Law school midterms can seem a bit daunting. They’re your first taste of exams and can potentially make up a sizable portion of your overall grade. However, there’s a lot to learn from the experience that you can utilize when it comes time for finals.
Even if you don’t have the pleasure of law school midterms, you can implement some of the following tips in your study strategy now for future final exam preparation.
Outline as you Go and Review Often
Ideally, start outlining early, and outline after you finish a significant block of a specific topic for each class. The process of outlining helps build subject matter retention, while reviewing it reinforces learning. Just remember to update, revise, and review your outlines frequently. If you find gaps as you prepare your outlines for midterms, the free 1L outlines included in BARBRI 1L Exam Success can be a lifesaver.
Practice with your Exam Software
Avoid a surprise discrepancy between the viewing preferences you set on your computer for exam prep vs during a closed universe exam. Consider the screen scale you use on your computer or laptop as you practice with the exam software (a 150% scaled setting may be optimal). Through trial and error, find what works best for viewing and typing, so there are no surprises with your law school midterms.
Join a Study Group
When it comes to group study sessions, most people either love them or hate them. Or, you may join in as needed, based on the topic being addressed. If you feel as though you have a good grasp of a subject, you may be able to contribute a unique perspective to a group study session that will help your peers and solidify your own understanding. If, on the other hand, you are struggling with the topic, you may find it best to work toward understanding on your own terms. Here, like anything else, you want to figure out what works for you and stick with it.
Attend Review Sessions
Many professors offer review sessions before major exams. Although they may not be widely attended, these review sessions can be some of the best opportunities to get an overview before test day. Additionally, these sessions are beneficial if you come with questions.
Even listening in on a review session can be productive. Answers to other students’ questions may reinforce your understanding of certain topics.
Keep your Perspective and Make Adjustments as Needed
For many students, the midterm is the first law school exam with questions written by their professor, and is perhaps the first time taking a full-time exam. While midterms are graded, they are not a big part of your final grade, specifically for this reason. Professors design midterms so you can learn from the experience and apply that knowledge to what is most important: final exams. So the real purpose of law school midterms is to help you prepare for your finals.
After your first midterm, you may feel the need to make some adjustments to your study approach. That’s okay. Change the order in which you address questions, modify how you use your outlines, or tweak your attack outline. These minor adjustments can make a difference and give you more confidence. The sound study habits and skills you develop now will apply when it comes to your final exams.
Learn how BARBRI's free 1L Exam Success can kickstart your midterm exam preparation.
Interested in reading more? Fill out the form to read the full article.