It’s not uncommon to encounter setbacks after taking the bar exam. The test is renowned for its rigor, and even the most diligent students might find themselves searching online for "what to do after failing the bar exam."
If you've recently learned that you’ll be joining the ranks of those retaking the bar exam, you're not alone. Plenty of now distinguished attorneys and politicians failed the bar the first time and used it as a catalyst for future success.
Can I Retake the Bar Exam?
Many U.S. jurisdictions don’t have a limit on how many times you can try again after failing the bar, including California’s exam, New York’s exam, and Florida’s exam. Other jurisdictions have discretionary limits where you’ll need permission to retake the bar after a certain number of failed attempts. The six states with absolute limits allow at least four attempts.
How Soon May I Retake the Bar Exam?
If you didn’t pass the bar exam, you can register for the next assessment that takes place in most jurisdictions in February or July. Before you commit yourself to retaking the bar straight away, consider what life events may be on the immediate horizon. While it makes sense to try again when the information you absorbed in your studies is still fresh, ask yourself if you’re ready to devote your time and energy. It might be best to skip the next bar exam administration until you can truly focus on your retake attempt and feel confident that you’ll succeed.
So, what happens next? As you move forward, remember to take a deep breath and pause. The past few months have likely been a whirlwind of emotions. You need to give yourself time to process all those feelings. Like those before you, your resilience will help you come back more confident.
We’re here to help you refocus and provide a few tips for retaking the bar exam to ensure that the next time will yield different results.
Don’t Underestimate the Foundation You’ve Created
You haven't returned to square one. All the hard work leading up to your first bar exam has laid a solid foundation — the foundation for your successful reattempt with BARBRI. Remember, retaking the bar exam means reinforcing the knowledge you've already acquired.
Do an Honest Assessment of Your Last Bar Exam Attempt
Reflecting on your approach after having failed the bar exam is vital. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit back, and ask yourself the tough questions:
- How much of your bar prep course did you complete?
- Did you focus more heavily on one area of the exam versus another? On certain subjects?
- Did you allow time in your study plan to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing? (Self-care is so important now and always!)
- Were you present and actively taking notes during lectures?
- Did you allow yourself to truly practice and assess, or were you a little too worried that you didn’t know enough to get started?
- Did you actively write out and self-analyze practice essays against model answers?
- Did you submit essays for feedback?
Know Your Strengths + Weaknesses
If your state releases exam information that can help you understand how you did on each component, particularly if it’s broken down by subject, be sure to get that information and use it as your starting point.
Did you do well on the MBE, but weren’t as strong on written portions, or vice versa? Were you rock solid in Constitutional Law, but scored low in Real Property? That’s valuable information you can use to celebrate your wins and adjust where needed.
If it’s possible, look at your percentile rank by subject area to learn how you did versus others who took your exam. First, look at your state’s overall exam pass rate and subtract from 100. For example, if your state has a pass rate of 65%, subtract 65 from 100. This means 35% of the people who took your exam did not pass.
In this scenario, look at the subjects in which you were above the 35th percentile and those in which you were below. Any that are below the 35th percentile are your areas of opportunity as you go into your next round of studying.
Understanding your performance can drastically improve your odds when retaking the bar exam. You can now tailor your study plan to enhance your weak spots and fortify your strengths — a critical step when retaking the bar exam. BARBRI Bar Review’s proprietary adaptive online Personalized Study Plan is the only bar prep that automatically adjusts your daily assignments based on priority and on your performance for the most personalized way to pass the bar.
Let the Three "A"s Be Your Guide
Once you have what you need from your self-evaluation, it’s time to focus on what will get you to your passing score on the next bar exam. You can overcome this moment and be a better attorney for it.
Use the three “A”s as your guide: Acquire, Apply, and Assess.
Acquire. You can acquire new knowledge from your notes by actively listening to lectures. You will be astounded by how much more you get out of the materials now by really thinking about what’s being said.
Apply. When you work practice questions, carefully review the explanatory answers for each answer choice. Grapple with and learn from each question to understand why you got that specific question right or wrong.
Assess. As you put pen to paper and start writing practice essays and performance tests, compare your answers to the model answers and study the differences. Your percentile rank by subject can provide good insights into where you are doing well and what areas may need more of your attention.
Evaluate Your Study Habits for Optimal Learning
Reflect on what worked during law school, and consider supplemental tools such as AdaptiBar, bar prep flashcards, and/or private tutoring. A more balanced schedule could help you study smarter, not harder as you move forward.
Watch Our Webinar Replay, “Retaking the Bar Exam”
If the bar exam didn’t go as planned, it's time to shift gears. Watch our webinar replay for comprehensive strategies and personalized guidance to support your studies. Believe in your ability to pass, as many have before you. We’re here to help you change your narrative to "I passed with flying colors."
Reassurance for Your Second Chance
The BARBRI Bar Review Guarantee allows bar exam takers who do not pass the bar exam a free repeat of the same BARBRI Bar Review course prior to sitting the next exam cycle. Sometimes life gets in the way. BARBRI is here to help you move forward with confidence.
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