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, 2025February 22, 2026 - 18 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:

"The worst part about studying ... is that we cannot even properly use predictions."

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

Before every exam, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and shamelessly 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 listen to?

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… because this kind of thinking is entirely predictable and avoidable. 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 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.

January 13, 2024March 18, 2024 - 1 Comment

Lessons Learned from Failing the Bar Exam (Live Workshop Replay)

I did a live workshop + Q&A with Doreen Benyamin (host of “Before You Take the LSAT”) on what I wish I had known on my first attempt at the bar exam.

This was a fire conversation! I’m happy to share that the recording is now available as a podcast episode (links and handout below).

It’s been edited down to 48 minutes long. But you’re not here to dilly dally. So here’s some social proof from other people who already spent the time:

"I found you from Doreen’s Benyamin’s zoom a few weeks ago and I appreciated your insight. I’m in crunch time and I’m hoping your Magicsheets and Approsheets will get be over the hump. I’m obviously very nervous and worried that I haven’t dedicated enough time to this but I look forward to going over your sheets!"

Hopefully this forced a suggestion in your mind that maybe it’s worth a click.

Not sorry in the least. I know it’ll be worth at least a few seconds of your time, so it’s my obligation to share it with you.

If you’re in the middle of preparing for the bar exam, this is a great time to calibrate how you’re doing in your studies.

The episode covers:

Philosophies for effective bar prep
What moves the needle in bar prep
Optimizing for learning vs optimizing for performance
How to spend the last month of studying (including sample schedules in the Handout linked below)
Memorizing
Motivation and confidence
Q&A (tons more Q&A and goodies in the Handout)

Listen on Spotify:

Listen on YouTube:

And a message from Doreen:

Handout linked above. Magicsheets samples here.

I’m eternally grateful to Doreen for making this happen and for her hard work putting this together for us.

Please show her some support:

Play the episode.
Share the Spotify or YouTube link above (or this page) with a bar taker you care about.
Tell us your takeaways or what you want to see in the future, by commenting on the YouTube video or below.