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Bar Exam Preparation
Past Bar Exam Essays and Performance Tests (PTs)
Where do you find essays and performance tests from past exams to practice on?
Rather than have you go hunting for them or flip through your bar course materials, I’ve compiled past essays and PTs for California . I also link to past MEE and MPT questions from various UBE jurisdictions.
California : Here are downloadable California Bar Exam essays and selected answers going back to 2001, and California performance tests (PTs) and selected answers.
👉 See also the essay answer bank for real graded answers
👉 CA essays – frequency chart and issue chart (use this to find when topics were tested)
| | (no sample answer) For more PT practice, see below for MPTs similar to these. |
UBE: Downloadable MEE questions and representative answers
NCBE MEE Questions and Analyses are available from 2013 July to 2018 February.
Representative answers to MEE questions are available from various states (some may be missing):
- Arkansas from 2013 February to 2021 February
- Maryland from 2019 July to 2023 February
- Minnesota from 2020 September to 2023 February
- New York from 2016 July to 2023 February
- South Dakota from 2019 February to 2021 February
MPT questions and answers are below this section. Click here to jump to MPT.
MEE questions
Sample answers: Maryland
Sample answers: Maryland , Minnesota , New York
Sample answers: Arkansas , Maryland , Minnesota , New York , South Dakota
MEE questions (October version)
Sample answers: Maryland , New York , South Dakota
Sample answers: Arkansas , New York , South Dakota
Sample answers: Arkansas , New York
NCBE Questions and Analyses
Sample answers: Arkansas
UBE: Downloadable MPT questions and representative answers
NCBE MPT Questions and Point Sheets are available from 2013 July to 2018 February.
Representative answers to MPT questions are available from various states (some may be missing):
- Georgia from 2011 July to 2023 February
MEE questions and answers are above this section. Click here to jump to MEE.
MPT question 1 , MPT question 2
MPT questions
Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota
Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota , New York
Sample answers: Arkansas MPT-1 MPT-2 , Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota , New York , South Dakota
MPT question (one MPT administered)
Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , New York , South Dakota
Sample answers: Arkansas MPT-1 MPT-2 , Georgia , New York , South Dakota
Sample answers: Georgia , New York
NCBE Questions and Point Sheets
Sample answers: Arkansas , Georgia , New York
Sample answers: Arkansas , Georgia
Sample answers
UBE: Links to find past MEE questions and answers, past MPT questions and answers, and MEE and MPT analyses
The files above were sourced from these places:
- Free recent MEE questions and analyses from NCBE
- Free recent MPT questions and point sheets from NCBE
- If you want the official analyses for more recent ones, you can find them in the MEE study aids (paid)
- Arkansas MEE and MPT questions and best answers (2013 and on)
- Minnesota’s representative answers (last few years)
- Maryland’s representative answers (last few years)
- South Dakota’s representative answers (last few years)
- New York Past Exam Essay Questions with Sample Candidate Answers (2016 July and on)
- Georgia Essay (not MEE) and MPT Questions and Selected Answers (2011 July and on include MPT questions and sample answers)
- Colorado MEE and MPT selected answers (past year)
Others : Check your state bar website or law school’s academics resources to see if it offers questions and selected answers
- Nevada offers sample passing answers for essays and PTs going back to 2007
- A Virginia law school offers past Virginia bar exams to review
- Jan 22, 2023
Passing the Essay Portion of the California Bar Exam: Insider Tips and Strategies
Understand the format of the exam: The essay portion of the California bar exam consists of five essay questions that are based on the subjects tested on the exam. These questions are designed to test your ability to analyze legal issues, apply the law to given facts, and communicate your analysis effectively .
Study the relevant law : The essay portion of the California bar exam is based on the law that is tested on the exam. Therefore, it is essential that you have a thorough understanding of the relevant law before you take the exam. Unfortunately, memorization alone will not suffice in passing the essay portion of the California bar exam. It's important that you understand how the rule applies. This includes studying past essay exams to see how a certain legal rule was used with a unique set of facts. You have to understand how one legal rule can be used in multiple ways.
Practice writing essays: One of the best ways to prepare for the essay portion of the California bar exam is to practice writing essays. This will help you develop your writing skills and become more comfortable with the format of the exam. You can find sample essay questions and model answers on the California State Bar website. Pro tip: there is a 99% chance that PR is going to be tested so it's wise to study and take a look at most, if not all, past PR exams that were administered. Scoring high enough on PR will offset other lower scoring essays.
Use IRAC/CREAC method: IRAC is an acronym for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. CREAC is an acronym for Conclusion, Rule, Explanation, Application, Conclusion. Using this method can help you organize your thoughts and present a clear and logical analysis of the legal issues in the essay question.
Time management: The essay portion of the California bar exam is timed, so it is essential that you manage your time effectively. Make sure to read through all of the essay questions before you begin writing, and plan out how much time you will spend on each portion of the essay. We recommend not spending more than one allotted hour per essay subject. You should have a pre-planned approach for each essay. Here is what you should be thinking about: how much time do I spend outlining? How much time should I spend writing? How many times should I read the fact pattern? The more practice essay exams you do, the better prepared you will be on exam day!
Proofreading : Always proofreading your essay before submitting, it could be a game changer in terms of points. Make sure to take the time to proofread your essays and correct any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling (if you have the time)!
Get feedback : If possible, have a mentor, attorney, professor or someone who has taken the bar exam before to review your essays. Getting feedback on your writing can help you improve your skills and identify areas where you need to focus your study efforts.
These tips should help you to prepare effectively for the essay portion of the California bar exam. Remember to study the relevant law, practice writing essays, use the IRAC/CREAC method, manage your time well, proofread your work and get feedback from an expert.
Understanding the Internal Scoring System: A breakdown of how essays are graded on the California Bar Exam:
See below for a guide to the components and percentage weight assigned for each component on the California Bar Exam. You will be graded on the following components: Organization/format; issue spotting; rule statements; analysis; and conclusion.
Analysis: 40%
Issue Spotting: 25%
Rule Statements: 20%
Organization/format: 10%
Conclusion: 5%
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COMMENTS
October 2012. Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers. The First-Year Law Students' Examination multiple-choice questions (MCQs) presented on this page were originally released in 1984. It is important to acknowledge that it is no longer the standard practice of the State Bar to publish additional MCQs. These sample questions may still be ...
CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATION. This publication contains the five essay questions from the October 2020 California Bar Examination and two selected answers for each question. The answers were assigned high grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination after one read.
This publication contains the five essay questions from the July 2021 California Bar Examination and two selected answers for each question. The selected answers are not to be considered "model" or perfect answers. The answers were assigned high grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination after the First Read.
5. Real Property. 57. 6. Community Property. 70. 2. ESSAY QUESTIONSCalifornia Bar ExaminationYour answer should demonstrate your ability to analyze the facts in question, to tell the difference between material and immaterial facts, and to discern the points. f law and fact upon which the case turns. Your answer should show that you know and ...
ESSAY QUESTIONS 1, 2, AND 3 California Bar Examination Answer all three questions. Time allotted: three hours Your answer should demonstrate your ability to analyze the facts in question, to tell the difference between material and immaterial facts, and to discern the points of law and fact upon which the case turns.
Previously Released Bar Exam Essay Questions Welcome to the past California Bar Exam past essays directory. To view a varying range of graded essays from the State Bar, visit BarEssays.com. Email us for a $25 discount code at [email protected]. Join the Facebook Group titled: California Bar Exam Essay Discussions. One-Hour Essays July 2001 CBX February 2002 CBX July 2002 …
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS. 180 HOWARD STREET • SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA 94105 1639 • (415) 538 - 2303 1149 SOUTH HILL STREET • LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90015-2299 • (213) 765 - 1500. 011 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the February 2011 California Bar Examination ...
CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATION This publication contains the six essay questions from the July 2008 California Bar Examination and two selected answers to each question. The answers received good grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed as
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA OFICE OF ADMISSIONS. 180 HOWARD STREET • SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA 94105 1639 • (415) 538 - 2303 1149 SOUTH HILL STREET • LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90015-2299 • (213) 765 - 1500. 009 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the July 2009 California Bar Examination and two ...
California: Here are downloadable California Bar Exam essays and selected answers going back to 2001, and California performance tests (PTs) and selected answers. See also the essay answer bank for real graded answers. CA essays - frequency chart and issue chart (use this to find when topics were tested) Sample PT (Haynes v.
This publication contains the five essay questions from the February 2022 California Bar Examination and two selected answers for each question. The selected answers are not to be considered "model" or perfect answers. The answers were assigned high grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination after the First Read.
February 2020. This publication contains the five essay questions from the February 2020 California Bar Examination and two selected answers for each question. The answers were assigned high grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination after one read. The answers were produced as submitted by the applicant, except that minor ...
SWERSJULY 2007 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the July 2007 California Bar Examination. and two selected answers to each question.The answers received good grades and were writte. by applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed as ...
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS. 180 HOWARD STREET • SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA 94105 1639 • (415) 538 - 2303 1149 SOUTH HILL STREET • LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90015-2299 • (213) 765 - 1500. 010 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the July 2010 California Bar Examination and ...
1. Understand the format of the exam: The essay portion of the California bar exam consists of five essay questions that are based on the subjects tested on the exam. These questions are designed to test your ability to analyze legal issues, apply the law to given facts, and communicate your analysis effectively. 2. Study the relevant law: The essay portion of the California bar exam is based ...
CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the February 2008 California Bar Examination and two selecte. answers to each question.The answers received good grades and were written by applicants. o passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed as submitted, except ...
FEBRUARY 2024 ESSAY QUESTIONS 4 AND 5. California Bar Examination. Answer both questions; each question is designed to be answered in one (1) hour. Also included in this session is a Performance Test question, comprised of two separate booklets, which is designed to be answered in 90 minutes. Your answer should demonstrate your ability to ...
Published by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. This document contains the six Essay Questions from the February 2002 California Bar Examination and two selected answers to each question. The answers received good grades and were written by the applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their ...
180 HOWARD STREET • SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA 94105 1639 • (415) 538 - 2303 1149 SOUTH HILL STREET • LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90015-2299 • (213) 765 - 1500. 010 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the February 2010 California Bar Examination and two sel.
This publication contains the five essay questions from the July 2022 California Bar Examination and two selected answers for each question. The selected answers are not to be considered "model" or perfect answers. The answers were assigned high grades and were written by applicants who passed the examination after the First Read.
SWERSFEBRUARY 2003 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the February 2003 California Bar Examina. ion and two selected answers to each question.The answers received good grades and were wr. ten by applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed ...
tion.FEBRUARY 2005 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from the February 2005 California Bar Examina. ion and two selected answers to each question.The answers received good grades and were wr. ten by applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed ...
SWERSJULY 2004 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATIONThis publication contains the six essay questions from July 2004 California Bar Examination. and two selected answers to each question.The answers received good grades and were writte. by applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed as submitted ...
The Attorneys' Exam consists of the five essay questions and the PT from the General Bar Exam. An applicant can earn up to 100 raw points on each essay question and up to 200 raw points on the PT. The same methodology as described above will be used to convert the written scores to a 2000- point scale.