BYU

Law Library

writing bar exam essays

Study Aids for Law Students

  • Aspen Learning Library - Formerly the Wolters Kluwer Online Study Aids Library
  • AudioCaseFiles
  • LexisNexis Digital Library
  • Themis Law School Essentials
  • Bar Exam Sample Essays
  • Sample Exams
  • Black Letter Outlines
  • Emanuel CrunchTime
  • Emanuel Law Outlines
  • Examples and Explanations
  • Gilbert Law Summaries
  • Glannon Guides

Many state bar associations post former bar exam essay questions and sample answers on their websites. These model answers are useful for studying for the bar and final exams.

Search online for state bar exam questions and answers, or use the list provided at the bottom of this page. Access is free.

  • Try writing a response to a practice question, then comparing your response to the model answer.
  • Some bar exam questions require the application of state law (e.g., California civil procedure), and may not be helpful if you are studying federal law. Read the question carefully. 
  • Subject coverage will vary by exam and by state.

1L Subjects:

  • Civil Procedure (federal and state questions)
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contract Law
  • Criminal Law

2L/3L Subjects:

  • Business Organizations
  • Conflict of Laws
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Family Law/Community Property
  • Professional Responsibility/Ethics
  • Secured Transactions (Uniform Commercial Code 2)
  • Wills & Trusts

Sample Exam Questions & Answers By State

  • Mississippi
  • Pennsylvania
  • UBE  (Many of the states on this list administer the UBE, but the states offer more recent model essay answers than the UBE)
  • << Previous: Themis Law School Essentials
  • Next: Sample Exams >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 27, 2022 9:12 AM
  • URL: https://guides.law.byu.edu/studyaids

System Links

Connect with us.

#BYUlawlibrary

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

© 2012-2017+. All rights reserved. | Provo, UT 84602 | 801-422-3593

CRUSH The Bar Exam

Bar Exam Writing Styles

writing bar exam essays

IRAC, CRAC, CREAC, CRRACC – Why So Many Acronyms and What do They All Mean? 

Comparing different writing strategies for your bar exam essays.

writing bar exam essays

IRAC method, CRAC, CREAC and CRRACC are all popular writing styles in law schools. However, you don’t necessarily need to know all of them to do well on your bar exam essays. The main point of the exam essay portion is that you are able to discuss important aspects of the problem in a logical way. 

Here’s what you should know about these different writing styles:

See the Top BAR Review Courses

  • 1. BarMax Review Course ◄◄ Best Overall BAR Review Course + No Discounts
  • 2. Quimbee BAR Prep Course ◄◄ Best Price
  • 3. Kaplan BAR Review Courses ◄◄ Expert Instructors

General Guidelines

Even though your law school may have emphasized one writing style over others, you can do well on the bar exam using different writing strategies. Regardless as to whether you use the IRAC method or some other acronym, bar exam graders will look for the following in law students’ writing:

  • The ability to spot relevant issues
  • How you analyze the facts related to the issue
  • Whether you draw a clear conclusion

Also, keep in mind that most legal writing for the bar exam should follow this structure:

  • Identify the issue or problem
  • Identify the rule and the governing authority to address the issue
  • Apply the rule to the facts of the case in question 
  • Provide a conclusion of how the issue should be resolved based on your analysis

So, with this framework in mind, let’s dive into the various legal writing styles you may consider using.

Even though your law school may have emphasized one writing style over others, you can do well on the bar exam using different writing strategies

Irac method.

writing bar exam essays

Using the IRAC method is most common in a memo’s discussion section or a brief’s argument section. You should apply the IRAC format to each legal topic; for example, there will be an IRAC under each sub-heading. 

The IRAC method may be used to discuss:

  • Elements of a claim
  • Affirmative defenses

This is a natural-feeling form of legal analysis for most writers because it lays out a clear roadmap and chronological order of discussing an issue. 

But what does it stand for?

  • A – Application
  • C – Conclusion

Keep reading for more details on each part of the IRAC methodology below:

writing bar exam essays

IRAC is the most commonly used writing style on the bar exam. It’s also the foundation for the other writing styles; therefore, you should consider this method if you’re not yet committed to any particular style

The issue is the topic that must be resolved in your writing. It’s generally a legal question, such as:

  • Was the defendant guilty of breaking the law?
  • Was a property owner negligent? 
  • Does vicarious liability apply in the case?

You should state the primary legal issue in the first paragraph of each IRAC discussion; it lays out a foundation for the rest of the discussion. Furthermore, you should also give a conclusion of how this issue will be resolved, such as “The judge will rule that the search was illegal under the Terry doctrine.” If you’re preparing a memo, your conclusion should generally be neutral, such as “The judge will determine whether the search was illegal by applying the Terry doctrine.”

Next, you will state the relevant legal rule. The rule may be based on:

  • The constitution
  • Regulations
  • Secondary sources

You’ll need to expand on this section so that you can give the test grader an understanding of the legal principles involved. 

  • For example, you may state that “The Fourth Amendment requires that law enforcement have a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed by the suspect or is in the process of being committed.” 
  • For another example, you might state, “Any stop must be reasonable in nature, as determined by what a reasonably prudent officer would do under the circumstances if the officer believed his or someone else’s life was in danger.” 
  • Any exceptions should then be mentioned. 

In this section, you will not focus on your particular case or conclusion; instead, you’re simply laying out the rules that will be evaluated to determine the outcome of the issue. You may include holdings in some of the cases, but don’t get too involved with the facts of those cases 

That will come in the next section:

You should state the primary legal issue in the first paragraph of each IRAC discussion; it lays out a foundation for the rest of the discussion

Application.

This section will likely be based on precedent in bar exam questions. Hence, you’ll need to be able to discuss the original case or law that applies as well as the cases that came after it. You will then discuss how these facts should affect the outcome of your case. 

  • As an example, you might discuss the Terry case and then explain its initial holding and subsequent cases that came after it. You should be able to compare or distinguish these cases from your own. 
  • For example, you might state, “Unlike in Terry , the defendant in this case posed no danger to the law enforcement officer. He was stopped in an area that did not have a high crime rate. He was holding an ice cream cone and could not have easily reached for a weapon if he had one. The officer had no reasonable suspicion to believe the 17-year-old high school senior was involved in a crime or posed any safety risk.”

Finally, you will make a clear conclusion of the case. Use one or two sentences to provide a concise statement of the issue based on your application and the facts of the case, such as “Therefore, because the defendant posed no threat to the officer and the officer had no reasonable suspicion that the defendant had committed a crime, the search was unreasonable. ”

You’ll need to be able to discuss the original case or law that applies as well as the cases that came after it. You will then discuss how these facts should affect the outcome of your case

COMPARE THE BEST BAR PREP COURSES

CRRACC Method

writing bar exam essays

  • C – Conclusion 
  • R – Rule proof
  • C – Counterargument

Ultimately, it follows a lot of the same patterns as the IRAC structure— except for the following:

  • It begins with a conclusion
  • The second “r” reminds you to support the rule statement with an organized explanation of the legal authority that provides for the rule
  • There is a counterargument section

Tip: Consider using this style if you’re working on a question where there is an obvious counterargument you will need to prepare.

Another popular form of legal writing taught in law schools is CRACC . This stands for:

  • A – Analysis

This approach uses a conclusion sandwich; you put the conclusion at the beginning and the end of the argument. You stuff the middle with the rule and your analysis of the case law, including how your case relates.

Like with the other writing styles, you should devote one CRAC for each issue you’re addressing. Avoid doing one large CRAC for the entire question; if you have three issues, you should have three CRACs, even if you only have time to lay out their basic framework. 

Tip: Consider skipping the first conclusion if you’re unsure how the issue should be decided. You don’t want the bar exam grader to know you were wrong and then look for ways that your argument was flawed. If you don’t include the first conclusion, you may get more points on your analysis— even if your final conclusion is ultimately wrong.

A very similar form to CRAC is CRACC . The first “C” here is your counterargument; you’ll play the devil’s advocate and argue the other side of the case. To demonstrate, you may say “The prosecutor may argue that the Terry stop was valid because . . .” and include an analysis here. However, you will ultimately want to poke holes in this argument, so don’t make it too strong!

Like with the other writing styles, you should devote one CRAC for each issue you’re addressing. Avoid doing one large CRAC for the entire question; if you have three issues, you should have three CRACs, even if you only have time to lay out their basic framework

Like with the other writing styles, you will use this structure for each issue . If the legal problem has four distinct issues, you should have four separate sections within the discussion portion of your essay.

The structure of a good CREAC writing may follow these general rules:

  • Your heading should state your conclusion. This makes it easier for the reader to follow your logic because you are stating directly what you are going to argue.
  • You should state the relevant rule within the first sentence of the first paragraph of your writing.
  • The rule should be based only on the current issue, not the other issues you have already discussed or will discuss.
  • The remainder of the first paragraph should elaborate on the rule and explain it. 
  • Discuss factors that affect the rule and that you will further elaborate on in your analysis.
  • Organize your analysis section to match the order of the factors you have listed in the explanation of the rule.
  • Use thematic paragraphs for your analysis section. Begin with a topic sentence to identify the particular factor you will be discussing to create a logical flow to your writing.
  • Restate your conclusion at the end of each CREAC. 

Tip : The CREAC is a good option for informative memos.

Get Discounts On BAR Review Courses!

BarMax-Best-Bar-Prep-Course-1-280x280

Enjoy Up to $400 Off on BarMax Course

Kaplan-Best-Bar-Prep-Course-1

Save $100 on Kaplan BAR Review Course

Crushendo-Bar-Chart-Logo-280x280-1-280x280

Crushendo Coupon: 10% Off Bar Prep Products

Use thematic paragraphs for your analysis section. begin with a topic sentence to identify the particular factor you will be discussing to create a logical flow to your writing, use these effective writing tips.

In addition to locking down a good bar exam and/or law school exam writing style, here are some more helpful tips to score you even more points:

Practice Makes Perfect 

writing bar exam essays

Additionally, writing out your answers can be a better way to retain information about all aspects of the test. Furthermore, practicing regularly will also help you build up your confidence in this portion of the test so that you’re not freaking out on bar exam day.

If you are testing in a jurisdiction where the MPT represents 20% of the score or a UBE jurisdiction, this portion of the test is worth the equivalent of 70 MBE questions— so take this portion of the test seriously too!

Ask for Feedback 

Don’t just practice writing the essays. You need to also review your answers and see how you did. If you’re still in law school, you might have additional (and free!) resources to help with this, such as a writing lab or a writing professor who is willing to help you out. Additionally, many bar exam prep courses offer free system or human grading that you can tap into. 

If nothing else, self-grade your essays. Identify the sample answer and check if you spotted all of the issues and if you reached the same conclusion. 

Don’t Waste Time 

Bored bar exam makers may throw red herrings into essay questions. Avoid them! You may feel you have to address everything, but only complete the call to action. 

If the question doesn’t ask for a counterargument, don’t argue against yourself! 

If facts don’t relate to the rules or analysis, don’t discuss them! 

Your bar exam essay is not a law school essay; you’ll have about 30 minutes for each essay response, so you can’t treat it like you have several days to answer the question.

This tip is particularly important when you are completing the MPT portion of the test. Do not waste time addressing irrelevant information. Don’t mention cases that aren’t discussed in your materials. This section of the test does not rely on any outside knowledge of the law— everything you need is at your fingertips.

Your written portion of the test may make the difference between passing or failing the bar exam. By following these tips and perfecting your writing style, you are well on your way to a successful performance and a rewarding legal career!

If nothing else, self-grade your essays. Identify the sample answer and check if you spotted all of the issues and if you reached the same conclusion

writing bar exam essays

Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.

Related Posts

writing bar exam essays

Additional Links

Bar Discounts Bar Exam Tips Bar Exam Requirements Policies and Disclosure Terms of Service Contact Us

  • Bar Exam Info
  • Bar Exam Study Materials
  • Legal Services

Sanity Savers After Taking The Bar Exam

The Bar Writing Coach

Signed in as:

[email protected]

Raise the bar on your legal writing skills

Welcome to The Bar Writing Coach, your trusted partner in mastering the art of legal writing for bar exams. We understand that the written component of bar exams can be a daunting challenge, but with our expert guidance, you can conquer it with confidence.

Our team of experienced attorneys and writing specialists are dedicated to equipping you with the skills, strategies, and knowledge needed to excel in bar exam writing. Whether you're preparing for the multistate essay exam (MEE), the multistate performance test (MPT), or state-specific essays, we've got you covered.

Through our comprehensive coaching program, we provide personalized attention and support tailored to your specific needs. We'll walk you through the intricacies of legal writing, helping you understand the structure, analysis, and persuasive techniques that will impress bar examiners.

Our coaching sessions focus on honing your critical thinking skills, enhancing your ability to spot issues, and crafting well-organized, concise, and persuasive written responses. We provide valuable feedback on your practice MPTs and essays, highlighting areas of improvement and guiding you towards achieving excellence.

Additionally, our extensive collection of sample essays and model answers will serve as valuable resources in your preparation. You'll learn from successful approaches, understand the examiners' expectations, and gain insights into scoring high on the writing portion of the bar exam.

At The Bar Writing Coach, we are committed to your success. We know that mastering legal writing is essential to your overall bar exam performance, and we're here to help you achieve your goals. Join us today and let us guide you towards achieving the writing skills that will set you apart on your bar exam journey. We provide valuable feedback on your performance test and essay responses, highlighting areas of improvement and guiding you toward achieving excellence.

1:1 Bar Examination Coaching

We provide tailored guidance and support to help you achieve your specific goals.

Group Bar Examination Prep

Welcome to your ultimate resource for mastering the written portion of the Georgia Bar exam. 

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Submit your information below to be added to our prep course.

Sign up to be the first to know about new bar info!

What People Are Saying About The Bar Writing Coach

Revamped my writing, eased my anxiety.

I worked with Professor Brandy on the July 2022 Georgia Bar Exam and all I have to say is I am forever grateful for her faith in me.  I had taken the Exam a few times before and was always close, just not close enough. When we first started I was still working full time and fitting in sessions as I could, but hit the ground running with our first session.  Professor Brandy was flexible and understanding.  As the testing date approached we stepped up the sessions and really dove in deep. I had some setbacks with confidence and Professor Brandy was always there to catch me and build me back up.  She is an amazing tutor, mentor, professor, and counselor.  She asked me to trust the process and trust myself.  She gave me not only tricks of the trade and strategy for acing the exam, but also life advice that I have used often.  Professor Brandy really cares for the success of her students and examinees.  She wants to see you succeed and celebrates every step, whether small or large.  I couldn't have asked for a better tutor.  Her process works and yields results better than any other writing prep I've used or seen.  There are no words to express my gratitude.

I had the pleasure being coached by Professor Brandy for the September 2020 bar exam. Her method for the MPT portion of the exam was a game changer! So glad that she was able to help me break down the MPT and simplify it in a way that helped me pass the bar exam. Having this method in my toolbox on exam day gave me an extra boost of confidence and eased a lot of anxiety and stress on the day of the exam.

Exactly What I Needed

I unsuccessfully took the Georgia bar exam in October 2020. After reviewing the breakdown of my score from that bar examination, it was clear that my writing on the MPT and essays was the culprit.   I began working with Professor Domengeaux in the first week of January 2021, with just one month to spare, as the next bar exam was the at the end of the following month in February 2021. Professor Domengeaux met me where I was with my writing, with no judgement but realism. We began with a sample of my writing (a practice MPT question) which allowed her to assess my current writing skills. Professor Domengeaux was able to quickly identify problem areas and we began vigorous work right away.  While we were focused primarily on writing, I received total bar prep with Professor Domengeaux, including creating a realistic study schedule and creating a methodical system to effectively and successfully answer the MPT and essay questions.  Not only was Professor Domengeaux the consummate professional, her dedication was unmatched. We would meet at 6:30 AM and I was met with the same enthusiasm and encouragement each session. Excellence was always the standard with Professor Domengeaux as she always emphasized that the goal was to do more than pass the examination, but to “get the bar examiners off of your back”.  In just a little over a month, Professor Domengeaux completely revamped the way I answered writing prompts, with an emphasis on time management and dissecting  and filtering the plethora of legal material provided on the written portion of the bar exam.  I passed the bar exam largely in part to the work Professor Domengeaux and I did.  If you need help to write, Professor Domengeaux will get you right! 

I highly recommend using Professor as a writing coach. Professor and I met 1-2 times per week for 1-2 hour sessions. These sessions were short and straight to the point. My commercial bar prep review sessions for MPT had multiple 3 hour sessions. I was able to skip this portion of the commercial bar review and save so much time to rest and prepare for multiple choice questions. We worked on all writing aspects on the bar. We worked on every type of MPT question: persuasive, objective writing, memos, brief, etc. I felt prepared walking into the bar after our sessions. The real bar MPT was EXACTLY what we worked on during our sessions. We also worked on essay writing. During the review sessions, Professor will help you organize your writing to assure you are getting the most points possible on your bar score. Organizing your answers is half of the battle. Professor will show you how to make your answers flow and make answers easy for the bar grader to read. Once you have your organization down, at that point you are just filling in the space with the law that you have already learned in law school/bar prep. Follow Professors instructions for writing and that is the closest to the real bar as you can get.  Lastly, Professor gives constructive feedback and encouragement for you to succeed in the bar. This is important to have someone who knows the bar really well and knows what you need to succeed.

Best Decision I Made

I worked with Professor Domengeaux while studying for the bar exam. It was honestly the best decision that I ever made and ultimately led me to passing the bar after struggling with anxiety. Her teaching methods are dedicated to ensuring that her students not only know the format of the writing portion but also understand the expectations of bar exam graders. 

She is patient, passionate, and thorough. Her many years as an elementary school educator and law professor aid in her ability to take complex subject matter and break it down into understandable parts. She provides critical written and oral feedback to both the structure and analysis portion of the Multistate Practice Test. 

She expounds upon the various formats of the Multistate Practice Tests ensuring that students receive adequate practice in drafting memorandums, appellate briefs, and “wild-card” MPTs while under timed conditions. Additionally, she hones in on weak writing areas and through her tutoring I have become a better legal practitione

Tutor Extroardinaire

My daughter did not pass the bar the first time she took the exam. It was a devastating experience for her as someone who had few if any failures in life.  And, devastating for me as her mother who had to console her.  As an attorney and as a mother, I knew she needed to try something different, including a tutor.  I knew of someone who tutored law students for the bar, but she had moved out of state.  She in turn recommended someone who I did not know.  But, based upon her recommendation, I was willing to go with check out this tutor. Well, that person was M s. Brandy Domengeaux, tutor extraordinaire.  And, she forever changed my daughter’s life for the better . What I loved about Brandy when I first spoke with her is that she not only asked a lot of questions but shared a lot about herself and her past students.  We hit it off instantly and I felt so comfortable with her.  Over the next four (4) months, Brandy became EVERYTHING to my daughter.  She was coach, tutor, mentor, advisor and so much more.  She cared about the whole person and focused not just on taking the test but also on mental strategies to instill confidence in my daughter.  Brandy poured so much into my daughter.  When daughter encountered several deaths in the family close to the February exam, I became afraid that it might send my her into a spiral and derail all she was working towards,  I called Brandy and she immediately and willingly stepped right back in to lift my daughter up and provide her with the support she needed to successfully cross the finish line. Brandy has a unique gift which allows her to connect with her students on all levels and provide them exactly what they need..  I HIGHLY recommend her as a bar tutor for first time test takers.  It is an investment that is well worth it considering the monumental consequences of the bar exam. Words cannot adequately express how grateful I am for Brandy and all she did for my daughter.  Thank you Brandy!!

We are here to help you!

Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Open today

09:00 am – 05:00 pm

Drop us a line!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Copyright © 2024 The Bar Writing Coach - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy

writing bar exam essays

Download the Bar Prep FREE Checklist

Click below to submbit your information 

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

  • 50+ Bar Prep Tips
  • 30+ MPRE Tips
  • Compare Audio Law Outlines
  • Compare Bar Review Prep Courses
  • Complete UBE Guide
  • How to Case Brief
  • Jurisdiction Bar Exam Guides
  • Top Civ Pro Laws
  • Top Civ Pro Terms
  • Top Evidence Laws
  • Bar Prep Games
  • Supreme Opinion Podcast
  • LLM Bar Prep

Top 17 Bar Exam Essay Writing Tips | MEE

Bar Exam Basics | MBE Tips | MEE Tips | MPT Tips  | MPRE Tips

The MEE is normally the first part of the first day of the bar exam (some states reverse the order and have you do the MPT first). You have three hours to write six essays. That makes for about 30 minutes per essay. The six essays account for 30% of your total UBE score. Twelve topics are fair game, and you won’t know which will actually pop up—almost any combo is possible.

Some use CRAC; others use IRAC. But why use something that sounds like an illegal drug or a torture apparatus when you could just remember UROC?

Mee tips & tricks, tip #1 – study all the mee subjects.

Trying to streamline your studies by guessing which subjects you’ll actually have to write about is a risky recipe for ulcers.

  • What are the MEE subjects? All seven of the MBE subjects plus five MEE-specific subjects. Again, the seven MBE subjects are Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. The five MEE-specific subjects are Business Associations (which covers agencies, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs), Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions. Typically, each essay only hits one subject area, but some combine multiple, like Family Law and Conflicts, Criminal Procedure and Evidence, Agency and Torts, and so on.

Tip #2 – Competence before practice

You want to practice writing good essays, not bad ones. Good ones require knowing the right rules.

  • Remember the tips we gave you for memorizing the MBE rules; use the same techniques in tackling the MEE rules—target the right content within each subject based on the NCBE’s—the company that writes the UBE’s—own outlines, and use accurate prep materials, mnemonics, flashcards, audio outlines, chunking, and so on.

Tip #3 – Use the real stuff

Use real practice questions and point sheets.

  • The NCBE publishes old MEE questions and their point sheets—the sheets actually used to grade those old MEEs. Like past MBE questions, you can buy past MEE questions directly from the NCBE or through Crushendo.

Tip #4 – Time yourself

Practice writing each essay under timed conditions.

  • As with the MBE, your pace and productivity are half the battle. Though strenuous, push yourself to complete each practice essay within 30 minutes.

Tip #5 – Time some full MEEs

Practice writing some full MEEs under timed conditions.

  • It won’t be enough to rock one essay in 30 minutes, you’ll need to do be ready to do six back-to-back. Don’t let exam day be the first time you attempt that grind.

Tip #6 – Tackle the most familiar subjects first

  • You can do the essays in any order. Do the less intimidating ones first. This does not mean you should read all the questions and fact patterns top-to-bottom before diving into your first question. It should only take a minute to glance at all six questions and get a decent feel for familiarity.

Tip #7 – UROC

UROC . I mean it. Some use CRAC;  others use IRAC .

But why use something that sounds like an illegal drug (or a way to smuggle it into a prison) or a torture apparatus when you could just remember UROC ?

UROC is your basic structure for addressing each issue in each essay. Each essay will have multiple UROC structures. Bar essays are not creative works; organization should be formulaic and predictable.

  • U pgraded issue
  • O perate on the facts
  • C onclusion

Tip #8 – Upgrade the issues

  • Each question will hand you the basic issues. Write those down; you must address each. But don’t settle for how they’re framed; upgrade them. Issue statements in point sheets are normally more detailed and helpful than the issue statements in the questions. Your issue statements should be similar in caliber and quantity to those in the point sheets. Study point sheets carefully.
  • Example . Don’t just say: “Is Jane liable for Bob’s injuries?” even if the question puts it in such basic terms. Instead, say something like, “Can Bob recover damages from Jane under a negligence claim when they crashed after Jane ran a red light while Bob was speeding?”
  • Upgraded issue statements not only give graders a good first impression, but they offer a basic outline for each UROC structure.

Tip #9 – Avoid fluff

Avoid lengthy intros and summaries. Your upgraded issue statements should suffice.

Tip #10 – Keep it simple

Keep rule statements simple. Lay out the basic elements or factors and mention any relevant defenses.

  • Example . Negligence requires duty, breach, actual cause, proximate cause, and damages. A common negligence defense is comparative negligence.

Tip #11 – Outline issues first

Write all your upgraded issue statements and general rules before operating on the facts under each. This will give you a solid outline to follow for your entire essay.

Tip #12 – Operate on the facts

Four things to remember about operating:

  • Like the MBE, one thing that will help you isolate helpful facts is reading the actual questions before the accompanying fact patterns.
  • Second, operate in order. Work through the facts in the order of the elements, factors, and relevant defenses laid out by your basic rules.
  • Example . You could begin your paragraph addressing proximate cause with “Proximate cause means the type of harm was reasonably foreseeable.” And then immediately apply the specific facts to that specific law by saying, “Serious broken bones are a reasonably foreseeable type of harm for blowing a red light and causing a high-velocity car accident. Thus, Jane’s actions were likely the proximate cause of Bob’s broken back.”
  • Fourth, like any good surgeon, don’t leave behind foreign objects. Don’t invent or assume facts. Stick with what you’re given.

Tip #13 – Conclude quickly

Conclude quickly, highlighting the scale-tipping facts.

  • Remember: Graders don’t normally care much about what you conclude, but instead, how you got there. Stress less about whether you got your conclusion “right” and more about whether you supported your conclusion.

Tip #14 – Embrace active voice

  • Jane hit Bob.
  • Not: Bob was hit by Jane.

Tip #15 – Don’t use citations

Don’t waste time on specific citations.

  • With the exception of key constitutional amendments, you normally should not spend study time memorizing the specific sources of law, or exam time citing them.
  • That said, it does not hurt to name other basic sources that you happen to know, if name-dropping does not slow you down or interrupt flow.

Tip #16 – Double-check

Spend a couple minutes at the end of each essay double-checking that you hit all the issues, major rules, and key facts.

Tip #17 – Type fast

Type faster than 50 words per minute. If you cannot comfortably type at least 50 words per minute, consider taking a typing course. Some good free ones are available online.

Popular Posts

Famous People Who Failed the Bar

15 Tips to Crush the MPT

Compare Top Review Courses

Law School Grades: Avoiding Crushed Souls and Bloated Egos

27 Best MBE Tips

Crushendo vs. AudioOutlines vs. AudioLearn

Bar Exam Anxiety Tips: How to Not Become a Nervous Wreck

Killer Case Briefs

Parody: Motivational Movie Clip Mashup

On Typing Speed, Law School Grades, and Passing the Bar

Speed Reading and the Bar Exam

Crushendo Launches National Bar Prep Competition

Bar-pocalypse! Bar Prep During COVID

Crushing It On Test Prep

Meet the Millennial Turning Bar Prep Upside Down

The Fun Way To Crush Your Bar Exam Prep (Yes, Really)

A Quick Introduction to Crushendo – Law Students Take Note

Crushendo Helped Me Fail a Practice MBE Exam [in the Best Way]

How I Supplemented My Bar Prep Course

Crash-Course Study Methods

All Law Students Need to Read

Is Crushendo the Future of Exam Prep?

Results Are In… Crushendo IS the Future of Bar Exam Prep

Business Helps Learners Crush It

Crushendo Expands

Related stuff

California bar exam sample best essay & performance test answers, free ube sample best mee & mpt answers, key findings of nextgen bar exam pilot testing.

https://www.barbri.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logo.jpg

U.S. bar exam study tips

How should you study for the bar exam some bar exam learning strategies from barbri, the bar prep experts.

1. Study broad, not deep 2. Measure what matters 3. Approach the MBE systematically 4. Develop your writing skills 5. Use the MPT to pick up points 6. Tackle hard MBE questions head on

As you approach how to study  for the bar exam ,   you’ ll   likely  come across all kinds of “time-saving” advice, that may sound something like  this:  “to pass  the bar exam , all you really need to do is  ( fill-in-the-blank here ) .”  Now that y ou are a trained critical thinker, hopefully any bar  exam  study advice   that  begin s  with, “all you have to do  is   …”  immediately  triggers suspicion.   As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  

For any significant achievement like passing the bar exam, there  is  no simple ,  one-size-fits-all shortcut.   Passing t he bar exam is hard  and it requires  considerable  effort, but t here are some general  study tips  and  learning  strategies  that  will  increase your likelihood of passing the bar .  

Study broad for the bar exam, not deep

In law school, students who know the most about a subject are typically those who achieve the highest grades on final exams. This is not so when it comes to studying for the bar exam. In fact, using this same approach to study for your bar exam can actually be detrimental.

Effective bar exam study strategies are built on knowledge that is wide and shallow rather than narrow and deep. To pass the bar, you don’t have to reach a level of authority on any of the subjects tested. You simply need to know just enough, about enough areas of the law, to land on the passing side of the bar exam grading curve .

Also, just because something CAN be tested on the bar exam doesn’t mean it’s likely to be tested. To ensure you’re spending your bar exam study time where it matters most, you’ll want to select a bar prep partner that knows what is most likely to be tested, and primarily focuses your time and energy in those areas.

Measure what matters as you study for the bar

So how do you know if you’re doing well enough in enough areas during your bar exam studies to ultimately pass ?   

Although the bar exam is “pass/fail” based on the cut score established by each U.S. state and jurisdiction, few bar takers truly consider the implications that “pass/fail” will have on their bar exam preparation. Striving to achieve an “A” in any one area will not help you land on the right side of the bar exam curve and pass. Studying to get an “A” in specific subjects may actually distract you and undermine your bar prep strategy.

The better strategy is to track the number of practice questions you’re getting correct, in each subject, in comparison to everyone else also preparing to take the bar exam . This is your percentile rank.

Your goal is to be at the 40th percentile or above in each subject. That’s the best way to ensure that you are doing well enough, in enough areas, to ultimately pass your bar exam. Remember, the key is broad, not deep.

A female law student studies for the bar exam

Approach the MBE systematically

BARBRI has helped students pass the MBE since it was first administered in 1972. Despite it s early reputation as being tricky, we know that achieving   a strong score on the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) is not about avoiding tricks and traps . It’s about taking a methodical, straightforward approach to answering bar exam questions .

During the MBE, you’ll answer 200 multiple-choice questions administered in two separate 3-hour sessions: 100 questions in the morning, 100 questions in the afternoon. That’s an average of 1.8 minutes spent per MBE question, which requires a repeatable, systematic methodology.

At BARBRI, we have found it best to treat MBE bar exam questions like essay questions – albeit short ones with the answers already provided — with this approach:

  • Cover the answer choices to avoid distraction and first read the call of the question, so you can determine the subject being tested and the issue you are answering.
  • If the call of the question isn’t specific enough, read the sentence just above for more guidance.
  • Now, read the entire question in light of the issue being tested. Use the facts, and the law associated with them, to mentally formulate your own answer to the question. (Note: You’re still not looking at the answer choices.)
  • Then predict the correct answer and look for the answer choice that best matches your predicted answer.

Coverup

This systematic problem-solving method ensures that you focus on the actual problem to solve and reduces the risk of being distracted by details that may ultimately be irrelevant to the call of the question. Additionally, coming to your own conclusion first and then matching the best answer provided will increase your confidence in what you’ve selected.

A student learns how to complete the written portion of the bar exam

Develop your bar exam writing skills up front

We often hear that students hold back on bar exam practice essays during bar review because they feel they need to know all the rules of the law before they submit a practice essay. There are reasons why we don’t recommend this study strategy .

The written portion of the bar exam is important to your overall score in every state. In some, greater scoring weight is placed on the essays as compared to the MBE. Download the BARBRI Bar Exam Digest for bar exam scoring information for your state/jurisdiction.

Essay writing for the bar exam is different than the final exams you experienced in law school. It’s an acquired skill that must be strengthen. For example, on most bar exam essays, there’s actually a “right” answer. Also, to maximize your point potential on bar exam essays, you’ll need to provide an answer to the call of the question in the format the bar examiners want and expect to see. Therefore, it's important to acquire and strengthen your bar exam essay skills during bar prep, while you’re still learning and reinforcing your black letter law knowledge.

With that said , we’ve seen that submitting practice essay after essay before receiving and digesting feedback reinforces bad habits and wastes time. An unguided and purely “unlimited” essay grading system can serve to stunt your progress . Submitting practice essays and incorporating previous feedback into the next assigned essay over time is a better way to continually improve your essay writing skills .  

Use the MPT to pick up valuable points

If you are like most bar exam takers, you’ll probably spend a majority of your time working practice MBE questions and writing practice essays. Just don’t want lose sight of the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).

Many who unfortunately don’t pass the bar exam typically end up barely below the cut score — just a few points short. This is where the MPT can help. It’s an important opportunity to pick up valuable points or, conversely, lose out on points if you’re not prepared.

What is the MPT exactly? It’s a real-world readiness measurement that allows bar examiners to assess your fundamental lawyering skills rather than test substantive legal knowledge. The MPT   is part of most bar exams , and it challenges you to think critically and resourcefully on tasks that a beginning lawyer might encounter .

For example, you may be asked to create a persuasive brief, legal memo, client letter, discovery plan, settlement offer, will or closing argument. Whatever the given assignment, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to evaluate the facts of the case file, analyze the problem and perform the task within the 90 minutes allotted for each item. The best way to familiarize yourself with possible MPT tasks is to work practice MPTs during your bar preparation.

Download the BARBRI Bar Exam Digest for information about the MPT and the bar exam scaled scoring formula for your state/ jurisdiction .  

A bar exam taker completes the MBE portion of the bar exam

Tackle hard MBE questions head on

During your bar exam, it might seem like a good idea to skip difficult MBE questions and come back to them later. Our advice: tackle them as they come.

The bar exam is mentally draining. At the end of each 3-hour MBE session, you’re going to be tired and your critical thinking skills won’t be as sharp. Use our systematic problem solving methodology, make your best educated guess and then mark the question in your test booklet if you have some time left after answering all the questions, you can give the harder ones another quick look.

When you come across an MBE question that's taking too much time to figure out (remember, 1.8 minutes on average per question), use it to make up time on the bar exam. Spend one minute to go through the question, make your best guess and move on. Don’t overthink it. Typically, the correct answer will be an option that is familiar to you. More often than not, completely unfamiliar or obscure answer choices are incorrect.

Ready to start studying? Find the BARBRI bar prep course that’s built for you

Traditional bar review.

Full-time course | 8-10 week

Candidates with a J.D. from a U.S. law school looking for the quickest, most efficient & effective course to pass any U.S. state bar exam

Extended Bar Prep

Part-time  c ourse | 6- or 10-month  

Best for candidates without a J.D. from a U.S. law school looking for the most comprehensive bar prep or students who want more study time & flexibility

  • 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

How to Practice Essays in the Final Weeks Before the Bar Exam

February 5, 2020 By Natalie Nicol Leave a Comment

How to Practice Essays in the Final Weeks Before the Bar Exam

In order to successfully prepare for and pass the bar exam, you must have a strategy for practicing essay questions. It’s especially important to maximize your efforts on practice essays in the final weeks before the bar exam. This post outlines some tactics you can implement to make the most out of the practice essays you do in the three weeks leading up to the bar exam.

Do a Self-Assessment and Make a Practice Plan

You’ve made it to the final three weeks before the exam. At this point, you should be done with learning the substantive law and should be focused primarily on review, rule memorization , and timed practice. This is a great time to stop and do a self-assessment so that you can use your remaining time effectively.

Take a look at all of the subjects tested on the essay portion of the exam in your state. Be honest with yourself about how you feel about each of the essay topics and how much time you’ve dedicated to memorization and practice in each. Rank the subjects from “most confident” to “least confident,” and make a plan to devote extra time to your weaker subject areas.

Although it’s tempting to keep reviewing the rules and subjects you know best, now is the time to focus on your areas for improvement. You must expose yourself to the different ways issues in these subjects are tested on the essays and reinforce your understanding of the law. You should do at least one extra timed practice essay for all of your weaker subject areas (ideally, you’ll do two or more). For your stronger areas, you can continue reviewing your memorization outlines and may want to simply review fact patterns and outline essays on scratch paper in order to stay fresh.  

Transition to Closed-Book Practice

If you haven’t already, you must transition to closed-book practice no later than three weeks before the bar exam. Many students think that they can’t start doing closed-book practice until they’re “ready.” The reality is that it’s much better to realize that you don’t know a certain rule or how to analyze an issue from the comfort of your own home than in the testing center on exam day. You must push yourself to get out of your comfort zone and start doing closed-book practice. This is the best way to prepare for exam day and will help you feel confident when you open the essay packet.   

Critically Review Sample Answers

In the weeks leading up to the exam, you may feel like you’re in a time crunch and that doing as many practice essays as possible is the best use of your time. However, simply completing a practice essay without critically evaluating your performance will not help you prepare or improve.

After every timed practice essay, set aside at least 30 minutes to review your answer and compare it to sample answers from past bar exams. In most states, samples released by the state bar typically go far beyond what is needed to achieve a passing score. Nevertheless, you’ll want to check your practice essay against these answers and make sure that you have spotted all of the major issues and that your rule statements are precise. If you’re in California, you may want to purchase a subscription to BarEssays.com , which has a database of real scored essays for you to use as grading rubrics.

If you’ve missed issues, go back to the fact pattern and make sure that you understand which facts were relevant to this issue. If your rule statements are lacking, revisit your memorization outline and make sure that your materials are accurate. Commit the correct rule to memory and move on to the next practice essay.

Issue Spot and Outline Essays

The experienced bar exam tutors at Bar Exam Toolbox advocate for doing as much timed practice as possible . We also understand that you’re human and only have 24 hours in a day. If you need to take a short break from timed full practice essays or have only a few extra minutes to spare, you can still benefit from issue spotting and doing a scratch-paper outline for an essay. There are only so many different ways that bar examiners can test issues on essays. Reviewing a fact pattern and doing an outline can help you hone your issue-spotting skills and refine your strategy for outlining and preparing to write your essays.  

Use Essay Predictions Wisely

In many states, bar prep companies or local attorneys will release essay subject predictions. It can be very tempting to focus only on the subjects that these purported “gurus” forecast for the exam. Doing so is a risk that has come back to haunt many bar applicants when these predictions turn out to be wrong. If you rely on predictions at all, consider doing one or two extra practice essays in the subjects that seem more likely to be tested than others. You must be prepared to be tested in all of the possible subjects.

Make the Most of Your Remaining Time and Prepare to Pass!

With a lot of hard work and dedication, you can make a significant amount of progress on the essay portion of the bar exam in a short period of time. By implementing these strategies, you can study smart (not just hard) and make the most of your remaining time before the bar exam. Good luck!

writing bar exam essays

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!

' src=

About Natalie Nicol

Natalie Nicol is an in-house corporate lawyer who works on a broad range of legal issues, including intellectual property, privacy, employment, corporate, transactional, and tax matters. She is an Internet Law & Policy Foundry Fellow and Project Manager for Without My Consent, a non-profit focused on combatting serious online invasions of privacy. Natalie earned her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law in 2013 with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law and her B.A. from Arizona State University in 2008. During law school, she was an intern at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (now the Berkman-Klein Center), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the First Amendment Project. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, cooking, and live music.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

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

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Need to Pass the Bar Exam?

Sign up for our free weekly email with useful tips!

  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright 2024 Bar Exam Toolbox®™

The State Bar of California

California Bar Examination

Examination Questions

Essay Questions and Selected Answers

Performance Tests and Selected Answers

  • Study Aids Form

First-Year Law Students' Examination

Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

 
 
 

The First-Year Law Students’ Examination multiple-choice questions (MCQs) presented on this page were originally released in 1984. It is important to acknowledge that it is no longer the standard practice of the State Bar to publish additional MCQs. These sample questions may still be helpful for preparing for the exam, as they are in the same style and cover the same subject areas that will be tested on the current exam. However, since they are over 40 years old, please note that these questions were not developed with the same cultural lens or with an eye toward elimination of bias like today’s exam.

8 Steps to Writing Passing Bar Exam Essays

8 steps fdp

Follow these 8 steps for each essay on the bar exam. If you practice them now, you will know exactly what to do so that you can be on “auto-pilot” the days of the exam.

1. Set your timer in ExamSoft – (or record the times on scrap paper if you are handwriting).

This is crucial, but don’t panic if on exam day you forget (like I did on my first essay!). As soon as you realize that you forgot, approximate your time already spent and set the timer with the remaining time for that essay. I guarantee you won’t forget on the next question.

Set the timer in two intervals. First, set it for 15 minutes which is the amount of time needed for outlining. Then when the alarm goes off, even if you have already started to write (some essays you may not need the entire 15 minutes to outline, but some you may need a bit more), then set the timer for the second interval of 45 minutes.

Watch the clock constantly and NEVER go over on any essay. Try to leave yourself 2 minutes at the end to do a spell-check (unfortunately, ExamSoft does not spell check as you go along like MS Word does, but it will show you which words are wrong when you click on the spellcheck icon).

2. Read the call to determine the subject.

This may seem obvious but some law students have been known to anxiously start outlining only to find out halfway through writing that the essay is a crossover of two subjects!

Combining more than one subject in an essay is becoming more common on the bar exam and you are likely to have at least one of these on the bar exam. According to our BarIssues.com statistics, the average number of crossover essay questions on the California Bar Exam from July 2001 to February 2014 were 1.7. Learn to spot the clues in the call of the question so that you are not left guessing.

3. Read the hypo question slowly, marking it up as you go along.

Some bar exam instructors tell you to read the question once quickly first and then again more slowly. I prefer to just get right into it. I like to circle names when they first appear, as well as circling any dates and numbers. (If a date or dollar amount is in the fact pattern then it is likely of some significance). Underline any facts that raise an issue and note the issue in the margin with an arrow to the underlined fact.

4. Read the hypo again to see if there are any issues that you missed.

This is another crucial step. Better to take the time to do this now before you begin writing. Next thing you know, you got carried away with your analysis and missed spotting some issues. A bar instructor once gave out a very valuable tip: If you don’t understand the hypo, read it again, and if you still don’t understand it, read it again. You get the point!

5. Create a diagram or time-line if needed.

There are some subjects like Wills, Trusts and Property where the characters and facts need to be diagrammed.  This can help you immensely in keeping things straight.

I usually create a mini diagram for each of these types of questions, especially when there are parents, children, step-children, friends, etc, just to keep the names straight. Then as I write the essay I glance at this diagram frequently to refresh my memory of who I am writing about!

You may even find yourself writing your own name as Angela did when she took the Feb. 2014 bar exam for Remedies question number 6, “Angela hired Mark…”. And if your name is Don, Dan, Vic, Wanda, Wendy, Harry, or Hank – watch out, your chances of writing about yourself increase dramatically!

6. Set up your headings on the computer screen. (If you are handwriting, then do this on your scrap paper).

Use the exact same formatting of numbers and letters as written in the call of the question. For example, if there are 4 calls numbered 1(a), 1(b), 2(a), 2(b) then write out your headings with the same numbering. Anything you can do to make the grader’s task easier will be worth it.

For example, here is a call taken from Constitutional Law essay number 2, February 2011:

Call of the question is: Charles wishes to raise a defense against the refusal to deploy charge based solely on (1) the Free Exercise Clause and (2) the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

What is the likelihood of Charles prevailing? Discuss.

Your headings should be: 1. FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE 2. ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE

By doing this before you begin to write, you won’t forget to answer all of the calls of the question , and just as important – you won’t be likely to wander off into areas that are not asked for! I like to put these in all capital letters to make them stand out.

This is the only time I number any headings because I am following the same numbering as in the call of the question. More numbering after this gets too confusing to keep straight and is not needed.

7. List the issues that were raised by the facts beneath each heading on your screen (or list them on your scrap paper if you are not typing).

These issues are your subheadings which I like to underline (or you can use bold font if you prefer). I don’t bother to indent them or number them as that just gets too complicated.

If you are typing, you can even insert the rule of law for each issue at this time as long as you are strictly following the IRAC method (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion), however, I prefer to state the rules as I write the entire answer because it helps me to apply my facts to the elements of the rule.

As to what you list on your scrap paper for your outline (if anything), I believe that is something you have to determine. I have seen many different methods used, from a full fact-to-issue outline to nothing listed at all. Try out some different methods and use what works best for you. We all learn and recall information differently. I like to jot down some key facts to my  list of issues on my scrap paper outline. But sometimes I will come up with something while I am writing that I didn’t think of in the beginning.

Make sure you watch the clock to leave enough time to cover each issue. It’s a good idea to mentally break up the remaining 45 minutes into separate time slots for each call. (For example, in this Constitutional Law essay, I would allocate 25 minutes to Free Exercise Clause and 20 minutes to Establishment Clause , recognizing that this may change somewhat as I write but still watching the clock closely as I go).

8. And now – start writing!

At this stage you should have used up your 15 minutes set aside to outline. If you didn’t use the entire 15 minutes, just start writing. Then as the first alarm goes off, set it for the remaining 45 minutes. Or, if the first alarm has already gone off and you are still not finished outlining, set your alarm to the next 45 minute interval and use an extra 5 minutes to finish your outline.

But don’t ever go over 20 minutes for outlining (unless you have also typed in the rule of law statements on your screen outline). You must leave yourself at least 40 minutes to write. If it’s a race horse like Evidence questions tend to be, then you may need longer.

Practice this format in advance while you are studying for the bar exam. Write out as many essays under timed conditions using the past California Bar Exam questions as you possibly can – then compare your answers to the ones written by students as selected by the bar committee. BarIssues.com makes this super easy to do.

This is the best way to guarantee that no essays on the bar exam will be a surprise. You will go into the exam confident that you have a system in place that you have already perfected and you will ace those essays!

Image credit: ArtJSan of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Post Navigation

Enter the characters you see below

Sorry, we just need to make sure you're not a robot. For best results, please make sure your browser is accepting cookies.

Type the characters you see in this image:

writing bar exam essays

  • 0 Shopping Cart $ 0.00 -->

JD Advising

🚀 Free Bar Exam Predictions Webinar! 🚀 Join us on June 28 at 12:00 PM ET for an exclusive sneak peek into our bar exam predictions and key topics you can’t miss! Register Now!

Learn to study efficiently for the bar exam with our free guides on how to pass the MEE and MBE ! Plus memorize all of the MPT formats with our attack outlines !

Overwhelmed by your bar exam outlines? Our expert-crafted, highly-tailored bar exam outlines are now available for individual purchase! It’s not too late to change your approach!

Exclusive LIVE Bar Exam Essay Workshops

Join us for these one-time workshops that provide key techniques and strategies for the bar exam!

LIVE Uniform Bar Exam Essay Workshop: June 15, 2024, 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT)

Live california bar exam essay workshop: june 16, 2024, 2:00 pm et (11:00 am pt).

Essay workshop thumbnail

JD Advising’s Bar Exam Essay Workshops

Learn key techniques and strategies you need to write stellar essays on the bar exam!

Led by an experienced bar exam course instructor, this small-group session will:

  • Cover essential essay writing tips and techniques including issue-spotting, IRAC structure, and allocating time effectively.
  • Walk through two actual past essay questions from start to finish—issue-spotting, outlining, writing, and self-grading.
  • Provide strategies for self-assessment so you can critique your own practice essays like a pro.
  • Include opportunities throughout for live Q&A so you can get specific questions answered in real time.

After the workshop, you will have the opportunity to submit two of your own essay answers for detailed written feedback from a tutor.

With this hands-on essay writing instruction and personalized feedback, you’ll gain the skills and confidence needed to write organized, analytical bar exam essays that showcase your knowledge.

The interactive format with tailored coaching sets this workshop apart, giving you the edge you need to tackle MEE essays on test day.

Spaces are limited for this live online workshop so reserve your spot today!

What Our Bar Exam Essay Workshop Offers:

  • Detailed instruction on how to structure and execute your bar exam essays, no matter the subject or topic
  • Time-tested techniques for raising your score, even when you might not know the answer
  • Real, tested MEE or California Essay Exam questions
  • Live instruction and the ability to ask questions in a small group format.

Secure Your Spot Now!

We work with:

American Bar Association Law Stuent Division

Why The MEE Mastery Class is Essential

High-quality essay techniques.

Proven highly effective on the Uniform and California Bar Exams.

Self-Assessment

We teach you how to evaluate your practice essays on your own.

Live Expert Instructors

Learn from the best in the business.

Real Questions

We cover previously tested questions, so you know how to proceed on your exam.

Expert Feedback

Each attendee will have the opportunity to submit two pre-selected MEEs or California Essay Exam questions for grading by our expert bar exam graders. You will receive feedback from our graders on your essays!

The Elite Choice

Top law firms and acclaimed law schools vouch for the quality and effectiveness of our bar exam materials. Boost your odds of passing with this exclusive workshop.

Event Details

  • COST: $599.99 $499.99
  • Format: LIVE Uniform Bar Exam Essay Workshop: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) Not to be recorded.
  • LIVE California Bar Exam Essay Workshop: Sunday, June 16, 2024, 2:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT)  Not to be recorded.
  • Duration: Two hours
  • Feedback: Each attendee will have the opportunity to submit two pre-selected MEEs or California Essay Exam questions for grading by our expert bar exam graders.
  • Small group: We are limiting the size of these workshops, so sign up today!

Payment options: We accept credit card, cash, check, and also offer payment plans. Secure your spot now!

Sign up for our highly regarded workshop now!

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Public Interest

By using this site, you allow the use of cookies, and you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service .

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

JD Advising

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Get the Reddit app

For anything related to the bar exam and all of its glory.

A Bar Exam Essay Writing Tip:

Writing the rule statements can be among the most difficult part of IRAC. But you've already read the facts, so think about what the issue is that you'll soon analyze. Add the rules that you'll need to analyze the issue.

Leaving rules out loses points, and adding rules that you won't later use to analyze the issue loses time. Of the two, it's better to add more rules than you'll need than it is to leave out rules that you'll need. But always think ahead.

The rules are used to analyze an issue, so there's no need to write everything you've ever learned on a given topic if you won't later use a rule in your analysis. When it comes time to analyze, take those rules and apply them to the arguments on both sides. Each side will use (or...twist) the legal rules to support their own claim.

Sean (Silverman Bar Exam Tutoring)

IELTS Exam Preparation: Free IELTS Tips, 2024

  • elektrostal'

Take IELTS test in or nearby Elektrostal'

There is no IELTS test center listed for Elektrostal' but you may be able to take your test in an alternative test center nearby. Please choose an appropriate test center that is closer to you or is most suitable for your test depending upon location or availability of test.

Closest test centers are:

Make sure to prepare for the IELTS exam using our Free IELTS practice tests .

Moscow, Russia

Students international - moscow, students international - moscow cb, british council bkc-ih moscow, vladimir, vladimir oblast, russia, students international vladimir, obninsk, kaluga oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih obninsk, nizhny novgorod, nizhny novgorod oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih nizhny novgorod, students international - nizhny novgorod, voronezh, voronezh oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih voronezh, veliky novgorod, novgorod oblast, russia, lt pro - veliky novgorod, kazan, tatarstan, russia, students international - kazan, british council bkc-ih kazan, st petersburg, russia, students international - st petersburg, lt pro - saint petersburg, saratov, saratov oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih saratov, students international - saratov, petrozavodsk, republic of karelia, russia, students international - petrozavodsk, lt pro - petrozavodsk, kirov, kirov oblast, russia, students international - kirov, samara, samara oblast, russia, students international - samara, british council bkc-ih samara, volgograd, volgograd oblast, russia, students international - volgograd, british council bkc-ih volgograd, rostov-on-don, rostov oblast, russia, students international - rostov-on-don, syktyvkar, komi republic, russia, students international - syktyvkar, perm, perm krai, russia, students international - perm, british council bkc-ih perm, ufa, republic of bashkortostan, russia, british council bkc-ih ufa, students international - ufa, kaliningrad, kaliningrad oblast, russia, students international - kaliningrad, lt pro - kaliningrad, krasnodar, krasnodar krai, russia, students international - krasnodar, stavropol, stavropol krai, russia, students international - stavropol, astrakhan, astrakhan oblast, russia, students international - astrakhan, magnitogorsk, chelyabinsk oblast, russia, ru069 students international - magintogorsk, yekaterinburg, sverdlovsk oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih ekaterinburg, students international - ekaterinburg, chelyabinsk, chelyabinsk oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih chelyabinsk, students international - chelyabinsk, murmansk, murmansk oblast, russia, students international - murmansk, tyumen, tyumen oblast, russia, students international - tyumen, omsk, omsk oblast, russia, students international - omsk, novosibirsk, novosibirsk oblast, russia, british council bkc-ih novosibirsk, students international - novosibirsk, tomsk, tomsk oblast, russia, students international - tomsk, british council bkc-ih tomsk, barnaul, altai krai, russia, students international - barnaul, other locations nearby elektrostal'.

  • Zheleznodorozhnyy
  • Orekhovo-Zuyevo
  • Sergiyev Posad
  • Podol'sk
  • Novo-Peredelkino
  • Ryazan'

An Overview of the IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to measure English proficiency for educational, vocational and immigration purposes. The IELTS measures an individual's ability to communicate in English across four areas of language: listening , reading , writing and speaking . The IELTS is administered jointly by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment at over 1,100 test centres and 140 countries. These test centres supervise the local administration of the test and recruit, train and monitor IELTS examiners.

IELTS tests are available on 48 fixed dates each year, usually Saturdays and sometimes Thursdays, and may be offered up to four times a month at any test centre, including Elektrostal' depending on local needs. Go to IELTS test locations to find a test centre in or nearby Elektrostal' and to check for upcoming test dates at your test centre.

Test results are available online 13 days after your test date. You can either receive your Test Report Form by post or collect it from the Test Centre. You will normally only receive one copy of the Test Report Form, though you may ask for a second copy if you are applying to the UK or Canada for immigration purposes - be sure to specify this when you register for IELTS. You may ask for up to 5 copies of your Test Report Form to be sent directly to other organisations, such as universities.

There are no restrictions on re-sitting the IELTS. However, you would need to allow sufficient time to complete the registration procedures again and find a suitable test date.

SHARE THIS PAGE

The reading, writing and listening practice tests on this website have been designed to resemble the format of the IELTS test as closely as possible. They are not, however, real IELTS tests; they are designed to practise exam technique to help students to face the IELTS test with confidence and to perform to the best of their ability.

While using this site, you agree to have read and accepted our terms of use, cookie and privacy policy.

Cybo The Global Business Directory

  • Moscow Oblast
  •  » 
  • Elektrostal

State Housing Inspectorate of the Moscow Region

Phone 8 (496) 575-02-20 8 (496) 575-02-20

Phone 8 (496) 511-20-80 8 (496) 511-20-80

Public administration near State Housing Inspectorate of the Moscow Region

Rusmania

  • Yekaterinburg
  • Novosibirsk
  • Vladivostok

writing bar exam essays

  • Tours to Russia
  • Practicalities
  • Russia in Lists
Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and Museum

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

writing bar exam essays

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

writing bar exam essays

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

writing bar exam essays

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

writing bar exam essays

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

writing bar exam essays

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

writing bar exam essays

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

writing bar exam essays

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

writing bar exam essays

Location approximately 2km west of the city centre
Website Monastery - http://savvastor.ru Museum - http://zvenmuseum.ru/

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.

COMMENTS

  1. How to Tackle Essay Writing on the Bar Exam

    Next 15 - 17 minutes: Write your answer. Last 3 to 5 minutes: Review your answer to check for competition and to make necessary edits. Stick to this timeline for every question. If you start going over 5 minutes on every question, you won't have enough time to tackle the last question.

  2. Four Tips on How To Write A Great Bar Exam Essay

    2. Utilize strong and precise rule statements. Memorizing the law is critical to writing a good bar exam essay. You need to be able to call up the proper rule and then replicate it on the page when required. Try to keep your rule statement precisely tailored to the issue without going off on unnecessary tangents.

  3. Common Bar Essay Problems and How to Avoid Them

    The answers that score the highest have some telltale traits that really start standing out the more of them you read. We here at the Bar Exam Toolbox have seen a lot of bar essays: top scores, failing scores, and everything in between. We've also come up with some common pitfalls that tend to make an essay score lower.

  4. Bar Exam Sample Essays

    Many state bar associations post former bar exam essay questions and sample answers on their websites. These model answers are useful for studying for the bar and final exams. ... Try writing a response to a practice question, then comparing your response to the model answer. Some bar exam questions require the application of state law (e.g ...

  5. Preparing for the Essays on the Bar Exam

    June 3, 2024 By Alison Monahan Leave a Comment. As you prepare for the upcoming bar examination, one of the most critical components is working on the essay portion. Crafting a well-structured and clear essay can be the difference between passing and failing. This month, we will explore some essential strategies to help you excel in your bar ...

  6. Bar Exam Writing Styles

    Whether you draw a clear conclusion. Also, keep in mind that most legal writing for the bar exam should follow this structure: Identify the issue or problem. Identify the rule and the governing authority to address the issue. Apply the rule to the facts of the case in question. Provide a conclusion of how the issue should be resolved based on ...

  7. The Bar Writing Coach

    Our team of experienced attorneys and writing specialists are dedicated to equipping you with the skills, strategies, and knowledge needed to excel in bar exam writing. Whether you're preparing for the multistate essay exam (MEE), the multistate performance test (MPT), or state-specific essays, we've got you covered.

  8. 17 MEE Tips to Rock Your Essays on the Bar Exam

    Tip #17 - Type fast. Type faster than 50 words per minute. If you cannot comfortably type at least 50 words per minute, consider taking a typing course. Some good free ones are available online. Best video compilation of bar exam essay tips.

  9. U.S. bar exam study tips

    Essay writing for the bar exam is different than the final exams you experienced in law school. It's an acquired skill that must be strengthen. For example, on most bar exam essays, there's actually a "right" answer. Also, to maximize your point potential on bar exam essays, you'll need to provide an answer to the call of the question ...

  10. How to Practice Essays in the Final Weeks Before the Bar Exam

    After every timed practice essay, set aside at least 30 minutes to review your answer and compare it to sample answers from past bar exams. In most states, samples released by the state bar typically go far beyond what is needed to achieve a passing score. Nevertheless, you'll want to check your practice essay against these answers and make ...

  11. How to Structure your Bar Exam Essays

    A few things to note about this bar exam essay template: Issue: Generally, on the bar exam, the issues are clearly stated. Thus, they tend not to be hidden in a fact pattern as they are in a law school essay. Rule: State the rule as clearly as possible on your bar exam essay answer. If you know the key legal vocabulary then bold or underline ...

  12. Passing the Essay Portion of the California Bar Exam: Insider Tips and

    These tips should help you to prepare effectively for the essay portion of the California bar exam. Remember to study the relevant law, practice writing essays, use the IRAC/CREAC method, manage your time well, proofread your work and get feedback from an expert. Understanding the Internal Scoring System: A breakdown of how essays are graded on ...

  13. How to Write a Better Bar Exam Analysis

    1. Learn the law as well as possible, focusing on the highly tested issues. The first thing you can do to write a better bar exam analysis is to learn the law as well as you possibly can! It is hard to apply the law to the facts in a meaningful way if you do not know what the law is. We find many students struggle with the analysis portion ...

  14. Past Exams

    October 2012. Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers. The First-Year Law Students' Examination multiple-choice questions (MCQs) presented on this page were originally released in 1984. It is important to acknowledge that it is no longer the standard practice of the State Bar to publish additional MCQs. These sample questions may still be ...

  15. How To Consistently Outline Bar Exam Essays

    One of the keys to a successful bar exam essay is solid organization. For each fact pattern in an MEE, you essentially have 30 minutes to read the pattern, read the questions, and write a clear and cogent answer to each question. A typical MEE fact pattern has three or four questions, and each answer is basically a mini-essay.

  16. 8 Steps to Writing Passing Bar Exam Essays

    The essays on the California Bar Exam make up 39% of your score. You must do well on the essays in order to pass the bar! Here is my method for the 1 hour "hypos," which you will have to write 6 of (3 on Tuesday morning and 3 on Thursday morning). Follow these 8 steps for each essay on the bar exam.

  17. How to Write Bar Exam Essays: Strategies and Tactics to Help You Pass

    You've been practicing writing bar exam essay responses. But, even with all these hours and days of essay practice, you still have no idea how to write a clear, concise legal exam essay response. You genuinely have been trying each semester during law school. You are doing your best with bar exam prep, but you just don't seem to be getting it.

  18. Bar Exam Essay Workshop

    With this hands-on essay writing instruction and personalized feedback, you'll gain the skills and confidence needed to write organized, analytical bar exam essays that showcase your knowledge. ... LIVE California Bar Exam Essay Workshop: Sunday, June 16, 2024, 2:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT) Not to be recorded. Duration: Two hours;

  19. A Bar Exam Essay Writing Tip: : r/barexam

    A Bar Exam Essay Writing Tip: Writing the rule statements can be among the most difficult part of IRAC. But you've already read the facts, so think about what the issue is that you'll soon analyze. Add the rules that you'll need to analyze the issue. Leaving rules out loses points, and adding rules that you won't later use to analyze the issue ...

  20. IELTS test centers and test dates 2024 in Elektrostal ...

    Make sure to prepare for the IELTS exam using our Free IELTS practice tests. Moscow, Russia. 52 km Students International - Moscow CB Address Schipok St, 20, Office 203 ... The IELTS measures an individual's ability to communicate in English across four areas of language: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The IELTS is administered ...

  21. PDF 7-30-07 revised Gen'l Affidavit

    GENERAL AFFIDAVIT Russian Federation..... ) Moscow Oblast ..... ) City of Moscow.....

  22. State Housing Inspectorate of the Moscow Region

    State Housing Inspectorate of the Moscow Region Elektrostal postal code 144009. See Google profile, Hours, Phone, Website and more for this business. 2.0 Cybo Score. Review on Cybo.

  23. Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and Museum

    Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar ...