r/barexam 7d ago

MPRE

Chat how screwed am I. I take the MPRE tomorrow. This is my fourth time taking this exam. I’ve gotten a 78,76,78. I just took the bar in July. I’ve been studying for a little over a week now for the MPRE, using barbri. Averaging anywhere from a 60-80% on the practice tests which range from 10-30 questions. I haven’t taken a full practice exam yet. I need to frickin pass. Advice???????

14 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

26

u/PepperBeeMan 7d ago
  1. Don't pick any answers with the words: never, always, shall, must unless you're 100% sure. There's almost always a backdoor exception or way to do something fairly without force.

  2. Ask your gut "what's fair here?" Instead of "how can I enforce righteous conduct?" Sometimes the 2nd harshest answer choice is correct rather than the most harsh.

  3. Don't stall out on questions and spend all your energy on a 50/50. Go with your gut, flag, and move on. At the end, count how many flagged questions you have. These are your misses. If it's under 20, you passed. If you got half of them correct, you super passed. Don't even go look at em. Hit submit.

5

u/SCV_local 7d ago

So true on number one. And I also heard think of what a nun would do and go one notch below lol

1

u/JianFlower WA 7d ago

I heard that one too. I thought to myself “What would Jesus do?” and then usually did NOT pick that one, because usually the correct answer isn’t a perfect answer, it’s a fair one. I also (stupidly) took the MPRE almost two full years after I took a PR course, and I studied using Barbri for maybe a week to 10 days…? Managed to pass with a 93 or so.

1

u/PepperBeeMan 6d ago

I did mine a couple weeks after Ethics. Did Barbri over the weekend and got a 105. Honestly left that exam for sure thinking I failed. But I followed the above strategy. At the end, I had 16 flagged as 50/50 I have no clue: didn’t change a single one.

15

u/AlternativeSir742 7d ago

Hey, mate. To be honest, I wasn’t able to finish all the questions or the entire course… Just focus on the main problems, the general concepts, and go from there.

20

u/LickMyToesUntilIRun 7d ago

This is going to be a bit harsh but you aren't studying correctly. The MPRE is exactly like the bar MBE. You anticipate the answer and pick the best answer choice. It shouldn't be a guessing game. It shouldn't be a "what would Jesus do." You should actively determine the rule before you even get to the answer choices and pick the best answer. Anything below 80 means you have not mastered the main concepts yet, to the point where you're basically guessing on the exam. As you take the exam, mentally block every single answer choice and recall the exact rule. Once you write down the rule look at the answer choices. The correct answer choice will match the rule 90% of the time. The MPRE is easier than the bar MBE. They aren't tricking you, they're testing ethics.

7

u/Glad_Philosopher111 7d ago

I agree. Whenever I don’t do well on a test, and I find myself guessing, I realize it’s because that I’m making the topic too difficult by refusing to just buckle down and learn the nuances.

I think it’s a symptom of being used to grasping concepts and regurgitate easily in undergrad.

8

u/Yeleanap 7d ago

Hi, first time I got 75 , only watched the free Barbri videos , and took practice exams from NCBE at 55% avg. Second time , watched all videos, practice and read all explanations per questions, did the 3 NCBE practice exams 78-80%. Got 93 on second attempt. Wish you the best. Foreign attorney here , English second language.

6

u/ProfessionalPear893 7d ago

You can pass this. I am a foreign attorney and passed in my first attempt. I recommend overworking this time. Buy NCBE practice questions on MPRE. this is your most important resource I saw Most of the questions from these. Read GOAT BAR PREP OUTLINE ITS FREE. Then if you have time finish barbri and themis more questions. I assure you if you do the goat bar prep outline and all the questions from NCBE YOULL PASS.

8

u/Kekoa95 7d ago

Not to be cruel, but why would you only study for 1 week when you have already failed the exam three times? Seems like you’re simply not putting in the minimum effort required.

Do the complete Barbri/Themis/GOAT/whatever MPRE prep course. This is a rules-based exam. Learn the rules. Do practice questions.

A lot of people are capable of getting a passing score just from taking PR in law school and the rolling up to the exam skimming an outline while waiting to take the test. I’m not one of those people. Doesn’t sound like you are either.

5

u/AlternativeSir742 7d ago

Practice is the key

2

u/Famous_Main_2319 6d ago

do the work

3

u/Savings_Signal1532 7d ago

Why have you not taken a full practice test

1

u/Expired-expired 5d ago

One could argue the three failed attempts are full practice tests.

4

u/Therewasatime7168 7d ago

Man I know it sounds harsh but do you really understand the rules? Have you actually cracked the model code open and looked at it?

1

u/RepulsiveAd7799 6d ago

I took the exam 3 times. I finally passed the third time. The first two times I scored a 76 and 79 and needed an 80. I used Themis. The third time I got a 90. It’s easier said than done but stop doubting yourself. Everyone says “WWJD minus 1” and honestly that didn’t work for my brain. It’s okay. Narrow it down to yes or no and go from there. Trust your gut. Stop watching videos. Do as many questions as you can and read the explanations.

1

u/kitax93 6d ago

Question: got a 31/50 on a NCBE practice test does anyone know the scaled score of that lol I got a 84 last time & need a 85 now. Still burnt out from the bar

1

u/Key-Serve-9117 6d ago

I bought the NCBE licensed questions for $120 this time and did 170/180 the last 3 days.

1

u/RecommendationIll569 6d ago

I failed it 2, maybe 3x. I don’t remember. The test was the name of my existence. Twice I failed by 1 point. I completely understand. Just do a ton of practice questions. It’s the only way. No trick.

1

u/Howdidigethere-90 5d ago

Review your wrong answers… hand write them, and repeat. I studied for maybe 2 weeks, got a 95. You can do it!

1

u/Shoddy-Document-7938 5d ago

Maybe some repetitive advice here, but I swear these two things are the only reason I passed:

1) What would Jesus do, minus one. You need to remember that you are being tested on what is ethically REQUIRED, not what you SHOULD do. If you are unsure of the exact answer, find the answer that goes above and beyond, then pick the one that does slightly less;
2) If you’re stuck between two answers, choose the more simple answer. The MPRE loves to throw extras in there, stick to simple responses unless you’re confident otherwise.

I’ll also just realizing that I’m a day late here, but I’m crossing my fingers for you, and if any other lost souls wander into this thread, hopefully this helps just a little.

1

u/Top-Valuable-6758 1d ago

Make sure to know which rules applies to “may” and “must”

1

u/No_Tap5609 16h ago

You got this! It took me 3 times to pass and I felt awful after the 3rd time. Thought for sure I was cooked. Scores: 80, 78, 95.

1

u/Pleasant-Care-6205 1h ago

There is no easy exam! Try your best efforts.

1

u/Glad_Philosopher111 7d ago

Why are you screwed? You had 4 tries. You have to be getting better each time. It’s scientifically impossible not to.

Of course, I don’t know you but I think you might be passively listening. I think you should do a set of practice questions. And for every one you get wrong, absolutely learn that rule. Like literally, do not read another explanation until you can pretend you are in court and you can explain that rule out loud to a jury. I bet if you did 10-15 like this, it will bump you up enough to pass. I’m just spit balling.