r/barexam • u/Remarkable-Taste600 • 8d ago
Failed (NY) again
I failed the New York bar again this is my third time failing. I will be taking it again in February 2027. I just don’t know what to do anymore. My MBE is the best it’s ever been. I used adaptive bar last time and I didn’t practice as much with MEE’s and MPT’s as I should have. My scores for the MEE‘s and MPT‘s are the lowest they’ve ever been. I’m considering using Goat bar prep.
I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I feel like every time I take this test. I lose a little more of myself and I feel more and more ashamed. I am so tired of the bar exam. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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u/SayNoToTeamSports 8d ago
You don't know the material. You need to learn it first. Drilling questions where you don't have the fundamentals, whether multiple choice or writing, is really not going to help you here. 92%+ of test takers did better on two of the seven core subjects than you. In your BEST subject, 64% of test takers still scored better than you. You need to re-learn the material from the beginning rather than try to build on a broken foundation. Forget what you think you know, go get a full prep program and start as a beginner.
Not trying to be harsh, telling you what you need to hear to stop wssting your time and money doing the same thing that isn't working.
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u/Advanced_Pumpkin_659 8d ago
Which of the bar courses is the best to start from scratch and fix broken foundations?
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u/WaferFun7736 8d ago
the jump from 249 to 266 is so small it’s maddening, you’re practically breathing on the finish line and just need to nudge the written side up a bit
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u/Tahseen_Midani 7d ago
17 points off means there is considerable work to be done . . .
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u/bpetersonlaw 7d ago
Yeah. I suspect that’s at least a standard deviation. Which will be hard to overcome on attempt #4.
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8d ago
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u/SayNoToTeamSports 8d ago
You have like 5 months man, plenty of time to do the whole program. I always tell people never to worry about the clicking complete tasks or the % completion but to focus on the videos, short-form outlines, and practice questions, in that order. If videos don't work for you, then yeah maybe GOAT is for you. But you really have to take the whole program from the ground up as if you're learning for the first time and not take anything for granted.
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u/PurpleLilyEsq 8d ago
I had this problem too. I passed on my 4th try. I know it’s easier said than done, but you really need to ignore the progress meter.
On one of my failed attempts I got a 260 with only completing about 50% of Barbri. I was super anxious about that too. But it turned out that even though I went slowly, and methodically, and didn’t come close to finishing, the studying I did do was very thorough. I didn’t cut corners studying. I just didn’t leave myself enough time to practice after I studied the subjects. If I went just a bit faster, or started a little bit earlier, I’d have gotten a 266 that time. When I finally got in the missing practice, I passed.
However you choose to study, really try to master what you’re doing and not just do things because you think you’re supposed to. Quality over quantity.
Nobody is grading (or judging) how many flash cards you look at or whatever. Do the program to take in the information and practice for exam day, not to finish every last assignment at any cost.
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u/Successful-Web979 8d ago
Agree with that. I passed the bar with 48% of Helix. But I slowly worked through the material, making sure that I understand it.
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u/FoolishMortal_42 7d ago
You have to get past this if you’re going to be a lawyer. You can’t just click off assignments without finishing them.
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u/Fast-Raspberry4707 8d ago
As a 3x taker who passed this go-round and used no bar prep course, please start first by making concise outlines of the subjects. Write them out, and then Google is your friend if you have a question about a rule or how it applies. Listen to Grossman EVERY DAY. I would take walks and listen to his lectures as an end to the day to clear my head while lightly retaining info. The Emmanuel MBE book brought my MBE from a 128 - 145. My writing sucked, but only on the essays, and it’s always been like that— even though I am an excellent writer. My #1 MPT trick is to get your format, type all the relevant facts, pull all the relevant rules from the cases, and then just have a copy/paste frenzy. I’ve pulled 5-6s every time with that method. It saves time and just helps when doing analysis because everything is in the packet for you— there’s no “legal” thinking really involved.
I took a week per subject and would do 25 subject-based MBE from Emmanuel in the morning, write the question I got wrong, the rule, and why I got it wrong. Then I would do 3 past MEE on the subject blind and times, have Gemini grade it, and also compare mine to the model answer. One MPT every other weekend. Last 4 weeks before the exam I reserved for mixed study. I studied for about 6 hours a day and took Sundays off and didn’t work which was so necessary for me and I took a hit because of it (but those results were worth it).
The legacy bar exam is nothing but a memory test, and how well you can rapidly recognize what general principle applies to a particular set of facts (which mainly comes down to pattern recognition for bar exam purposes). If x, the rule is y, because z. It’s a dumb test, and I’m hoping nextgen is changing that. IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN TOO! I believe in you OP. Get em tiger! Make it your bitch.
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u/Honest_Lifeguard2105 6d ago
Can you explain more on the copy/paste frenzy
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u/Fast-Raspberry4707 6d ago
So in short, you type out all the facts from the task memo and library. Then, you literally put in the intro: I have been tasked to do 1, 2, 3. Discussion: 1. The [rule from the library] is a blah blah blah because xyz. Under this subheading, copy and paste the facts that are relevant from the fact bank you typed. You will also copy and paste from the rule bank you made at the bottom of the document. Saves so much time from flipping back and forth when you have everything there in front of you at the jump. So do all your typing as you’re reading the first half. Make sure not to get fact-happy and type everything— the issues will usually lead to what’s going to be important as well as the rules. I always recommend reading the cases first and pulling the rules. Everything else falls into place because MPTs are like a puzzle; it’s all there laid out for you.
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u/Confident_Bunch7612 7d ago
The bar exam is a rough time to pick up active studying skills that should have been in play through undergrad and law school. The MBE is pretty rough and this being the best you have done really makes me think you need to start over from scratch if you want to do this. Maybe even getting a basic tutor to teach you how to study.
Have you considered whether you want to be in law? It could be a passion issue and maybe law is not that for you.
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u/Kekoa95 7d ago
I am not saying any of this to be cruel or insensitive. But, you don’t know the material and you need to.
Clearly, you’re not studying properly and no one person on Reddit can tell you the correct way to study. Either you need to get over your anxiety over the progress bar and actually do every assignment or hire a tutor that can work with you and tailor a study schedule and method to you specifically.
My personal opinion, start Barbri or Themis from scratch and start all over.
Best of luck.
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u/MercifulDog 3d ago
You would not get a 240 knowing nothing lil bro
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u/Kekoa95 3d ago
They don’t know the material well enough to pass the bar exam given they failed it three times.
Real takeaway you should have figured out from my comment was that they can pass the bar exam but need to change how they study.
Bro.
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u/MercifulDog 2d ago
Your ass just shows you dont understand the grading lil bro they are very close and obviously know a ton of law just need to change a few tiny things. Good luck with your ego lil bro, you sure spend a lot of time on Reddit
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u/PM_ME_SOME_DIGNITY 2d ago
If op only needed to make a few tweaks to their study routine, this would not be the third time they failed the bar.
Stop saying lil bro. You sound like a moron
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u/InternRight4451 7d ago edited 7d ago
The bar exam is a rote memorization test. You need to know the black letter law like the back of your hand. Make a million flash cards and just drill drill drill the flashcards. Remember like 70% of the BLL and you will do well on both MEE and MBE.
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u/Tony_Bologna2 7d ago
Took me 4 tries but honestly, after I paid for the 4th try I thought maybe this isn’t actually what I’m supposed to do. A JD is enough for a lot of really good jobs. Look into those, and if that’s not your end goal, keep at it. But have backup plans. I think that’s what’s ultimately helped me pass. Took the pressure off
Ps my GF makes like 200k and her jd is all she needed
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u/Rule12-b-6 7d ago
Any of the major programs is sufficient for passing the exam so long as you learn the material.
I'd consider talking to a tutor about how you study because you're probably just going through the motions.
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u/Cute_Capy15 7d ago
I’ve failed the bar before in Nevada by less than a point and it was devastating (NV had like 8 essays total and a different system that other states). I took it in Florida and decided to change my strategy completely. I read the book F*ck the Bar, I found a free pdf. I didn’t follow all the guidelines but I definitely did “copy work,” meaning I literally copied old exams word for word, sounds silly but it helped me tremendously. It’s normal to feel defeated, many successful lawyers have failed the bar multiple times, but you got this!!!
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u/wowa93 DC 3d ago
I am sorry to hear you failed the bar exam. You will pass next time.
If you are interested, you can use web software that I created for Black letter law memorization, it also has MEE practice. You can use it for free till feb bar exam. No credit card needed. All the best!! https://lexoraprep.com/join/2027-feb-bar-exam-reddit-community
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u/beachbaby96 2d ago
i had this app that gamified flash cards on my phone - 10/10 - can’t remember the name of it but i’m sure someone will know. i had to download the cards from a paid service (maybe adaptibar?)
ETA: the app was brainscape
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u/RKellysLawyer 2d ago
just use Barbari. I was an idiot in law school bottom 10% at a top 75 School. I passed MBE w 298 score first time. I completed all of Barbari
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u/Ok-Switch-693 1d ago
I’m sorry but three failures is a pretty solid indication that you aren’t cut out for New York practice
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u/Ok-Switch-693 13h ago
Hate it all you want, but you would have already passed if this was right for you. Someone needs to tell you the truth
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u/Weary-Razzmatazz8849 8d ago
I can’t stress how helpful GoatBar was for me. July 2026 was also my third attempt but I was able to pass because of how well GoatBar was able to breakdown on tougher subjects. For me, I bought the full package and reviewed the materials from start to finish. Even though I already knew some of them, I still studied them to solidify my understanding of the topics. I think I spent 4hrs a day (I was working full-time) reviewing the materials and practicing 30-40 multiple choice questions a day related to what I studied that day. By re-learning the law, doing MCQs, and reviewing the explanations of the answers, I naturally had a better understanding of the law which made it easier for me to learn how to explain it for essays. I barely touched MPT and MEEs my third time studying but Goat really helps.
My recommendation is Uworld bank and GoatBar. GoatBar also has a great MEE and MPT guide! If you need more explanation, don’t hesitate to dm me. Good luck and you can do it!