cueprepBar Exam Study Schedule: A Complete Week-by-Week Plan
A realistic, structured study schedule for the Uniform Bar Exam — broken down by week, covering MBE subjects, MEE topics, MPT practice, and rule memorization.
UBE Overview
The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is a two-day exam administered in most U.S. jurisdictions. It consists of three components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
| Component | Format | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MBE | 200 multiple-choice questions (two 3-hour sessions) | 50% |
| MEE | 6 essay questions (3 hours) | 30% |
| MPT | 2 performance tasks (3 hours) | 20% |
Bar Exam Subjects
Contracts (MBE + MEE)
Formation, performance, breach, remedies, UCC Article 2, third-party beneficiaries, assignment and delegation.
Torts (MBE + MEE)
Negligence, strict liability, intentional torts, products liability, defamation, privacy torts.
Evidence (MBE + MEE)
Relevance, hearsay (and exceptions), character evidence, privileges, expert testimony, authentication.
Constitutional Law (MBE + MEE)
Judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, due process, equal protection, First Amendment.
Criminal Law & Procedure (MBE + MEE)
Homicide, theft, inchoate crimes, defenses, 4th/5th/6th Amendment rights, Miranda.
Civil Procedure (MBE + MEE)
Jurisdiction, venue, pleading, discovery, summary judgment, Erie doctrine, res judicata.
Real Property (MBE + MEE)
Estates in land, future interests, landlord-tenant, recording acts, easements, covenants.
Business Associations (MEE only)
Partnerships, corporations, LLCs, fiduciary duties, piercing the corporate veil.
Trusts & Estates (MEE only)
Wills, intestacy, trust creation, fiduciary duties, cy pres, powers of appointment.
Family Law (MEE only)
Marriage, divorce, property division, child custody, child support, adoption.
Conflict of Laws (MEE only)
Choice of law, jurisdiction, full faith and credit, Erie doctrine in diversity cases.
Secured Transactions (MEE only)
Article 9, attachment, perfection, priority, default and enforcement.
10-Week Bar Exam Study Schedule
This schedule is designed for full-time study (8–10 hours/day). If you're working, extend to 14 weeks and reduce daily hours accordingly.
| Week | Phase | Daily Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Foundation — Torts, Contracts, Crim Law | Lectures (3 hr), 33 MBE questions + review (2 hr), start flashcards for rules (1 hr), outline/notes (2 hr). |
| 3–4 | Core Subjects — Evidence, Con Law, Civ Pro | Lectures (3 hr), 50 MBE questions (2 hr), 1 essay (1 hr), flashcard review (1 hr), outline (1 hr). |
| 5–6 | Remaining Subjects — Property, Biz Assoc, Trusts, Family, Secured Trans | Lectures (2 hr), 50 MBE mixed questions (2 hr), 1–2 essays (2 hr), flashcard review (1 hr), MPT intro (1 hr). |
| 7–8 | Heavy Practice — Mixed MBE + Essay Writing | 100 mixed MBE questions (3 hr), 2 essays (2 hr), 1 MPT (1.5 hr), flashcard review (1 hr), weak area review (1 hr). |
| 9 | Simulated Exams | Full-day practice exams mimicking real test conditions. Review all wrong answers. Intensive flashcard review. |
| 10 | Final Review + Rest | Light review of weak rules. Flashcard review only — no new material. Rest the day before. Trust your preparation. |
Bar Exam Study Strategies
Start memorizing rules from day one
Don't wait until the last two weeks to memorize. The bar tests hundreds of rules. Start flashcard review in week 1 and build daily — by exam day you'll have 8+ weeks of reinforcement on early topics.
Do mixed MBE sets, not subject-specific
After your first pass through the subjects, switch to mixed sets. The real MBE interleaves all 7 subjects randomly. Training this way improves your ability to identify the correct area of law under pressure.
Write at least 2 essays per week
Reading model answers isn't enough. Write full essays under timed conditions to build the muscle memory for issue spotting and IRAC structure. Compare against model answers for every essay you write.
Don't neglect the MPT
The MPT is 20% of your UBE score and is the most coachable section. Practice 4–6 MPTs total. Focus on format compliance, organization, and following instructions precisely.
How Spaced Repetition Helps You Memorize Bar Rules
The #1 reason people fail the bar isn't lack of understanding — it's lack of memorization. You can analyze a tort hypo perfectly, but if you can't recall the elements of negligence under exam pressure, your essay falls flat.
Spaced repetition fixes this by scheduling reviews at scientifically optimal intervals. Rules you know well get pushed further out; rules you struggle with come back quickly. Over 8–10 weeks, this builds durable, retrievable memory for 1,000+ black-letter rules — the foundation that makes everything else click on exam day.
Memorize bar rules with spaced repetition
1,500+ black-letter rules for MBE and MEE subjects. Start free — no credit card required.
Bar Exam Study Schedule FAQ
How many hours a day should I study for the bar exam?
Most bar prep programs recommend 8–10 hours per day during dedicated study periods. This typically breaks down to 3–4 hours of lectures/content review, 2–3 hours of practice questions, 1–2 hours of essay writing, and 1 hour of rule memorization. Adjust based on whether you're studying full-time or working.
When should I start studying for the bar exam?
Most test-takers begin 8–10 weeks before the exam. If you're working during bar prep, start 12–14 weeks out. The February bar is typically in late February, and the July bar is typically in late July — work backwards from your exam date.
Should I supplement my bar prep course with flashcards?
Yes. Bar prep courses (Barbri, Themis, UWorld) are excellent for teaching analysis and essay technique, but most students struggle with memorizing the sheer volume of black-letter rules. Flashcards with spaced repetition fill this gap — you learn the rules once in your course, then drill them into long-term memory with daily flashcard reviews.
What are the hardest bar exam subjects?
This varies by person, but Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Constitutional Law are commonly cited as the hardest MBE subjects. For the MEE, Business Associations, Trusts & Estates, and Secured Transactions tend to cause the most difficulty. Focus extra time on your weakest subjects.
How is the UBE scored?
The Uniform Bar Examination is scored on a 400-point scale: the MBE (multiple choice) accounts for 50%, the MEE (essays) for 30%, and the MPT (performance test) for 20%. Passing scores vary by jurisdiction, ranging from 260 to 280 for most states.