Hello everyone,

The unprecedented February 2025 Cal Bar Exam continues, apparently, for weeks.

Tonight, in the 7 pm hour, the Cal Bar emailed the applicant pool with an update.  That update appears below:

Day 3 of the exam has concluded. For those of you testing in person, Day 2 meant a significant delay in getting started; for most it involved delays in logging back into the exam after the lunch break. In addition to these systemic challenges, we are aware of other issues experienced by test takers, including continued challenges with proctors, connectivity lapses, time lost, and submission problems. We are still assessing results from Day 3 and will report on that following the conclusion of all testing.   As we stated after Day 1, these conditions are unacceptable, and we make no excuses for them. We are actively meeting with our psychometrician and other stakeholders to solidify the full range of remediation steps.   Initial retake opportunity March 18-19 Note that the retake originally planned for March 3-4 has been rescheduled due to a prohibited online disclosure of an essay question.(Please see more about this prohibited disclosure below.) Day 1 content will be changed as a result of this disclosure. This change requires reconfiguration of the exam driver, which takes time to execute. In the immediate term, Meazure will be offering this retake opportunity on March 18-19 to test takers meeting the following criteria: Were unable to launch the bar exam in the Meazure Learning platform at all. Have fewer than four successfully submitted written responses (essays and/or the Performance Test). Why this parameter? For statistical reasons, imputation of scores can be applied to applicants with at least four written submissions. Imputation, regression analysis, and pro rata scoring adjustments have been used with the California bar exam in the past—most recently in July 2021.You can learn more about that score imputation here.   [NOTE: I will publish the Cal Bar memo about the July 2021 exam below.] If you meet criteria 1. or 2. above, you will be affirmatively contacted to schedule your retake exam.   If you do not meet these criteria Because of the evolving nature of what we are learning, the fact that there are a number of accommodated applicants who will continue to test through Saturday, and the need to better understand systemwide versus applicant-specific failures, we will be taking a few more days to finalize any other remediation plans. As mentioned, the State Bar has used psychometric remedies like score imputation, pro rata adjustments, and regression modeling in prior exams. We understand that any delay on our part will be a cause for even more frustration, but we do not want to rush towards a solution that may not in fact work. Statement re: prohibited dissemination of exam questions The State Bar is aware that certain individuals are attempting to prevent the administration of a retake of the February 2025 bar exam by posting exam questions online.This conduct is strictly prohibited. The State Bar will engage digital forensic experts to identify individuals who have posted exam content and has already taken steps to preserve postings to support this forensic investigation. Individuals who are found to have engaged in any conduct that violates exam security or compromises exam integrity are subject to strict sanctions, including revocation of a previously granted positive moral character determination or denial of a pending moral character application. In short, individuals who are found to have engaged in this type of prohibited and unethical behavior will find it difficult if not impossible to secure licensure with the State Bar of California.   Seeking your input In the immediate term, those of you who have completed an exam should expect to receive a survey from us. This will not be a typical post-exam survey; instead, the results will be used to inform the remediation discussions we are currently engaged in.   Lastly, some of you may notice that we are changing the registration date for the July bar exam. Please don’t be alarmed; we will finalize the application launch date once July exam administration plans are confirmed in the coming weeks.   Thank you for your perseverance,   Office of Admissions State Bar of California   NOTE:  the memo titled “Scoring Adjustments for Applicants Negatively Affected During the July 2021 California Bar Examination” is published below:   SCORING ADJUSTMENTS FOR APPLICANTS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED DURING THE JULY 2021 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAM During the July 2021 Bar Exam, applicants nationwide encountered technological issues that vendor ExamSoft reported were caused by high-memory utilization between ExamMonitor (the video proctoring arm of the software) and the main software that generates digital images. After the State Bar of California investigated the scope of impact of these issues on California examinees, the agency worked with its psychometrician to develop a grading adjustment for those who were negatively impacted. A negative impact was defined as follows: • Examinee reported encountering a black or blue screen that required a laptop reboot, whether the examinee lost time or not. • Examinee experienced a black or blue screen that required more than a laptop reboot in order to continue testing. Typically, the applicant was directed by ExamSoft to redownload the exam question to restart that exam session and continue testing. • Examinee was not provided access to redownload the exam question and thus was unable to fully complete that exam session. State Bar Admissions staff verified each reported incidence through a variety of sources, including review of proctoring videos, ExamSoft call logs and reports, reports submitted in the Applicant Portal, and emails received by the State Bar. The State Bar concluded that 2,429 examinees experienced negative impacts. Applicants who reported incidents that were not substantiated have been informed that they did not receive a grading adjustment. For applicants who were negatively impacted by these ExamSoft issues during the written sections of the exam (essay questions and Performance Test), the State Bar applied a pro rata grading adjustment for each affected question, which utilized data from the unaffected population of examinees, as well as the affected individual’s scores on questions where there were no recorded problems. The adjustment consisted of two components: 1. The first component accounted for the relative difficulty of each question. This component was calculated by first obtaining the average score on each question among examinees who had no memory utilization issues on any written question and the overall average of all scores in that group. The difference of the averages on each question and the overall average was used to represent the relative difficulty of each question. For example, if the overall average across all questions was 78, and the average on the first question was 76, that question was considered more difficult than the average question by 2 points. The 2-point difference was considered OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS Scoring Adjustments Page 2 the “adjustment factor” for that question. Each question was given an “adjustment factor.” 2. The second component was based on the scores of each individual who experienced an ExamSoft memory utilization issue. First, an average was calculated for the examinee’s scores on which no issue was encountered. That average was considered to be the best estimate of that individual’s ability. For each question on which there was some technological issue of the type described above, the average score from the unimpacted sessions was adjusted by the “adjustment factor” to arrive at an “Expected Score.” The “Expected Score” was then compared to the examinee’s actual score on the question. If the actual score was less than the “Expected Score,” an adjustment was made, and the final score on the question was the “Expected Score.” If the actual score was greater than the “Expected Score,” the score was not changed. For examinees negatively impacted during any session of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) provided an adjusted score for the State Bar’s use that also uses the pro rata method. Similar to the adjustment method for the written section, if the adjusted score calculated by the NCBE was lower than the original MBE score, then no adjustment was made. For statistical reasons, the pro rata grading adjustment could not be applied to applicants who either experienced more than three negatively impacted written sessions, or more than two negatively impacted MBE sessions. For the very small number of applicants who met this criteria (less than 2 percent of those who were negatively impacted), the State Bar employed a regression model that takes into consideration MBE scores to adjust the written session, or for those missing three or four MBE sessions, considers their written essay scores in adjusting the MBE score. Examinees who experienced these technological issues and were unsuccessful on the exam will have the option to request that their July 2021 bar exam fees be applied as a credit to take the February 2022 or July 2022 California bar exam. Applicants who do not plan to sit for those exams will be able to request a full refund of their fees. Applicants will receive instructions with their results letter on how to take advantage of these options

Hello everyone.

As expected, the Cal Bar/Meazure Learning had issues today on the first day of the February 2025 Cal Bar Exam.

The Cal Bar owned it, and evidently established contingency plans in case there were significant technical and customer service challenges between applicants and Meazure Learning.

The Cal Bar sent out a notice to applicants tonight indicating, in part, “We know that many of you, however, faced significant technical and customer service challenges. . .   In advance of the exam, the State Bar took measures to ensure that a makeup opportunity would be available, if needed, for applicants who experienced significant technical issues. As such, we had already planned to offer a makeup opportunity on March 3 and 4 for those of you who had experienced technical issues beyond your control and were unable to connect to the platform and launch the exam as well as for those who were unable to complete the exam.  

After Meazure Learning platform performance Day 1, particularly for in-person test takers, we know that additional remediation measures must be put in place for those who were unable to cut and paste in the Performance Test, as well as for those who were disconnected and could not complete one or more essay questions.

Options being explored include offering the opportunity to retake the Performance Test, offering the opportunity to retake those essay questions you were unable to access, or making psychometrically appropriate scoring adjustments.”

Stay tuned for further updates about the February 2025 Cal Bar Exam.

Hello y’all.

So… I’m teaching one of my Critical Studies 1 classes at UC Law SF today, and I say that registration for July 2025 will open on March 1.  A student raised his hand and told me that he checked his applicant portal and it said, in red letters:

Applications for the June 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam and the July 2025 California Bar Exam will not open on March 1, 2025. We anticipate that they will open in mid-March. Please note that the Board of Trustees eliminated the initial late filing fee for both exams mentioned above due to the delayed opening of the applications. This message will be updated once an opening date is finalized. We apologize for the inconvenience.

As such, you can’t register for the Cal Bar (or the June 2025 Baby Bar) on March 1.

What does this mean?  If the Cal Bar intends to retain the February 2025 scheduling cycle, then this delay won’t matter much.

The February cycle involved this:

October – pay fees on time and indicate non-binding preference for in-person or remote testing

November – $50 late fee for registration

December – $250 late fee

mid-January – Mock Exam – important to do proctored Mock Exam if you wanted to do remote testing

Jan. 30 – final registration process.  In-person choose a site, remote choose a time.

For the July cycle this would mean:

March 1 – pay fees on time and indicate non-binding preference for in-person or remote testing

April – $50 late fee for registration

May – $250 late fee

mid-June – Mock Exam – important to do proctored Mock Exam if you wanted to do remote testing

June 30 – final registration process.  In-person choose a site, remote choose a time.

As long as the July cycle remains the same as February, then it really doesn’t matter too much.  Especially if you can’t choose a site in March or April.  Then pay the registration fees on time in March, whether that start time is March 1, 15, 20, 25, etc.  That first day of registration wouldn’t matter much given the above.  Especially if there’s no more April late fee.

Perhaps a better question is what would necessitate the Bar moving off the spot of March 1.  What tech glitch would necessitate the move, given that they weren’t asking for much on March 1 (fees and non-binding preference about in-person v. remote)?

We shall see.

Emailed to applicants on Feb. 13:

Important February 2025 Bar Exam Updates–Refund Option, Updated Study Guide, New Test Sites

During the Cal Bar Q&A on Jan. 21, the Bar clarified:

If you’re not a handwriter, you MUST do the mock exam.

If you’re in-person, you don’t need to schedule an appointment since you won’t have a video proctor.  But you still MUST do the mock exam.

And if you’re remote, you MUST do the mock exam, but you must set an appointment so a video proctor is there since that’s what’ll happen on exam day.

Hello everyone!

A lot of updates to the February 2025 FAQ document.  You can find the document here:

February-2025-Bar-Exam-FAQs 11725

Highlights:

1. Wildfires:  If you are displaced/personally affected by the wildfires, email wildfire.emergencies@calbar.ca.gov to discuss your circumstances.
2. In person testing – you will schedule your exam site on January 30.  I’ve been hearing about several evolutions on policy here.  First was that you could choose a site on January 30, first come, first served.  Second was an email to students asking them to confirm mailing address and they would be assigned to a location closest to your address.  If you go to the Meazure Learning website, it will tell you there are 27 sites statewide.  Now… the newest updates.  Suddenly you can go to sites in the Pacific AND Mountain Time Zone!  So… if you live in Chico you can’t go to Sacramento, or if that’s full you can go to Utah?!  Who knows.  But perhaps more likely is this:  we now have clarification that the Bar will be given at FOUR Meazure Learning facilities.  Interestingly, these don’t SOUND like Meazure Learning facilities.  Get a load of this:

LA – Ontario Convention Center.  Two things:  1) DUDE, Ontario is in ORANGE COUNTY.  Not LA.  2) That sounds like a site where the Bar used to be given?!

Sacramento – @ The Grounds

SF – South SF Conference Center

San Diego – Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.

OK folks, does this sound like a rope-a-dope to you?  The Cal Bar said they’d be going insolvent in 2026 and can’t hold bar exams in hotels.  The Cal Bar used to hold bar exams in hotels in LA, Sac, Bay Area, and San Diego.  Now… the Cal Bar is holding exams in large convention hall-sounding facilities in person.  What am I missing?

Anyway, when you go online on January 30, you will input your zip code, and only the sites closest to your location will be listed.  And if you live anywhere near any of the four major sites, “only that site will be available for you to choose from.”  So it still sounds like a first-come, first-serve thing.  Sign up early on January 30.

Oh yeah:  FAQ 22:  the exam scheduling window runs from Jan. 30 – Feb. 14.  But NOTE: last day to change from remote to in-person or vice versa is January 20.  Last day to change between in-person locations is February 3.

3. Hardcopy update:  only applicants with accommodations, whose disabilities require hardcopies for accommodation, can use hardcopies.  And if you’re getting hardcopies, that means you MUST test in person.  And that means you can’t use your desktop/laptop.  You must use the Meazure Learning computers and from what I saw on a video, it looks like a desktop with a generic keyboard.

4. If you’re testing remotely, you can use laptop or desktop.  Only one mouse or keyboard can be used.

5. Break time:  same situation whether  you’re testing remotely or in-person.  And you are not allowed to continue taking the exam after the break has expired.  5-minute breaks, people.  Plan for 3-4 minutes, go pee, and get back to your seat PRONTO.

6. Want to change your modality (in person, handwriter, remote)?  The deadline has changed:  it’s now JANUARY 20.  Reason:  so if you need to do remote or in person you can complete the mock exam on time.  Remote MUST do the mock exam.  In-person:  mock exam is OPTIONAL, per FAQ 35.  You can do it if you want but it’s only available until January 24.  No need to schedule an appointment for in-person mock exam since it’s unproctored.

7. EXAM DAY LOGISTICS:  plan to arrive (in person or remote) at least 30 minutes prior to your start time.  Log in no later than 15 minutes before your appointment time on exam day.  They reserve the right to deny you access to your exam if you’re late.

8. PT’s on exam day:  you will view and annotate the materials in a pdf.  You have single-color highlighter functionality, text annotation and comment features, tagging system to help organize notes, and text can be copies/pasted into the response field.

9. If you’re absent for any portion of your exam, the Cal Bar treats you as not having taken the exam, and exams aren’t graded.

10. AFTER JANUARY 20, YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR TESTING MODALITY.  In other words, you can’t change from in-person to remote.  Between January 21-Feb. 3, you can petition to change which in-person site you go to (i.e., Sacramento to SF).  Not guaranteed but you do have the chance to do it.

11. Admittance Tickets – no more need to print them.  You must bring a printed confirmation notice from Meazure Learning upon arrival for in-person candidates.

Again, this FAQ update has a lot of new/updated content.  Check it out so you’re informed!

Hello everyone,

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and I still have relatives who live there.  The images of the LA wildfires are horrifying.  My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the region.  For Cal Bar applicants, this is a very challenging time as we reach the 45-day mark before the exam.

In its latest FAQ (dated 1/9), the Cal Bar indicated the following:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

Any February bar exam takers who have been displaced or personally affected by the wildfires around
Los Angeles County and want to discuss any changes in their circumstances regarding the upcoming
exam administration can email Wildfire.Emergencies@calbar.ca.gov.

If you’re able to read this and you’ve been affected by the wildfires, please email the Cal Bar at the email address above.  Tell them about how you were affected, but make sure to tell them that the new dates for the mock exam might be hard to deal with right now.  I hope they are humane enough to provide extensions to register for and take the mock exam to those affected.  That said, I believe you need a compatible laptop to do the mock exam.  Note that for the in-person modality, the Meazure Learning site provides computers and a place to take the exam.  That may be a factor for some who are displaced by the fires.

Best of luck to everyone out there, but especially to those who have been displaced by the fires.

February-2025-Bar-Exam-FAQs 1925 wildfire update

Hello!

Some important updates for you about the exam. I’m attaching the current (as of 1/8/25) FAQ document. This is very important.

MOCK EXAM UPDATE

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!

In past exams, the mock exam period ran from the month before the exam to the Friday before the exam (i.e., January 28 – February 21).

According to FAQ 31, this time frame has CHANGED.

There is a two-step process for completing the required mock exam:

• Step One: On January 13, 2025, applicants will receive an email from Meazure Learning to schedule their mock exam. Applicants will need to schedule their mock exams between January 13 and 16, 2025.

• Step Two: The mock exam session will be held between January 17 and January 22, 2025.

Again, note these deadlines. You should receive an email on January 13.  You need to schedule the mock exam and you have between January 13-16 to schedule it.

The actual mock exam period will take place between January 17-22.

According to FAQ 41, “Applicants who do not take the mock exam will not be allowed to sit for the exam.”

So, schedule the mock exam on January 13. Whenever you plan on taking it (and I think January 17 is a FINE time to do so), make sure you get it done.

REMINDER: the mock exam is NOT something you study for. There’s no new exam questions. You’re not doing an essay. You’re not submitting anything. And nothing is graded. It’s like playing in a digital sandbox. It’s there so you waive all liability in case your computer craps out during the exam. They have all the leverage. You don’t do the mock exam before the deadline, you don’t get to take the exam.

Again, you MUST do the mock exam if you want to take the bar exam.

Scheduling your exam

FAQ 21 says you’ll receive an email invite from Meazure Learning with instructions on how to schedule your exam ON JANUARY 30. You can then select your preferred test site (remote or in-person), first-come, first served. Make sure to check spam/junk folders for emails from testingsupport@meazurelearning.com or support@meazurelearning.zendesk.com. In fact, just whitelist those emails now.

Resources for exam day

Check out FAQ 23 for support information about the Meazure Exam platform, process overview video, test center process video, and ProctorU Test Taker Library.

Highlighting and copy/paste

You can use these features on exam day (FAQ 26).

February-2025-Bar-Exam-FAQs 1825

Hello everyone!

Good luck tonight!  I know you’ll be checking results from the July 2024 Cal Bar Exam very soon.  I hope you receive good news!

If the news isn’t what you hoped for tonight, don’t worry.  People fail the Cal Bar Exam.  In fact, about 1/2 of you will, if history is accurate.  Smart people fail the Cal Bar.  It happens, promise.

What to do next?

If you pass tonight, congratulations!  Go celebrate, sleep, and be grateful you don’t have to retake the exam.  No felonies, please!  Get sworn in, and use your license for the power of good and impact people’s lives in a positive way.

If you don’t pass, mourn your result for 15 minutes.  Then contact me.  Good tutors fill up quickly.  The worst thing that can happen is that you want to work with a tutor, wait too long, and then you don’t get to work with that tutor.  Programs can fill up within a few days, or even a few hours.

I’ve tutored for 25 years, taught several courses at UC Law SF for that period of time (Legal Writing I and II, Critical Studies I, II, III), and I’m one of a handful of 1-on-1 MBE tutors in the country.  I’ve tutored through the COVID exams, so I know how to handle paperless exams.  And that means I know how to help you Avoid Scrolling Hell!  What if you could learn how to master a paperless exam, even on the PT?  I have answers for all three parts of the exam.

Let’s generate some points!  I speak fluent repeater.  I speak fluent paperless exam.  And whatever your situation is, I can meet you where you are and help you get to wherever you need to go.

Let’s do something about it!  Good luck tonight.  If you need me, reach out.  Now.