Studying for closed book law exams

California law and business contractors exam study book. Open book exams post by panda595 sun jan 25, 2015 7. The exams are really difficult and cover every aspect of german law without hardly any limitations. The two most common types of nontraditional exams are the closedbook exam and the multiplechoice exam, so well give you a few tips for each. While no professor expects you to memorize the restatements of law, code numbers, or case names, you will be required to know and understand the general principles of law relevant to the subject matter. Practice exams are provided by your lecturer to ensure that the content and style of exam preparation is suitable for the unit you are studying. Talk about law school visits, open houses, admit days. Open book exams are useful when the information that is being asked in the exam is very extensive and it is not important to remembe. How to take law school practice exams jd advising, llc.

Photo by pixabay on every semester at about this point i have students asking me about how to study for openbook exams. As requested from previous videos i have decided to share some of my memorization techniques for law school exams. How to study for an open book testexam in law school quora. May 14, 2017 luckily for you, dear reader, i took admin law over trimester 3 and can confidently pass on some hints and tips on how to prepare for a closed book exam. My practice about 20 years of teaching has always been to give openbook opennotes exams, allowing the students to use their books and notes during the exam. In reality, the basic approach to both an open book law school exam and a. To take the exams, some professors set a particular time and room, while others give students the flexibility to take the exam at any point over three weeks from the. I go over some tips and tricks for closed book exams.

If your exam is closed book, you will want to prepare an outline that will assist you in. There is a common misconception that open book exams are easier than closed book exams, but i find that they can often be harder. Instead, open book exams tend to ask students to apply, analyze, synthesize, comparecontrast or evaluate 1 information. Nov 12, 20 i had all closed book exams in law school until i was a 2l and i loved them. At the same time, i had to consider if this would be reconciled with a more difficult exam. These are poor issue spotting, poor issue spotting, poor knowledge and understanding of the law, poor application of the law to the facts, giving only conclusory answers, lack of organization, errors in the facts, failure to understand the role you are given in the examination. What are the comparative advantages of openbook versus. How to prepare for a closedbook exam personally, i find closedbook law school exams rather uncivilized. No midterms, although we did have a practice essay already in one class and likely will have another by the end of this month. My notes are for extra depth, clarification and in case i have a mind blank in remembering something. So i decided this is a good opportunity to discuss some. There are essentially three categories you get points. Tips for studying for a closed book law school exam.

There are good and bad things about studying with bpp and i would happily stay on to do my lpc better the devil you know. You may listen to music stored locally on your laptop. Luckily for you, dear reader, i took admin law over trimester 3 and can confidently pass on some hints and tips on how to prepare for a closed book exam. Nov 07, 20 so in a way, you want to study the material as if you were taking a closed book exam. Apr 10, 2008 some professors allow for open book exams meaning, you can bring notes, horn books and textbooks with you, others closed meaning, you only have your brain to answer questions. If you have a closed book exam, you want to make sure you create a study plan that reflects the type of exam you will be taking. Compare lecture, tutorial and reading unit guide materials. Is there any other information about openbook exams i can access. Draw up one overview for all see the notetaking tab crossreference to legislation and cases tabs, coloured margins etc.

Getting to maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. Memorize key definitions and elements of law, especially for a closed book exam. Go to class and take notes on the professors key phrases, terms, and analysis. This is true for all types of law school exams, but especially true on open book exams because all of the students have all of the rules in front of them. This felt like a distinct advantage from how i was trained in the uk, where it was all closed book exams. We recently wrote a post on how to succeed on open book law school exams. You are expected to divulge more detail than you would otherwise, and if you havent got a good set of notes, it could mean the difference between a. Contrary to popular belief, you do need to study for an open book test.

With so many law students taking their exams online at home this time, the number of openbook exams have only increased. Law school exams are terrible, but they do have one thing going for them. For example, when i was a firstyear law student, all of my exams were closed book. Deb quentel, spoke with six law professors about outlines, studying for class, preparing for exams, time management, and how professors grade exams. What to expect from online exams required during the. Some professors will even hand out old copies of their exams. Although the mechanics of outlining for closed book exams are not drastically different than those for open book exams, a few additional comments are warranted. So in a way, you want to study the material as if you were taking a closed book exam. With little time for schools to adjust, many exams have. Study for open book exams as though they were closed book exams. Go study law they said every exam is open book they said. Tips for success on openbook exams law school success.

However, the studying process is a little different. It will not be enrolling any new students and will only be operating until the end of 2021. When it comes to studying for a closed book exam, the most important thing is to give yourself plenty of time. To become a licensed contractor, candidates will have to sit for two exams. All the other exams i have had before were open book, so this will be my first time taking a closed book law exam. That being said, you sound like youre in a very good position overall. Depending on your law school, you may have many or few closedbook exams.

Exam preparation law research and writing skills library. Nearly all law schools have exams available from prior years. Multiplechoice exams usually involve a broad overview of a course, so tend to cover lecture and tutorial material. If your professor does not provide exams, then search online for some practice exams. Too often students fall into the trap of false confidence when they have a textbook, outline, or class notes on hand during the exam, but the truth is that law school exams require students to issue spot quickly. May 09, 20 exam time looms, and you have an open book exam ahead.

Upperclassmen who have taken classes with this professor before are also a great resource. Despite the allure of open book exams, in terms of results, ive found them more hard going than closed book exams. Writing exams law school academic support, exam study, and. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of openbook exams as compared to closedbook exams, particularly in standard undergraduate courses like calculus or linear algebra. The effort a law student puts into studying should be identical regardless of whether the exam is open book or closed book. So i decided this is a good opportunity to discuss some strategies for success on open book exams. I have a training contract so all that matters is that i do well in the lpc. Eligibility to take german state examination llm guide. One of the biggest myths about open book exams is that you dont need to study for them. Law school memorization tips closed book exams j wong. One of the most popular arguments against closed book exams is that lawyers the very profession law students are studying to become very.

They consist of ususally 68 written closed book exams of 5 hours each and an oral exam lasting also round about 5 hours covering all areas of civil, criminal, public, eu and procedural law. Law school academic support, exam study, and bar prep. Make a great outline and you can relax about having to memorize every nook and cranny of the law. Exam time looms, and you have an open book exam ahead. With so many law students taking their exams online at home this time, the number of open book exams have only increased. Study tips for closed book con law exam as the title says, does anyone have any study tips on how to best approach a closed book con law exam. Law school exam tutor extraordinaire lee faller burgess of amicus tutoring returns with advice on preparing for a closedbook law school exam. Closed book exams require more memorization, but open book exams may demand more information from the student. They are usually found in the school library and can be checked out for a day or two or photocopied.

While most law schools offer reading days for students to prepare for final exams, its impossible to cram for a law school exam. I had all closed book exams in law school until i was a 2l and i loved them. While no professor expects you to memorize the restatements of law, code numbers, or case names, you will be required to know and understand the general principles of. Thus, you may not use your laptop as a music source. How to succeed on an open book law school exam the unfortunate trap that many law students fall into is underpreparing for open book law school exams. Make time for exercisecarrying 100 pounds of law books every day doesnt count. Like most law students, i tend to panic when i heard the words closed book exam, but here are some tips for making the process easier timing. Look in moodle or speak to your lecturer about any practice exams for the unit and check for revision notes and discussions in the leadup to exams. While this might have been true a few years ago, australian law students are no. You may listen to music from your laptop, streaming from any source. Jan 24, 2017 i study the same for open and closed book tests. A special section on how to do well on other types of exams, such as openbook, multiplechoice, or policy exams, is also included. Eat fruit, vegetables, and whole grain foods on a regular basisa diet coke and a package of dingdongs. Jan 03, 2012 memorization is an important skill that you need to master in order to succeed academically.

From 2017, past exam papers are no longer held by the library. They test whether you understand the big picture of the course and how course concepts work together. This may sound at first that all you will need to do is look up the answer the day of the testand thus a. We will release a guide to studying and completing abe openbook exams to help guide students and centres. Heres how to prepare for a closed book law school exam. I would read and reread your materials extensively over the next few days as well as get acquainted with past papers. Apr 01, 2020 colleges across the country quickly transitioned to online exams in recent weeks as campuses closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Closedbook exams yes, you really do have to memorize that. If you read our previous post on open book law school exams, youll see they share a lot in common. Open book is going to rely a lot less on actually knowing things perfectly and a lot more on analysis. Agarwal, karpicke, kang, roediger, and mcdermott 2008 found that students performed better on open book tests, but their retention of this knowledge over the longterm was the same as that of the students who took closed. Unfortunately, that doesnt stop professors from giving them. Its a closedbook exam, so law school is about to be over for me. Writing exams law school academic support, exam study.

Law school exam tutor extraordinaire lee faller burgess of amicus tutoring. You will take the exam on a computer at one of the many testing centers placed throughout california. How to study for a closed book exam deakin law students. I know, i am strange, but i thought it seemed more fair that everyone. There are four simple steps about how to take law school practice exams in order to maximize your score. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of open book exams as compared to closed book exams, particularly in standard undergraduate courses like calculus or linear algebra.

Part two of lees series explores how to prepare for an openbook exam and argues that your approach should be surprisingly similar to preparing for a closedbook exam. An open book exam is a test that allows you to bring the text or material you have been studying. May 20, 2012 i go over some tips and tricks for closed book exams. I didnt have an openbook exam until i was in an upperdivision class. Ive only had open book exams, but talking to people at lower ranked schools that had all closed book exams, it seemed like so much of what they were studying was word for word memorization. It depends on the size of the exam, but generally you will need two to six weeks. However, in order to do well on a closed book law school exam, you must have the law memorized. If your exam is closed book, you will want to prepare an outline that will assist you in studying until the day of the exam. Of my three classes that have final exams, two are open book, and for the other were allowed to bring in one 8. You should prepare for your exam throughout the course of the semester and use the time before exams to make your final push toward the finish line. An upperclassman explained to me how to do well on law school exams at the beginning of my 1l year and its worked for me very well ever since. Unlike traditional closed book exams where students are required to rely solely on their recall of exam topics, open book exams allow students to consult reference materials notes, textbook, etc. Nina lenz, closed book law school exam preparation tips, lawyerist.

Take as many practice exams as you can under examlike conditions. My practice about 20 years of teaching has always been to give open book opennotes exams, allowing the students to use their books and notes during the exam. Closed book exams have been associated with cramming, rote. May, 2020 for those of you with closed book law school exams coming up, here are a few exam prep strategies that you might find useful. The absolute best possible exams are your professors old exams. Even with open book exams, my personal approach is still to revise like a closed book exam and try to rely as little on my notes as possible. How to succeed on a closed book law school exam jd advising.

Study tips for college success the art of manliness. Finals strategies to improve your test taking experience. Reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy. Ok, studying for a closed book exam is completely different to studying for an open book exam. I know, i am strange, but i thought it seemed more fair that everyone had to memorize the material for the exam. For example, you might be given a problem or a scenario and asked to apply concepts from several parts of the course. Closed book exams have been associated with cramming, rote learning and superficial understanding. Because many exams are closed book, youll need to know everything backwards and forwards in order to answer the questions. Somehow, enough contract law came back to me by the next morning that i didnt flunk out.

Law school can be stressful, but there are a number of steps you can take to keep stress to a minimum. For those of you with closed book law school exams coming up, here are a few exam prep strategies that you might find useful. Compare your answers with model answers or with your friends answers. Jennifer martin discusses the top ten mistakes law students make in law school examinations. Open book exam for law help please the student room. You are expected to divulge more detail than you would otherwise, and if you havent got a good set of notes, it could mean the difference between a pass and fail, or even between an average mark. Oct 22, 2014 like most law students, i tend to panic when i heard the words closed book exam, but here are some tips for making the process easier timing. Wondering how to study for closedbook law school exams. Preparing for openbook exams unsw current students. Faculty share memories of exams past university of.

Below, i provide some memorization techniques that i used during school to help me ace my exams. Resources to help prepare for law school classes, exams, and the bar exam. Studying for law school exams study guides for law student. An old test can be quite valuable provided it was written by your professor. Apr 08, 2020 every semester at about this point i have students asking me about how to study for open book exams. Vikram david amar, some tips for succeeding on law school exams, verdictjustia.

Whether your exam is open book or closed book, your preparation should be virtually the same. Whatever the type of exam, prepare your own exam summary. Law school exams 101, the girls guide to law school. Yes, openbook exams are common practice in subjects such as law and uk regulators welcome this method of assessment, viewing it as highly reliable. We explained that the approach to both open and closed book exams are generally the same.