[Editor’s Note: Courtney Lee is the State Content Director for Helix Bar Review.]
The good news for applicants preparing to sit for the bar exam in February is that it is not objectively harder than the July exam. The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and state bar licensing boards go to great lengths to equate and scale bar exam scores to ensure comparable levels of difficulty from one exam administration to the next. Despite the similarity between exams, however, there are some special considerations to bear in mind when preparing for the February bar.
Different pass rates
Pass rates tend to be lower in February than in July, but do not let that discourage you. Various factors unrelated to exam complexity play into that discrepancy. For instance, some unsuccessful February bar takers may have graduated in December after completing a part-time law school program that enabled them to work full-time and/or fulfill dependent-care obligations. If these duties continued through their bar study, they may not have had sufficient time to prepare effectively.
If you have similar responsibilities, begin your studies a few weeks early if you can. If you plan to work during the study period, look backwards from your exam date and take off as much time from work as possible as that date approaches. If you cannot take any time off and you were not able to start your preparations early, consider whether deferring the exam to July could work for you. Your law school and bar review provider may offer support if you elect to defer, so do not hesitate to reach out and ask. Even though deferral may not be an appealing option, having more time to prepare may lead to less stress overall and greater confidence going into the exam.
Other February bar takers may have failed the preceding July exam. Without assessing their performance and addressing their mistakes, a second bite at the apple often yields the same results as the first for many retakers. If you are retaking the exam in February, take advantage of opportunities to receive feedback from your bar review provider, whether that means having your essay answers from the bar exam reviewed, submitting new practice exams for critique or both. Your law school may offer similar opportunities. If so, take advantage of them to ensure you’re making positive changes this time around, instead of repeating the same mistakes.
It’s also worth noting that fewer people overall take the February bar compared to July. This fact alone does not account for the lower pass rate trend, but with a smaller number of total applicants, a smaller number who do not pass can make a bigger impact on the overall percentage.
Weather
One obvious difference between the winter and summer preparation periods is the weather, which can benefit February bar takers. In many locales, they will study during cold, dreary months when it may be less tempting to abandon the books and be outside. They may have to balance time spent studying with holiday celebrations, however (another reason to start preparations early), and traveling to the exam location may be more treacherous in inclement weather. Further, because fewer people take the February exam, some jurisdictions may offer test centers in fewer locations. Leave yourself extra travel time if you plan to take the exam in a harsher climate or consider reserving a hotel room near the test center to reduce your chances of arriving late. On exam day, dress in layers to help ensure your comfort, always adhering to any jurisdictional regulations (e.g., a rule against shirts with hoods).
Testing environment and process
The fact that there are fewer overall applicants also may benefit February bar takers because test sites are often smaller and more intimate, with fewer people in the room. This can mean less ambient noise and fewer distractions. Checking in and finding your seat may be more streamlined than it would be in July, and most importantly, it may take less time to get winter exam results.
Because some February bar applicants are retaking the exam, the atmosphere in the room may feel more negative than it does in the summer. Try not to allow any negativity you perceive affect your own focus on success. Draw strength from remembering everything you did to prepare and attack every question like it is question one on day one.
Although preparing for the February bar exam involves different considerations than preparing for the July exam, winter applicants should not be daunted. With some advance planning and support, success is just as achievable in February as it is in July.
