How to Get a High Bar Exam Multiple Choice Score - Common Mistakes to Avoid
Multiple choice questions are a crucial part of the bar exam and are spread across 7 subjects. With so much at stake, it's easy for examinees to fall into traps that can significantly hurt their scores. Below are some common mistakes bar exam takers make on multiple choice questions, along with strategies to avoid them.
These suggestions should help you earn a high bar exam multiple choice score.
1. Reading the Question Too Quickly
One of the most frequent mistakes students make on bar exam multiple choice questions is rushing through the question stem. Given the time pressure of the exam, many students skim the questions, leading to misreading key facts or misunderstanding what the question is asking.
Tip:
Take a deep breath before you begin reading each question. Read it carefully and ensure you understand both the fact pattern and what the call of the question is asking. Practice focusing on keywords or phrases that change the entire scope of a question, such as “except,” “best,” or “most.”
2. Misinterpreting the Call of the Question
On bar exam multiple choice questions, some questions will ask for the “best” answer or “most likely” outcome, while others may ask for the “correct” answer under a specific legal doctrine. Confusing what the question is asking can lead to picking an answer that may be legally correct but does not satisfy the call of the question.
Tip:
Before reviewing the answer choices, take time to ensure you fully understand the call of the question. What is it really asking? Is it looking for a general principle, or a more specific application of the law? Writing out a brief rephrasing of the question in your head may help you focus.
3. Ignoring the Fact Pattern Details
Sometimes, bar takers focus too much on spotting the legal issue at play and miss small but significant details in the fact pattern. These details may determine the correct application of the rule or change the outcome.
Tip:
Develop the habit of thoroughly reading the fact pattern and understanding each part of it. On practice questions, after reading the question once, try to summarize the fact pattern in your own words. This ensures you're processing every detail, not just scanning for the legal issue.
4. Letting Answer Choices Influence Your Analysis
The answer choices in bar exam multiple choice questions are designed to test your knowledge, but they can also lead you astray. One common error is to immediately jump to the answer choices before fully formulating a response in your mind, which may cause you to choose an answer that seems plausible but is incorrect.
Tip:
Before looking at the answer choices, take a moment to formulate your own answer. This forces you to rely on your own analysis rather than being influenced by a "trick" answer. Once you have your answer, compare it to the available options.
5. Overthinking the Questions
Another pitfall is overanalyzing the question. Some students read too much into a fact pattern, thinking there’s a hidden issue or trick involved when, in reality, the question is straightforward.
Tip:
Stick to the basics: the facts, the issue, the rule, and the analysis. Avoid creating hypothetical scenarios or questioning what isn’t there. Trust your knowledge and remember that most questions are designed to test your understanding of the law in a relatively straightforward manner.
6. Failing to Eliminate Wrong Answers
A bar exam multiple choice question often presents multiple answer choices that seem plausible, but only one is correct. Students who don't take the time to systematically eliminate wrong answers risk falling for distractors.
Tip:
If you're unsure of the correct answer, use the process of elimination. Start by identifying the obviously wrong answers. For the remaining options, carefully compare them to each other and to the fact pattern. This can improve your odds of selecting the right choice, even if you're uncertain.
7. Relying Too Much on Memory
Some bar takers try to approach multiple choice questions as a memorization test, relying on rote memory of rules. However, bar exam multiple choice questions are designed to test your application of the law, not just your ability to recall it.
Tip:
Focus on understanding the core legal principles and how to apply them to new fact patterns. During your studies, practice using your knowledge in context through practice questions, rather than simply memorizing rules in isolation. Pay attention to nuances and exceptions to the rules, as these often come up in the exam.
8. Letting Time Pressure Create Anxiety
Multiple choice question time constraints can lead to panic, especially when students feel they’re falling behind. This anxiety can result in rushed decisions and careless mistakes.
Tip:
Use timed practice exams to build your pacing skills. Develop a sense of how long to spend on each question—around 1.8 minutes per question (as of this writing). If you encounter a difficult question, mark it and move on, returning to it later if time permits. Staying calm and focused is key to performing well under pressure.
9. Not Reviewing Wrong Answers
After completing practice questions, many students quickly review the correct answers but fail to deeply analyze why they got certain questions wrong. This prevents them from improving their approach and understanding of certain topics.
Tip:
After each practice session, carefully review every wrong answer. Understand why the correct answer is right and why your initial choice was wrong. Focus on identifying patterns in your mistakes, whether it’s misunderstanding specific legal rules or misreading the fact patterns.
Conclusion
The bar exam’s multiple choice questions are challenging , but avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve your performance. Careful reading, strategic answering, and thorough review during preparation will help you tackle the exam with greater confidence. Practice consistently, and remember to stay calm during the exam—confidence in your preparation is key to bar exam multiple choice question success.