Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The MBE was harder?
Apparently, this exam's grading curve was a bit more forgiving. I applied my July 2005 scores to this year's grading formula and my overall score improved by nine points. Still not enough to pass though.
In July 2006, the mean score of the MBE for CA applicants was a raw score of 135 translating into a scaled score of 1451. The national average MBE score was a raw score of 133.
In July 2005, the mean MBE score for CA takers was also a raw score of 135 but the scaled score was 1436. The national average was a raw score of 132.
I am posting this info because I and some other repeaters thought the MBE this time was a lot harder than last July. But apparently, there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference.
In July 2006, the mean score of the MBE for CA applicants was a raw score of 135 translating into a scaled score of 1451. The national average MBE score was a raw score of 133.
In July 2005, the mean MBE score for CA takers was also a raw score of 135 but the scaled score was 1436. The national average was a raw score of 132.
I am posting this info because I and some other repeaters thought the MBE this time was a lot harder than last July. But apparently, there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference.
Friday, November 24, 2006
What now?
Over the last few days, I got congratulatory handshakes, hugs, phone calls, and emails.
Among my classmates and other former law students, the most frequent question I had to answer was: "How did you do it without taking a bar review course?" There's a long and short answer to this question and for obvious reasons I gave them the short answer: "I thought I could pass without it."
I talked to a few of my classmates who didn't pass the exam....again. The thought of studying for the test again makes me want to puke.
One scored in the high 1300's, which was a little lower than than the February test but was an improvement from last July.
Another scored in the mid 1300's. I forgot this person's past scores but I'm guessing there was no improvement.
One bad thing that came out of this ordeal was that I started smoking again. The nerve-wracking experience of waiting and worrying compelled me to take it up again. I thought I could quit after I found out, but the addiction wont let me off the hook so easily. I think I should be able to kick the habit over the weekend. Usually I am able to quit by not having a cigarette for 24 hours.
Among my classmates and other former law students, the most frequent question I had to answer was: "How did you do it without taking a bar review course?" There's a long and short answer to this question and for obvious reasons I gave them the short answer: "I thought I could pass without it."
I talked to a few of my classmates who didn't pass the exam....again. The thought of studying for the test again makes me want to puke.
One scored in the high 1300's, which was a little lower than than the February test but was an improvement from last July.
Another scored in the mid 1300's. I forgot this person's past scores but I'm guessing there was no improvement.
One bad thing that came out of this ordeal was that I started smoking again. The nerve-wracking experience of waiting and worrying compelled me to take it up again. I thought I could quit after I found out, but the addiction wont let me off the hook so easily. I think I should be able to kick the habit over the weekend. Usually I am able to quit by not having a cigarette for 24 hours.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Old junk
First of all, I should apologize for the earlier post regarding the bar scores. I erased and rewrote it. The main reason for the post was that I was severely intoxicated. It's also easier in hindsight to chastise and forget how hard the test is. On the other hand, since I am also a repeater, I know firsthand what it is like to fail. Despite my close score, I knew at the time that I didn't prepare adequately.
Anyway, I gathered up all of my bar prep materials. I can't wait to get rid of them.
In case you're wondering why I have so many books, its just that I didn't take a bar review course. I had to scrounge these materials myself from friends and various stores. They include audio tapes, CDs, and outlines going back to the 1970s. I was surprised to see that the MBE subjects haven't changed much over the last 30 years (except Con Law).
I sent an email out to my friends and old classmates telling them I have bar exam materials to give away. Hopefully I can get rid of them before the weekend.
Anyway, I gathered up all of my bar prep materials. I can't wait to get rid of them.
In case you're wondering why I have so many books, its just that I didn't take a bar review course. I had to scrounge these materials myself from friends and various stores. They include audio tapes, CDs, and outlines going back to the 1970s. I was surprised to see that the MBE subjects haven't changed much over the last 30 years (except Con Law).
I sent an email out to my friends and old classmates telling them I have bar exam materials to give away. Hopefully I can get rid of them before the weekend.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Aftermath
Well, its been a long weekend. In fact, its been so long that Im even resting today. Its almost hard to believe that I am back in the real world. I have to keep reminding myself that exams are coming up in a few weeks.
I just received the state bar's care package.
For those in the know, I didn't notice this before but it looks like the examiners replaced the use of the social security number and replaced it with a "file number" instead. After all, you don't want one of your graders to lose a stack of tests with individual SSNs. Wouldn't that suck?
I just received the state bar's care package.
For those in the know, I didn't notice this before but it looks like the examiners replaced the use of the social security number and replaced it with a "file number" instead. After all, you don't want one of your graders to lose a stack of tests with individual SSNs. Wouldn't that suck?
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Redemption and advice
Congratulations to everyone who passed!
As a repeater, passing the July exam feels particularly good. It feels almost as good as passing the first time. The atmosphere of the February exam doesn't feel as competitive. At that time, I entered the exam knowing that most of the examinees were in the same situation as I was. I wasn't as nervous (until that one point...) and I thought I had more leeway since the grading curve would be more forgiving. In other words, I didn't have that sense of urgency that I did in July.
Here's how I did last July. I cannot disclose the exact numbers, but Im sure you get the idea.
I can't find my February 2006 results at the moment, but trust me...it is a joke. The score is so bad that anyone would understand that I had no control over it.
Unfortunately, I noticed that some people didn't pass. I applaud you for making the difficult decision to blog your results. Take a hard look at your score and see where you went wrong. I recommend the following advice based on your score:
1390-1439 - Close but no cigar. It is important that you look at your score very carefully.
Essays - Look for discrepancies in your scores in the writing section. If you scored consistently low, then you should focus more of your time on issue spotting skills. On the other hand, if you scored high on some and low on others, then chances are you were gambling on Barbri's predictions (or made some similar gamble). In that case, you should spend more of your study time on your weak subjects. The good thing is that your writing skills probably do not need much improvement, unless you got below a 65 on an essay.
MBEs - do more practice questions, focusing particularly on sections where you got less than 20 questions right.
As for the PTs, I am not sure what advice to give about this. In July 2005, I was totally lost on the 2nd PT. My answer did not make any sense. The answer was just totally off. To this day, I have no idea how I broke a 60 score. But last July, things were different. While I was studing for the exam, I don't think I did more than 10 of them. But I understood the facts better. I figured out how to structure the answer and extract the rules. I even managed to come up with some creative advice.
Be optimistic. Most people pass the next time around.
1300-1389 -
For the most part, the above advice also applies, but chances are you got this score because you royally screwed up on one of the three sections. Obviously, you will need to spend a majority of your study time improving this area.
You also probably got below a 60 on at least one of the essay questions. If this is the case, you will also need to reevaluate and improve your essay writing format. How to do that is beyond the scope of this post (and this blog). You should seek additional help or just keep working on practice essays until you understand how to write the essay correctly.
400-1299
If you got below a 1300, you will need to start over. If you took a bar review course, demand your money back and go to a different program. Also, you may even have to ask yourself whether taking the exam will be worth your time. Remember, the exam costs $600, lodging will cost extra, in addition to the lost time for studying.
I also think that most people got this score because they did not give it their best. That's the reason why I failed last time. If you cannot give it your best, perhaps it is better to wait until you can.
0-399
Dude, did you make it past the first day? (If you get the joke, you may laugh.)
A few people seemed to blame their loss on personal problems. It happens to all of us, but unfortunately, the bar exam does not take it into account when grading your score. You'll have to deal with them or learn to live with them. But you can't let them get in your way.
As a repeater, passing the July exam feels particularly good. It feels almost as good as passing the first time. The atmosphere of the February exam doesn't feel as competitive. At that time, I entered the exam knowing that most of the examinees were in the same situation as I was. I wasn't as nervous (until that one point...) and I thought I had more leeway since the grading curve would be more forgiving. In other words, I didn't have that sense of urgency that I did in July.
Here's how I did last July. I cannot disclose the exact numbers, but Im sure you get the idea.
I can't find my February 2006 results at the moment, but trust me...it is a joke. The score is so bad that anyone would understand that I had no control over it.
Unfortunately, I noticed that some people didn't pass. I applaud you for making the difficult decision to blog your results. Take a hard look at your score and see where you went wrong. I recommend the following advice based on your score:
1390-1439 - Close but no cigar. It is important that you look at your score very carefully.
Essays - Look for discrepancies in your scores in the writing section. If you scored consistently low, then you should focus more of your time on issue spotting skills. On the other hand, if you scored high on some and low on others, then chances are you were gambling on Barbri's predictions (or made some similar gamble). In that case, you should spend more of your study time on your weak subjects. The good thing is that your writing skills probably do not need much improvement, unless you got below a 65 on an essay.
MBEs - do more practice questions, focusing particularly on sections where you got less than 20 questions right.
As for the PTs, I am not sure what advice to give about this. In July 2005, I was totally lost on the 2nd PT. My answer did not make any sense. The answer was just totally off. To this day, I have no idea how I broke a 60 score. But last July, things were different. While I was studing for the exam, I don't think I did more than 10 of them. But I understood the facts better. I figured out how to structure the answer and extract the rules. I even managed to come up with some creative advice.
Be optimistic. Most people pass the next time around.
1300-1389 -
For the most part, the above advice also applies, but chances are you got this score because you royally screwed up on one of the three sections. Obviously, you will need to spend a majority of your study time improving this area.
You also probably got below a 60 on at least one of the essay questions. If this is the case, you will also need to reevaluate and improve your essay writing format. How to do that is beyond the scope of this post (and this blog). You should seek additional help or just keep working on practice essays until you understand how to write the essay correctly.
400-1299
If you got below a 1300, you will need to start over. If you took a bar review course, demand your money back and go to a different program. Also, you may even have to ask yourself whether taking the exam will be worth your time. Remember, the exam costs $600, lodging will cost extra, in addition to the lost time for studying.
I also think that most people got this score because they did not give it their best. That's the reason why I failed last time. If you cannot give it your best, perhaps it is better to wait until you can.
0-399
Dude, did you make it past the first day? (If you get the joke, you may laugh.)
A few people seemed to blame their loss on personal problems. It happens to all of us, but unfortunately, the bar exam does not take it into account when grading your score. You'll have to deal with them or learn to live with them. But you can't let them get in your way.
Friday, November 17, 2006
BREAK OUT THE BEER CUZ IM BUYING!!!!!!!!
Last minute thoughts, part 2
Last minute thoughts, part 1
Today, three movies are playing on HBO: Rudy, Cinderella Man, and Field of Dreams. Faith is the common theme of these movies. Was this a sign?
Just to recap, this is how it went. My score on last July's test was a little above 1400, which means that I came close to passing. I knew I blew at least four of the essay questions and one of the performance test questions. I arrogantly didn't take BarBri or any bar review course. Yet I came so close. Why?
A good friend of mine who graduated with me did a lot worse. He was in law review, moot court and had a reputation for being a hard worker. He spent a lot of money on a bar review course. I found out that his July 2005 score was somewhere in the high 1200's! And last February, his score was in the low 1300's. Why is that? Since we live over a hundred miles away, it wasn't possible for us to share our stories in any detail. Anyway, he probably wouldn't want to and I wouldn't blame him. Perhaps things were going on in his life that I didn't know about.
Unlike the first timers, I have the benefit of a failed exam which I can use as a reference point. But Im beginning to wonder whether my score last year was inflated considering the crappy job I did. Maybe I had a generous grader last year, and now I have a tough grader.
I know I did better than last year. I just hope the same person who graded mine last year will grade mine again this year.
I'll be back.
Just to recap, this is how it went. My score on last July's test was a little above 1400, which means that I came close to passing. I knew I blew at least four of the essay questions and one of the performance test questions. I arrogantly didn't take BarBri or any bar review course. Yet I came so close. Why?
A good friend of mine who graduated with me did a lot worse. He was in law review, moot court and had a reputation for being a hard worker. He spent a lot of money on a bar review course. I found out that his July 2005 score was somewhere in the high 1200's! And last February, his score was in the low 1300's. Why is that? Since we live over a hundred miles away, it wasn't possible for us to share our stories in any detail. Anyway, he probably wouldn't want to and I wouldn't blame him. Perhaps things were going on in his life that I didn't know about.
Unlike the first timers, I have the benefit of a failed exam which I can use as a reference point. But Im beginning to wonder whether my score last year was inflated considering the crappy job I did. Maybe I had a generous grader last year, and now I have a tough grader.
I know I did better than last year. I just hope the same person who graded mine last year will grade mine again this year.
I'll be back.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
One day left...
First of all, I know its been a while. Its mainly because not a whole lot has happened since the last time I wrote. I have been mainly focusing on classes and working on a research paper.
Like I said previously, I feel optimistic about my results.
Im just trying to keep busy at this point. If not, I'll be pacing and wondering about what's going to happen.
For those of you who are keeping track, here are the rules:
I will post whether I have passed or not before Saturday 11/18.
If I fail, you can laugh at me all you want.
If I pass, I will be hanging out at "the bar" in downtown LA for most of the night.
Like I said previously, I feel optimistic about my results.
Im just trying to keep busy at this point. If not, I'll be pacing and wondering about what's going to happen.
For those of you who are keeping track, here are the rules:
I will post whether I have passed or not before Saturday 11/18.
If I fail, you can laugh at me all you want.
If I pass, I will be hanging out at "the bar" in downtown LA for most of the night.