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Choosing a Relevant Tutor

Choosing a Relevant Tutor

The Exam is different today, in subject matter, scope and timing, than it was years ago when most bar review teachers passed the exam, and their preparation materials were created. Taking a look at the California Bar Exam history provides understanding why bar reviews and tutors are sometimes out-dated and insensitive to the needs of Repeaters.


California Bar Exam Format History:

Prior to 1972- Essay Only, able to throw a question out

1972- Multi-States Added

1975- First state to add Professional Responsibility Exam

1980- MPRE Instituted

1983- First Performance Exam Added to measure Practical Skills

1987- New Grading Procedure "Scaling"

2007- Business Associations, CA Code of Civ Pro, CA Code of Evidence Added to Essays


The addition of Multi-States and Performance Exams caused new challenges for bar candidates including three areas to prepare for and new exam timing constraints. The Performance Exam tested Practical Skills for the first time on a bar exam. Prior to 1983, the test only focused on memorized law and its analysis. Before hiring a tutor, you may want to find out, if and when, the tutor was admitted to practice law in California by doing an attorney search on The State Bar of California website. Sometimes bar exam instructors teach areas that they never passed on the bar exam themselves.

The grading method of "Scaling" was instituted in 1987. Your scaled score today does not directly compare with what a tutor scored 25 years ago.

As a CA Bar Candidate in 2010, your exam instruction should be relevant to the demands of today's bar exam.



History provided by The State Bar of California, Office of Media and Information Services.