I took the MPRE a couple weeks ago. Despite passing several practice exams by a wide margin, the actual exam felt like less than a total cakewalk. In any case, I can feel good that about 90% of people pass on the first try. The statistics are on my side.

In California, you only need to get about half the questions right to get a passing score. So there are 50 graded questions on the exam, with four choices each. If you just randomly filled in circles, your expected score would be 12.5.

Some criticize California for having one of the lower pass thresholds (79). But, considering that California bar rules differ from the Model Rules in many important ways, maybe that's only appropriate.

Today, while on the phone with the Maryland bar examiner's office, I discovered that it's one of three states that doesn't use the MPRE. Instead, law graduates attend a one-day "ethics seminar" run by the state bar association that apparently teaches them everything they need to know. I like their style.

14 Aug 06