a) Which materials should I use?
Based on my experience, I recommend the following.
(1) NCBE MPTs and Point Sheets
USD 25 for each download
I practiced the 2008–2017 exams (ten years), with about 40 questions.
You can download previously administered exams (2009–2013 exams, as of today) at no cost here.
As with the MEE part, as these were released by the official organization, you can understand clearly what is critical during the actual exam.
This should be a primary source, from which you can learn a lot.
b) How should I use them?
I practiced the 40 questions above.
(1) First time practice
About 50 minutes: Read a question and build my answer outline briefly
About 30 minutes: Read and understand the Point Sheets
About 25 minutes: Make my answer on my own, based on the Point Sheets
(2) Second time practice
About 40 minutes: Read a question and build my answer outline briefly
About 40 minutes: Make my answer on my own without any references
As in the MEE part, the process of making my own answer based on the Point Sheet was critical because through this way, I could be adjusted for the actual exam.
My MPT improvement history is as follows:
(1) At the beginning
I consumed too much time (like 60 minutes) reading the Library part. Even after finishing it, I became confused and got lost in the vast field set by the materials, although I knew there were relevant issues in the File and Library. After studying the Point Sheet, all I could do was imitate them.
(2) After practicing about 10 exams
I came to be able to make my own answers with the help of the Point Sheet.
(3) After practicing about 20 exams
I got accustomed to handling entire materials and making my own answers. I was not nervous with the MPTs anymore.
c) What about the method to handle MPTs at the actual exam?
My method acquired through practicing is as follows.
(1) After reading all of the materials
I summarized on the answer sheet the relevant rules and precedents from the Library.
By doing this, I could build a basic structure for my answer.
It was more like extracting and typing out from the Library than “writing.”
(2) After the previous step
For each issue, I extracted the relevant facts from the File, and then analyzed and evaluated them so that I could discuss persuasively.
In my opinion, originality on analyzing and evaluation of the facts is not overly crucial.
Primarily, you should focus on what the issues are, how much you can extract relevant facts, and how effectively you can organize them.
(3) Conclusion
Based on the questions asked, I provided conclusions.
While reading the Library, I kept in mind what the questions were, and wrote marks on the relevant parts from the questions so that I could organize them all at once after reading through.
Handling cases speedily was a big task for me owing to my slow reading speed.
Without this method, I would have had to re-read the materials and lost the time needed to complete the entire exam section.
d) Should I put much energy into MPTs at the preparation stage?
I recommend you do so.
Based on my experience, MPTs could be a solid scoring source, if you get accustomed to them.
The biggest advantage of MPTs is that you do not need any information memorized beforehand.
If you have acquired the necessary skills, such as understanding and organizing huge amounts of information quickly, then 20% of the whole score would support your success.
As for me, I gave up on the MPTs at first.
This is the field in which people with high fluency in English earn high scores and I should focus on another field, I thought.
However, after practicing 10, 20, 30, and 40 questions, I acquired my own methodology to handle this area.
Once you obtain the necessary skills, they would never go away and would help you always, no matter what the case you are facing.
If you are good at MBE, 70% (50% MBE + 20% MPT) would support your success. If you have confidence at MEE, you could control 50% of the entire exam, even without MBE.
From my actual practice experience, I found MPTs were the most enjoyable part.
It closely resembles actual practice.
Interviewing parties, researching relevant rules, analyzing facts, and persuading others logically comprise the real-world practice of law.
By doing many MPT questions, I became happier because my skills for real-world practice were gradually improved.
d) Are there any books to learn more about how to handle MPTs?
I recommend the following.
(1) Mary Campbell Gallagher’s Perform Your Best on the Bar Exam Performance Test
When I was still unfamiliar with the MPTs, I was at a loss for what to do to formulate answers, because many issues were scattered and entangled.
One of the lessons I learned from this book was the way to organize such issues, laws, and facts.
Next Page
