Enrolling in a bar review course is a significant investment in both money and time, and many law students join these programs with high hopes for exam success. After all, bar review courses offer a structured schedule, practice questions, and detailed outlines that can make the material feel more manageable.
However, the effectiveness of these courses requires more than passively moving through their assignments. Students who take a more strategic, active approach get far more value from their course, thereby maximizing their chances of passing the bar exam.
Despite the course at their fingertips, many students fall short by not fully engaging with what’s offered. Between busy schedules, large volumes of material, and uncertainty about where to begin, students sometimes struggle to engage effectively and complete the course as intended.
Here are some common challenges and actionable steps you can incorporate to make the most of your bar prep experience.
Bar prep can feel like drinking from a firehose, with lecture videos and practice questions coming fast. Breaking down the material into manageable sections and tracking progress are both essential for managing this intense workload.
Many students attempt to “do their own thing,” focusing on subjects and areas they find comfortable or skipping assignments they find unnecessary. However, the bar prep schedule is carefully designed to build concepts progressively, so following it as structured helps ensure you cover all critical material in a balanced way.
Tommy Sangchompuphen, director of bar preparation and an associate professor of academic success at the University of Dayton School of Law, offers tips on how to get the most out of your bar prep course.
Some students approach bar prep as they would law school, relying on rote memorization rather than active practice and review, which are both essential for bar exam success.
Bar prep can be isolating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Many students overlook the extensive support available through their bar review program and law school. Taking advantage of academic support, bar prep resources, and school-provided guidance can significantly improve your understanding of complex topics.
Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward maximizing your bar prep experience.
Creating short-term goals makes bar prep manageable, breaking down the extensive workload into achievable steps. For instance, committing to take each practice exam on its assigned date can be an excellent way to set a goal that keeps you accountable and helps you stay on track with your study schedule.
“If one of my goals is to complete the entire bar prep program, then I will want to make sure I take the first practice exam on the date it is assigned,” said Richard Douglas, chief operating officer at Themis Bar Review. “I should put that on my calendar and make it a short-term goal to cover the material necessary to be prepared to take the exam on that date.”
Setting specific objectives helps you stay disciplined and celebrate small wins along the way, keeping motivation high and progress steady.
Mastering bar exam concepts requires more than just practice. It demands active learning. Answering practice questions solidifies your knowledge, but reviewing each answer—whether correct or incorrect—helps you understand the logic behind the solution. This kind of active engagement with explanations, rationales, and any visual aids the course offers helps you spot patterns and refine your analytical approach.
Themis’s Douglas reiterated this, saying, “Practice, practice, practice. And don’t forget to review. I cannot stress the importance of this component enough. The questions and explanations will help you understand what facts are important and how they will help you reach the proper conclusion.”
This approach ensures that you’re not just memorizing rules but understanding how to apply them—a skill critical to exam success.
Though it can be tempting to pick and choose which assignments to focus on, bar prep schedules are designed to provide a balanced, comprehensive understanding of all topics. Each stage builds on the last, reinforcing previous material while preparing you for the more advanced concepts ahead. Straying from this structure risks leaving critical areas underdeveloped, especially if you spend extra time on familiar topics while skipping over more challenging ones. Following the course schedule will help you cover all necessary material, building your skills and knowledge in a well-paced way.
Most bar prep courses offer performance metrics to track your progress, helping you study smarter, not just harder. These analytics show which topics you’re strong in and where you need extra practice, allowing you to allocate time more effectively. By regularly reviewing your metrics, you can avoid overstudying familiar topics and focus on the areas that need the most attention.
“Look at your performance metrics early and often,” Douglas said. “Every bar course provides an assortment of performance metrics that help students understand how they are doing. These metrics provide an incredible opportunity for students to pinpoint what they know, where they struggle, and where there are opportunities for students to improve their results, particularly areas of weakness.”
For example, if your metrics show that Constitutional Law is a weakness, you might focus on specific areas like equal protection or the First Amendment. Using metrics strategically provides a clear roadmap for efficient, targeted study.
Bar prep courses offer a variety of materials to cater to different learning styles, and identifying what works best for you can enhance your retention and engagement.
For example, visual learners might want to consider creating flowcharts or mind maps or using visual flashcards to reinforce memory. Auditory learners might want to listen to read notes aloud or join study groups where they can discuss topics. Kinesthetic learners might want to engage in hands-on activities like writing out rules, explaining concepts to others, or even walking while reviewing material.
Understanding and adapting to your preferred learning style early on can make studying more efficient and reduce stress in the lead-up to the exam.
Your law school’s academic support or bar prep department is an excellent resource to supplement your bar review course. While the bar review course provides a structured plan, academic support staff can help you personalize your approach, offer additional guidance on challenging topics, and address specific areas where you may need extra practice. They can also offer insights from students who’ve recently passed the bar—even by those who used the same bar review course you may be using—giving you proven strategies tailored to your exam.
Accessing these law school resources complements your bar review course by providing targeted support. Academic support departments often host workshops, provide one-on-one guidance, and offer practice questions that align with your bar course material, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding. Tapping into your law school’s resources can help you deepen your learning, clear up complex concepts, and reinforce the material covered in your bar review program, allowing you to maximize the effectiveness of both.
Finally, one of the most effective ways to prepare is by replicating real test conditions. Practicing under timed, distraction-free conditions helps you get comfortable with the pressures of the exam. Aim to complete your bar review course’s multiple full-length practice exams to build the endurance necessary for exam day. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the timing, minimize distractions, and prepare mentally for the intensity of a multi-hour test.
Simulating exam conditions also helps reduce test-day anxiety, as the actual exam will feel more like another practice session. Each simulation builds confidence, improves timing, and hones focus—crucial skills for the bar exam.
Of course, completing a bar prep course doesn’t guarantee a passing score on its own. It’s how you engage with the material and take advantage of the available support that truly matters.
By actively leveraging your bar review course alongside your law school’s academic support, you create a comprehensive, well-rounded foundation that prepares you to approach exam day confidently and capably. Embracing a proactive, strategic approach ensures that you maximize the impact of both your investment and your efforts.
