So...bout how many...

[DuckHuntinLawyer]

...practice tests would you all say you do on average for each class before the big day?

Do ya do them as if they were a real exam (time yourself, full sentences/paragraphs, etc.)?

Or do ya stick with the "UBE" analysis?

Just curious.

I probably only do two or so per class. One formal. One UBE.

[mf22076]

I do about 10 1/2 hour practice essay exams for classes that have a 50/50 split between multiple choice and essay.  Only 3 are formally timed and I write them in the practice section of examsoft.  For a 3 hour essay exam I still do about 10 but only 1 or 2 are formally timed. 

Also if there is an issue I come across that I am unsure about or catches me off guard I will look it up and then continue.  It does no good to write incorrect law as it will stay in my reptile brain. 

[bossofyou]

I do about 10 1/2 hour practice essay exams for classes that have a 50/50 split between multiple choice and essay.  Only 3 are formally timed and I write them in the practice section of examsoft.  For a 3 hour essay exam I still do about 10 but only 1 or 2 are formally timed. 

Also if there is an issue I come across that I am unsure about or catches me off guard I will look it up and then continue.  It does no good to write incorrect law as it will stay in my reptile brain. 

i do one or none, untimed

10 practice exams...wtf?  why you slackin?  buckle down already, this is law school!

[jacy85]

As a 1L, I did a bunch, probably 8-10 or more.  As a 3L, I do one, maybe two.

[thorc954]

as a 1L, i did 8 practice sections (typically 1-1.5 hours each).  I did two or three of them timed then the rest I just spotted issues/sketch an outline.  2L year i mostly have just done a little issue spotting to get the gist of what will be asked.   

[Bob Loblaw Esq.]

i did as many full lengths as i could get my hand on during 1l. 

2l? i dont think i have done any, just a little issue spotting like thorc said.  however, its not that i do not need to do practice exams anymore.  if fact, i would do much better if i did.   i really just dont care enough to anymore.

[Bob23]

Didn't do any for first semester (1L), probably won't do any for this semester.

[StevePirates]

None.  It's more fun to go in completely cold.

C'mon guys, where's your sense of adventure?

[mqt]

ZERO.  Waste of time for me.  And I don't read the casebooks (I do skim them) or even go to class regularly (I probably miss 1/3 of my classes).  I just cram for the week before exams, creating streamlined outlines, and it seems to work for me. 

After 1L, when I crashed and burned on the classes that I spent the most time preparing for, and aced the class that I rarely showed up for, I figured out that it is more effective in my case to just focus on the big picture topics at the end of the semester rather than get bogged down by irrelevant BS throughout the semester.

[UGAfootballfanatic]

ZERO.  Waste of time for me.  And I don't read the casebooks (I do skim them) or even go to class regularly (I probably miss 1/3 of my classes).  I just cram for the week before exams, creating streamlined outlines, and it seems to work for me. 

After 1L, when I crashed and burned on the classes that I spent the most time preparing for, and aced the class that I rarely showed up for, I figured out that it is more effective in my case to just focus on the big picture topics at the end of the semester rather than get bogged down by irrelevant BS throughout the semester.

If you're not going to class or reading the casebook, what are you making your outlines from? I tend to work all semester doing the readings and going to class/taking copious notes, then make my outline exclusively from my notes. In my experience, if it's important enough to test on the exam, a professor will discuss it in class. You only do the readings so you'll understand what is being discussed in class.