Hint: Start at the end, then you’ll know how to start.
When it comes to the MBE, MPT, and essays on the bar exam, you want to answer the question that is actually being asked. Many law students forget this and jump right in without identifying and fully understanding the call of the question. The key is to first “question the question.” Ask yourself: what exactly am I being asked to do? Then apply the law (with the call of the question already in mind) to arrive at the correct multiple-choice answer or construct a winning essay.
Sounds simple enough but this can be a little tricky to tackle, especially if you dive straight into a question’s facts and details. Beginning with the “call of the question” and grasping exactly what is being asked will ultimately save you time and energy. And you have a better chance at capturing those valuable, extra points on all areas of the bar exam.
The “call of the question” is your roadmap of where you are being asked to go. It will give you solid up-front direction for what to key on when analyzing the facts of the question. Using this roadmap will enhance your ability to quickly answer questions and will maximize your scores on essays and multiple-choice questions.
Before deep-diving into the fact patterns and potentially wasting precious time on irrelevant details, make sure you know what you’re being asked to answer. Question the question and focus on the call. It’s a winning bar exam strategy.