Using Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year to Maximize Your Bar Exam Points
When Merriam-Webster announced polarization as the 2024 Word of the Year, it underscored how divisions often define our world—and, as it turns out, our strategies for tackling the Multistate Essay Exam. On the MEE, you’re faced with six essay questions, three hours, and a crucial decision: how will you approach these questions to maximize your score?
Simply answering the questions in the order they are given is tempting. After all, it’s straightforward, requires no additional planning, and may feel like the path of least resistance. But let’s be clear: this is not the best strategy. The MEE is about maximizing the points you earn. And to do that, you need a game plan.
Let’s explore two polarized strategies for tackling the MEE, how to choose the one that works for you, and why adopting a deliberate approach is your key to success.
Step 1: Read the Calls of the Questions First
Before diving into the essays, take one minute to read the calls of the questions for all six essays. Yes, just one minute. This step is non-negotiable, and here’s why: reading the calls upfront eliminates surprises and gives you a roadmap of what’s ahead.
Knowing the subjects and tasks you’ll face allows you to plan your time and energy strategically. Imagine finishing your first essay only to discover that the last question—one you could have aced—is on a subject you love but now don’t have enough time to complete. Reading the calls first prevents this scenario and sets you up for success.
Step 2: Choose Your Strategy
Once you’ve previewed the questions, it’s time to decide your approach—a decision that should be made well before exam day. This is where polarization comes into play. There are two main strategies to consider, and they are polar opposites. Each has its pros and cons, and it’s up to you to determine which aligns with your strengths and mindset.
Strategy 1: Start with Your Strongest Subjects
This approach focuses on building confidence and momentum by tackling the questions you feel most prepared for first.
How It Works:
Begin with the essay question on a subject you know best.
Progress to the next easiest question, and so on, saving your weakest subject for last.
Pros:
You start on a high note, boosting your confidence as you rack up points early.
If time becomes an issue, you’ve already secured strong scores on the easier questions.
Momentum can carry you through the exam, making even challenging essays feel manageable.
Cons:
Overconfidence can lead to spending too much time on your favorite subjects. Just a few extra minutes on each of the first five essays could leave you with only 15 minutes for the last one.
Your perception of “strengths” might not align with how the essays are graded. Since the bar exam is graded on a relative scale, a weak essay may still score well if others also struggle.
Strategy 2: Start with Your Weakest Subjects
This approach flips the script, focusing on the hardest essays first to get them out of the way.
How It Works:
Begin with the essay on the subject you find most intimidating.
Progress to the next hardest question, saving your strongest subject for last.
Pros:
Knocking out the hardest question early reduces anxiety about the looming challenges ahead.
Once the toughest essays are done, the remaining questions feel relatively easier.
You’re less likely to lose points on the hardest questions due to running out of time.
Cons:
Starting with a difficult essay could shake your confidence, potentially affecting your performance on subsequent questions.
You may spend more than 30 minutes on the hardest essay, eating into your time for easier questions where you could have scored higher.
Step 3: Avoid the Trap of Answering Questions in Order
Some will argue that you should just answer the essays in the order they are presented. It seems logical, doesn’t it? One less decision to make on exam day. But this approach ignores a crucial fact: the bar exam isn’t about convenience; it’s about strategy.
Answering the questions in order might mean wasting precious time on a challenging essay early on, leaving you with insufficient time to tackle the questions you could ace. Or worse, you might finish the exam only to realize you missed an opportunity to shine on a topic you love.
To the naysayers who advocate for “just answer in order,” I say this: Would you take a road trip without consulting a map? The same principle applies here. Your game plan isn’t something you figure out on the fly—it should be a strategy you’ve practiced and refined during your bar preparation. A strategic approach ensures you maximize your score potential.
Step 4: Commit to Your Game Plan
Once you’ve chosen a strategy during your bar preparation, commit to it. By the time exam day arrives, your approach should feel second nature. Don’t second-guess yourself mid-exam or let anxiety pull you off course. Trust the plan you’ve practiced during your prep, and execute it with discipline.
Remember, the goal isn’t to write perfect essays for all six questions. The goal is to earn as many points as possible. Whether you build confidence by starting with your strengths or tackle your fears by starting with your weaknesses, success comes from deliberate, focused effort.
Polarization as a Strength
Polarization, as Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year, often highlights division. But in the context of the MEE, polarization represents choice—two distinct paths to success. Whether you start with your strongest or weakest subjects, by choosing the strategy that aligns with your strengths and preferences, you’re turning polarization into a tool for efficiency and confidence rather than division.
So, which strategy will you choose?
