The bar exam can be a beast. But if you plan and start your studies as early as possible (a good four months in advance of the exam is ideal), you will set yourself up for success on exam day.
There’s a lot that should go into your action plan for bar prep because you will likely have a few things to juggle along with your studies. Be sure to consider school obligations, like final exams, graduation requirements and extra-curriculars that may not necessarily end when the semester does, as well as work and life commitments. Just remember that the less time you allow yourself to study, the less you’ll be able to make time for other obligations and still be sufficiently prepared for your bar exam.
This guide will show you how to create a personalized study experience that adapts to your life and learning style.
Why Calendar Customization is Key During Bar Prep
Life doesn’t pause for bar prep. That’s why a flexible study plan is crucial. BARBRI’s proprietary online Personal Study Plan (PSP) uses AI-driven technology to help you manage your schedule. It allows you to customize everything from your start date to the days you need off, giving you complete control over your studies.
Your PSP adapts your calendar based on your needs. It serves you the most statistically significant topics for passing the bar exam, factoring in the time left until your exam and the customizations you make. This ensures you are always focused on what matters most.
Get Added Flexibility with Half-Day Calendar Customization
We understand that you might not need a full day off. Sometimes, you may have a few hours of obligations or simply want to study for a shorter period. To offer even more flexibility, BARBRI now includes an exclusive Half-Day Calendar Customization feature.
This feature allows you to block off morning or afternoon study sessions. Your PSP will automatically adjust, distributing the remaining assignments across your available study time. This level of control helps you maintain a balanced schedule, preventing burnout while keeping you on track.
Learn how BARBRI gives you a truly personalized bar prep experience from day 1:
How to Personalize Your BARBRI Study Plan
From your very first login to BARBRI Bar Review, you can shape your study experience. Once your PSP is activated, you will be prompted to set a start date and customize your schedule. You can account for full study days, days off, and now even half-days.
It’s okay if you’re not ready to do this the first time you sign in. You can customize at any point during your course. Here’s how:
- Access Your Schedule: On the “My Assignments” page, look for the progress module in the upper left corner. Click on “View & Customize Schedule” to see your study plan progress and completion targets.
- Edit Your Weekly Schedule: Scroll down to the monthly calendar and click “Edit Schedule.” Here, you can set your preferred start date and select any recurring days or half-days you need off each week. You can also proceed with the default BARBRI schedule, but starting earlier can help you manage your workload and reduce stress.
- Set Individual Days Off: Return to the main customization page with the monthly calendar. You can set individual full or half days off by clicking on a specific date. As you adjust your schedule, notice how the “average hours per day” for completion changes. This helps you decide what is manageable for you.
Remember, the average hours are just a guideline. You can easily study more on some days and less on others to find a good balance and stay on track.
How Half-Day Calendar Customization Works in Your PSP
When you choose a specific date to take a “Half Day,” the system then takes the expected study hours for that day and divides them by two. The remaining half of the hours are intelligently redistributed across your remaining study days.
Maximize Your Adaptive Study Partner
Your PSP is designed to be the ultimate dynamic tool. It provides daily recommendations and assignments, allowing you to work ahead when you have more time. If you miss a study session, your PSP automatically moves unfinished assignments to future days.
If you start falling behind, the system prioritizes the most critical assignments for you. You won’t have to guess what to study next. Your PSP adapts to ensure you see the content that gives you the highest probability of passing the exam.
Create a Balance That Works for You
While your PSP is a powerful tool for managing your bar prep, you might also want to maintain a separate calendar for your other life commitments. However, you plan to tackle your bar prep alongside other obligations, it will be important to set boundaries and communicate them with others. Setting clear expectations for your availability during this time with family, friends and your employer will help you stick to your studies and not feel bad saying “no”.
With BARBRI Bar Review, you get a truly personalized study experience designed to help you confidently prepare for the bar exam while managing whatever else may come. You can explore the Calendar Customization feature through our free Bar Prep Preview or NextGen Prep Preview demos, with no commitment. See just how much control you can have over your bar prep studies.
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