Exam Tips
Before the Exam
Starting the Exam
Reading and Organizing
Writing the Exam
After the Exam
Before the Exam
Write out the answer to several practice problems, preferably from the professor’s previous exams, and analyze your performance. If you didn’t understand how to apply a rule, review the rules and try again.
Distill your outline down to a one-page skeleton outline. Memorize it.
Organize items the night before the exam. Remember items such as power cords, extra paper, earplugs, water bottle, and cough drops.
Get enough sleep. Exhaustion hampers your ability to analyze, the primary skill tested in law school exams.
Starting the Exam (5% of the total exam time)
“Brain Dump” (2–3 minutes). Jot down a one-page skeleton outline (or read through yours if you are allowed to bring it in). This (1) keeps you from panicking that you will forget the entire course, and (2) places the course’s main concepts in your mind before you tackle the questions.
Skim (5 minutes). Look over the entire exam. See how many questions there are and the points or suggested time for each. Jot down the general area of law involved for each question (venue, damages, etc.).
Decide the order in which you will answer the questions. (1 minute) Front to back? Hard to easy? Most points to fewest points?
Allocate your time according to the number and weight of questions (1–2 minutes). Write down the ending time for each section.
Reading and Organizing (33% of the time for each question)
Read the question. Start with the call of the question, which will either be at the beginning or end.
Issue spot. Read the entire problem over once and immediately jot down the issues you see as you see them. Now read the problem line by line, underlining key words and jotting down issues, elements, and defenses.
Outline your answer. Depending on the exam, organize by person, event, object, or theory. Jot down major headings, then the issues under each along with the facts that raise each issue. Check your skeleton outline and the facts you didn’t outline for additional issues.
Don’t skimp on outlining your answer. The answer outline assures that you discuss all the relevant issues and helps you budget your writing time by recognizing major and minor issues.
Writing the Exam
Use headings for major issues. This makes it easier for the grader to follow your argument.
Think “inside the box.” Thoroughly discuss each major issue before moving on to the next. Within each major issue, separate out each major sub-issue, giving each its own paragraph.
Stick to the facts, and make sure you have the facts correct. Distorting the facts can make you miss the point of the question.
Interweave the specific facts with the rule. Instead of blanket assertions ("Alonzo's actions show Alaska was his domicile."), use words from the rule and interweave with specific facts ("The "intent to remain" element was shown by Alonzo living in Alaska six months a year, having an Alaska driver's license, and voting in Alaska elections.")
Use IRAC and sub-IRACs for each issue, unless your grader prefers a different scheme.
Issue: Ask a question—don’t state a conclusion. If you conclude first, you may disregard issues that don’t support your preconceptions.
Rule: Be concise but thorough. State rules before the analysis, not midway through it.
Analysis: Show how the rule applies to the particular facts. Explore any ambiguity in the law and the facts by discussing each side of the issue.
Conclusion: State a brief conclusion with a brief reason.
Omit needless words, paragraphs, and issues. Make every word work for you. Watch out for introductory paragraphs that merely restate the facts. Discuss only issues that arise from the facts.
Keep track of your time. If you find yourself running out of time, make sure you discuss the most important issues concisely.
Move on. When the time you’ve allotted to a question is over, move to the next one.
After the Exam
Let it go. Don’t discuss the exam or dwell on any mistakes. Save your energy for the next exam or project.
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