How to study for the Bar Exam? 5 Tips to Maximize Studying at Home

You’ll hear it over and over again: Preparing for the bar exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, it’s a cliche. Allow us another: Cliches are cliches for a reason. There’s truth in there. Here are five tips to help you prepare for the bar exam when you study at home.

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Getting ready for the bar exam undoubtedly is not an easy task. Following blindly your bar review course could be an advice. However, it is important to realize that you can actually take a far more efficient approach to your bar exam prep.

So before you start, take the time to gather everything you need, take care of things to clear your schedule, and set up a home study space that works for you. Difficult as it is, you should know that there are several steps you can take to improve your studying, and with that, your chances of passing the Bar Exam.

1. Cover a lot of material, but don’t go too deep

You must have heard this: the bar exam is not your average law school exam. In law school, students who know the most about a subject are typically those who achieve the highest grades on final exams. A detailed, thorough understanding of the course material is the goal of every top law student. 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 hurtful.

Here, you want to build a broad knowledge of the law that is wide rather than deep. To pass the bar, you don’t need to be an expert on the subjects tested. You simply need to know just enough to pass the exam.

Also, just because something CAN be tested on the bar exam doesn’t mean it’s likely to be tested. You would be wrong to “skip” a topic and focus on another: cover everything, even if it is just the key concepts.

2. Create a Personalized Study Space

Taking the Bar Exam is a full time job. So you need a space that will make it a bit more enjoyable to be in. Don’t skip this task. Try your best in creating a study space that allows for quiet instrumental study music, meditation, and light stretching. There should be no distractions or singing along.

Let’s eliminate some options, to start. Your bed isn’t a study space. Nor is your couch with the TV blaring. You need to be focused when you open your laptop, books, and notes, and having distractions nearby won’t help in that regard.

If you’re not feeling as productive as you’d wish, change up your scenery. Switch the playlist you’re listening to or go without music altogether. In the end, passing the bar is the only thing that matters, and finding a studying groove is the best way to achieve that goal.

3. Establish a routine

Routine take so long to get into so you better start now. The key to success when studying for the bar exam is to stick to your routine. It means going to bed at the same time every night, waking up at the same time, eatings meals at the same time, breaks at the same time, etc.

The beginning of your preparation will be focused on figuring out your routine. In the end, ask yourself these questions:

What did I learn today?
Was I productive?
Did I take quality notes?
Was I energized?

If at the end of the day you answer yes, then you’re on the right path. If you answer no, then consider modifying your routine and work on improving the negatives.

4. Take Practice Tests Under Test Conditions

Studying for the bar involves taking practice tests, so you should match the test conditions. It’s not about the amount of information you can store in your brain, but about the way you convey the information to others.

If your law school organize mock exams, then you should definitely sign up for it. Otherwise set a timer, turn off your phone and practice like if it was the exam day. You should practice under test conditions, even for the MPT section of the bar exam.

You might think “that’s ok I got this” but this could be different on the day of the exam. Plan to take a full-length bar exam during your prep at least once. This ensures you know what it’s like before you go in for the real test, which can be a wonderful way to handle anxiety.

5. You may be alone at home, but you’re not.

Depending on the pandemic and your law school, you might have to study alone at home. This can be dreadful and stressful, but you’re not the only one going through it.

Reach out to your bar review representative with questions and think about all of your classmates and friends who are in the same boat as you. Perhaps schedule some virtual study sessions if you need some motivation, use relevant outlines and quiz each other over video, etc.

Studying at home does not mean you can’t get the help you need. Don’t forget about your professors and law school support. They are valuable resources in providing guidance on certain topics you’re struggling with or just encoring words.

Just because you don’t see them face-to-face doesn’t mean they’re not there to lend support, whatever that support may be. In fact, their goal is the same as yours: to have you pass the bar.

We get it, the Bar Exam is a lot. Put all the Chances on your Side and check out now our material ! Look at our Special NY Bar Page to find everything you need for your preparation.