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When studying for the MBE, think of it as a game.  Focus on playing rather than studying.  Play the MBE every day with 34 questions at a time for as many weeks as possible before the exam.  With BarMax, students get 1,471 real MBE questions from previous bar exams, licensed directly from the NCBE.  Unlike other bar prep courses, BarMax provides real questions only, so you know the questions you practice on are written by the same minds that write the questions you will see on the actual bar exam.

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The MBE consists of two 3-hour (180 minutes) sessions—one session in the morning (9am – 12pm), a one-hour break, and another session in the afternoon (1pm – 4pm).  There are 100 questions in each session.  While practicing, make a spreadsheet to track your progress and write down the number of questions you answer correctly (e.g. 10/34 = 29%).  If you are using BarMax, the app will track your progress for you. The goal is to complete 17 questions in 30 minutes with 70% or better accuracy (i.e. ≥ 24/34).  Love your mistakes and make them now while you are preparing, as opposed to on test day.

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The NCBE booklet outlines frequently tested issues for the 6 tested subjects (i.e. Crimes, Contracts, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property and Torts). Keep in mind the MBE is a national exam.  This means you should ignore local laws and instead learn prevailing majority and minority views.  Six separate subject matter committees draft the MBE questions, so practice each subject separately.

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The MOST important part of practicing MBEs is not the number of questions you complete, but rather it is studying the questions you have finished. Zero-in on the reasons why you missed a question and understand the answer to every question. This will help you learn the law and catch patterns. Even if you get a question right, you should still review the answer to ensure that you answered it correctly because you understood the question as opposed to random guessing. This approach will give you a look into the mind of the test makers.

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Ask yourself: (1) Why did I pick this answer? (2) Why is the correct answer correct? (3) Why are the incorrect answers incorrect? (4) Do I know the law? (5) Did I inappropriately assume facts? (6) Did I read carefully?

Example MBE question:

Plaintiff, a jockey, was seriously injured in a race when another jockey, Daring, cut too sharply in front of her without adequate clearance. The two horses collided, causing Plaintiff to fall to the ground, sustaining injury. The State Racetrack Commission ruled that, by cutting in too sharply, Daring committed a foul in violation of racetrack rules requiring adequate clearance for crossing lanes. Plaintiff has brought an action against Daring for damages in which one count is based on battery.

Will Plaintiff prevail on the battery claim?

(A) Yes, if Daring was reckless in cutting across in front of Plaintiff’s horse.
(B) Yes, because the State Racetrack Commission determined that Daring committed a foul in violation of rules applicable to racing.
(C) No, unless Daring intended to cause impermissible contact between the two horses or apprehension of such contact by Plaintiff.
(D) No, because Plaintiff assumed the risk of accidental injury inherent in riding as a jockey in a horse race.

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Most students can get this question down to answer choices (C) & (D). Can you distinguish between the two? Why is one correct and why is the other incorrect?

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Play the MBE as you would any other game.  You will get addicted and have more fun studying for the bar exam, and this will help you maximize your MBE score!

In 2009, a small group of Harvard Law School students noticed an absurd monopoly in the bar prep space, held by an unchallenged leader with a non-evolving product.  In response, these students teamed up with Harvard Law alumni to launch BarMax on January 14, 2010.

The mission: democratize bar prep by embracing new technologies to provide the very best bar exam review courses at a fraction of the cost normally associated with these courses.

Since then, with the encouragement of thousands of students and an unwavering commitment to their success, BarMax has established itself as a comprehensive alternative to the stagnant, over-priced status quo.

As we continue to expand, we do not want to lose sight of the basic premises that led us to create BarMax in the first place.  If you are a law student who believes that there is something fundamentally wrong with being forced to take out yet another loan to pay for a $4,000 bar exam prep course, you are not alone.

1.    A bar exam prep course should be affordable and bar loans should not be the norm.

2.    An MPRE course should be free. No deposit. No other strings attached.

3.    Public interest work matters and should be encouraged.

4.    The best way to prepare for any standardized exam, including the bar exam, is by practicing on real questions.

5.    Pass rates speak louder than words.

6.    As many successful students of our system can attest, law schools should allow their students to choose the best bar exam prep option available.

7.    Popularity is not an indicator of quality.

8.    We are BarMax. We are not sheep.

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We invite all those who support our guiding principles to join our cause and to help spread the word about BarMax.

“I am sold on the device and the mode of study (great for listening in the car and using the app on breaks).  It is a great base for self-study.  The MBE portion of the program is quite attractive — the program is all touch screen.  The size of the text can be increased so it is relatively easy on the eyes making reading quite manageable to do your MBEs on the iTouch.  What is nice on this part of the app is you can mark off the answers like we are supposed to [on the real exam], enabling you to determine the answer by elimination.  Kudos for that.  In my eyes, that feature is BIG.”

- Stefanie C.

“With BarMax I could study anywhere and spend time on the things I needed.  I didn’t pay the money or go through the long painful lecture of the usual bar prep classes and I passed the NY Bar just the same.”

- Merritt B.

“In simple terms, I love the application and especially appreciate the audio lectures, outlines, and review questions.”

-Craig G.

“BarMax is an excellent bar review program substantively, there is overall ease of use, and portability, which for me is a lifesaver…”

- Maryalice K.

“Overall, I’m pleased.  This is my third bar exam; I’ve taken and passed the Illinois and Minnesota exams.  As a result, I have a pretty good sense of what works and doesn’t work for me.  Also, as a frequent traveler, this solution is great.  I would definitely market this product to existing attorneys who travel a lot.  I have a great deal of time on the long flights back and forth to California from Chicago to study.  And doing so is much easier on an iPod than with a slew of heavy books in tow.”

- Michael A.