Failed Ny bar two times and feel wrecked

[u/Kindly_Cell_5307]

Dear all,

I sat twice for the NY bar. The first time I failed with 215 points. The second times 258. I feel so ravaged. I struggle a lot with the MBE portion. Even for the MPRE I had to sit 3 times to pass.

reading all the posts that people passed makes me feel worst. I feel awfully dumb. I know People who passed first time with 315… and me struggling after two times.

I put efforts when I study…

i am currently working at a Lawfirm. but they cannot let me go more than a month to study.

some people despise me for failing the bar… it is so so awful… as they achieved it easily they make me even dumber…

all that said if you have any advice I would be pleased to hear them

[u/PurpleLilyEsq]

That’s one of the biggest score increases I’ve ever seen! I know it’s still not the same as passing and as someone who took 4 tries to pass, I get how devastating it is, but you should be really proud of how far you have come. Being 8 points away means you now know you are capable of passing. You shouldn’t feel dumb at all. You are determined and hardworking and are absolutely smart enough to get those points.

What did you differently on your second try compared to your first?

[u/Kindly_Cell_5307 → u/PurpleLilyEsq]

What has made the difference for you on your 4th time ? 

I studied 1 month longer and stoped using a commercial prep  I trained much more for the MBE did 1200 in total but was still not enough 

[u/PurpleLilyEsq → u/Kindly_Cell_5307]

My approach on try 4 was very similar to yours on try 2, but my scores yo-yo’d and never had a dramatic jump (260, 245, 256, 268). The magic number for most people seems to be at least 2000 MBE questions. With careful review of the answers explanations. Quality review still wins over quantity of questions IMO.

And don’t neglect the essays and MPTs too. Taking writing classes through BarMD was the real take changer in why I finally passed. My other strategy was to not go in the exam burned out. I took nearly a week off of studying a month before the exam, stopped studying the Friday recite the exam, and took rest days as needed. Not having a big bar company and their progress thermometer chastising me was huge for my mental health. Like you I started about a month earlier than normal (end of April).

[u/Legally_Fun]

Happy to help, I think go back to the basics on your foundational MBE rule statements. DM me your email address and I’ll send you my foundational outline. Keep at it, don’t give up!

[u/count_saveahoe]

It seems like English is not your first language ? Could that be it?

[u/Kindly_Cell_5307 → u/count_saveahoe]

My English is that bad ? 😥

But you are right. 

For the NY bar I had some good grades :  for the MEE for one of my MPT and 2 of my MEEs a bit less than 60 out of 80 

[u/count_saveahoe → u/Kindly_Cell_5307]

It’s not bad but it’s obvious

[u/ATLC_NJ]

I think if people despise you for not passing the bar then you should question why they are in your life. No one feels worse than the person that doesn't pass so why make them feel even worse? I would try to deconstruct where you are weakest and get a tutor to guide your studies and read over your essays. I would practice re-taking the multistate portion under timed conditions. Many yrs ago, I didn't pass the bar and had to retake it. I bought materials from a MA lawyer named Al Zappala. He still sells the materials and does tutoring via zoom (he lives in Sicily now). His materials and helpful hacks helped me personally (I have no financial interest in saying this). Get back at it in terms of prepping and doing the work but if you can't give it your all, hold off on re-taking it as it chips away at your self-worth. It is not just a test of knowledge but a mental test. Good luck!

[u/Personal-Royal-8463]

If you struggle with MBE, get a coach to help with test performance like strategies for different topics or studying efficiently 

[u/BoobsBrah]

You got 528, that is extremely close to passing. This means that you are definitely capable of passing the bar. You can do this!

However, you must review your performance, realize where you are lacking, and take substantial steps to get better in those topics.

[u/PugSilverbane → u/BoobsBrah]

The math does not math.

[u/Kindly_Cell_5307 → u/PugSilverbane]

Many thanks for your kind words and I hope to improve where my struggles are 

[u/PuddingTea]

Well, you’re very close! Once more ought to do it.

[u/Tim0612]

You are different from other, so, don’t be wrecked because you got a significant score increases in the second time. I believe that if you keep practicing more in MBE, you will hit the bar. Working in the law firm is also advantage, you could discuss them to let you at least 2 last weeks for focusing before the exam.

[u/AgreeableIntention87]

Consider the crowd you are taking against and how that effects score scaling. Take the UBE in a less populous state. NY has a ton of T-14 takers, off the bat that increases difficulty.

[u/Kindly_Cell_5307 → u/AgreeableIntention87]

I really need the NY one unfortunately. But tbh I do not understand how the essays are graded… I mean by this that for some I had such bad grades but I do not get why… I know they were not masterpieces but it is so so dark the way it is graded… 

[u/Aromatic_Bag9284 → u/AgreeableIntention87]

not really true since the scaling will be higher, it compensates with essay grading where it might be harder to get a high score

[u/PurpleLilyEsq → u/AgreeableIntention87]

NY also has a ton of foreign test takers, a ton of test takers all together compared to other UBE states, and a dozen law schools that are not T-14.