Bar Exam Preparation
Not sure if AdaptiBar or UWorld is better for your MBE needs? Someone had a succinct dilemma about this:
Good dilemma (and choice of outlines). Here’s a breakdown of both and a summary table.
Continue reading “AdaptiBar vs. UWorld MBE QBank: Which one should you get?”AdaptiBar. You keep hearing this name. What is it, some kind of protein snack?
👇🏻 Click to skip the MBE intro and go to the table of contents 👇🏻
AdaptiBar is an online study supplement for the MBE (Multistate Bar Examination, AKA the multiple guess choice section of the bar exam).
The MBE has gotten a ton of criticism. For one, the president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) thinks newer MBE takers are “less able.” And with the virus that shall not be named, each question is that much more critical because there are only 100 questions yet the MBE is weighted the same.
To top it all off, more and more students are reporting how hard these questions are getting. What are you to do when your future depends on a series of letters?
Let’s see why it’s more important than ever to prepare for the MBE and how AdaptiBar will help you do just that (and how you can get 10% off your entire cart, including Jon Grossman’s popular lectures).
(Hint: Progress is a process of adaptation by practicing just beyond your limits. It’s the reason why we become better at any skill.)
Continue reading “AdaptiBar Review: Is It Worth It (to Prep for the MBE in 2025)?”There are a lot of resources and supplements for the MBE portion of the bar exam these days.
You’re bombarded with referral links and ads from all angles on the Internet these days thanks to everyone trying to get a piece of you (and your sneaky iPhone listening to everything you think).
You’re taking the most important exam of your life. The multiple-choice part counts for 50% of your bar exam score based on a series of 200 letters (or 100 if there’s a pandemic).
All you want is just some solid and cost-effective help that makes you actually learn and progress.
What are you supposed to choose?
UWorld MBE QBank is a new contender to the MBE game.
In this comprehensive review of UWorld, I’ll explain what their MBE QBank does and why I immediately reached out when I first heard about it from my readers.
One key distinction about UWorld’s MBE platform is that it comes with visual, intuitive answer explanations. Answer explanations with illustrations, charts, and other visual aids can help you retain and recall the rules. A picture is worth a thousand words, or at least a lot of words. And we already have enough words to read as it is.
Here are some key takeaways and a table of contents for more details:
Continue reading “UWorld MBE Review: Study with Visual Learning (vs. AdaptiBar)”“Why is bar prep so expensive? Can I study on a budget? Big box bar review courses are a scam!” You cry out into an echo chamber.
It’s socially acceptable to dunk on math in America. It’s politically incorrect to dislike “travel” or “dogs.” And it’s considered weird to not sign up for an expensive bar review course when you’re studying for the bar exam.
I have a lot to say about all of these, but let’s address that last one about bar review courses. Look at this article from Business Insider:
No! It doesn’t have to be this way just because you want to practice law!
Or how about this Reddit post:
Luckily, you’re already in the right place if you want strategies to maximize your chances of passing the bar exam.
Do you notice the insidious assumptions above?
First, you might assume you should pass if you do “everything you’re supposed to.” This is not true. I’m at least one example of someone who followed the plan exactly and failed the first time.
Second, you might assume that you NEED to enroll with a bar prep company to pass the bar exam.
The question gets framed as “what’s the best bar exam prep course?” rather than “should I take a bar course?” After all, you were bombarded with offers from the usual suspects (Barbri and the gang) since day one of being a law student.
So it’s not your fault that no one exposed you to the idea of alternate paths such as self-study. Also, at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with using a course, as long as you use it properly.
Huh, not everything is black and white in this world. Go figure.
It’s just that you don’t NEED a course (by default). You don’t NEED a tutor (unless you want personal guidance). In fact, nowadays, you can ask AI to explain the law like you’re a child! Bar exam fees are high enough already.
You don’t have to spend $10,000 or $3,000 or anything close to that (besides registration fees) every time you take this test just for the chance to become a licensed attorney.
I’ll show you how below, unless you want to victimize yourself to make the news.
!["Simple math told me it was cheaper to take and retake the [bar exam] 3-4 times using ... 'non-traditional' decent-priced materials ... than to spend an outrageous $6,000 on the BARBRI Prep Course (also apparently not made for anyone working full time)."](https://i0.wp.com/makethisyourlasttime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Magicsheets-Approsheets-simple-math.png?resize=525%2C138&ssl=1)
Again, I’m not wagging my finger saying you must or mustn’t enroll in a bar prep course. I’m just saying you can think about it and consciously decide for yourself.
That could involve using a course to guide your studies. That could involve developing your own curriculum. The right tools, approaches, and investments for you will pay off.
The point of bar prep isn’t transcribing video lectures or completing a course 100%. It is to learn how to answer questions.
Start by checking for any internal narratives you may have about what you need to spend your money on to prepare for the bar exam. (Below, I’ll share my take on how you only really need just THREE things for effective bar preparation.)
I’ll help you reexamine the default assumptions born from “big bar” lobbying by answering these questions:
Ever wonder what you’re doing with your life? How you even got into this mess?
And by life, I’m talking about California essays (and performance tests) that seem to need a beautiful mind to unravel. Because that’s your life now. It should be. I’ve been there. So has Gabrielle:
(If you’re taking the MEE or another bar, you may want to stop reading when you get to the table of contents.)
Part of why the written portion of the California bar is so difficult is what they demand out of your essays. The hypos are dense and packed with a landmine of issues for you to figure out under constant pressure.
This is one of several reasons why the California bar is considered the hardest bar exam in the country. This isn’t up for debate. You can try, but I will win.
Continue reading “BarEssays Review: Practicing Essays Is Not Enough”