For decades, BARBRI has been the leader in bar exam preparation. This is no accident. Our course is meticulously engineered to combat the common pitfalls of traditional bar prep, like the “firehose” effect that often overwhelms students with dense lectures and immediate high-stakes practice.
Instead, we've replaced that outdated model with an approach rooted in learning science, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment. Let's pull back the curtain on the science behind the BARBRI Bar Review course and how our new approach has changed the game and delivered even higher pass rates.
An Instructional Design Created for Learning
Traditional study methods used by some bar prep companies are known for overloading your working memory and often fail to build the long-term knowledge structures needed for success. We recognized that there had to be a better way.
The BARBRI approach is built on two core principles: spiral learning and scaffolded instruction.
Spiral Learning: Building Mastery Over Time
Have you ever tried to memorize a complex topic in one sitting, only to forget it a week later? The BARBRI Bar Review course is designed to prevent that. We use a spiral learning method, which means you will revisit concepts multiple times throughout your bar prep. But each time you see a topic, it’s presented at a deeper, more sophisticated level.
This method is powerful because it works with your brain's natural learning process. Initial exposure builds a basic framework. Subsequent passes add layers of detail, nuance, and application. This strategic repetition is purposeful, as it moves information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory—leading to true mastery, not just temporary recall.
Scaffolded Instruction: Your Framework for Success
Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint or a foundation. That’s what bar prep can feel like without the right support. Scaffolded instruction provides that essential framework. We introduce new legal concepts progressively, building upon what you already know.
This process starts with foundational knowledge and gradually introduces more complex ideas and tasks. You are always challenged but never overwhelmed, gaining competence and confidence with every module you complete.
The Three Phases of Your Bar Prep
The BARBRI Bar Review course unfolds in three distinct, intentionally designed phases that lead to peak performance on exam day.
Phase 1: Foundations
The journey begins with the introduction of essential concepts using engaging, animated Foundations Episodes. These short videos use narrative and storytelling to make foundational legal rules memorable and easy to understand, laying the groundwork for everything that follows. Formative assessments are integrated throughout, giving you immediate feedback to confirm your understanding before moving on.
Phase 2: Deep Dive
Once your foundation is set, you move into an expansion of those concepts. You'll engage with short, segmented lectures from the nation’s leading law professors and legal experts. These lectures are paired with your personal Course Companion that helps you actively process and organize the information. Along the way, you receive frequent opportunities to apply understanding through practice and feedback.
This application is what solidifies understanding and begins building the analytical skills required for the bar exam.
Phase 3: Final Review
The final weeks of your prep are dedicated to sharpening your skills and reinforcing the most frequently tested topics with video mini reviews and our student-favorite Conviser Mini Review: A Score Maximizer book. This targeted practice is designed specifically for final review, presenting important key concepts in concise and engaging ways to build stamina and refine your test-taking strategy. This is where all your hard work comes together to ensure you are ready for exam-day success.
Enhancements Driven by a Commitment to You
BARBRI's commitment to providing the best bar prep experience means we continually refine our course based on the latest learning science, student feedback, and market research.
That’s why we rolled out enhancements to BARBRI Bar Review in February 2025. These changes were not cosmetic; they were strategic upgrades designed to make your study more efficient, effective, and adaptive to your unique needs. The enhancements also were made in preparation for, and to align our courses with, the next generation of the Uniform Bar Exam—the NextGen UBE.
Key Improvements
- Spaced Repetition: We have further integrated spaced repetition algorithms that prompt you to revisit material over time to strengthen memory.
- Personalized Study Plans: At the heart of the enhanced BARBRI experience is your Personal Study Plan (PSP). This adaptive technology responds to your performance in real-time. It identifies your strengths and weaknesses, then automatically adjusts your study plan to focus on the areas where you need the most improvement. Your PSP ensures every minute you spend studying is a minute spent effectively.
- Interleaving: Your study plan mixes different subjects and question types during practice sessions to improve cognitive flexibility.
- Multimodal Learning: Combining video, text, and interactive assessments to cater to diverse learning styles. The course leverages a rich mix of learning modalities, from animated videos and expert lectures to interactive assessments and textual resources, to cater to diverse learning styles. This ensures you engage with the material in the way that works best for you.
With these and other enhancements to the BARBRI Bar Review course this year, we saw a significant increase in scores for first-time Simulated MBE takers. Compared to an average raw score of 122.7 in 2024, students scored an average of 124.8 on the simulated exam in 2025.
Statistical models show that there is a high correlation between performance on the Simulated MBE and performance on the bar exam.
Discover the BARBRI Advantage
Why does BARBRI consistently lead to more students passing the bar exam? Because our course is more than a collection of lectures and books. It is a scientifically engineered learning ecosystem.
By integrating spiral learning, scaffolding, and adaptive technology, we've created a course that is not only more effective but also more approachable, helping to build your confidence at every step. There’s no more being thrown into the deep end. You are guided, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
Boost your confidence and your score with BARBRI Bar Review.
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