TECHNIQUES IN ANSWERING BAR QUESTIONS BY ATTY. REY TATAD JR.

REASON/S BEHIND THE LAW

The purpose of the law is…
2. The law is designed to…
3. It is intended to shield …
4. It is primarily aimed at protecting ____________ from unwarranted __________
5. The rationale behind the law is…
6. The spirit of the law is to the effect that…
DEFINITION / EXPLANATION
1. ________________ is a comprehensive term used to describe _________.
2. _________________, in its generally accepted sense, refers to ….
3. … It is a safeguard and guarantee provided by the 1987 Constitution..
4. … It is a kind of relief granted to a ______________ by the …
5. ________________ is a branch of public law (or private law) which deals with..
6. It pertains to…
7. It connotes a ….
8. … is a doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) which refers to…
9. … is a principle in (i.e. Criminal Law) which states that…
10. It presupposes…
11. Its principal identifying feature is..
12. It is akin to…
13. The function of which is to…
14. The office of which is to…
ENUMERATION
1. In capsule form, the following are the elements of the crime of
In a nutshell, the following are the elements of the crime of
The following elements are generally considered in the determination ofthe presence of (i.e. employer-employee
relationship)
Among the (i.e. defenses/remedies) available to (i.e. Mr. X) as provided for by/in the (i.e. Civil Code) are:
(1)…
(2)…
5. The following are the requisites for…
In order that a case for (i.e. B.P. 22) to prosper, the following elements must be attendant/present:
To constitute (i.e. homicide), the following requisites must concur:
(i.e. Legal compensation) requires the concurrence of the following conditions:
To establish a person’s culpability under (i.e. estafa), it is indispensable that…

* Tips on answers that require enumerating something. (i.e. elements). If you can enumerate all, write it in bulleted or
numbered form to highlight the fact that you know all of them and for more convenient-reading purposes. If you
cannot enumerate all, write it in paragraph form so that it would not easily be noticeable that you missed something. (I
got the above tip from our mentor Atty. Gafar Lutian)
DISTINCTION
When being asked to distinguish, do not state its definition. If you give its definition, you are in effect asking the
examiner to extract out the differences of the two [or more] from your definition. Do not also give their similarities. You
are asked to differentiate and contrast, so similarities are not included (That was a tip I learned from my professor in
Civil Law Review I, Atty. Virgilio Gesmundo).The number of distinctions you will give must also be proportionate on
the points allotted for such. If it is only worth two points, do not give 8 distinctions. The examiner cannot give you 8
points for that…. For a two point distinction question, perhaps, three would be enough (four is not too much).
1. The (i.e. two) may be distinguished from each other in the followings
ways:
b.
2. In the first, it is necessary that there be….., whereas in the second it is sufficient
that there be ….
In the former, … while in the latter…
4. The former requires … while the latter…
5. … on the other hand ______________ is…
ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH VAGUE FACTS (or which requires qualification)
But if the facts are complete in itself, do not attempt to add facts or assume anything.
1. We must distinguish. If… (or As far as the __________ is concerned)
2. It depends. If…(or As far as the __________ is concerned)
The question requires a qualified answer. If…
4. I will qualify. If…
5. On the assumption that…
6. My answer must be qualified.
JURISDICTION
1. The case is beyond the ambit of the jurisdiction of the (i.e. Regional TrialCourt)
2. It is within the ambit of the (i.e. Secretary of Labor’s) power.
3. It is not within the province of the (i.e. Municipal Trial Court)
4. It is clearly within the powers of the (i.e. Labor Arbiter) to…
The case of (i.e. ejectment) lies with the Municipal Trial Court.
The case is cognizable by the (i.e. Regional Trial Court)
The case is covered by the (Rules on Summary Procedure).
The law vests upon the (i.e. Secretary of Justice) the power to…
ELABORATING/EXPOUNDING ANSWERS
Go straight to the point. The length of answers and expounding the same, must always be proportionate to the points
allotted for such particular question. The higher the points, the more in-depth the elaboration should be. However, it
must not appear “na nambobola ka na”. Sometimes, if your answer is too long, it is an indication that you are not sure
of the answer so there is that need of getting around the bush. Remember that most of the times, MORE TALK,
MORE MISTAKE!!! (I got this tip frommy professor in Political Law, Dean Mariano F. Magsalin, Jr.)
1. It should be borne in mind that…
2. It must be noted that…
3. It may be recalled that…
4. It is worth observing…
5. It must be taken into consideration that…
6. More importantly, ….
7. Significantly,…
8. Corollarily,…
9. Furthermore,…
10. Moreover,…
11. Similarly,…
12. Parenthetically,…
13. In other words,…
14. Otherwise stated,…
15. Simply put,…
16. Simply stated,…
17. Stated more concretely…
18. The reasons are obvious. (expound)
19. The reasons are well-known. (expound)
20. The reasons are plain. (expound)
21. Under the same line of reasoning,…
22. As regards…
With regard to… (it is error to state “with regards to”)
24. Anent the (i.e. first issue),…
25. As far as the ________________ is concerned,…
26. This is indicated by the fact that…
27. The language of the law leaves no room for doubt that,…
28. Justice and fair-play dictates that,…
29. Applying the principle of….
30. For all its conceded merits, (i.e. equity is available in the absence of lawand not as its replacement)…
31. The law is categorical with regard to…
32. Notwithstanding the… (i.e. execution of the document)
33. It is beyond debate that,…
34. It is imperative to look at,…
This is consistent with the time-honored maxim (i.e. nullum crimen nulla poena sine lege).
36. As it is imbued with public interest,…
37. In like manner,
38. In the same manner,
39. In the same vein,
40. In the same breath,
41. Likewise,..
42. In fine,
43. It bears articulating that
44. The controlling element in the (i.e. crime of estafa) is…
45. By analogy,…
46. Suffice it to state that..
47. Emphasis must also be placed at…
48. Manifestly, there was (i.e. grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction)
49. Needless to stress that…
50. It goes without saying that
51. The Supreme Court frowns upon the (i.e. illegal practice of forum shopping as it erodes the administration of
justice and makes a mockery of the justice system).
52. There is no denying in this case, that (i.e. the petitioner never raised the issue of jurisdiction throughout the entire
proceedings in the trial court; case of Tijam vs. Sibonghanoy)
53. It is now too late in the day for the respondent/defendant to (i.e. raise the issue
of …)
54. Equally telling is the (i.e. factual finding of the lower court) that…
55. The gravamen of the (i.e. the crime of rebellion is an armed public uprising against the government)
56. It cannot be denied that (i.e. the petitioner is also guilty of negligence)…
57. Attention must be drawn to the fact that…
58. ___________ and ____________ are two mutually exclusive remedies. An application of one precludes the
application of the other.
59. To amplify,…
60. It must be pointed out that…
61. Notably,…
62. At the outset, the (i.e. defendant)…
63. Coming now to the issue of (i.e. prescription),…

CITING LAW PROVISIONS

1. No less than the (i.e. 1987 Constitution) provides for the…
2. The (i.e. Rules of Court) substantially provides in part that…
3. Under the broad principles of (i.e. due process clause)…
4. Under the all-encompassing doctrine of (i.e. incontestability clause)…
5. Under the law…
6. According to the (i.e. Family Code)…
7. The law is explicit on the matter.
8. The law explicitly expresses in part that…
9. By express provision of law,…
10. By operation of law…
11. As a matter of law…
12. Worth remembering is the rule on _______________ which provides in part that…
13. Decisive on the matter is the pertinent provision of the (i.e. Law on Property)
14. The law prescribes certain rules on…
15. By legislative fiat…
QUOTING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
1. The Supreme Court in one case, had the occasion to rule that…
In a long-line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, it has always been (consistently) held that…
3. In a litany of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
4. In a long-string of cases decided by the highest court of the land,
5. According to several cases decided by the Supreme Court,…
6. In a series of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
* Do not use the words series, litany or long-line
if there is only one decision/jurisprudence for that topic.
In one case decided by the highest court of the land, it was held that
8. In one case, the Supreme Court ruled that
It has been said that…
10. In a recent case, the Supreme Court has laid to rest the issue of whether or not…
11. It is well settled in this jurisdiction…
12. It is well settled in this country…
13. The Supreme Court has steadfastly adhered to the doctrine which states that
14. In a case with similar facts, the Supreme Court ruled that…
15. In several notable Supreme Court decisions, the highest court declared that…
16. The Supreme Court has often stressed that…
17. In the landmark case of _____________, (if the case is so famous) the Supreme Court laid down the doctrine
which substantially provides that…
18. In the leading case of …
19. As enunciated by the Supreme Court in one case,…
20. The court has repeatedly ruled…
21. A case in point is a case already decided by no other than the highest court of the land, where the Supreme Court
held that…
22. There is likewise an array of cases in this jurisdiction where the Supreme Court has consistently declared that…
23. Deeply rooted is the jurisprudence which provides that…
24. In one case, the Supreme Court was emphatic when it ruled that….
EMPHASIZING CASE DOCTRINES / JURISPRUDENCE
1. It is hornbook doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) that…
Immortal is the rule that…
3. Well settled is the rule…
Well entrenched is the principle that..
5. Elementary is the rule that..
6. The cardinal rule in (i.e. labor law) is that
7. It is a familiar canon in (i.e. political law) that
By well settled public law…
Basic is the rule in (i.e. Criminal Law)…
10. It is an elementary principle in…
11. It is a fundamental doctrine in…
12. Well accepted is the rule that…
13. It is axiomatic in (i.e. Civil Law) that
14. Enshrined in the 1987 Constitution is the rule that (i.e. no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or Property
without due process of law)
15. Consonant with the rule on…
16. It is a recognized doctrine in (i.e. Civil law) that…
17. It is a basic tenet in (i.e. Commercial Law)
18. Consistent with current jurisprudence
19. It is a legal presumption, born of wisdom and experience, that (i.e. official duty has been regularly performed; that
the proceedings of a judicial tribunal are regular and valid and that judicial acts and duties have been and will be
duly and properly performed. The burden of proving irregularity in official conduct is on the part of the petitioners.)
20. It is an oft-repeated rule that…
21. The Philippines adhere to the principle of…
REFERRING BACK TO THE CASE (correlating the facts with the law/jurisprudence)
Note: In my personal opinion, it is not proper to use the statements “in the case at
bench” or “in the case at bar” when answering. Although I guess it is very tempting
because it sounds good and professional to state, “in the case at bar/bench”, we must
not forget that the cases given in the Bar are only theoretical. The statements “in the
case at bench” and “in the case at bar” are more appropriately used in pleadings in
court. After all, you can use the statements “In the instant case, In the facts given, Inthe problem given and In the
question presented.”
1. Applying the said law/doctrine in the instant case,
From the facts given, noteworthy is the …
From the facts of the case, it is readily observable that…
In the instant case, it may be observed that…
It is crystal clear from the facts presented that (i.e. the crime of treason) is present (or was committed).
In the present case, it is immediately noticeable that the element of __________ is wanting (or lacking).
Under the circumstances, the proper remedy would be…
The case obtaining indicates a case of (i.e. B.P. 22)
It logically follows…
10. It goes without saying…
Even assuming arguendo, for the sake of argument that…
12. The situation in the case at hand…
13. The situation presented evinces a case of…
14. The facts sufficiently indicated …
15. In the given facts, it is immediately apparent that…
16. It is evident that…
17. In the same token…
18. Under the facts stated in the problem,…
19. In the case under consideration,…
20. Worth stressing is the fact that
21. Worth emphasizing is the fact that
22. The facts would reveal that…
23. A careful perusal of the facts of the case would reveal that…
24. A careful scrutiny of the actuations of the accused would reveal that…
25. A careful reading of the (i.e. Deed of Absolute Sale) would reveal that…
26. A cursory examination of the…
ANSWERING IN THE POSITIVE
1. The petition is meritorious.
2. The contention has legal basis.
3. The case will prosper.
4. The argument is proper.
5. The provision is perfectly applicable.
6. The action is tenable.
7. The motion should be granted.
8. The Judge is correct.
9. The petition is impressed with merit.
10. Yes. It is a (i.e. patent violation) of the
11. There is merit in the petition.
12. The petitioner’s contention is sustainable.
ANSWERING IN THE NEGATIVE
The contention does not hold water.
With all due respect to the judge, his decision is apparently erroneous or is not in accord with law and existing
jurisprudence.
The contention is totally misplaced.
It is now too late in the day to raise the issue of…
The petition is not meritorious.
The evidence presented deserves scant consideration.
The contention has no legal basis.
The argument is bereft of merit.
The petition is devoid of merit.
10. Petitioner’s reliance on the (i.e. doctrine of…) is inappropriate. The doctrine of … does not apply in cases where /
of…
11. It is a futile gesture on the part of the respondent to invoke the rule on…
12. The theory/argument has no ground to stand upon.
13. The contention has no leg with which to stand on.
14. The position of the petitioner runs counter with the doctrine of…
15. The case will not prosper.
16. The case is not tenable.
17. The act of the accused in… is of no moment.
18. The assertion lacks substance.
19. The decision is erroneous.
20. The court cannot countenance the (i.e. inconsistent postures of the petitioner)
21. The testimony that…, cannot be given credence.
22. The evidence presented has no probative value.
23. The allegation is belied by the fact that…
24. To put it otherwise would be to render the law on _____________ useless/futile.
25. The actuations of the accused in (i.e. fleeing and hiding) negates (i.e. innocence)
26. While it is true that _______________ is a (i.e. constitutional guaranteed right of a person), it does
not, however mean…
27. It is not correct to say that…
28. It is not proper to state that…
29. It is not accurate to conclude outright that…
30. A contrary conclusion would erode the rule that provides in part that…
31. To sustain the contention would be to render the law on ____________ nugatory.
32. It would be absurd and incongruous to sustain the argument that…
33. It is not enough that…
34. The fact that … is immaterial since…
35. The fact that … is irrelevant since…
36. In itself, mere …… is not sufficient (i.e. to warrant conviction)….
37. The petitioner cannot give any additional meaning to the clear and plain language of the law.
38. The Supreme Court, in several cases, has struck down the (i.e. defense of alibi)
39. The attendant circumstances of the case are contrary to the petitioner’s assertion.
40. The evidence does not support the theory of the petitioners.
41. There is no cogent reason to disturb the ruling of the (i.e. Court of Appeals)
42. The claim for (i.e. moral damages) must necessarily fail.
43. The (i.e. respondent) cannot rely on (i.e. mere alibis) to aid his cause.
CONCLUDING WORDS

1. From the gamut of evidence on hand, it can be gathered/deduced that,…

2. Taken all together,…
3. Finally, …
4. Hence, …
5. Therefore, …
6. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there is really (i.e. a violation of…)
7. From the foregoing, it is now safe to conclude that….
8. Lastly, …
9. Consequently,…
10. As a necessary consequence…
11. The logical implication is that…
12. At any rate,…
13. In view of the foregoing,…
14. As an inevitable conclusion,…
15. In the light of the circumstances,…
16. Undoubtedly,…
17. Indubitably,…
18. Clearly, the case at hand falls squarely within the purview of…
19. Verily, he/she has committed…
20. For this/these reason/s, it is unavoidable to conclude that…
21. Based on the facts obtaining,…
22. In this light,…
23. This being the case…
24. Clearly therefore, applying the aforecited ruling in the case at hand,…
25. In light of the foregoing, it is beyond cavil (doubt) that,…
26. There is no doubt that…
27. To the unprejudiced mind, the actuations of the three, when analyzed and taken together, leads to no other
conclusion except that (i.e. conspiracy among them existed)
28. Inescapably, therefore,…
29. All things considered,…
30. It follows therefore that…
31. As a logical result…
32. In sum,..
33. In view of the fact that…,
34. All told,…
35. Given the prevailing facts…
36. Having stated the foregoing premises,…
37. One final point,…
38. Accordingly,…

MY PERSONAL ADVICE FOR FUTURE BAR CANDIDATES DURING THE REVIEW

· Always pray before and after studying.
· Turn off your cellular phones. (Turn it on only during your break). Most or a significant part of our time reviewing is
sometimes spent on non-sense (or not so important) texting-replying-texting-replying. There is a time for everything.
But when you review, avoid interruptions. Cellular phone, believe me, is one of the major interruptions. Although it is
hard, why not sacrifice a little for the sake of being a lawyer.
· Believe in yourself. If you will not, then who do you expect would believe in you. (Tip from Sir Bubut Cayco)
· Choose a study buddy if you want. But sometimes it is better that you do
not have one. More study buddies, more interruptions (more kwento). Without you knowing it, “tapos na araw or
September na”.
· Before starting your review, be sure that the tension has already subsided. (Specifically starting the month of July
when tensions really soars high for most Bar candidates) Bear in mind that we can comprehend more if we are in
a relaxed state of mind.
· Set your own pace. Do not compare your pace with others (like asking others, “ilang reading ka na?”) This is not a
rat race. Quality reading(studying/reviewing actually) is what is needed. Bar does not dwell on the amount of
pages/books you have read, it is more of how much you have mastered.
· Do not memorize without comprehending. When mental block occurs, you cannot recall even a single thing.
Moreover, in applying the law in a given theoretical case problem, for sure you can hardly answer the same if you
have memorized without understanding.
· Do not highlight the entire reviewer . Sometimes, the problem with highlighting is that it becomes our security
blanket that we have read and understood what we have read. But more often, we have not.
· When you have a query or some matters in mind that needs clarification, just write it in a piece of paper, pag
marami na, ask it to a professor you believe is competent in that field. Don’t ask your co-barristers. It might only
end in a debate and waste of time, when no reliable answer is concluded. Remember, time is precious during the pre-
bar review.
· Set one day for recreations alone. It could rejuvenate your energy and create hunger for review the following day.
· Attend to the needs of your entire being. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This will also help you
avoid being exhausted in the review.
· Take vitamins and take your meals on time.
BEFORE THE BAR EXAM PROPER
· Make sure you have enough and complete sleep. A well rested mind can answer and articulate better.
· Pray
· Review the material you personally believe is a good last minute tip for you.
· Compose yourself, your mind, heart and spirit. Focus on the exam alone and not on the fear of failing. Stop or
reduce your tension. Tension is normal, as long as it is at a moderate level. After all, you will already be taking the
bar, no turning back. So might as well do your best. And you can only perform well if you are in a composed mind and
heart. (I suggest you close your eyes. Inhale then exhale as you count one to ten. It might help)
· Boost your confidence by telling yourself “Walang (your surname) na di magaling.” Or tell yourself “What kind of
celebration will I do if I top or at least pass
the bar?” at least you might laugh kahit kabado .
DURING THE BAR EXAM PROPER
· I suggest that before answering, formulate on your mind what will be placed on your first, second and third
paragraphs. The first paragraph normally contains a one-sentence direct to the point answer to the question. The
second paragraph commonly contains legal basis (provision of law in point, jurisprudence, co-relation of the
jurisprudence/provision with the facts of the case and application).Third paragraph normally contains the conclusion.
When you are already decided of your answer, write it according to your thoughts. In this approach, you will not only
be avoiding unnecessary revisions and erasures, you will also maintain the cleanliness of your booklet. Bear in mind
that, a dirty booklet is irritating to the eyes of the person checking the same.
· Allocate the time depending on the number of questions.
· Answer each question one at a time. Focus on one question before thinking or bothering yourself of the succeeding
questions.
· Do not stay in a number for so long. Leave at least a sheet for a 5point question. Go to the next number if you do
not know the answer. If I am not mistaken, more than one (1) bar candidate had not succeeded because of
stocking himself / herself in an item he/she does not know the answer of. As a necessary result, he/she failed to finish
the exam. As one of my friends told me, “No matter how grossly wrong your answer may be, do not ever leave an
item unanswered. Malay mo, may points for the effort/ink .Kidding aside, a blank sheet will surely get an automatic 0
point. So better answer all.”
· Don’t blame yourself or don’t panic if you failed to answer an item or two. It’s perfectly normal. What is abnormal is if
you failed to answer questions that you know the answer of just because you bothered/blamed yourself so much on
the items you don’t know. In short, if you failed to finish the exam.
· As my professor Atty. Francis Sababan told us before, “mga bata, avoid passing your booklet too early. The time
allocated for each subject may be too much, but it must be used wisely to: (1) write legibly, (2) compose your
answers properly, (3) avoid erasures, (4) observe proper margin, and (5) review your answers. After all there are no
prizes for early finishers.”
AFTER A BAR SUBJECT (OR ENTIRE BAR EXAM)
· Do not discuss answers. It is futile because the booklets had already been submitted and it could greatly affect your
performance for the remaining subjects. If your noble reason on asking about the answers is for you to know
the same, I suggest that you wait until the exam results have been already released. For self-preservation reasons,
for sure you will be anxious and fearful if you would discover that you have incurred (just for example) 10 mistakes.
IMPORTANT REMINDER IN ANSWERING
If you are so sure of the answer, you can directly answer yes or no. But if you are just guessing or not so
sure of the answer, you better start citing law provisions and jurisprudence first.
Logic behind: If you answer yes or no and it happened to be wrong, chances are, you will get an automatic ZERO (0)
for that item. The examiner might not read your answer anymore. Come to think of it, it would be a waste of his time
reading explanation of a wrong answer. Besides, there are so many booklets to check.
On the other hand, if you cite the law provisions and jurisprudence first, even though your yes or no answer placed in
the last paragraph/sentence is wrong, you might get some credit. (The examiner might say, “may alam tong batang
to, nalito lang”). Finally, at least, the examiner has read all your answer and explanation before grading you for that
item.
CARDINAL RULES IN TAKING THE BAR
. Do not forget your test permits, Supreme Court color coded Identification card, and other pertinent documents/things
as required in the letter coming from the SC allowing you to take the Bar.
. Bring a watch with you to keep you updated of the time left.
. Never be tempted to cheat.
. Keep your focus.
. Carefully read and comprehend the instructions and questions.
. Answer one at a time.
. Answer straight to the point. Be responsive to the question. Answer only what is being asked. Though it is tempting
to showcase your knowledge, do not over-elaborate.
. Avoid erasures.
. Do not hurry at the expense of substance (and readability) of your answers.
. Leave a space before starting a new paragraph.
. Review your answers. Scan your booklet before submitting the same. Be sure you have not left any question
unanswered.
. Bring extra sign/fountain pens.
. Observe proper margin.
by: PROF. MANUEL R. RIGUERA
As a law professor, bar reviewer, and bar exam coach, I’ve put together some advice and tips for those about to sit
for the bar examination. I hope that they will prove of some help to the examinee who aspires to hurdle one of the
toughest bar examinations in the planet.

BEFORE THE BAR EXAM

READ MATERIALS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND PASS THE BAR EXAM. The bar exam is not a matter to
take lightly. Hence reading materials on how to prepare for and to pass the bar will greatly increase your chances of
seeing your name inscribed in the bar exam hall of fame. You can bring these materials as light reading to your
three-day vacation after law school graduation. When I prepared for the 1991 bar, I read a well-worn pamphlet by
Prof. Jose Nolledo, Pointers for a Bar Candidate (1960). I also read a booklet by Commissioner Regalado
Maambong on the bar examination. The two booklets served me well by giving practical advice on how to prepare
for the bar and how to avoid costly mistakes during the preparation and the actual taking of the bar. Unfortunately it
seems both booklets are out of print.

Bar Blues (Central Books 2013)written by Tanya Karina Lat, Maria Gracia Gamez, and Marilyn Manait is one good
book on bar exam preparation which I highly recommend, comprehensive yet very readable. Slaying the Bar Exam
Dragon by Dean Rufus Rodriguez is another book which I would advise you to read.

Dean Wenceslao Laureta’s Secrets on How to Pass the Bar Examination (Rex Book Store, 1990)is a classic in the
field of bar exam strategies and tactics. It is somewhat a ponderous or even tedious read, replete with strong
opinions and side-comments which the reader may not agree with. Nonetheless there are valuable gems among the
plethora of obiter dicta. In particular I recommend the chapters on Types of Bar Questions, How to Tackle Bar
Questions, and Brass Tacks. I particularly commend the book to law professors and bar exam coaches and
mentors.

PREPARE AND ORGANIZE YOUR REVIEW MATERIALS. Prepare your list of reviewers after your graduation and
buy those that you do not have. Get the opinion of professors and last year’s bar examinees as they are the best
judges of law reviewers and can give you the pros and cons of a particular reviewer.

As for the copious annotations or commentaries that you used as textbooks during your first three years in law
school, consult them only if you need examples or illustrations of particular legal provisions. This is an area where
annotations or commentaries have an advantage over most reviewers which tend to put too much emphasis on rules
without giving the underlying fact pattern for such rule.

In this regard, I strongly advise the use of reviewers which are in Q&A form or which give examples or illustrations of
the rules. This reviewers will serve the dual purpose of being a review material as well as a training material for
answering the bar which is substantially made up of problem-type or fact-based questions.

PREPARE A BAR REVIEW SCHEDULE. A bar-review schedule is your road-map to navigating the six months of
bar review. When you are enrolled in a bar review center, synchronize your schedule with the bar review center’s
schedule otherwise you will not be reviewing effectively. In this regard, choose a bar review center wherein there is a
topical continuity in the schedule, that is, where one particular bar exam subject is discussed at a time before
proceeding to another bar exam subject. Avoid bar review centers with a hodgepodge schedule where for example,
negotiable instruments is discussed on one day, then labor relations on the next, and then civil procedure on the day
after.
My advice is that you study one bar exam subject before going to another. Some advise reviewing one subject in the
first half of the day (say remedial law) and then another (say commercial law) in the second half of the day. The
avowed purpose is to avoid ennui. I think this sacrifices focus and effectiveness just to add variety. One must
simply have the self-discipline and drive to study one bar subject at a time.

A rule of thumb in dividing your study time is to multiply the number of days available for review with the weight given
to a particular bar examination subject. Assume that you have 130 days allocated for your review (April to August
excluding Sundays). Political law has a weight of 15%. 130 days multiplied by 15% will give you 19 days. So you
allocate 19 days more or less for political law.

In your review schedule, the last bar subjects that you should study should be labor law and then political law (the so-
called “mirror schedule). This will enhance the effectiveness of your review since political law and labor law are the
bar exam subjects you will tackle on the first Sunday.

In your daily study schedule, your wake-up time should be at 4:30 a.m. and lights out should be at 9 p.m. This is to
make your body clock adjust to this schedule so that by October or the bar month, you would be used to sleeping
early and waking up early.

ENROLL IN A BAR REVIEW CENTER. There are advantages and disadvantages to enrolling in a bar review
center. Among the perceived disadvantages are the increased costs, which include the enrollment fee, the
transportation and food costs, and accommodation costs for those who reside in the provinces. Also quite some
time is spent in preparing and dressing up and in going to and from the bar review center.

Despite these considerations, I strongly recommend that a bar examinee enroll in a bar review center. A law
graduate does not have the degree of knowledge of the bar subject and the intuitive feel for what are the important
topics and probable bar exam questions which an experienced bar review lecturer has. Also a bar review center
provides case and statutory updates, which because of time limitations, is often not provided by law schools.

Take note that law and jurisprudence is in a constant state of flux and what you thought may have been good law last
year or even last month may no longer be so. Recent developments affect the law as a whole and not just specific
or isolated provisions. Hence these should not be taught or learned in a truncated or isolated manner but should be
imparted to the reviewee in a holistic manner, that is, seamlessly woven into a bar review subject as an integral
element thereof. Only a seasoned bar lecturer, with his experience and intuitive feel of the law, is capable of
performing this challenging feat. A bar reviewee who relies on past review material and simply tries to incorporate
“updates” into his study is playing with fire.

A recent innovation is online bar review. The bar reviewee need not go to a “brick-and-mortar” bar review center but
can review in the comfort of his own home or wherever there is internet access. This has the advantages of cost and
time efficiency.

In this regard, Jurists Bar Review is offering JURISTS COMBO, which combines the structured regimen and face-to-
face coaching of the traditional review with the convenience and flexibility of an online review.

CHOOSE YOUR BAR REVIEW CENTER WISELY. There are three important things which you should take into
account in choosing a bar review center: The line-up of lecturers, the schedule, and the existence of a coaching or
mentoring program.

The line-up of lecturers is important. Get the line-up and study this carefully. In appraising the line-up, get the
opinion of successful bar examinees and your law professors. Word usually gets around among the bar reviewees
and the law academe about the outstanding and the mediocre lecturers. Pay special attention to the lecturers in the
subjects in which you feel you are weak.
The schedule is also of capital importance. Some bar review centers draw their schedule based on the availability of
the lecturers rather than on topical continuity. As previously stated, avoid bar review centers with hodgepodge
schedules. This will greatly undercut the effectiveness of your study.

If you have taken the bar more than three times, ensure that the bar review center is run by a recognized law school
or that it has an accreditation agreement with one. The Supreme Court will not allow you to sit for the bar
examination unless you get a certification from such a bar review center.

TAKE MOCK BAR EXAMS AND AVAIL OF THE SERVICES OF A BAR-EXAM COACH. Another thing to look out
for is if the bar review center has a coaching program. The program should not be limited to the mere administration
of mock bar exams, but should provide for one-on-one coaching wherein a coach reads and evaluates the
examinee’s answers and then sits down and discusses the same with the examinee, seeking to identify the
examinee’s strong and weak points, to remedy the latter, to coach the examinee on how to read and answer the bar
exam questions, and in general to improve and maximize the examinee’s test-taking abilities.

See to it that the mock bars replicate the bar examination (that’s why they’re called mock bars) and that there is a
series of mock bars and coaching sessions (not just one or two) so that there will be adequate feedback and
performance monitoring.

Professor Mario Mainero, one of the foremost bar prep experts in the U.S., advises thus: “taking a practice exam
under exam conditions is the best way to prepare for an exam. If you do not take them as actual run-throughs, your
mind and body will not become used to taking law school [bar] exams, and you are more likely to freeze up or
perform at a less-than-peak performance level.”[1]

Analyzing and answering bar exam questions is not a matter of gut feel or intuition. The examinee who thinks that it
is enough to just read and attend lectures when preparing for the bar is taking a huge risk. A bar-exam coach or
mentor would be most invaluable in helping the examinee acquire the necessary competencies for succeeding in the
bar exam.

The new changes introduced in the bar exam format underscore the importance of coaching and training. The new
format employs two kinds of questions: (1) essay or problem-type questions, and (2) multiple-choice questions
(MCQs). Look for a coaching program that trains the examinee to handle both types of questions.

The high mortality rate in the bar examination is traceable to the sole or over-reliance on passive study and the
absence or lack of training and practice on bar exam strategies and tactics. This matter has been raised as early as
1959 by Dean Wenceslao G. Laureta in the preface to his classic Secrets on How to Pass the Bar Examination (Rex
Book Store, 1959 ed.)

Thus, it may be proper to remind the bar candidates some of the myths involved in the domain of bar examinations.
Almost invariably the bar candidates have the mistaken belief that by - - (1) Attending the best law schools; (2)
Listening to lectures of renowned bar reviewers during review classes; and (3) Memorizing the law or the rules of
procedure, including doctrinal rulings will guarantee his passing the bar examinations.

Wrong.

There is no question that the above circumstances will help to enable the bar candidate pass the bar examinations.
But the blooming secret in this regard is simply this: Present good answers that will make the examiner take
notice. Good answers anchored upon logical reasoning, written in readable English and more importantly, justified by
appropriate legal authority.

It would do well for the bar candidate to study carefully the manner in which answers are framed and the
corresponding comments given. He will not fail to see why a given answer is poorly presented and the value of the
corresponding remedy to improve it in a manner acceptable to the examiner. He must not make the tragic mistake of
assuming that he knows all these things. He must supplement his reading by actual practice in answer framing.
After all, one may know all the techniques on swimming which he can master from books on the subject, but until he
jumps into the water, he will never learn to swim. [Emphases supplied]

Bar exam strategies and tactics is a nuanced field which cannot be acquired from merely reading books and listening
to omnibus lectures. The services of a competent bar exam coach or mentor would be most helpful. A mock bar and
coaching program is also in line with the recent pedagogical trend of shifting stress to “outcome-based education”
from the conventional “input-based learning.”

The Supreme Court itself recognized the salient role played by mock bars and bar exam coaching. The Guidelines
for the 2014 Bar recommend thus:

Practice Exams

A good practice for law schools/review classes to observe is to hold practice examination sessions with the Bar
candidates, both on the Essay and the MCQ formats. In evaluating these practice exams, attention should be given
to both the law and the Bar candidate's presentation and use of English. In many instances, incorrect English is more
serious as a problem than the lack of precise knowledge of law, and has been the cause of high failure rates.
[Emphases supplied]

In line with the Supreme Court’s observation, Jurists has brought back the lecture “English for Bar Examinees” in
order to train the bar examinees write in correct, readable, and concise English. This would be especially helpful for
those who need improvement in their legal writing and English proficiency as the course would provide them with
helpful tips in order to surmount their challenges.

FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS IN YOUR BAR REVIEW. The key is not really studying more but studying
smart. It is simply impossible to read during the five months of review the entire code provisions of a law much less
the texts or annotations thereon. Besides some code provisions and comments are unimportant for purposes of the
bar and are seldom if ever asked in the bar.

During your review, you need to concentrate only on the primary review materials: a bar reviewer, the code
provisions, and the bar review materials provided by the bar review center. In reading the code provisions, do not
read the entire code but only those which are important. You know a code provision is important if it was discussed
by your professor or bar review lecturer or mentioned in your bar reviewer.

A useful supplement to your reviewer is the Lex Pareto Notes written by Zigfred Diaz, Maria Patricia Katrina de Guia,
Alrey Ouano, Louella Matsumoto, Ma. Salud Barillo, Danell Fernandez, Nolito Dayanan, and Helenytte Yu. This is a
breakthrough work wherein the authors, applying the Pareto Principle to the field of bar exam review and forecasting,
have found that approximately 80% of the bar exam questions are derived from 20% of the law. The authors have
pinpointed this 20% of the law on which the reviewee should spend 80% of his study time thus optimizing the
effectiveness of his review.

Many reviewees ask me if they should also read the survey of bar exam questions and answers published by the
U.P. Law Center. My answer would be yes, but not as a primary review material but as a supplemental training
material. You may from time to time pick some questions from the Q&A and then answer them without looking at the
suggested answers. Needless to state the services of a certified bar exam coach to evaluate your answers and give
written feedback is strongly advised as “self-coaching” has its drawbacks.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS. Remember to exercise daily or at least three times a week.
Exercising improves blood circulation to the brain and makes one think more clearly. It also builds up one’s
resistance to sickness and infection and improves one’s stamina. Remember that the bar exam is a grueling four-
hour exam in the morning and another one in the afternoon. So I’m not greatly exaggerating when I say that it’s like
training for a 20-K run.
Get enough sleep. At least six to seven hours sleep daily is advised. Lack of sleep will result in drowsiness and
sluggishness when studying, aside from making you susceptible to sickness or fatigue.

Proper diet is often overlooked but it is of the utmost importance. Observe a balanced and healthy diet, not forgetting
fruits and vegetables. Please take it easy on fast food especially instant noodles! (Well, from time to time fast food is
alright but don’t make it your staple food). A diet which would send a cardiologist into fits is not likewise appropriate
for a bar reviewee.

In fine take care of your health. Good health is the foundation of an outstanding bar review.

IMPROVE YOUR HANDWRITING. Handwriting is of capital importance in the essay exams. Your answers may all
be logical and correct but if your handwriting is illegible all your hard work will go down the drain. If your handwriting
is difficult to read, the examiner will most probably not take the time to decipher your booklet, taking into
consideration that he has about five thousand other booklets to read.

You may think that your handwriting is legible when it’s actually not. Take a mock bar examination and show your
booklet to another person and have him read it. You may be surprised to find that your handwriting is actually difficult
to read. If that is the case, work on improving your handwriting.

DURING OCTOBER AND THE BAR EXAM

AVOID UNNECESSARY STRESS AND DISTRACTIONS. Some stress and nerves is unavoidable during the review
and exam week and in fact helps to drive you harder in your studies. However undue and excessive stress and
nerves is an enemy of the bar examinee as it results in lack of sleep and hinders proper thinking both while studying
and taking the exam itself. If you feel that you are unduly stressed or worried, learn relaxation techniques like yoga
and deep breathing. Prayer and meditation are powerful relaxation techniques.

Ignore useless distractions. Usually rumors of who the examiner is become widespread during this time and
examinees worry themselves silly with the type of questions the rumored examiner usually asks and with obtaining
notes and materials written by or about the rumored examiner. This is just a useless exercise which would distract
you from doing what should be done: studying. All examiners are in the main bound by an unwritten law that their
questions should be on the basics of the law and on significant jurisprudence. So just ignore the question of who the
examiner might be and stick your nose to your review materials.

The bar exam month features the annual frenetic paper chase by bar examinees. Examinees go on a quest for the
Holy Grail of the bar exams: the red or blue notes from San Beda or Ateneo or the UP notes. These notes are
supposed to embody the answers or even “leaks” of bar exam questions. This is balderdash. I graduated from
Ateneo and worked in the bar-ops. I know that the so-called blue notes are simply compilations of probable bar
questions with answers prepared by law students with a little assistance from the faculty. While they are definitely
helpful, you don’t have to wail and grind your teeth if you do not get them. What is contained in the blue notes is
more often than not also in your bar reviewers and review materials.

One examinee spent a lot more time looking for notes, tips, and leaks rather than studying. He failed the bar five
times and is now exploring career opportunities with the CIA.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM. This advice cannot be overemphasized.
Adequate sleep makes the mind sharper and allows us to recall what we have studied with facility. So do not make
the mistake of studying until the witching hour. The extra hours of study is not worth it if you find yourself sleepy and
thinking sluggishly during the bar exam.

You should hit the sack by 9 p.m. Do not panic if you find that you are unable to sleep. Just relax and continue lying
in bed, at least your body will be rested. But do not make the mistake of standing up and studying. In that case you
will lack both sleep and rest, and the chances of a disaster are multiplied threefold. Ron de Vera slept for only an
hour the night before the first Sunday exam and for only 30 minutes the night before the second Sunday exam of
2004. He placed second. (Lat et al., Bar Blues, p. 85). Of course I’m not saying that you get only an hour’s sleep if
you want to place in the top ten, what I’m saying is that there is no need for you to call 911 if you find yourself unable
to fall into the arms of Morpheus.

I advise against taking sleeping pills. They often have the side effect of muddling up your thinking. There was an
examinee who, finding himself unable to sleep the night before the Civil Law exam, popped a sleeping pill. He was
able to sleep all right, but the next day he found himself unable to distinguish between loco parentis and crazy
momma.

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. Before you start reading and answering the questions, take the time to
first read and understand the instructions. Quite a few examinees in their eagerness go straight to reading and
answering the questions without bothering to read the instructions. This could be disastrous. Keep in mind that there
will be different instructions for the three types of exams.

NEVER LEAVE ANY QUESTION UNANSWERED. Even if you are clueless as to the answer to a question, give it
your best try. Never leave any question unanswered. The examiner may feel slighted if you do not answer a
question. He may think that you felt that the question was not properly crafted that is why did not answer it.
Moreover a blank response will get you zero while giving it your best shot could net you 2 or 3 points which could
spell the difference between flunking and passing.

In the MCQ exam, remember that a wrong answer will not result in a deduction. The MCQ exam does not follow the
“right-minus-wrong” rule. Hence do not leave any MCQ unanswered, since you have at least a 25% chance of
picking the correct answer.

MANAGE YOUR TIME WISELY. Many examinees spend too much time on the first part of the exam and thus find
themselves rushing through the second part or worse running out of time and leaving some questions unanswered.
Learn to pace yourself properly. Taking mock bar exams will help you learn how to pace yourself in a 18 to 20
question examination.

DO NOT BE FLUSTERED BY “SHOCK AND AWE” QUESTIONS. Those who took the 1991 Bar Examination (like
me) will never forget the infamous first question in Political Law: “What is the writ of amparo? Discuss its
constitutional basis.” Considering that almost all of us examinees could not tell the difference between this writ and
Ms. Amparo Munoz, the question had the effect of a sneak punch to the solar plexus. I can still picture in my mind
the bar exam room at MLQU, everyone was too flabbergasted to say anything but the shock could be seen in
everyone’s faces.

I was not amused but on the contrary bemused. For about seven minutes, I just sat there, unable to think or write
anything down. Eventually I was able to steady my nerves by thinking that if I found the question befuddling, quite a
few others also probably did. I wrote down something about the writ having to do with the enforcement of civil rights
and being of Latin American origin, which I vaguely remembered from some obscure news item in the Manila Bulletin
about a speech of Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan.

Other “shock and awe” questions include one which asked who the current president of the International Court of
Justice was, one which asked for the meaning of the acronym ACID (from a speech of Chief Justice Artemio V.
Panganiban), and another which asked the examinee to define the Denicola test in intellectual property law.

Such kinds of questions are not really expected to be answered correctly by the majority of the examinees (and even
law professors) but are meant more to test the resolve and fortitude of one who aspires to be a lawyer. Do not panic
or lose hope if you do not know the answer to the question. Just give it your best try and proceed to the other
questions.

AFTER THE EXAM

DO NOT DISCUSS THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. After you have taken a bar exam in a particular subject,
forget about it and concentrate on preparing and studying for the next bar exam subject. After all you cannot undo
what you have already written. Avoid discussing the probable answers and avoid people who delight in discussing
them. The time spent on arguing and discussing the probable answers is better spent relaxing and preparing for the
next exam.

The bar exam is a formidable challenge but like any other hurdle it can be surmounted by assiduous planning and
preparation. The following quote from Steve Nash, a player of less than imposing physical attributes but who went on
to become one of the NBA all-time greats, is inspiring:

You have to rely on your preparation. You got to really be passionate and try to prepare more than anyone else, and
put yourself in a position to succeed, and when the moment comes you got to enjoy, relax, breathe and rely on your
preparation so that you can perform and not be anxious or filled with doubt.

When your moment comes, enjoy it!

January 2015
-oOo-

25 Best Bar Exam Tips

Bar exam tips are as varied as there are people in the world. Everyone who passes has their own tricks or tips that
were effective for them. The following bar exam tips, however, are ones that worked for us and that we have seen
work with great success. Whether you struggle with getting started, or want tips on a specific part of the exam, the
following 25 bar exam tips work time and time again with our students! This is written by founder of JD Advising,
Ashley Heidemann, who scored a 180 on the MBE and a 184 on the essay portion of the Michigan bar exam in
February 2011. In other words, she scored in the 99th percentile for both portions of the bar exam.
25 Best Bar Exam Tips
Bar Exam Tips 1-6: What To Do Before You Start Studying
1. Eliminate distractions ahead of time.
Clear your schedule. Figure out how you work best. Plan out when you will get up, when you will study, where you
will study, and even how you will study. Create a calendar of what you will study and when you will study it.
2. Decide if you want to start studying early.
Many students benefit from starting early – those with anxiety, those who did not do well their first year of law school,
those who are working while studying for the bar exam. Read this post if you are considering studying for the bar
exam early.
3. Prepare your family and friends.
The bar exam is a beast! Tell your family and friends ahead of time that you will not be able to do as much, go out as
much, or be around as much as before! If possible, ask for some help with some time-consuming tasks you typically
undertake. Also, let them know that they should not take offense if you are not able to hang out every weekend or if
you have to skip a few get-togethers. Telling them ahead of time can increase awareness and reduce or eliminate
outside stress.
4. Take time off work.
It is important to take time off of work if at all possible. If you are not able to substantially reduce your hours at work, it
is important to start studying early to make up for lost time. (If you are planning on working and studying, read this
post on how to work full time while studying for the bar exam.)
5. Create a study schedule.
You will feel better as soon as you do this. If you are in a commercial course, they may provide a schedule for you.
However, even then you should make sure it is tailored to what you truly need. You may find it very helpful to make
your own schedule (even if you use a commercial course’s schedule as your “baseline” schedule). It will help you
feel in control, ease anxiety, and tell you what you should be doing when you sit down to study.
6. Understand that it is okay if you don’t blindly do everything your course tells you to do.
What we mean by that is, some people simply do not learn the exact some as others. Some people hate Barbri
“amps”, or “pre-reading” a 200-page handout before each lecture. Or they get nothing out of listening to 12 hours of
lecture on a subject that they know inside and out. It is okay to skip these things and spend more time on
what is helpful to you, as we will explain more below.
Many first time takers’ biggest regret is blindly following their commercial course “to do lists” and only a month before
the exam, realizing that the schedule actually does not help them at all and that they have actually not retained any
information.
Bar Exam Tips 7-11: Key Principles you have to remember – the four steps to passing the bar exam.
7. The first step toward learning the law is to have good materials.
This means good outlines! If you don’t like your bar exam outlines, cannot stand how they are organized, or need
something different, buy different outlines. Or make your own. If you cannot stand your materials, you are already
behind.
(If you are in a UBE state, check out the UBE outlines we distribute to our students. They are fantastic and
completely tailored to what is tested on the UBE. We offer the same kind of outlines for students taking the Michigan
bar exam as well.)
8. The second step is to understand your materials.
Maybe this is by watching a commercial course lecture. Or getting a private tutor. Or maybe it is by recalling what you
learned in law school. By understanding the materials, you will be better able to complete the next two steps.
9. The third step is to memorize the materials.
This is by far the step that most students skip when they are studying for the bar exam. Why? Because their
commercial course overloads them with so many lectures then so many practice problems, AMPs, reading
assignments, writing assignments, that many students go right from understanding their materials to practicing
questions before they have learned anything. It is not enough to understand the general principles of law to pass the
bar exam. You have to know the nuances! Both the MBE and essay portion test the nuances! See this post for more
ideas on how to memorize your bar exam outlines.
10. The last step is to practice the types of questions you’ll see on the exams – i.e. the MBE and essay questions.
Which we’ll talk about further below, along with the MPT. The important thing is that you practice answering questions
early and often! Do not skip this critical step. Do not wait until you feel completely “ready”. You have to make a habit
of answering questions early and often.
11. Take five minutes a week to make sure that everything you are doing is furthering one of these four goals.
If AMPS don’t do it, stop doing AMPS. Is a lecturer is terrible? Stop watching it! If you already know Constitutional
Law inside and out, there is no reason to spend as much time on that subject as, say, Contracts. Take five minutes a
week to reflect on what is working and what isn’t. And if something isn’t effective for you, stop doing it! (See #5
above!) If you study effectively, you do not need to study 14 hours a day. It is the people that study inefficiently that
have to spend 14 hours a day in the library.
Bar Exam Tips 12-16: MBE Tips
12. Focus on the most highly-tested areas of law.
These are negligence in Torts, relevancy in Evidence. (Note, that, for example, real property is evenly divided in
terms of what is tested. So if you struggle with, say, future interests, that’s okay! They will probably compose two
questions on the MBE! If they are heavily-tested on the essays, though, it is worth it to learn them well!) To see the
highly-tested areas of law, review our chart of the highly-tested areas of law on the MBE here.
13. Get actual released MBE questions.
Using Barbri, Kaplan, or Themis? That is nice. But most of them do not use actual released questions. (Some have a
few that they have managed to pay for from the National Conference of Bar Examiners’.) But you need the real deal.
See this post for some great sources of real MBE questions.
14. When you answer a question incorrectly, make sure you understand exactly why.
Don’t just say “oh well, I got it wrong.” Instead, closely examine the answer choices and the explanations to
understand why you answered it incorrectly. Do this even when you answer a question correctly as you may be
answering it correctly for the wrong reasons!
Note that while this is a great first step, most students stop here. It is very important to also complete the next step if
you truly want to see your score improve . . .
15. When you answer a multiple-choice question incorrectly, write it down.
Our students often say that this tip is what made the difference between a passing and failing score. Indeed, writing
down the law you don’t know or writing down why you get a question wrong can help you turn your weaknesses into
strengths. You can also start to notice patterns in what you are getting wrong. That is, did you get two questions
wrong because you circled the wrong answer choice? That is two too many! Do you find you keep getting hearsay
questions wrong? That points you to where you need to study!
Further, you can constantly review this legal pad so you constantly review the rules you are unfamiliar with.
Thus, step 14 (simply examining the answer choices and understanding why you got it wrong) is not enough. You will
be reviewing too much law and doing too much every day and you will promptly forget what you learned. But if you
write what you learned down on a legal pad and you constantly review it, not only are you engaging in an “active
learning” process, but you will also be preserving it for future review. You will remember it much better.
16. Don’t race through questions – especially in the beginning.
So many students make it a goal to do 33, or 50, or 100 questions a day. While timed exams are important, we
suggest instead that you answer questions slowly and methodically! Read this MBE guide if you are having trouble
slowing down!
Bar Exam Tips 17-21: Written Portion Tips
17. If your state has an MPT, take the MPT seriously!
This might sound obvious, but so many people don’t take the MPT seriously. In UBE jurisdictions (and any jurisdiction
where it is worth 20% of the overall score) It is worth the equivalent of 70 MBE questions AND it is the only portion of
the bar exam where you do not have to rely on any outside law! You can have a huge edge up over you peers if you
practice MPTs early and often! (Read this post if you are not convinced you should take the MPT seriously.)
18. Focus on the highly-tested areas of law.
Believe it or not, most state bar examiners don’t reinvent the wheel every time they write an essay exam. The
National Conference of Bar Examiners certainly doesn’t. It is well worth it to focus on being able to articulate the
issues you are most likely to see. (If you are in a Uniform bar exam state, check out our MEE one-sheets here.)
19. Remember a bar exam essay is not a law school essay.
So get out of the habit of answering it as if it is a bar exam essay. More specifically: Structure your answer around the
call of the question (rather than trying to pick out every issue you can possibly spot in the fact pattern, as you would in
a law school essay). Rather than arguing both sides for every issue, note that some essays will just ask you to apply
the law. Lastly, most bar exam essays have an accurate conclusion. So arrive at a conclusion for every essay you
write.
This is very different than law school essays where issue spotting is extremely important, where you are supposed to
ramble on in your analysis, and where the conclusion does not matter.
20. Practice answering essay questions for the MEE.
For godsakes, please practice! We see so many students who fail the bar exam because they do not practice
answering exam questions. Keep in mind it is much easier to substantially improve your score on the essay portion of
most state bar exams than it is the MBE. The key is to answer a large amount of essays and to make it a consistent
part of your practice. Still not convinced? Remember that the MEE is worth the equivalent of 105 MBE
questions!!!! Pick up those points!!(If you are in a Uniform bar exam state, check out our MEE one-sheets here to
pick up the most points!)
21. “Self-grade” your own essays.
While it is nice to have feedback from a commercial course, professor, or tutor, the best feedback you will get is your
own. After you write an essay answer, study whatever sample answer is available. Compare your issue statements,
your rule statements, analyses, and conclusions to those of the sample answer. It is much better to use answers that
are written by your state board (or the NCBE if you are in a uniform bar exam state) rather than past student answers.
Bar Exam Tips 22-25: Other Crucial Tips
22. Incorporate timed exams into your schedule.
Start timing yourself right away. Just start by answering an hour’s worth of questions at a time (i.e. 33 multiple-choice
questions, or two or so essays—depending on your jurisdictions). Then increase it each week. Pick a day to have a
“timed essay/MBE day.” (I used to do it every Friday morning!) Not only will you get good practice, and increase your
confidence as well as your chances of passing the bar exam, but you will appreciate mixing your schedule up!
23. Don’t just make a bunch of flashcards. Or engage in any other activity that just wastes time!
So many students will make hundreds of flashcards (which is very time-consuming!) then they never even look at the
flashcards. Or they get too overwhelmed. Other students rewrite their entire outlines. We recommend that you
instead focus on actively learning your outlines. Memorize the outlines that you have (and that you are paying so
much for!) rather than going crazy trying to rewrite your entire outline on flashcards or separately from the outline you
have. If you love flashcards and cannot imagine studying without them, see this post on how to make (and use)
flashcards the right way.
24. Try different learning techniques.
Try making charts, or drawing diagrams, or creating mnemonics. Color code your outline. Scrawl out elements over
and over until you know them all. Quiz yourself. Have someone else quiz you. Speak your outline out loud. Get a
white board and explain portions of your outline to yourself. Mix up how you study and what you study! See this post
for more ideas on how to learn your bar exam outlines.
25. Be healthy.
Sleep as much as you can. Take time to prepare nutritious meals. Exercise. All of these things will keep your body
and your brain healthy. You may think of them as things that “waste time” or that can wait until the bar exam is over.
But truly, being healthy will increase your concentration and focus. It will keep you motivated. It will reduce stress.
And it will make it easier for you to understand and learn new concepts.
We hope these bar exam tips help during your preparation!