In the previous post, we talked about what to do when you first learn that you failed the bar exam.
In this second post in the series, we will talk about how to reflect on your prior bar exam process in order to identify mistakes or problems and address them so that your bar exam repeat will be a successful one.
When you are unsuccessful on the bar exam, your state’s bar examiners will send you copies of your exam to learn from.
While it is important to evaluate your written responses and MBE scores, the first thing you should look at is your study approach and the circumstances of the bar exam itself.
Most people who fail the bar seem to know the black letter law fairly well, but something about their other preparations or the bar exam itself is often what prevents them from passing.
Below are some areas you should evaluate.
First, look back to those weeks and months you were studying for the bar exam, and ask yourself some questions:
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How many practice essays, PTs and MBE questions did I do?
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Did I take the time to evaluate my practice answers to learn from my mistakes?
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Did I study in a focused manner, or was I constantly distracting myself with the internet or something else?
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Did I maintain a good study schedule or was it hit-and-miss?
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Did something catastrophic happen in my life during the study period that made it difficult to study?
If you realize that you did not do all you could to prepare for the bar exam, commit to avoiding those mistakes again.
If you were the victim of unfortunate circumstance, then take solace that the odds of the same circumstance happening this time around are very small.
Here are a few posts you might find helpful:
Next, ask yourself about the days you took the bar exam itself.
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Did I find it difficult to be alert first thing in the morning?
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Did traveling to the testing site each morning stress me out?
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Was I eating well?
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How was my sleep?
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Did something unfortunate happen at the testing center to throw off my rhythm (e.g., laptop crashed, extended power outage, etc.)?
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Did I have an anxiety attack during the test?
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Did my mind go blank?
To the extent that you can identify something that went wrong that affected your results, make a commitment to learn how to avoid that situation during the next test.
For example, if you had trouble getting up in the morning, make sure your sleep schedule is adjusted to “bar exam hours.” If you did not have enough snacks with you, make sure you plan ahead next time.
Here are some posts that might help:
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In the final post in this series, we will discuss how to evaluate your actual exam results.
P.S. -- Want a FREE copy of my Bar Exam Mind audiobook?
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