Test Coping Strategies

Problem: I can’t seem to spot issues on the essays.

My Strategy: I got you.

My day-by-day calendar ensures that you are exposed to every essay type–every single subject for the last 25 years. Exposure to all essay types helps with issue spotting. But I provide an even more valuable coping strategy: triggers.

Triggers are words and phrases–not sentences, paragraphs, or full fact patterns–that act as clues to help you spot issues instantly. I also provide a copy of The Trigger List, my book that includes over 150 essays with words and phrases to help you understand how to implicate every issue, on every exam.

By the time you get to Essay Review Week, issues will look like grapefruits on the exam!

Problem: I’m terrible at outlining.

My Strategy: The first step is identifying your Outlining Personality.

Some people outline for far too long. Some are too busy creating Picassos instead of outlining (been there, done that!). Others do the opposite and outline for three minutes before they panic and just write the answer (hello, minimalists!). And then there’s the 1 percenters. They don’t suck at outlining…they just don’t do it!

I’ve taught Legal Writing at Hastings for 21 years and used my experience to develop an Exam Outlining Webinar that will help you learn to outline better.
For those of you who outline way too long, I’ve got a plan. For you minimalists out there, I’ve got a plan. And for the 1%-ers who don’t outline, I’ve got a plan for you too!

The people who outline way too much are easy to help. I start by weaning them off of full sentences. Then, I help them organize the outline better by focusing on one element per line, one line per element, and practicing the method over 70-80 essays.

For the pure minimalist, it’s about reassuring them that it’s OK (necessary, in fact!) to outline for more than three minutes. You simply can’t keep all that information in your head! I get them to practice taking their time, doing away with full sentences, and organizing their answer.

My coping mechanism works because I help you outline better on the front end, but I ALSO help you write more efficiently on the back end and ensure that you finish the exam on time.

Problem: I can’t finish essays on time.

My Strategy: My outlining solution makes this a snap. Part of the issue is to help students outline more efficiently (longer outlines in less time) so they have enough time to write up the answer.

But, as noted above, the solution is also about helping students get in and out of issues more efficiently so they can finish the exam on time. And, due to the COVID exam schedule, you gotta finish the exam on time! (You only have 60 minutes to finish the essay before it’s yanked away from you.)

Between the day-by-day calendar, my outlining webinar, lectures, a memorization program, and my book Winnin’ Time!, you can finish on time, too!

Problem: I don’t know what to do about Scrolling Hell on essays!

My Strategy: I invented a simple, effective plan to solve that most severe, challenging problem. And it’s covered during our Essay Writing Lecture so you can see how it all comes together.

Problem: I had a bad professor, and I hate evidence! I can’t figure out how to handle those essays!

My Strategy: My Evidence Boilerplate in WINNIN’ TIME! is undefeated in 18 years of testing at the law school and bar exam level. I install the plan early on in the tutoring program and do quality control to ensure you learn it.

By the time you reach exam day, you’ll realize that you are praying for an Evidence question because you’re so prepared!

Problem: I don’t have a plan for the PTs.

My Strategy: I don’t just have a plan. I have the most simplistic plan in the industry. I help you read about ⅓ less in the Library (all students, including the learning disabled students, LOVE me for it!). I tell you the 10 things to look for the Inventory of the Library and reduce the PT to a scavenger hunt. (And I help you avoid Scrolling Hell!)

Problem: I have a plan but it’s too complicated.

My Strategy: Drop the paper clips. Forget about five-highlighter strategies. Drop the folding pieces of paper plans. And no need for NDA’s here, folks. If you need to sign an NDA to do a PT, the method is too complicated!

The brilliance is in the simplicity.

Problem: Are the rumors about Scrolling Hell true?

My Strategy: The bad news? Yes, the rumors are true.

The good news? I invented a plan to avoid it!

Problem: I spend way too long on the Inventory section of the Library.

My Strategy: This is one of the biggest problems on PTs, both in the days of the three-hour PTs and the newer 90-minute version.

Lots of reading may have helped you as a paralegal or during the first year of law school, but it will only take up valuable time on the bar exam.

I’ll show you how to read ⅓ less than you’re used to and excel while doing it. You’ll know what to read, what not to read, and how to save time.

Problem: I take far too long to outline my answer.

My Strategy: This is the second biggest problem on the PT. Students take too long to outline their answer, leaving them no time to write the actual answer (and generate points). My method helps students solve their outlining problems.

Problem: I don’t know the tips and tricks on how to improve on MBEs.

My Strategy: I provide extensive coverage on this topic in the 3- and 4-month programs. But for 2-month program students, we cover this after the foundation lectures on Essay Writing and PT Writing. I also go over specific MBEs you’re doing and struggling with.

Part of what I do here is help you get in the test-drafter’s head and understand how they write MBE questions and craft incorrect answer choices. Once you do that, you can learn why certain words are in the fact patterns, how to eliminate two answer choices, and how to arrive at the best answer choice. And my Civ Pro MBE lecture is unparalleled in the industry.

Problem: I can’t seem to get over the fact that I haven’t passed yet. It’s all I think about. My parents and significant other wouldn’t understand, so I don’t talk about it.

My Strategy: I have a simple yet effective plan to help you break this habit. It may not work the first 30-40 times you try it, but with persistence, you’ll be in good shape before exam day.