As you head into a new semester, there are a few things you can do to help you move forward in law school with confidence. First, be proud of the hard work you did last semester. You’ve conquered what many people only dream of achieving.
Next, carve out time to review your previous exams no matter how you did. Reviewing your exams each semester is an important step in understanding where you could have performed better and for determining what subjects you’ve excelled at so you can hone that knowledge. Whether you are a 1L, 2L or even 3L, exam review is a tried-and-true path to doing well on future law school exams in core classes and on bar-related topics.
At most schools, professors are willing to go through your exams with you, so it’s essential to make good use of those office hours! If your professor does not offer this option, or you’d prefer to go through an exam on your own, you’ll still learn valuable insights.
If you’re newer to the exam review process, we’ve got you covered with some tips for reviewing your exam successfully.
First, self-reflect on your performance
How did you feel going into the exam, during the exam and after? Remember, we’re all human. As hard as we may try, sometimes we have bad days. If you felt like you had a rough day for a particular exam, try to diagnose where you went wrong. Was it a long essay question or one that was multiple-choice that got you?
If you stumbled on an essay question, try to recall the question and outline what you think your answer should have been. If your exam was multiple-choice, think over the topics and if you felt like any specific topic(s) was missed repeatedly. Brush up on that topic and then see if you can answer those questions correctly.
This exercise should help you see if your answer was wrong because of your approach to the question or a blind spot in your understanding. You might be able to assess your need for more sleep and some stress reduction prior to your next exam as well.
Once you’ve done your self-reflection, check out your exam for review with your notes in hand. In future semesters, try writing your self-reflection soon after the exam is over to keep everything fresh in your mind.
Next, review your exam privately
The review process will vary based on your school. However, many schools will allow you to check out your exam and will also provide model answers from the professor. Take the time to review your exam privately before sitting down with your professor, using your notes from self-reflection to guide your review.
By reviewing your work first, you may be able to uncover where you could have improved, or where you did well, before looking at the model answers. It will be helpful to look for any trends with your exams.
Once you have reviewed your exam thoroughly, set up an appointment with your professor to go over your test. If a professor does not provide detailed answers, make sure to get clear insights during your time with them.
Finally, review your test with your professor
Be sure to go to the meeting with an open mind. Your goal here is not to change your grade, but to learn how to write a more effective law school exam. You also want to ensure you gain an understanding of any concepts you found challenging. Use this meeting to better grasp exam writing and how you can improve for the new semester ahead.
For more information on preparing for your law school final exams, check out these tips.