Tactics Archives | Make This Your Last Time

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 - No Comments

Should You Read the Call of the Question First on the MBE?

You’ll often see advice to read the call of the question first in an MCQ or MBE question. As always, humans like to look for one universal strategy that works in all situations.

The idea with going straight to the call is that you’ll know what you’re looking for before you read the fact pattern, so you filter details more efficiently. That part is true. It’s helpful to know what the question is testing.

But there are weaknesses with call-first to watch out for, and a more nuanced approach for starting an MCQ.

June 13, 2026June 13, 2026 - No Comments

MBE Tips and Tools (+ Best Supplements)

Ah yes, the MBE, everyone’s favorite multiple-guess section…

1.8 minutes per question for 6 hours
Paranoia from seeing seven C’s in a row on your answer sheet
50/50 choices that make you go, “Damn, what’s with this ultimate decision?”

Up to 50% of your bar exam score hangs on a series of letters. I don’t mean essays and performance tests, which are also a series of letters.

Wow! Sounds important. (So are these 3 high-priority areas that take up 21% of the MBE.)

For some people, the MBE comes easily, while it seems impossible for others.

While the MBE is a formidable portion of the bar, improving on it is figure-out-able.

So how do you improve your MBE score? Here are:

3 quick tactics you can try RIGHT NOW
3 study strategies for long-term success on the MBE
How to implement these tactics and strategies

December 20, 2025July 8, 2026 - 19 Comments

Predictions for the Bar Exam (What to Focus On for Efficient Study)

No wonder this person posted anonymously because I see at least 3 things I could critique in this comment:

You know what, it’s my fault for reading social media.

Before every exam, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and ask about which subjects will appear on the upcoming bar exam.

“Does anyone know the essay predictions?”
“What do you think will be tested?”
“I don’t think ____ will appear on the exam.”
“Anyone think ____ will be tested?”
“I know we’re not supposed to listen to predictions, but…”
“What are ____’s predictions?”
“Here are my MEE predictions!”

Whose speculations are you going to bet 6 months of your life on?

If you’re like many bar takers, or if you’re a repeater, you say: “Haha of course I’m not going to rely on the predictions. I shall adequately study all the subjects. You should too!”

And then you panic and look at the predictions anyway.

Did you want me to tell you, “Aww poor baby, don’t worry. It’s normal and happens to the best of us 🥺”?

You SHOULD worry if you’re secretly tempted to rely on predictions. Sweating about predictions is NOT a good place to be and requires intervention.

Also, remember when subjects actually leaked for the California exam in 2019 and people got mad over it? Do you want to know the subjects ahead of time or not? Make up your minds!

Maybe you’re too young to remember ancient history. I’ve been dealing with you people for too long.

Here’s why you should look toward essay/MEE predictions for entertainment value and morbid curiosity only:

(and 3 things you can focus on instead to take control over your studies)

July 5, 2025July 5, 2026 - No Comments

How to Know If You’re Actually Learning the Law or Just Memorizing the Words

Many bar exam candidates spend weeks or months watching lectures and reviewing outlines, only to freeze when they sit down to answer practice questions.

You’ve read the material over and over. You’ve highlighted your notes. You can nod along when your bar prep course explains a concept. But when exam day arrives, you’ve suddenly got amnesia, and the rules you thought you knew suddenly feel slippery.

The problem is that you’ve been memorizing words on a page instead of learning what they mean. There’s a vast difference between the two. True understanding means you can recall the rules (not just recognize them in an outline), and adapt them to new fact patterns (until they become repetitive) under pressure.

Becoming familiar with the issues and rules feels productive in the moment but is unreliable when you need it most. Understanding this distinction is the first step toward transforming your bar prep mastery.

July 23, 2024July 5, 2025 - 3 Comments

Admire the Buttcrack (and 9 Other Last Minute Tips for the Bar Exam)

Ahh shit… You utter the first word of the day as a dying declaration.

Because it’s time. Is it really that real? Let’s do this!

Implementing, practicing, and doing. I hope, by doing those things consistently, you’ve made solid progress.

Maybe you don’t feel ready. The good news is that the more prepared you actually are, the less you feel prepared. The bad news is that the other way isn’t necessarily true. You don’t know what you don’t know.

Not all hope is lost, ye weary traveler. It’s time to put your training to the test.

For now, go in with a “might as well, even if I don’t feel ready” or a “you never know until you try” attitude.

You’ll be able to say, “I’m glad I tried.”

You’ve worked hard these past weeks and months. You’ve come all this way. Let’s finish it without any hiccups at the very end.

We don’t want a “failure of the last mile” that undoes all we’ve done up until now. Here are some final tips for bar exam week.