• 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

Why Do We Have to Write Out Practice Answers?

May 2, 2013 By Lee Burgess Leave a Comment

1280071_58674695I have been talking to many students around the country about how they should best prepare for the bar exam. Many students complain that writing out exam answers takes too much time. So they just want to outline and issue spot exam answers. For most of us, this is not wise. Why?

Issue spotting alone does not help us refine our exam writing skills.

I believe that the bar exam is testing your essay exam skills as well as your knowledge of the law. Although you can be minimally competent in your knowledge of the law, you must be an expert exam taker. So since you need to become an expert in writing exam answers, it is critical to practice writing out entire answers on a regular basis. Issue spotting is not enough! Why?

  • Issue spotting alone does not allow you to practice writing out analysis. On most bar exams it is the analysis that makes the big difference between passing and failing. Although some students think they understand how to write out analysis, often they are over-confident. You need to practice arguing the facts to get the maximum amount of analysis points possible.
  • Issue spotting alone does not help you with time-management issues. Almost every person studying for the bar exam struggles with time management. These exams are hard to finish on time! Issue spotting doesn’t help with time management at all. It doesn’t let you practice how to allocate your time for different issues and it doesn’t force you to be concise and move through the exam quickly. Remember, you are graded only by what is on the page, so if you don’t have enough time to write down your answer, that can be problematic.
  • Issue spotting alone doesn’t help you refine your exam-taking process. I encourage students to have an exam-taking plan as they sit down to each individual essay. This plan should be practiced over and over again so it becomes a habit (if it is a habit, it is unlikely this plan will go out the window when you are in the stress of the exam). Issue spotting doesn’t really help you refine your exam-taking plan. And for something to become a habit, it has to be done over and over again. So make sure you are taking the time out to write as many essays as possible.

Does this mean that you can never just read and issue spot a bar exam question? No, but you need to be smart about balancing that practice with writing out full essays. In my opinion, you should be writing every day that you are studying for the exam. Why wouldn’t you? It is the way you are going to be evaluated on exam day. And the more you do it, the easier it gets.

—

Are you on our mailing list to receive new articles and updates? If not,  Sign up now for FREE!

Did you find this post helpful? Check out some of our other articles for more great study tips!

  • Warning! Burnout Ahead!
  • One and Done: The Best Bar Exam Motto
  • The Key to the Performance Test: Find Your Approach
  • The Performance Test: Why You Should be Studying Now
  • The 7 Areas of Bar Exam Preparation

Image by blary54 via stock.xchng.


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 Lee Burgess

Lee Burgess, Esq. is the co-founder of the Law School Toolbox, a resource for law students that demystifies the law school experience, and the Bar Exam Toolbox, a resource for students getting ready for the bar exam. Lee has been adjunct faculty at two Bay Area law schools, teaching classes on law school and bar exam preparation. You can find Lee on Twitter at @LeeFBurgess, @lawschooltools, or @barexamtools.

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®™