Prepare to Slay the Bar Examdragonslayertutors.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/...Prepare to Slay the...

Prepare to Slay the BarExam

Dawn K Kennedy, JD, Esq and Founder of Dragon Slayer Tutors

How to attack the study schedule, avoid burnout, and peak on exam days.

Prepare to Slay the Bar Exam

First o�, CONGRATULATIONS, you worked hard and earned that seat at the table. The hours, juggling, stress, and such for your classes areeither almost, or actually over. Not everyone gets the opportunity to sit for the Bar Exam. It is a privilege earned, and your mindset as youprep for this next step should be one of anticipation, not dread.

To succeed, you need to treat this season of study and preparation as a project, with a clearly de�ned approach, that works in YOUR life andis unique to you. That is what this book will show you how to do. Create and personalize your “Bar Project” so it will be a part of your life, setup to your own strengths, consistent with the manner you study and learn best and reward yourself for performance. If you are a non-traditional student (as I was) and wonder how the heck you are going to do this, work, juggle kids and family obligations, “without dread” Iam here to tell you, it can be done. And part of doing it is to “embrace the journey.” This starts with taking some control here- not being atthe mercy of the bar review schedule… it’s YOUR journey.

Prepare and Organize Your Project Start with a CalendarI don’t mean just count the number of weeks and make yourself nuts, Imean to organize your study, and your AVAILABILITY to study. We allhave obligations and things we want or have to do if we are takingmonths to prepare for this big exam, but few of us get to hide out in ahole and do nothing else, particularly if you start your preparation a fewmonths out. And I recommend it. Bar Review programs will be about 10weeks, I get that- but you can start to prepare long before your barreview course opens.

I recommend setting aside an hour or two to do this �rst step- grabco�ee or whatever, and create a “Single Sheet Attack Plan,” which is asnapshot for your “Bar Exam Project" for three to four months before theexam. I have an example of the single sheet attack plan to the right. Icreated mine in Microsoft Word, you might like excel, or anothercalendar creation program. Whatever works for you. If you send an emailto [email protected] and put “Spring 2019 Attack PlanTemplate” in the subject line, I’ll just send you one.

First- Note your “Blackout Dates.” I �nd that many students are told, “youwill have NO LIFE, you have to say no to Cousin Patty’s wedding- you haveto study.” I don’t ascribe to that approach. Common sense, and maybe some wisdom, sorta wants to know how much productive studying areyou actually going to get done on wedding day? Hmmm. You are unavailable to study. Once you can see it, you can adjust your studying for itaround that time. Don’t worry about “how many” because then you can make the hard decision about each event, when you see them all.Don’t miss the family reunion, graduation parties, grandma’s birthday. Plan for them.

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For many of us, guilt and sadness may make our exam prep seem like a chore, something I don’t want to do- but as we discussed, it’s aprivilege you EARNED. Our mindset shifts when we neglect ourselves and our family and friends. So, write those events down. Cross o� thosedates. You are unavailable those days. Period. You now have a broad look at all of the "study" days you have available. You are in control ofHOW you use those days. If you know you have a weekend unavailable in June, you can make adjustments far in advance, and the days youhave commitments will not have as much, if any, impact on your Bar Project.

Next, Schedule Your Strengths and Weaknesses

There are a lot of subjects tested- you didn’t suck at all of them. What ones are you pretty comfortable with (you will see them again in thebar review course), and which do you feel like you can’t remember how much works? The subjects that are weakest, and this may seemcounterintuitive, schedule them �rst- not just days- a week of review for each one. And the earlier you start your attack plan, the more weeksyou have before bar review. So, the �rst week of May, the full week of torts. The second week? Something else. This relieves the overwhelm-because you see you have time before bar review course to do some focused review.

You will schedule actual times each day for essays, Multi-state Performance Tests (MPTs), and MBE multiple choice questions practice later.You will have plenty of advance notice now when you will need to adjust. OH- and have a few "sick" days and "�oat days" available. Maybeevery third week pick a day, just to have in reserve. Like the "snow days" our local school system plans to use, well before it snows. Lifehappens. You can't let it derail the entire project, or derail your mindset. Gotta roll with it.

Study Plan StrategiesYou have your calendar, GREAT. Next, personalize the approaches so you are in control of this project- it isn’t in control of you. Exampreparation is a combination of substantive review of every subject and topic tested and then skill building practice, speci�cally essays,MBEs, and MPTs. Neither one can be passive. Active studying is incredibly important for success. It is a matter of making your study time“bene�cial”, not “busy.” This requires having an attack plan and spending your often limited study sessions productively. You will haveplenty of time to use some, or all of the tactics below, this list is not meant to stress you, but to provide considerations for personalizing yourstudy so it is productive EVERY time you sit down.

Some tips for productive "Substantive Review" of the material.

When you start, one subject at a time. Mixing subjects will be important as you �nalize your prep, but you should start one topic at a time.Make sure you take the time to look up any topics in each subject that you feel unsure about.

Handwriting an outline is an excellent way to review the substantive material. Just grab a clean notebook or legal pad, handwrite your subjectoutline, paying special attention to mnemonics and other memorization tricks! Rule statement drills in the same subject will help you solidifythe material in your mind, learn the black letter law.



Remember what tools made you successful in school and use them. Video lectures? Audio? Teaching the topic to the dog out loud? (yeah-that is one of mine!) Do not forget the ways you studied through law school- you �gured out at some point what worked for you in studyinglaw. Don’t throw out those methods and exchange them for just putting in hours of reading or tell yourself that exam prep must beapproached “di�erently.” Harness your strongest study tools, add them to your prep!

Activate your studying! Often the urge is to just read the material, over and over, to try and get to understanding. Highlight, underline, readout loud. Use �ashcards and rule statement drills for black letter law and concept review. If you use an e-reader, you can also use thehighlight feature, and make notes as you read.

Finally, read the right and wrong answers for MBEs and student passing answers on essays. To develop your understanding, you must take thetime to look at the passing answers in essays and the “right” answers in the MBEs to �gure out the concepts that are shaky, or the issuesthat are consistently missed. Remember that student passing answers are not “model” answers but passed the essay with a good score.

You can access past exams essays and student answers on many state bar websites. California posts exams and answers for the last tenexam cycles or so. For MBEs, almost all Bar review courses have a bunch, but if you want to supplement earlier, I suggest purchasing an MBEbook. The Emmanuel “Strategies and Tactics for the MBE” series is what I use and recommend when coaching one on one. You can �nd it onAmazon, and probably some other places. There are other resources out there too, you may even have one from a law school class.

Tips for productive exam "Skill Building" strategies

Know (or develop or learn) your approaches. Topic templates, or approaches, need to be developed and memorized so you know where tobegin each essay fact pattern. These approaches will carry over to MBEs, as you develop your logical thought processes. Try to haveapproaches for contract formation, contract performance, tort negligence, strict liability (in tort, products), defamation, and homicide at theminimum. These topics are heavily tested, and with a good approach you lessen the likelihood of “freezing” in an essay.

Aim �rst for accuracy, then speed. Spend time spotting issues and reviewing your rule statements for IRAC. You do not get points for issuesyou do not spot and discuss. If you need 90 minutes to do a solid essay at �rst, �ne. The last three weeks, aim for speed. To do this, ensureyou have your rules down. Use IRAC, and “here, because, therefore” for analysis. You must be able to write an essay in under 60 minutes ontest day.

Practice, Practice, Practice. In the �nal weeks leading up to the exam, you should aim for 30 MBEs a day minimum and write at least one-twoessays. Outline four more. By exam day, a minimum of 40 essays written and 100 outlined is NOT too much! 1,000 MBEs is not too much! Justset your time each day and practice your skills. Four hours a day will include; four essay outlines (under 60 minutes), one written essay (60minutes), 30-35 MBEs (60 minutes) and time to review and read, 60 minutes. You can break up into two sessions if needed. But do NOTskimp on yourself here. To prevent burnout, aim for a half day o� each week, or even a full day, for hobbies, a movie, or just family time.



On the Go Study Hacks

Here are a few ideas to keep you studying throughout crazy, busy days away from the books and computer:

Flashcards– just index cards, written on both sides, rule statements, etc. Great for the grocery store while in line! Kindle or phone apps– put a few quizlets or study guides on there! FINZ books are online in Kindle formats for practicing MBEs. Greatfor the orthodontist, doctor, or wherever you are waiting somewhere for an appointment. You can put it down quickly when your appointmentis over! Use Google Drive, Evernote, or other Note app– need to review an outline? Rule statement drills? Essay approaches? Uploadyour typed notes into a cloud based tool! These are already in your own writing, with your own examples… great for riding in the car on theway to or from an event (make sure someone else is driving!) when you have 20-30 minutes. Lectures for the Car– have a commute? Is one subject driving you mad? There are audio lectures that can be downloaded to a �ashdrive or CD- plug in a media �le and GO! Lectures for your phone or iPod– or tape yourself reading rule statements, plug in headphones and take a walk! Get away from thebooks for a few! A Mindfulness or Meditation App– you need to relax and to let the brain rest. I can meditate for… um… about 90 seconds- BUT thereare apps that can guide you to take a short break, even 3-5 minutes, so you can refresh. My favorite is Insight Timer- it’s free.

The Mental Game- What are You Wearing?No, you don’t look at your underwear and remember your last meal- we are not naming your next garage rock band in some social mediathing. This is SERIOUS. We are prepping for battle, Warrior! Dragon Slaying Time is almost upon us!

Those who enter into battle with a dragon do not go in unprepared and unaware of the enemy. Dragon Slayers practiced strategies and skills.With swords, with lances, with horses. They studied hard to defeat the dragon. They learned about the Dragon. They scouted the dragon’s lair,learned all about the beast’s powers, and its schedule. Nothing was left to chance. Everything was carefully prepared for and planned inadvance for battle.

Few students are chained to a desk for 100% of their study time. Many students these days that are non-traditional, are older often workingadults, with families, and a ton on the proverbial plate. I was a wife and mom with the full-time job during law school. I know that thestruggle is real. You can get time in. At the dentist with a kiddo? You can squeeze in some quality time. Renewing your license at the DMV?Don’t be frustrated, be grateful for the opportunity to study while blocking out the noise.



I do not recall a single story- evah- of any knight prepping to take on a large reptilian �re breathing creature in his or her, “most comfy jeansand tees.” Dragon Slayers had powerful psychological tools to prepare them for battle- visual and physical tools. First, they had armor, chain-mail, breastplates, helmets, and boots. FULL suits. They had the colors of their kingdoms, the �ags that they fought under. There were manypowerful visual reminders that they were PREPARED to enter into the lair and PREVAIL against the beast.

Do you have positive visual and physical reminders of your upcoming date with YOUR dragon? No? Well, you have been preparing. You havebeen studying. You have been practicing skills. You have been putting o� social events. You have been prioritizing your exam prep. So today,Warriors, we are going to take the time to give ourselves the psychological edge. You go into the lair soon- AND YOU ARE GOING TO BEPREPARED! Here are a few ideas:

ENTRY TICKETS (Flag you �y under!)

Once you receive (or download and print) your admission ticket to the exam, make a few copies. Redact any personal info, but post a fewwhere you will see them- bathroom mirrors, closet doors, desks at work or at home, kitchen counters, etc… Every time you look at that ticketit’s, “Yeah Baby WE are doing this!”

Taking the Bar Exam? You also worked hard and earned a right to sit at that table. I encourage JDs to print out an additional sign of, “name,Attorney at Law” or, “name, Esq” and put that up on the wall over your desk- put that Attorney at Law in RED!!! Taking the FYLSE? Addsomething like, “Woot, woot, I am so excited we are starting 2L (or 3L) in (whatever month)!” And remember- you already passed 1L and metthe California State Bar Examiner Requirements to sit for the exam. You worked hard to earn that seat at the table.

When you walk past those admittance tickets and goal signs you've made several times a day you remind yourself of your preparations. I alsothink it would be pretty cool if you made an index card or two with #SlayTheDragon, added to your list of reminders, shameless plug, I know.

PLAN YOUR CLOTHING (ARMOR y’all)

Stop laughing. What are you wearing? You have a date with a dragon here. There are some GREAT shirts and other clothing items availablethat you can get for your special exam days. Pick out your armor. Leave nothing to chance (and yes, ensure you follow the rules, nothing withelements or exam stu� that can be construed as a study aid and dress in layers). You need to have something to wear that is dedicated tothis project, and the end result.

When I took the Bar, I had a di�erent shirt every day that had a funny (or snarky) lawyer saying on it. My fave? “If at �rst you don’t succeed,try doing it the way your lawyer told you to the �rst time” WHY? Because I was walking out of that exam a lawyer. That was my mindset. Didwearing the shirt ensure success? Of course not, but I reminded myself every day WHY I was going and WHAT I was doing there. Through theburnout, through the last few weeks of prep.



There are great places to look for Warrior apparel. Google search, try some commonsites like Cafepress, Zazzle, or Amazon just to name a few. Do a search online, �nd greatstu�. Even camis and undies. Look for undies that say something like, “I got yourboyfriend by adverse possession” and (with apologies to my dear friend Juan Pacheco)the shirt that says, “I own Blackacre.”

I found a few fun shirts that I include here , but man, there are a ton of them. Wear yourlaw school shirt if you want to. Bar takers- Wear the lawyer stu�- just do it. But pick outyour clothes in advance. This is a special day. Some of these are discontinued, but thedesigns are a great idea starting point. All Copyrights and IP are reserved to thedesigners all of these AMAZING shirts!

SHARPEN YOUR SWORD (put those baggies together)

There are many other things you can do to help yourself psychologically prepare for the battle ahead, Warrior. Some people post their goaljob. Some people write “I will NEVER know my score” and post it in 6 places around the house. Some people develop mantras that go with aparticular action. For example, putting sugar in your co�ee and saying, “I got this.” Whatever YOU personally decide to do to put physicalreminders of your project outcome in front of you, take this step. You earned the privilege of a seat at the table. Put a sign on the back of thefront door, get your armor, buy that analog watch, and remind yourself of what a successful outcome looks like for you.

Dealing with Fear, Well-Wishers, and Test AnxietyYup. Fear is ugly, and it is NORMAL. If you haven’t taken a particular exam before, no amount of practice and test “like” conditions willsimulate the thousands of people in a room doing what you are doing for the �rst time. If you try to ignore it or refuse to let yourself haveyour feelings, emotions, etc., completely, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. Acknowledge them. But don’t allow them to control yourstudy, put additional pressure on you through frustration, or to cause a test freeze that will derail all your careful preparation and planning.

Fear During the Preparation PhaseYou know the format, the schedule, the material- but not the EXPERIENCE- and fear can be normal. But fear is not a motivation. Being drivenby fear is counterproductive. When fear grips us, we start to sometimes punish ourselves for not being “good enough.” This is not conjecture.This comes from working with students who sit and write rule statements over and over and over, the same one, berating themselves for notgetting it! That is fear talking.

You have real preparations to make just to enter the lair! Do you already own an analog watch? Doyou need hotel reservations overnight out of town? Who is feeding the gold�sh while you battle theevidence multiple choice? Highlighters, pencils, sharpeners, gum? Gallon baggie? Print out therules about the tools you can bring from your state bar's website. You can �gure out what you canhave, then practice your test taking with the permitted items. Start now to put your test takingtools together. Do you need a new keyboard for your computer? I did- the cat spilled tea on mylaptop a few weeks before the exam, and the "M" key stopped working. I needed a new keyboard toplug into the USB port. I'll admit, I had a moment of panic- but I addressed it, and it was �ne.



A Special Note for Anyone Repeating the ExamIf you are a Bar Exam repeat taker, your disappointment and other feelings may have led you tochange study tactics, prep approaches, etc., to try and �gure out, “what they want” and you enterthe lair with the fear that, “this time” you get it right. The pendulum swings all the way to theother side, you get confused, and anxious- how do I study best? Fear is checking every MBEquestion, and when one is right telling yourself, “I am good enough” and when one is wrong, “I amnot good enough.”

The fear drives you to think, "I must do everything right every time or there just won’t be a pass, again, “this time.” When that happens,exam prep becomes an exercise in fear, burnout occurs, we shut down, and well, we are discouraged. I've seen it. But you have to remember,you are on a NEW journey. You don't need to change everything up. Make sure you are using the techniques that made you so successfulstudying and passing law school in the �rst place.

Dealing with the fear, regardless of whether or not it is the �rst time you are taking the bar, is CRITICAL to your journey. These feelings arereal, and can be paralyzing at times for some people. Look, there is a lot riding on the outcome. You actually have to get out of your ownhead. Generally students tend to have an overall feeling of being unprepared, or a real fear of a speci�c topic or type of question. If you startto feel fear creeping in, at any time, stop what your studying, set your timer for ten minutes and PLEAE give your fear a little bit of attention.

First, where is this fear coming from? Maybe you struggled on it in school, or you bombed that portion of an exam, or whatever. Once youknow what the speci�c fear is, make an "if-then" strategy for the issue. Let's say "hearsay" questions make you breakout in a sweat. Your planfor this fear may look like this, "IF I start to feel fear when I see a hearsay MBE question, THEN I will close my eyes, count backward from �ve,and if I am still stuck after reading it again, chose the answer I think is best, and move on."Now, obviously if you have fear in every subject,using that tactic over and over sounds an awful lot like guessing. Not recommended. Talk to a counselor if necessary. seriously.

In practice, we can all focus on our PROGRESS to settle fear of feeling unprepared. Let’s look at how many MORE MBEs are correct in a givensubject, not focusing only on the ones we miss. Let’s look at the better use of facts in our essays, or how we didn’t miss any issues. Howabout a practice in completing all our sections on time? Being kind to ourselves and looking up an elusive rule statement or element, ratherthan beating ourselves up? Much more productive. A much better benchmark. Much better preparation.

Handling Well-WishersAs test dates get closer and closer, people get texts, emails, Facebook posts, LinkedIn, and wherever else people use to send encouragement.“I believe in you,” “You got this,” “Be con�dent,” and similar sayings, from people who have NEVER taken anything close to what you aregetting prepared to do. Man, that can be so frustrating! Do you even know what I am doing here? This is the most intense thing ever!!! Thankyou, great-aunt Suzy, but you HAVE NO IDEA, and when, “the whole family knows you will do it,” there is NO PRESSURE. Amirite?

Here are a few things you can do- Thank them for their positive thoughts, prayers, con�dence in you, and let it go. Just let it go. (No, I haven’tseen the movie Frozen, so sing it if you know it). Do not apply additional pressure to yourself from family and friends. They truly have no skinin this game. When they (inevitably) ask after the exam, “how did you do?” you can give them the test results date, tell them you will be asexcited as they are to �nd out and leave it there. Then call a buddy who took the exam before or with you, and talk with them.



Bottom line? You have people who love you and only want the best for you, and want to see you succeed, but this is not a driver’s license testor your �rst outing at the grocery store with coupons. Until you have faced these Dragons… there really isn’t anything you can explain thatcomes close to other experiences.

Fear During the Final Run-Up to the Exam

“Two weeks until the bar exam.” Those words can bring intense stress, fear, and anxiety to even the most dedicated student who is wellprepared to enter the lair. At this point most preppers have been studying for six or more weeks, have completed more than 50 essays and athousand or more MBEs. And let’s not forget about those MPTs. And that is great news! You are prepping to Slay the Dragon!

This tip was given to me by Pat Wilson, who is an alum of my law school, when she was an o�cer in the Student Bar Association. I had thegreat luck to speak with Pat the night before I entered the Pasadena Convention Center to take the FYLSE. She told me to give myselfpermission to panic. Go ahead. Before you open your exam book. You can get scared and panic. Give it 30 seconds. Let the panic, fear, anxietyall rise up. Count down from 30, unclench your teeth, �sts, whatever- then you have work to do, so get to it. Best advice I ever received. I didit again for the Bar exam, each morning.

You can use this when you start studying each day. Go ahead, practice it. Close your eyes, count back from thirty, grit teeth, fear rises up-over it… study. It will get easier with practice, and you will have a better handle on controlling any fear on test day if you practice this skillnow.

Prevent BurnoutFirstly, your perspective is important. Not, "Ugh, I still have _____ number of weeks left of THIS", but rather,"Hey I have _______more weeksbefore I GET TO PROVE that I am ready for a license to practice law." Yep, you passed law school. You earned the right to get in there andprove you are ready to enter the �eld of law as a licensed practitioner. Make sure you have the mindset of a warrior- your purpose is not toconvince some grader somewhere, it is to take on the test questions, whatever they throw at you, and beat them at their own game.

Everyone gets anxious about the actual exam but treat it as a “surprise” in the morning- “Whatever you throw at me, I will know how toanswer.” Remind yourself that the questions may be tricky, but, “You won’t catch me” is the right approach. So how do we keep up thatmotivation to �nish strong?

Eat well. You are on an incredible journey. You deserve to get some good for you food. Fuel isimportant. Not just for your brain but this is a physically exhausting exam. Don’t neglect meals.There is a tendency sometimes to just snack in front of your computer or during study time, tellingourselves there’s no time to stop. Set a reminder on your phone, or wherever, and get a good meal afew times a day.

Get up and move! Even a ten-minute walk will allow your brain to do its thing, soak in the info, placeit in the recall bin. Listen to music, get away from the table, computer, pencils, books, and yourdedicated study space.



Tired of your dedicated study space? Change it up! You can study anywhere. Get outside and do some MBEs from a book. I actually took mymaterials and wrote several essays in a booth at my favorite bar (seriously) blanking out the noise and distraction. Treating myself to acocktail after I was �nished didn’t hurt either.

Try the 50-minute hour. If you are not writing an essay or in the middle of an MPT, study for 50 minutes, then take a ten-minute rest. Yeah,we all watch the clock as burnout starts to creep in. We are tired of doing this! We just want it to be over- but then we don’t, we need moretime, aaaaggghhhh. Manage your study sessions to keep the brain from wandering between boredom, frustration and fear. It will really helpyou keep focused. You can do 50 minutes of Real Property, right? It’s not even an hour.

Set up a reward system. I’m serious. When I completed certain tasks, I rewarded myself. Three passing essays in three hours? A new pair ofshoes, baby. Finishing 25 MBEs in my worst subject with at least a 70? Dinner and a movie with the fam. What motivates you? And I meanthe carrot- not the stick.

We are so great at beating ourselves up during this process. “I should…..” “I can’t believe I…” You need the balance. Make a list. Make aposter board with little envelopes on it and put the index card with the reward you earned in it- I did. And it felt so good to get up from thedesk and walk over and grab what I earned for my e�orts. Passing the exam is the ultimate prize, but you earn prizes and rewards as you go.BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING IT.

Take a few hours o� and away from the material. No, I am not insane,schedule your time away. Go to a movie. Go to the park with your dog. Takeyour kids for ice cream. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A WHILE. Pick a time,say Monday from 2-6pm, schedule it and GO. Give yourself time on thecalendar to look forward to. Schedule at least two half days between now andthe exam. Just go and do it. You will be amazed at how refreshed you will feelwhen you get back. And enjoy the time, ok? Don’t keep looking at your watch.

Be kind to yourself! This is the time to keep embracing PROGRESS. Don’tberate yourself for struggling with a concept. Put it down, go back to it. Timespent telling yourself mean things is counterproductive. Studying that isunproductive is, well, not helpful!

If you need help- ask for it! Reach out to others- whether it is students, professors, bar prep course help, or a coach, if you are struggling, getsome assistance. It can be for anything; a concept, a particular MBE section, or just reassurance.

Final Test Day Strategies

Keep this book handy as you get closer to your exam date! Homestretch time warrior, and you have been preparing! Make sure you havedownloaded your exam software (if you are taking by computer), prepped your armor (see previous section, “What are You Wearing”) and getready to embrace your last few weeks. Success is in your sight; the end of the tunnel is coming. I am cheering for you these last weeks! SlayYour Dragon! You have studied and practiced and built up your skills! Here are a few �nal tips for taking the exam!



Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast! I know that the butter�ies can a�ect your ability to sleep and keep food down, butyou must do both! Sleep mask? Meditation (insight timer is a free app that has great exercises to help you get to sleep)? Whatever you haveto do to get those zzzzzs. Each morning of the exam, get up in time for the co�ee or tea routine, and have a good breakfast, whether it is aprotein bar and fruit if your belly is a little queasy, or a full breakfast if you can handle it! Nutrition and sleep are key to making through thephysical and psychological exhaustion that is the Bar Exam.

Prevent fear during the exam: Permission to Panic exercise, take EACH test as you receive it, answer it, then let it go. Watch those MBEquestions, and do not waver too long after eliminating several answers. Overthinking is deadly.

DON’T GO INTO THE ESSAY EXAM COLD! During co�ee and breakfast, or after, on day one (essays) outline 2 or 3 cal bar essays to getthe brain warmed up for the task. Print out a few before you leave for the exam, have them already in your backpack or books, and just pullthem out and do them. It really will help settle your nerves. DO NOT CHECK YOUR ANSWERS! Just warm up with a few outlines, getting a fewminutes of practice reading the fact patterns. Don’t let the �rst essay in the exam book be your �rst brain warm up.

Treat every essay as a di�erent section of the exam. Finish essay one, then forget it, �nish essay two, then forget it, �nish essaythree, then forget it. Three essay sections in the morning in the California Bar. Treat them as such. DO NOT �ip though the exam book andoutline all three then write. DANGER! If you are feeling unsure about question 2, how will you ever write essay 1 without that fear creepinginto your mind? Take each essay as it comes! For the afternoon, REPEAT, but with two essays and the PT. Each is a separate section. Treatthem as such!

Don’t talk to anyone about the exam during lunch breaks! Crazy thing to do… there are those who will have “nailed it” telling all kindsof things about answers to the section that may make you question your own responses. WHY??? You can’t go back now, and ahem, theycould be DEAD WRONG. No Monday morning quarterbacking. It is time for refueling and getting yourself ready for the next few sections.

DON’T GO INTO THE MBE EXAM COLD! Repeat as above on day 2, just do a few MBEs, maybe 10, and again DO NOT CHECK YOURANSWERS! It is just a warm up for your brain to adjust to the di�erent skill required to rock the MBE versus rocking the written portion ofthe exam.

Pace yourself on the MBEs. Don’t rush “to get it done” because of fatigue setting in or worse, frustration. Get up! Stretch, get water, rollyour neck, etc. take a minute to close your eyes. Then get back to it. I recommend a short break after every 16-18 questions, so twice an houror so. There is no rush. Take the time allotted.

Sorry, it’s robot time. There is no room for creative writing, or changing tactics. Do what you practiced. Don't let the question throw you.Not expecting a speci�c subject on the essay? Okay, you have approaches, you always have a place to start. Deep breath, do it the way youpracticed. Touch each word with your pencil and read the questions carefully, IRAC, use scrap paper liberally, and follow the directions in thePT to the letter!

Finally, get into the exam site early. Once you are there, you are there. Set up computer or writing materials, lay out admission ticketand ID, and just take a breather. There will be people coming in at the last minute- and you aren’t one of them. Because you are ready toenter the lair, you are not afraid to tackle whatever they throw at you.



You’ve done it! You stayed the course, pushed through and �nished the project. You are ready to enter the lair! Time to wear your Bar shirtsand out�ts you’ve prepared! Keep your attitude positive no matter how you feel. Feelings can put you o� your game. Time to rock your stu�!Remember, you have a cheerleader here! Feel free to contact me by text or email to let me know how it’s going! #SlayYourDragon

About the Author

Dawn Kennedy JD, Esq

Dragon Slayer Tutors is a product of that passion, focusing on exam coaching and test strategies to help applicants “Slay the Dragon.”

Dawn is a licensed California attorney, passing the February 2015 Bar Exam onthe �rst try, with her contracts essay (essay 1) and the �rst answer toPerformance Test B (PTB) published as student passing answers. She attendedConcord Law School, as a part-time non-traditional student, and was alsorequired to pass the FYLSE (Baby Bar). She has been supporting studentsthrough the FYLSE since 2013, �rst as a peer tutor, and the Bar Exam since2017.

Dawn attended law school as a mid-career student, still working as a projectmanager, busy wife and mom. She is passionate about seeing students succeedin putting together the “project” of preparing for the Bar and Baby Bar.


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