Bar exam study plan: 10 weeks of MBE, essays and practice
Bar prep is a full-time job for about ten weeks, and the format depends on where you sit: UBE, a state exam or the new NextGen bar. This prompt has your todo.is agent check what your jurisdiction tests, fit your commercial course into a daily schedule, set MBE question targets and track essays written.
The prompt
- Make me a bar exam study plan. I am sitting the [EXAM AND JURISDICTION] on [EXAM DATE]. I am studying [STUDY SITUATION] with [PREP COURSE]. First check on the official board and NCBE websites what my exam tests and how it is scored, with links. Then build a day-by-day plan with subject review, MBE practice question targets per week, timed essays and performance tests, two full simulated exams, and one rest day a week. My weakest subjects are [WEAK SUBJECTS]. Give me an Excel tracker for MBE accuracy by subject and essays written, and send me the day's plan at 7:00 on WhatsApp.
What to change
- [EXAM AND JURISDICTION]: E.g. "UBE in New York", "California Bar Exam" or "NextGen bar in Oregon". Formats differ.
- [EXAM DATE]: E.g. "late July". Use the exact dates from your board.
- [STUDY SITUATION]: E.g. "full-time for 10 weeks" or "part-time while working".
- [PREP COURSE]: The course you use, or "no course".
- [WEAK SUBJECTS]: E.g. "Evidence and Real Property".
Example result
- UBE plan: 10 weeks full-time
- Exam: late July · New York · Weak: Evidence, Real Property · Full-time with a commercial course
- What the UBE tests
- • MBE: 200 multiple-choice questions over two sessions. Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts.
- • MEE: six essays, which can also cover subjects like Business Associations, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, Conflict of Laws, Secured Transactions
- • MPT: two performance tests: write a memo, brief or letter from a file and a library
- • Some jurisdictions are moving to the NextGen bar exam from 2026 onward. Check your board's site for the format you will sit.
- • New York also requires its own law component. The agent adds it as a separate track.
- Daily rhythm (6 days a week)
- • 9:00 to 12:00: lecture or outline review for today's subject
- • 13:00 to 15:00: 34 to 40 MBE questions, then review every explanation
- • 15:30 to 17:00: one timed essay (30 minutes) or MPT (90 minutes), then compare with the model answer
- • Evening: 30 minutes of flashcards. Sunday off.
- Weeks 1 to 4
- • One MBE subject in depth each week, then mixed practice
- • Evidence: hearsay and its exceptions, character evidence, impeachment
- • Real Property: estates, future interests, recording acts, mortgages
- Weeks 5 to 7
- • MEE-only subjects at speed: short outlines, essay practice
- • Simulated MBE (200 questions) at the end of week 6
- Weeks 8 to 10
- • Full simulated exam in week 8 on the real schedule
- • Mixed MBE sets of 50, essays daily, MPT twice a week
- • Final week: lighter, review outlines and your mistake list only
- Tracker
- • MBE target accuracy: 65% or higher by week 8 in every subject
- • Essays written: 24 · MPTs: 6 · Full simulations: 2
How to do it with todo.is
- Fill in your exam, jurisdiction, date and prep course, then copy the prompt.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent checks the official format, then sends the Excel plan and tracker.
- Send your weekly MBE scores and essays done. The plan shifts time to subjects that lag.
Tips for a better result
- Follow your prep course schedule if you have one. Ask your agent to fit it into your days, not replace it.
- Review MBE explanations for questions you got right by guessing. They count as wrong for learning.
- Write essays under time from week 2. Knowing the rule is not the same as writing it in 30 minutes.
- Take a full day off each week. Burnout in week 7 costs more than one day of study.
bar exam study plan: FAQ
- How long should I study for the bar exam? Most full-time candidates study 8 to 10 weeks, around 400 to 600 hours. Part-time candidates often start 4 to 6 months out.
- What is the NextGen bar exam? It is a new bar exam from NCBE that tests foundational skills and fewer subjects in more depth. Jurisdictions adopt it on their own timelines, so check your board.
- How many MBE questions should I do? Many candidates complete about 1,500 to 2,000 practice questions. Reviewing them well matters more than the number.
- Is this legal advice? No. Your agent builds a study plan and checks public sources. For admission rules and deadlines, rely on your board of law examiners.
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