As the final leg of this three-part blog series, California academic support experts offer these practical tips for students to maximize performance on the new remote bar exam.
- Have your physical (not digital) government ID with photo handy in the testing room.
- Have a cell phone or mirror handy to scan the room for the proctor.
- The platform does have a spell check function, according to a recent message from the State Bar.
- Mock examinees reported a significant lag between when the students type and when the words appear in their answer. (This may, or may not, be related to their RAM capabilities.)
- Having an external mouse (and keyboard) will be helpful since the annotation functions will utilize keyboard shortcuts. [Ctrl+C= copy on PC; Cmd+C= copy on a mac. Ctrl+V= paste on PC; Cmd+V= paste on a mac.] There are also copy/paste buttons that look like a sheet of paper on the toolbar.
- Font can be enlarged. The tool is in the top right corner.
- There is no word count feature.
- There is a timer built into the system that will give automated warnings at specific points. External watches or clocks are not allowed in the room.
- Remote applicants can, and should, have a whiteboard, dry-erase markers (fine point is best) of multiple colors, and a block eraser. Boards can be either 8.5”x11” or 9”x12”, but no larger than that.
- Applicants can use foam ear plugs only.
- All applicants can log into the Platform Tutorial and play with the features in there as many times as they want to become comfortable with the system.
- Applicants should use the chat function to communicate with the proctor if they are having difficulty.
Practicing by implementing the anticipated exam conditions during bar study allows applicants to become comfortable using the functions available on exam day in the most efficient way, which is essential to succeeding on the infamously difficult and ungenerously timed California bar exam. Familiarity with the exam day features will allow applicants to focus their energy during the exam on displaying their knowledge and understanding of the law, instead of trying to operate the unfamiliar testing platform.
The situation has now settled enough to provide some guidance to applicants. However, the California remote exam administration details are fluid, so updates may be forthcoming as additional information is provided. All applicants should read the FAQs and watch the recording of the January 21, 2025 Q&A session when it becomes available on the State Bar of California website. (As of January 26, 2025, the recording is not yet available.)
The commentary and suggestions above and in previous posts are primarily limited to providing guidance on testing strategies and approaches that allow applicants to best utilize the anticipated features available on the Meazure testing platform.
(Guest bloggers:
Mary Basick, Assistant Dean for Academic Skills, UC Irvine School of Law
Taylor Ruth Israel, Director of Academic Success and Bar Preparation, Thomas Jefferson School of Law)
