The Weekend before the Bar Exam: What to Do and What Not to Do

Let the Game Begin – it’s the last weekend before the Bar Exam and it has quite a few effects on students. Some freak out, some are cramming, others are experiencing the most anxiety of their lifetime. Perhaps this sounds familiar.

But hey! You got this. You’ve been studying hard and it is about to pay. So you might wonder now: what should I do the weekend before the Bar Exam? In brief? Not so much. But here’s what we recommend you to do the Weekend Before the Bar Exam.

1. Review your list for the Exam day

This is the “really important stuff to bring with me to the bar exam” list. Every jurisdiction has a list of what is allowed and what is prohibited. Make sure to have everything you need for the Exam: you don’t want to waste time on the day of the Exam removing the labels of your water bottle for instance.

In short, some of the common items to bring include:

Your admission documents;
Your Laptop (and don’t forget your charger, obviously);
Pens and pencils (bring a thousand of them, just in case.)
Earplugs;
Snacks;
One clear re-sealable plastic food bag

It is even more important to check that list if you plan to stay in a hotel the day before! If you miss something, get it now, don’t wait the last minute.

Similarly, check what you canot bring with you. Remember: if you have your phone on you, you will automatically fail. And obviously, keep your open-toed shoes at home. Like forever.

2. Do Relax

For God’s sake, do relax. Especially on the last day, avoid studying intensively! This will create more confusion in your brain than other things.You don’t want to be so sore that you can’t even pick up a pencil for MBE day!

Instead, take a walk in the park, perhaps see a friend or your family to cheer you up! but avoid any negative vibes.

3. Don’t talk about the test

That is actually the worse thing to do. If you stay in a hotel with other Bar takers, don’t be afraid to change the conversation. Otherwise just leave the room.

Especially on Tuesday or Wednesday during lunch or after the exam is over: what happens there stays there. People like to compare their answers but there’s so many way to answer a question! All it can do is bring on unnecessary stress.

4. Do some light reviews

At this point, review only what you already know. Focus on consolidating what you have already learned instead of bringing new information.

And do not any new multiple choice questions or essay questions: this will only bring panic and might not be productive. Instead review the notes you took during all your practice sessions or read some sample answers of essays.

5. Think Logistics

Make sure that you know the directions of your Exam center. Perhaps try to go there over the weekend as a drill. Similarly, plan your meals: what will you have for breakfast, lunch, dinner? Make sure that your meals are healthy and energizing, you don’t want to fall asleep during the after-lunch hours.

Check the dress-code: it is the summer, but with A/C your test center might be freezing! Or the A/C might just be broken, then it will be too warm! Just dress in layers, you don’t want to be distracted by the temperature.

Finally, set two alarms to ensure that at least one will wake you up! You can also ask your hotel to give you a phone call in the morning. This is a day you don’t want to be late for!