out of the bar prep period, make sure you’ve completed the following five tasks before bar prep starts.

Organize and Understand Your Materials.

If you’ve signed up for a commercial bar prep course you probably received a very large and intimidating set of books and access to their web content. First, double check that you received all the materials you were supposed to. You don’t want to be walking out the door a few weeks from now to take the mock MBE then realize you never received the mock MBE test booklet. Second, take a few minutes to figure out what the materials are for and appreciate the different ways you will use them as you study. For example, many students use the lecture handouts as their primary study aid and only refer to the big, detailed outline book if they need clarification on a subject. Glance through all of your materials and think about what each is designed for and how you plan on using it. Third, check your bar prep company’s website. Make sure you can login and familiarize yourself with all of its tools. Lastly, create a place to keep all of your bar prep materials stored and organized so that you have quick, easy access when you need them.

Check Your Computer.

Most students take the essay portion of the bar exam on a laptop, and almost all will use their computer to access materials and results on their bar prep company’s website. As a result, it’s extremely important that your computer functions well. Make sure you’ve got all the necessary updates that you need and honestly evaluate whether your laptop is in good enough shape to use during the bar exam. It seems like every year I have student who has “computer problems” during the exam. Don’t let this be you – test everything out now to make sure your computer will run smoothly from day 1 of bar prep all the way through the end of the exam.

Confirm Everything!

You’ll have enough to do in the final week before the bar exam without having to worry about logistical details. Save yourself from stressing about these things later on by planning and confirming everything before you start bar prep. A few of the things you’ll want to make sure you have in order include your bar prep course registration, the actual dates of the bar exam, the location where you will take the exam, transportation to the exam site and how traffic will impact the commute, and hotel reservations during the exam if needed. It may seem obvious, but you should also confirm that you have properly registered for the exam and completed all of the prerequisites, such as paying any fees. And while you’re at it, make sure you’ve purchased/registered the computer software you’ll need to install in order to take the exam on your laptop.

Make Arrangements for Non-Bar Related Activities.

Although studying for the bar should be your primary focus over the next several weeks, there are bound to be some other events and occurrences that will demand your time and attention. If you know about any of these events in advance, plan ahead. If you have to work during the next few weeks, limit your hours as much as possible to allow for maximum studying time. If you have family obligations like child care, get a plan in place to ensure that you can balance those responsibilities with your bar prep. If you have an out of town trip or a big event like a wedding in the weeks before the bar exam, adjust your study schedule accordingly so you won’t get behind.

Plan Your Study Day.

To encourage good study habits and avoid procrastination, it’s a good idea to plan your basic study day in advance. Think about what needs to get done each day during bar prep – usually listen to the assigned lecture, complete a certain number of practice MBE questions, review outlines, etc. Whatever your specific tasks may be, commit to getting them done each day, but don’t stop there. You should also schedule when you will complete each of these daily tasks and make an effort to start studying each day at the same time. Having concrete plans will make it more likely that you’ll stick to the schedule and routinizing the activities will encourage good habits to form. So don’t just assume you’ll watch a lecture each day and complete 50 practice MBE questions. Instead, make a firm plan as to how you’ll accomplish this – maybe you’ll plan to start studying each day at 8:30 a.m., you’ll do practice questions for 1 hour, then watch the lecture at 9:30 a.m., then complete the remaining practice questions, and so on. Create a schedule and a routine that accomplishes your goals and you’re much more likely to stay on track.

Preparing for the bar exam can be intense, so you should do everything you can to simplify your life over the next few weeks. Make sure you’ve crossed all of the above tasks off your to-do list before bar prep starts, and you’ll have a few less things to worry about as the exam approaches.

___ _ ___

Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:

  • Surviving Bar Exam Prep: Keeping it Together When You Want to Freak Out
  • The Ins and Outs of Studying for the Bar Exam
  • How to Draft a Study Plan and Stick to It
  • Best Bar Exam Tip: Think Like a Grader

Photo credit: Shutterstock

 


Ready to pass the bar exam? Get the support and accountability you need with personalized one-on-one bar exam tutoring or one of our economical courses and workshops. We're here to help!


 

About Jennifer Warren

Jennifer received her B.A. in Politics cum laude from New York University and her J.D. with highest distinction from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She has several years of experience in the areas of juvenile law and civil litigation and is the Academic Achievement Coordinator at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let us know you are not a spammer! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

Primary Sidebar

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Us

Want to pass the bar exam? Of course you do! We’re here to help. You’ll find lots of helpful free content at Bar Exam 101, in the Bar Exam Resource Hub, and on the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast. For more hands-on help, take a look at our courses and workshops and bar exam tutoring options. Please get in touch with any questions!

Recent Posts

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 209: Quick Tips — What to Do After Failing the Bar Exam

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode of our "Quick Tips" series, we're outlining a strategy for bouncing back after failing … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 209: Quick Tips — What to Do After Failing the Bar Exam

Can a Duck Help You Pass the Bar

Can a Duck Help You Pass the Bar?

So, the other day, my husband and I had a conversation that went something like this: Him: have you ever heard of Duckie Debugging? Me: um…does … [Read More...] about Can a Duck Help You Pass the Bar?

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 208: Listen and Learn — Motions to Dismiss a Case

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 208: Listen and Learn — Motions to Dismiss a Case

When Your Job Hinges on Bar Results

When Your Job Hinges on Bar Results

Landing a legal position is a big deal! As you know, there was a lot of behind the scenes work to get your foot in the door. With the great … [Read More...] about When Your Job Hinges on Bar Results

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 207: Listen and Learn — Recording Statutes (Real Property)

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're talking about the purpose of recording statutes, … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 207: Listen and Learn — Recording Statutes (Real Property)

Need to Pass the Bar Exam?

Sign up for our free weekly email with useful tips!

Footer

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • I Failed!
  • Tutoring
  • Courses
  • Bar Exam 101
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Login
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Refunds
  • Contact

Copyright 2023 Bar Exam Toolbox®™