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Topic: Micromash |
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Posted By on 25 Nov 2009 09:53 AM
I have used MicroMash, PMBR, Adaptibar, and practice questions from Barpassers (owned by West, the same company as BarBri and MicroMash).
MBE's have always been my strong suit, but likely because I have always had a strong focus on studying for them and because my law school did a shitty job of teaching us legal writing. So I realize my situation is different than yours, but I have a lot of experience with different MBE programs to share with you.
I used MicroMash (MM) and PMBR for my first bar exam a year ago, July '08. I got a 147 scaled. I credit PMBR's 3 day for teaching me how to see the tricks the examiners were using and guess more about what clever use of words would do to the answer. I'd guess I did about 2,000 practice questions between MM and PMBR books. I have not used PMBR online so have no experience there. I also listened to PMBR tapes for hours and hours and hours while riding my motorcycle or exercising at the gym. Granted, that was a distracted environment, but at least it pounded the message into my head over and over.
Then for February '09, I gave up on writing and hoped to concentrate on MBE's. I got a 156 scaled after using MM, but this time I did it differently. Instead of focusing on sheer numbers, I kept a log in each subject matter that contained my own created rule of law (BLL) for any question that I missed or had to guess at, even if I got it correct.
I then took those six logs and studied them like they were my legal bible. I ate breakfast with them and lunch with them on MBE day. Many think that if you don't know it by then, you won't know it during the stress of the test. I believed that what I reviewed last would be most fresh in my head. Regardless, it worked. But my writing sucked even more so I still barely missed 1,440 (CA) overall score.
My third and final time I used Adaptibar and was SORELY disappointed with it. I thought the questions were WAY TOO EASY compared to my last two times sitting for the real bar examination. But they argue they are from the source. But why do you think NCBE would release them? Because they were so old that they were now too easy.
I did pass on my third attempt, but that was because I hired ex-bar grader John Crossfield (www.cabargrader.com) to teach me what the bar examiners wanted to see. That is why I passed, not because of Adaptibar.
Granted, I thought the July '09 MBE questions were way easier than the prior two examinations by far. I'm not sure that it was this new format thing or just easier questions. I felt like it was so easy that too many students would do so well that the curve would be really harsh. I don't have any idea if the median scores were higher so I can't opine as to that idea.
Do NOT spend the $1,250 on MM's writing program + MBE's. Their writing program was WORTHLESS! But their MBE program is pretty good. I liked Adaptibar's logistics better than Adaptibar's computer program, but you should be buying a program based on questions, not computer programs.
I'd certainly investigate PMBR and what they've come out with in the last year or so. I hear they have an online system, but I haven't seen it. I also have seen some other web based programs come out on the market.
You can get Adaptibar for $325 or so with a discount coupon. Not sure about MM and PMBR pricing. I've seen two new competitors at $299.
I hope you'll come back here and tell us what you decided to do. Share your thoughts and reasons for your choice. What state are you in? Good luck!
Jeff |
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: Micromash |
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| Topic Review |  | |
Author: barman [40] 
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| 04 Dec 2009 02:00 PM |
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| I took Micromash and barbri. I relied on Micromash. I paid over $2000 for the cousre and also got all the books on all 14 subjects which are easy to understand. I have the whole set on sale on the all4jds website for a low price if you are taking the california bar these books will also help.
________________________________
From: " |
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Author: I used flashcards [21306]
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| 25 Nov 2009 02:31 PM |
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| I used the barbri CMR and Bar in Flash flashcards to study MBE Topics and did questions from Fintz Book, MBE Strategies & Tactics, Barbri questions and Rigos. Excellent sources. |
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Author: Jeff [21306]
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| 25 Nov 2009 09:53 AM |
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I have used MicroMash, PMBR, Adaptibar, and practice questions from Barpassers (owned by West, the same company as BarBri and MicroMash).
MBE's have always been my strong suit, but likely because I have always had a strong focus on studying for them and because my law school did a shitty job of teaching us legal writing. So I realize my situation is different than yours, but I have a lot of experience with different MBE programs to share with you.
I used MicroMash (MM) and PMBR for my first bar exam a year ago, July '08. I got a 147 scaled. I credit PMBR's 3 day for teaching me how to see the tricks the examiners were using and guess more about what clever use of words would do to the answer. I'd guess I did about 2,000 practice questions between MM and PMBR books. I have not used PMBR online so have no experience there. I also listened to PMBR tapes for hours and hours and hours while riding my motorcycle or exercising at the gym. Granted, that was a distracted environment, but at least it pounded the message into my head over and over.
Then for February '09, I gave up on writing and hoped to concentrate on MBE's. I got a 156 scaled after using MM, but this time I did it differently. Instead of focusing on sheer numbers, I kept a log in each subject matter that contained my own created rule of law (BLL) for any question that I missed or had to guess at, even if I got it correct.
I then took those six logs and studied them like they were my legal bible. I ate breakfast with them and lunch with them on MBE day. Many think that if you don't know it by then, you won't know it during the stress of the test. I believed that what I reviewed last would be most fresh in my head. Regardless, it worked. But my writing sucked even more so I still barely missed 1,440 (CA) overall score.
My third and final time I used Adaptibar and was SORELY disappointed with it. I thought the questions were WAY TOO EASY compared to my last two times sitting for the real bar examination. But they argue they are from the source. But why do you think NCBE would release them? Because they were so old that they were now too easy.
I did pass on my third attempt, but that was because I hired ex-bar grader John Crossfield (www.cabargrader.com) to teach me what the bar examiners wanted to see. That is why I passed, not because of Adaptibar.
Granted, I thought the July '09 MBE questions were way easier than the prior two examinations by far. I'm not sure that it was this new format thing or just easier questions. I felt like it was so easy that too many students would do so well that the curve would be really harsh. I don't have any idea if the median scores were higher so I can't opine as to that idea.
Do NOT spend the $1,250 on MM's writing program + MBE's. Their writing program was WORTHLESS! But their MBE program is pretty good. I liked Adaptibar's logistics better than Adaptibar's computer program, but you should be buying a program based on questions, not computer programs.
I'd certainly investigate PMBR and what they've come out with in the last year or so. I hear they have an online system, but I haven't seen it. I also have seen some other web based programs come out on the market.
You can get Adaptibar for $325 or so with a discount coupon. Not sure about MM and PMBR pricing. I've seen two new competitors at $299.
I hope you'll come back here and tell us what you decided to do. Share your thoughts and reasons for your choice. What state are you in? Good luck!
Jeff |
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Author: MicroTrash [21306]
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| 25 Nov 2009 06:48 AM |
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| Not worth the money. Text is very erratic, lot of typos throughout, not user friendly, leaves out a lot. |
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Author: Sean [21306]
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| 25 Nov 2009 12:42 AM |
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Use BarBri Conviser to learn the law.
Practice applying the law with PMBR. Do as many questions as time permits from the PMBR books.
--Sean
www.mbetutorial.blogspot.com |
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Author: Crappy_At_MBEs [21306]
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| 25 Nov 2009 12:09 AM |
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I didn't pass the bar because of my mbes. For the July bar, I relied on Adaptibar, Finz's book, and a scattershot of Kaplan questions.
Is Micromash worth the 850? I am seriously broke but I can't fail the test again. |
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Active Forums 4.1
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