I'm a first time bar taker and I've been trying to solve the PMBR multistate workbook from 2006, and I find that I get about 50% of the answers wrong. What can I do to improve my scores besides doing more questions? Is it really that hard? Also, what should I be aiming to score in order to pass?

Bad news is that i am also a person struggling with the MBE's. Stuck at aroung 62% correct on both bar's.

Good news is that I have found that the PMBR questions are much harder than the bar questions.

Also, you should note that the MBE have changed recently in format. No more long fact patterns with multiple questions. Some other changes as well. You may want to think about getting an updated PMBR book from 2008 onwards.

I used PMBR red and blue books that I got for the July '08 bar, which was BEFORE the format change. But really, I honestly don't think the format change is anything more than eliminating multiple questions for one hypo scenario and the pick "I, II, but not III" kind of questions.

PMBR was the most impressive to me compared to Adaptibar and MicroMash. I used all of them. See the prior thread on my dissertation of that story.

Take the 3 day PMBR program as that lecture contains some very good tips on how to learn to recognize the tricks the NCBE play on you to get you to choose the obvious but wrong answer.

I think PMBR may have an online version that you may be entitled to use, if you bought the books and lecture from them instead of used.

If you can get 65% to 75% right on PMBR questions, you'll do just fine. I got 147 and 156 on my prior two bar exams before passing this time, so I don't know my last score.

I'd stick with PMBR, especially if they have an online version now. If you can do PMBR, you can do well on the real bar exam. If you use easy questions like Adaptibar, you might do just fine by being right in the middle of the bell curve. I'd rather be on top.

Jeff

Thanks for the tip. I have a question that might seem a lil elementary but I might as well.. :)
What is the raw score required for passing on the MBE, the MPT and the essays? I'm taking the Ca bar so want to know what to focus on and how this breaks up. I understand the scaled versions, but how much should I aim for while preparing for these 3 categories?

Do not neglect the outlines while studying for the MBE. Practicing questions is essential, but I've seen too many students concentrate all of their energy on practicing questions, and then spend far little time learning the law from the outlines.

PMBR outlines are quite good, though perhaps a bit lengthy. BarBri Conviser is my book of choice to recommend.

Sean
www.mbetutorial.blogspot.com

Posted By on 25 Nov 2009 10:04 AM
I used PMBR red and blue books that I got for the July '08 bar, which was BEFORE the format change. But really, I honestly don't think the format change is anything more than eliminating multiple questions for one hypo scenario and the pick "I, II, but not III" kind of questions.

PMBR was the most impressive to me compared to Adaptibar and MicroMash. I used all of them. See the prior thread on my dissertation of that story.

Take the 3 day PMBR program as that lecture contains some very good tips on how to learn to recognize the tricks the NCBE play on you to get you to choose the obvious but wrong answer.

I think PMBR may have an online version that you may be entitled to use, if you bought the books and lecture from them instead of used.

If you can get 65% to 75% right on PMBR questions, you'll do just fine. I got 147 and 156 on my prior two bar exams before passing this time, so I don't know my last score.

I'd stick with PMBR, especially if they have an online version now. If you can do PMBR, you can do well on the real bar exam. If you use easy questions like Adaptibar, you might do just fine by being right in the middle of the bell curve. I'd rather be on top.

Jeff

thanks Jeff

Posted By on 25 Nov 2009 12:56 AM
I'm a first time bar taker and I've been trying to solve the PMBR multistate workbook from 2006, and I find that I get about 50% of the answers wrong. What can I do to improve my scores besides doing more questions? Is it really that hard? Also, what should I be aiming to score in order to pass?

yeah, i was told that pmbr mbe are THE hardest qs. i can't seem to get pass 50-60ish either when i use them to practice. i agree with jeff. i think if you can score pretty well on the pmbr's qs, you'll do fine on the bar.

Targets:
1. NCBE released: 90% correct
2. BarBri: 80% correct
3. PMBR: 70% correct

If you can't reach these goals, you need to prep more.