ANALYZING FIRST-TIME BAR EXAM PASSAGE ON THE UBE IN NEW YORK STATE
Foreword
E xe c u t i v e S u m m a r y
Introduction
Methodology
Sample Overview
July 2016 Total
Pass Rate
February 2017 Total
Pass Rate
July 2017 Total
Pass Rate
February 2018 Total
Pass Rate
Average Change in Probability of First-Time Passage
12%
10%
8%
10.4 % 9.1 %
8.2 %
6%
4%
2%
2.3 %
0% <= 25% <= 50% <= 75% <= 100% Original Predicted Probability of Bar Passage
50%
45.0 %
40%
36.2 %
30%
28.3 % 20%
21.5 %
10%
0% 0-19 Hours
20-29 Hours
30-39 Hours
40 or More
Study Hours Per Week in Month of Exam
50% 40%
42.6 %
37.2 %
30% 20%
20.2 %
10% 0% Studied Less
No Change
Studied More
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
12 % -3
17 % -2
23 %
31 %
40 %
-1 0 1 Average Change in Study Hour Category Categories: 0-19 Hours, 20-29 Hours, 30-39 Hours, 40 or More Hours
49 %
2
Time Management Challenges
Worked n
%
Did Not Work n
%
Total n
%
Identifying Time Management Strategies
Completion Does Not Equal Comprehension
Custom-Fitting Commercial Bar Prep Courses
Strategic and Active Learning
10%
8%
7.7 % 5%
3.9 %
2%
0% Ran out of time on MBE
Ran out of time on MEE
Strategies for Effective Timed Practice
40% First-Time Takers Second-Time Takers
34.5% 31.9%
30%
25.7% 22.9%
20%
19.4%
17.7% 14.2%
12.2%
10%
12.8%
8.6% 0% 0
1
2
Number of Full Practice Exams Taken
3
4 or More
Student Engagement and Satisfaction May Contribute to Bar Success
98.7% 98.6% 90.0% 93.0% 78.0% 74.6% 56.1% 56.6% 51.5% 63.6% 29.9% 42.6% 27.7% 31.0% First-Time Takers
11.2%
Second-Time Takers
14.0% 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Percent of Respondents Who Took the Course
100%
A Note on the Impact of Law School Bar Preparation Courses on First-Time Bar Passage
The Right Balance of Financial and Family Assistance Can Support Bar Success
Law School Debt, Finances and Other Life Challenges Can Impede Bar Success
Greatest Challenge
Most Helpful
50% 40% 30%
39.7 % 33.1 % 27.2 %
20% 10% 0% Disagree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Agree
CONCLUSION
R E C O M M E N DAT I O N S F O R S U P P O R T I N G B A R E X A M TA K E R S
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
Appendix A: AccessLex/NYBOLE Questionnaire
Strongly Agree
Passing the bar is essential to my future career plans.
score high enough to
high enough to be
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree Somewhat Strongly Disagree Nor Disagree Disagree Disagree
No Law clinic
Appendix B: Exam Taker and Survey Respondent Comparisons
n
%
n
n
n
%
%
%
n
%
n
%
Appendix C: Bar Passage Model Summaries