Exam Taking Tips for Law Students

Before the exam:

1. Deal with your stress. While it may seem like a good idea to put workouts on hold, consider instead making time for (a few) activities that help you release stress. This will help you keep your wits about you in the exam room.

2. Review past exams. Often law professors will make past exams available to students; consider checking them out if they would help calm your nerves or make you feel more prepared. If an answer key isn’t provided, consider asking a few colleagues to issue spot the exam and compare results.

3. Consider a study group. Would one help or hurt your studying? Your answer may be different for different courses or different semesters.

4. Create a schedule of what to study when during the month leading up to exams. Try to stick to your schedule to ensure adequate preparation time for each course.

During the exam:

1. Plan! When you first receive an exam, it is usually helpful to outline your response. IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is often a good way to approach an essay, as it will help you organize your thoughts and ensure concise responses.

2. Manage your time. If there are three essays, be sure you don’t burn ¾ of your time on the first question. If you are taking a multiple choice exam, recall the LSAT and give yourself a predetermined amount of time for each question. If you finish early, go back to any answers you are unsure of.

3. Read the prompt at least twice. Because issue spotting is key to being able to write a good essay, read the prompt twice before planning to ensure you have spotted everything you can.

4. Keep your answers to yourself after the exam. While it may be tempting to leave the exam and compare your answers with your 5 closest friends, doing so may leave you feeling as if you have answered questions incorrectly when you have not. This feeling may distract you as you deal with your remaining exams.

Written by Kathryn Michaels, Law Librarian Fellow