How I Prepared for the UBE

Preparing for the bar exam had its challenges, including those connected to the pandemic. In Sept 2020, wearing masks was still mandatory, hence it was something I had to consider during the preparation process. Full disclosure, covering my nose with scarfs or balaclava had always been an annoyance I avoided at all costs but for the exam, there was no choice: wearing a mask for several hours was mandatory. So, I trained for that. Same for breaks: wasting precious time on snacks or restroom stops was not an option, so I altered the diet on exam days to accommodate those needs.

Before the actual exam, I self-administered 3 mock attempts. I bought 3 sets of real MBE questions, locked myself in my home office, and answered 100 questions from 8.00 am to 11.00 am on one day; three days later another 100 questions, always from 8.00 am to 11.00 am; and a week later 200 questions. Time between practice exams was used for review. For all these simulations, I printed a bubble answer sheet (as the exam would have provided), wore a mask and a formal outfit (no pajamas), switched off the phone, and avoided any interruption. For the 3rd test, I planned it as if it were exam day and took 100 questions from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and the other 100 from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm; had a fast snack during lunch break.

I took these mock tests a couple of weeks before the actual exam, and passed all three, based on a raw score.

I took some multiple-choice questions during the memorization process but learning from mistakes was not my approach because it would have taken too long. Conversely, testing with real MBE questions helped me understand where I stood, which allowed me to focus on weak points on the days immediately before the exam. This approach boosted my confidence.

Regarding the study process, I was able to focus full time on the bar preparation for almost 5 months, in lieu of the initially planned 4. In early May (to comply with distancing policies), the State of Washington split the July session by creating another one in early September. Having to fly to Tacoma, and as the Coronavirus situation was still critical in May, I decided to opt for the September in-person session. I was lucky: postponing helped not only with flight and lodging accommodations, thanks to a decrease in the pandemic intensity during the summer, but also with preparation, thanks to 5 additional weeks of intense studies. 

In those months I followed the CARMA method: Comprehend, Arrange, Repeat, Memorize, and Apply. The Arranging step consisted of creating my own outlines. Having a photographic memory, I need to visualize contents. Detailed, schematic outlines became a necessity early on in my education career. Back in 1998, after attending few weeks of the master’s program in foreign languages and literatures, I realized the high school method could no longer work. In high school, tests occurred frequently and focused on a few dozen pages. At university, there were only 3 exam sessions per year and hundreds of pages per exam. Also, no mandatory attendance or number of exams per semester, as tuitions were paid annually, regardless of results. This was certainly advantageous from the financial point of view, but it was an organizational nightmare. Three months seem eternal, but they go by fast when you have 600-700 pages or more to study. Long story short, necessity forced me to learn how to organize time and refine my note taking approach. So, I started turning boring, flat, homogenous book pages into notes that were expository in nature but had a schematic shape; hence, were easier to memorize. I used this method during law school as well (see example. Not fancy but effective).

By the way, in Italy attendance and exams were not mandatory in law school either and the quantity of study materials was equal if not more extensive than the prior master’s degree.

Ultimately, I was successful by: a) Following the CARMA approach, which focuses on memorization first, and application secondly; b) Using detailed, schematic notes; and c) Simulating as close as possible the known circumstances on exam day.

That said, we should keep in mind that a bad day due to physical illness, emotional distress, or other external factors can have a catastrophic impact on the result. This is why a pinch of luck is always needed, no matter how prepared we are. So, good studies and…good luck!