Improving Focus and Stamina for the Bar Exam
Wow. Just wow.
I normally don't watch the first round of tennis tournaments. Upsets are rare, there usually aren't any compelling story lines, and it's way too early to get invested in a two-week major championship like Wimbledon.
But I caught the end of the Serena Williams-Harmony Tan first-round match this afternoon. And, boy, am I glad I did.
It was the most dramatic and exciting match I have seen in quite some time. And, again, it was only a first-round match!
Ultimately, France's Tan, the No. 115 player in the world, outlasted Williams in a third set tiebreak on Wimbledon's iconic Centre Court. Williams is a former No. 1 player and a 23-time major champion who has won Wimbledon seven times. Tan, on the other hand, was just playing in her ninth Grand Slam match.
It was a epic match, with Tan winning 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) after 3 hours and 11 minutes. That's longer than the morning or afternoon sessions of the bar exam.
So I want to talk a little bit about endurance and stamina.
If you're completing a commercial bar review course this summer, you most likely completed a full 200-question simulated exam last week. As you continue to prepare for other 100- and 200-question sets of MBE practice over the next three to four weeks leading up to the July bar exam, you will want to think about what you can do now so that you can improve your mental focus and physical stamina during the 12 hours of the bar exam.
Know the law
This sounds self-evident, but make sure you know the law. The more you have to work your brain, the more fatigue you will feel. If you know the law really well, the less work you will have to dig deep into your memory.
Develop and memorize template language for the frequently tested areas in the MEE subjects. And complete as many multiple-choice questions as you can over the next couple of weeks to familiarize yourself with what—and how—concepts can be tested.
Pace yourself
With 100 questions to complete in the 3-hour block, you have approximately 1.8 minutes to answer each MBE question. Don’t go too fast. Don’t go too slow. Find that Goldilocks middle ground.
When doing small sets of practice questions, complete them in sets of 17 or 18, and time yourself at 30 minutes. When doing longer, simulated 100-question sets, consider writing “30 minutes” next to Question 17, “60 minutes” next to Question 33, “90 minutes” next to Question 50, and so on. Give yourself time markers where you should be after each 17 questions. Break that big 100-question exam into smaller 17-question chunks. That way, you know whether you need to speed up or slow down throughout the exam in smaller adjustments (which is less stressful) rather than finding yourself making that decision until the end (which can be more stressful and taxing on the mind and body).
Practice Sets of 100 Questions
Since you will be taking 100 questions in a three-hour block (twice on exam day), you will want to give yourself plenty of practice completing 100 questions in one sitting. Incorporate more opportunities for yourself to complete 100- and 200-question practice tests under timed, test-like conditions. And remember, if you’ve taken the remote bar exam previously, taking four 90-minute sessions of 50 questions with significant breaks in each section is very different than taking 100 questions in two different three-hour blocks.
Take a Break
Generally, on the bar exam, you’re required to lay the paper test packet flat on the table. You’re not permitted lift the test packet at eye level. This means that you’ll likely be hunched over the test packet for long periods of time. Consider taking regular and frequent breaks. You don’t necessarily have to get up and go to the restroom. But you can just spend a few seconds after every handful of questions to just sit up in your sit and stretch your back, neck, and arms.
Eat Properly in the Morning and for Lunch
I’ve already discussed the importance of having a healthy breakfast. The same is true for lunch. Consider a simple sandwich on whole wheat and water. Avoid foods made of white flour, such as cookies, which require added time and energy to digest, and foods that are high in refined sugar, such as chocolates and candies.
