Barbri Simulated compared to Actual MBE (scaled)

I could not find much data on this subject, but I found about 22 numbers, spread out over a few years, so not 100% reliable here.  But, on some analysis, it appears that the average offset to add to the BarBri raw score is about 37 points.  Also, no one in this data set scored less on the actual MBE in comparison to BarBri's simulated exam, so a conclusion could be that the actual exam is, therefore, less difficult.  So if you scored a 100/200 on the BarBri Simulated MBE, then you may predict that you will have an MBE score of 137 (actual).  Series 1, in blue, represents BarBri's simulated exam, and Series 2, in orange, represents the actual MBE score.

About the MBE, it consists of 200 questions, and you have 6 hours to finish the exam.  Exam-takers receive three hours during the morning session to complete the first 100 questions, and another three hours during the afternoon session to complete the second 100 questions.  Only approximately 175 questions on the exam are graded, the other 25 are experimental questions.  The score, however, will be normalized to range between 0 and 200. 

States have different thresholds for determining a passing score, e.g., DC requires a combined score of 266.  The total UBE exam comprises a performance examination (e.g., 2 written assignments), 6 essays on various UBE subjects, and the MBE.  The MBE is weighted 50%. 

So my guess is that 50% for UBE, 20% for the Performance Exam, 30% for the Essays.

Example

UBE score (50%): 167

Performance Exam (PE) (20%):  140

Essays (30%): 140

The score would be,  167 + (120*0.4 + 140*0.6)  = 299

Note that a 167 on the MBE with 100 on both PEs and Essays would result in a 267, a pass. 

Bar Study Plan for the MBE, a reflection based on Hindsight

If I had to do it all over:

 To master the MBE which is 50% of the score,  I would, first, attempt 1,600+ simulated questions. 

Why?  It's equivalent to taking 8 Bar Exams, and at the point, you should have mastered the MBE after taking it 8+ times.
Next, how should you approach it?  
I would, first, learn each subject in isolation - just like you did in law school, except you don't have a whole semester to learn property.  During the learning phase, I would attempt 50 questions from the MBE on that topic, before turning to outlines or videos.  Then, I would analyze my performance.  E.g., did I ace this topic without review (if so, kudos!), or do I need some growth in this topic? 
Regardless of my baseline, I would review each correct and incorrect answer – e.g., read over the rule tested and, how the answers describe how to apply the law to the facts.  Then, and only then, I would proceed to watch the associated video lessons, and read the outlines. 



 I, in addition, would discard the lesson book or lecture notes associated with the video that any course has provided -  and, I would create my own notes.  The benefit of first doing practice questions is two fold, first, our brain is more interested in the subject matter, had we not done the questions, and second, our brain is full of at least 50 hypothetical problems in this subject.  Thus, when the lecture begins to discuss a rule our brain immediately triggers up an associated hypo  – thereby increasing our recall of this rule.  And recall of rules is extremely important for a passing grade on the MBE, and also the MEE - thus having a brain full of rules, and associated hypos is a useful tool.




And, the better the association between rules and hypos the better your recall will be.  Moreover, writing my own notes or making my own flash cards forces me to compress and explain the rule or definition in my OWN words, and thus increase my association and understanding.  During my actual review, I did the recommended approach, and I forgot nearly everything in the lecture, I had to go back to review – this is a WASTE of TIME.  Time is not infinite, and therefore it cannot be wasted.      

In summary, my plan would be this, as shown below:

Subject	Questions, first (untimed)	Video	Additional Practice (timed)	Maintenance
Week 1 – Contracts & Real Property (e.g., nearly same subject)	50 for Contracts + Review 50 for Real Estate + Review I would then mark my weak areas – e.g., maybe consideration for contracts and mortgages for real estate	Watch lectures take good notes/flash cards (e.g., 1 sentence definitions/rule), then retake all 50 questions for each subject	Now, take an additional 50 questions per subject
Week 2 – Evidence and Civil Procedure	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above	15 question for each previous subject, and review notes or flash cards
Week 3 – Con Law, Criminal Pro	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above;	Same as above
Week 4 – Crim Law and Torts	Same as above	Same as above	Congrats! Now you have taken in total, 4 total MBEs. Albeit, separated by subject, but now it is time for the mixing of questions	Same as above
Week 5 - Mixed	200 Questions of Bliss!	If, any review videos on the exam you just took, if not review yourself	Take another test, timed of 200 Questions	Flashcards for all
Week 6	Same	Same	Same	Same as above

TODAY

• 12:31 AM:  Took a quiz: Property Disposition in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 4 out of 5
• 12:18 AM: Watched a video lesson: Property Disposition in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 12:17 AM:  Took a quiz: Property Disposition in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 2 out of 5
• 12:06 AM Took a quiz: Construction in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 5 out of 5

YESTERDAY

• 11:56 PM Watched a video lesson: Construction in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 07:53 PM Took a quiz: Construction in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 3 out of 5
• 07:49 PM Took a quiz: Revocation in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 5 out of 5
• 07:39 PM Watched a video lesson: Revocation in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 07:37 PM Took a quiz: Revocation in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 1 out of 5
• 07:30 PM Took a quiz: Integration in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• You scored 4 out of 5
• 07:22 PM Watched a video lesson: Integration in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course

Caveat: BarBri lectures are omitted from this posting, but I will update this blog as I progress.  Also, I need to start taking sample MC questions, and essays.
Summary:

TODAY
• 10:46 AM: Took a quiz: Integration in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates: You scored 2 out of 5
• 10:40 AM Took a quiz: Validity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 4 out of 5
• 10:30 AM Watched a video lesson: Validity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
YESTERDAY
• 03:40 PM Took a quiz: Validity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 2 out of 5
• 03:25 PM Took a quiz: Testamentary Capacity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 4 out of 5
JUNE 02, 2017
• 04:02 PM Watched a video lesson: Testamentary Capacity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 04:01 PM Took a quiz: Testamentary Capacity in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 2 out of 5
• 03:58 PM Took a quiz: Collateral Relatives in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 4 out of 5
• 03:48 PM Watched a video lesson: Collateral Relatives in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course 03:46 PM Took a quiz: Collateral Relatives in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 3 out of 5
• 02:57 PM
• Took a quiz: Descendants in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 5 out of 5
• 02:45 PM Watched a video lesson: Descendants in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 02:41 PM Took a quiz: Descendants in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 2 out of 5

• 02:32 PM Took a quiz: Surviving Spouse in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 4 out of 5
• 02:19 PM Watched a video lesson: Surviving Spouse in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 02:16 PM Took a quiz: Distribution in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 5 out of 5
• 02:08 PM Watched a video lesson: Distribution in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 11:25 AM Watched a video lesson: Distribution in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
• 11:25 AM Took a quiz: Surviving Spouse in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 2 out of 5
• 10:14 AM Took a quiz: Distribution in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates You scored 3 out of 5
• 10:09 AM Watched a video lesson: Welcome to Wills, Trusts, and Estates in the Wills, Trusts, and Estates course
JUNE 01, 2017
• 12:47 PM Watched a video lesson: Service of the Summons and Complaint in the Civil Procedure course
• 11:28 AM Watched a video lesson: Relationship between Supplemental and Diversity Jurisdiction in the Civil Procedure course

BarBri was down today.  So I focused on making flashcards in ANKI for CivPro, and also reviewed materials.  I'm moving unusually slow right now.  But, I will be ready for the BAR!

Assignment for Today.

• Civ Pro - lectures & outlines!
• Barbri's "How to Review Multistate Explanatory Answers" and  
• MBE Torts Workshop (25 Qs)

Comments:  I have a good breath knowledge understanding of Torts. I, however, will need to dig deeper into some highly testable topics, such as product liability and negligence.  I plan to also deconstruct some model essays answers for some previous Tort Bar Exam questions.  More to come.  

Currently at the gym. Today I completed the first lecture on torts and did active recall on the materials.  I am behind on the MBE videos and..will.complete them.tonight.  Hopefully I can also watch quimbee tonight to reenforce the materials.  More to come