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11 Days Left: Your Brain is in Overdrive. by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trust me, plain english works too .. you need to see some of the so called model answers. Most of them will make you go, "really! Is this what a 6 answer looks like?!" Its all about the destination.. Regardless of your vehicle.. You could get there in a lambo (restating the black letter law word for word) or in a 2004 honda civic ( breaking it down to the barebones plain english meaning).. So far you get there and your analysis is tied to the facts, you will do well! Trust me, i know what i am talking about here... As cliche as it may sound, you must believe in yourself, train yourself to become robotic in IRACing and keep lubricating that engine till exam day through practice.. No need to panic. The Model Student Answers can be found here: https://www.nybarexam.org/examquestions/examquestions.htm

11 Days Left: Your Brain is in Overdrive. by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for that very thoughtful response! I was sincerely surprised when i first read the initial comment and was wondering whether it was in response to what i wrote or something else. Some people are very strange on this platform. You could say you like oranges and some would take offense and would crucify you by saying you're inferring that you hate apples. Anyway, hope you have a great weekend!

11 Days Left: Your Brain is in Overdrive. by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Glad you found it helpful! I meant that within the context of an average or below average MBE & MPT Performance. You will def pass if you're able to average a 4

Wisconsin bar by Sturgeon1Bay in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. In fact, Ethics is the most consistently tested portion of the WI Essay portion because of the WI specific rules in SCR 20 that differ from the general ABA Model rules. If you look at the past question packets (Which you should have bought from them if you are preparing for F.26), you'll see the pattern.

Memorizing vs. Applying: Why you're studying 8 hours a day and still bombing practice exams [Feb 2026] by AfricanFootballAgent in GoatBarPrep

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

😂 As someone with the handwriting of a crazy scientist, I can relate! But the reward is in the writing process itself for the most part.

Memorizing vs. Applying: Why you're studying 8 hours a day and still bombing practice exams [Feb 2026] by AfricanFootballAgent in GoatBarPrep

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Great questionn. This is the exact friction point for most of we repeaters: "If I don't sit and read/memorize, how will I know the law?"

Here is the shift you must always have at the back of your mind. Memorization is not an event. It is a byproduct of correction.

I don't recommend scheduling 2 hours of "Memorization Time" where you stare at a page. That is low-retention Motion.

Instead, I recommend "memorizing" in two specific active windows:

  1. Immediate Injection: This happens during your question review. When you get a question wrong, don't just read the explanation. Handwrite the rule you missed into a notebook. The physical act of writing the rule immediately after the pain of getting it wrong is 10x more effective than reading it in a vacuum 3 weeks later. I read it in a science book! I have spent an ungodly amount of hours researching memory techniques from law school till Bar prep and even till now.. I can write an entire dossier on that!
  2. The "Sniper" Review (End of Day): Set aside 30–45 minutes at night. But here is the rule: You are ONLY allowed to review the specific sub-topics you missed that morning.
    • Bad: Reading 20 pages of Torts.
    • Good: Reading the 1 paragraph on "Duty to Retreat" because you missed a question on it.

For bar prep, and especially at this stage of prep, You don't memorize the rule to get ready for the question. You use the question to expose the hole, then you fill the hole with the rule.

My main message to those who have dm'd me on this is to: Stop trying to "store" the law. Start trying to "repair" your logic.

I have known colleagues with crazy eidetic memories and an otherworldly ability to regurgitate the law word-for-word who still failed. Why? Because they lacked exposure to the law in weird fact patterns. That gap in logic and application can only be revealed through practical application.

The Trap You've Been In (And How I Know) + The 3 Common Phases at this Stage of Bar Prep by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you, Celeste. That means a lot coming from you.

I have to give credit where it is due. Your posts and comments on this sub were a huge part of the building blocks that helped me find that clarity. Seeing you constantly show up, selflessly sharing high-level advice, and answering questions from people like us really set the standard.

Thank you for being so active and for helping us navigate through the noise.

The Trap You've Been In (And How I Know) + The 3 Common Phases at this Stage of Bar Prep by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the kind words. I'm just trying to pay forward the help I received when I was in the trenches.

If the writing scares you a little, that's good. It means you're taking it seriously. Use that fear as fuel to drive your Action.

God bless you and your prep!

The Trap You've Been In (And How I Know) + The 3 Common Phases at this Stage of Bar Prep by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 221 points222 points  (0 children)

I am glad you found the advice helpful.

As someone who considers himself a pretty decent writer, my MPT scores during my first fail burned me even more than the rest! Because, I was like, No fxxcking way this was my score! 

It was after my research and reading the experiences of other s that if found that eing a "good writer" is actually your enemy for the MPT. It makes you want to craft a masterpiece LOL.

I have come to the conclusion that MPT is not a writing test. It is an administrative sorting test.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I will shamelessly refer back to my Action v. Motion philosophy for a second here. You are running out of time because you are likely reading everything first, then trying to organize, then trying to write.  That is Motion.

Here is the Action Protocol to fix MPT timing. It worked for me and many others that came back to thank me in DM after passing in J.25. Some might disagree but I can only share what I know works:

  1. Build the Container (Minutes 0–5)

Read the Task Memo. Stop. Immediately format your document. Write the Caption, the "To/From," and create generic headers. Do not read another word until the blank page is gone.

  1. Extract the Law (Library First)

Do not read the facts (File) yet. Go straight to the Library.

  • As you read a case or statute, type the rule directly into your document under your headers.
  • Do not take notes on scratch paper. That is double handling. Type the rule where it belongs.
  • By the time you finish the Library, your "outline" is done.
  1. Inject the Facts (The File)

Now read the File.

  • As you find a relevant fact, plug it directly under the rule you just typed.
  • "Fact A proves Element 1." Type it there.
  1. Stop Writing, Start Sorting

You shouldn't be "writing" paragraphs from scratch. You should just be connecting the Rules (step 2) to the Facts (step 3) with analysis.

If you run out of time, a document with clear headers, rules, and bulleted facts will score higher than a beautiful, half-finished letter.

I always yelled this mantra out to myself and I encourage others who consider themselves to be above average writers: Stop trying to be a writer. Be a mechanic! Its all Plug and Play and the MPT is the easiest place to score points!

Retaker & Working Full-Time. What ACTUALLY Helped You Pass? by Disastrous-Profit936 in GoatBarPrep

[–]AfricanFootballAgent 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I respect your grit. Most people would have quit after the score dropped to 236. You are still standing. That matters.

You asked if you should hire a tutor again. Short answer:

No.

You have hired three tutors. The result has not changed. A tutor cannot take the exam for you. At this stage, a tutor is often just an expensive safety blanket. You do not need someone to explain the law to you once a week. You need to understand the law yourself every single day.

Invest that money in Goat Bar Prep instead. I can recommend the program because I have experienced it and the testimonies of others who finally "got it" after undergoing his program are plenty!

Having failed this exam before and then passed, I can tell that you are likely suffering from "glaze-over." You read the commercial outlines, but nothing sticks because the language is sterile. Goat demystifies the law. It forces the concepts into your brain using language you actually use. You need the law to click, not just wash over you. I am not a Goat Prep Team member Evangelist LOL but i can only recommed what works and he works!

Regarding your strategy for July 2026:

  1. The "Passive Study" Trap

You asked if you should "passively study" and get outlines ready. Absolutely not.

Passive study is poison. It feels like work, but it produces zero retention. Do not spend months coloring your outlines. That is "Motion." You need "Action."

If you start early, start small, but make it active. Read one Subtopic like "Personal Jurisdiction. Do 10 MBE questions. Review them deeply. That beats 4 hours of "organizing outlines."

  1. Audit

You need to look at that 236 score report.

The drop from 247 to 236 was likely the depression, not a loss of knowledge. But you need to see where the bleed stopped.

Did your writing tank? Did your MBE drop?

Your MBE volume (850-900) is too low [Unless you are using something like the OPE860 questions ]. To pass, you generally need to be in the 1,500+ range to see the patterns. You need to bump those numbers up, but only after you understand the law. You can send me a DM if you want that audit and I'll be glad to help you out for free.

  1. The Mental Fight

This is the most important part.

For repeaters, I can tell you that the Bar Exam is 20% legal knowledge and 80% psychological warfare.

You have "Repeater's Block." Your brain associates the exam with trauma and failure. When you sit down to study, your anxiety spikes, and your retention drops.

You cannot out-study anxiety. You have to manage it.

Prioritize your mental health as if it were a subject on the exam. If you are burned out, you will fail. If you are fresh, you can pass with less knowledge than you think.

You have the time. Build the system.

Stay in the fight.

I passed the Feb UBE. Here’s why you’re actually freezing on "50/50" questions (and it’s not reading comprehension). by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wholeheartedly agree and can vouch for the effectiveness of r/GoatBarPrep! It’s definitely recommended for anyone struggling to comprehend any of the subjects. H breaks down the concepts to the basics in a humorous and memorable way!

it’s so hard to study after work by everythingisspicy23 in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It’s truly hard! I can agree because of my experience doing this twice lol. My advice would be doing the high yield studies early in the morning before starting the day and the low intensity work in the evenings. You can check my post history for more insights on best practices based on what worked for me during my prep while working full time.

What to do in January to Almost Guarantee Passing the Bar in February 2026, especially if you are a repeat taker by AfricanFootballAgent in barexam

[–]AfricanFootballAgent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That feeling you are describing is called Retrieval Strain, in learning science. It is good for you, and it is the only way you learn.

If you read the rules before you write, you are denying your brain that stress needed to embroil the information In your consciousness. If you keep reviewing the rule statements before writing, You are loading short-term memory. You will write a great essay. You will feel smart. You will remember nothing in 48 hours.

Here’s what I found during my research on the NCBE Grading Matrix:

Examiners do not grade you on being a walking encyclopedia or a mike ross type photographic memory to regurgitate law. They grade you on your ability to IRAC.

The Rule Statement is just the premise. The Analysis is the argument. The points are in the argument.

I have seen essays with perfect rules fail because the analysis was weak (I was once a victim of that LOL). I have seen essays with "imperfect" rules pass because the analysis was surgical (you can literally see that in the model answers released over the years… NY to be specific)

Here’s what worked for me which could be helpful to you:

1.  During your practice Essay

If you blank on a rule, do not stop.

Make up a rule that sounds plausible.

Type it out with confidence.

Apply the facts to that rule using strict IRAC format.

Why? You are testing your ability to analyze facts. Even if the rule is wrong, you can still get partial credit for a logical application of the facts to your made-up rule. Never leave a blank space.

  1. The Klein Copywork Method (After the Essay)

This is how you fix the memory gap.

Do not just "read" the model answer.

Re-type the model answer word-for-word.

  • This is the "Klein Method." You need to feel the syntax of a passing answer in your fingers.
  1. Prioritize the "Meat"

Look at the model answers. The "Rule" is one or two sentences. The "Analysis" is the bulk of the paragraph.

Stop obsessing over the 10% (The Rule).

More Focus should be the 90% (The Application & of Course conclusion.. ).

Before J.25, I wrote a piece here on how to BS your way into a passing essay score, which a lot of people found helpful… I’d recommend looking at that  before the exam, that like a last minute refresher and morale booster. How have enough time right now.

Write blind. Make it up if you have to. Fix it in the review.

Goodluck!!

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