johndiu

Are the Feb bar questions harder than the July bar exam questions? Should I take the Feb bar or the July bar?

nikita

I would go with the Summer or July bar

be careful w/Feb bar exam -- the word on the street is that Feb exam questions are harder, at least with the essay questions... .alot of the questions are oddball for a reason, i would go with Summer if you have a choice

Source: word on the street

patricl

It really depends. Look at the passage rate, in 1989, higher passage rate in July, but in 2007, higher passage rate in Feb. I think it's because now more repeat takers take their bars in Feb., and usually people who can't pass the first time have mental block the second time and thus less likely to pass. I think if you study and get your issues/rule statements right, you will be just fine

The Committee of Bar Examiners
Of
The State Bar of California
GENERAL BAR EXAMINATION PASS RATE SUMMARY
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
2007 July 8151 4571 56.1
February 5167 1900 36.8
2006 July 8908 4616 51.8
February 4798 1872 39.0
2005 July 8343 4072 48.8
February 4520 1810 40.0
2004 July 8062 3887 48.2
February 4386 1550 35.3
2003 July 7788 3848 49.4
February 4192 1564 37.3
2002 July 7511 3793 50.5
February 4070 1361 33.4
2001 July 7618 4338 56.9
February 4488 1673 37.3
2000 July 7655 4233 55.3
February 4476 1790 40.0
1999 July 7720 3951 51.2
February 4343 1785 41.1
1998 July 7587 3980 52.5
February 3895 1558 40.0
1997 July 7716 4851 62.9
February 4150 2026 48.8
1996 July 7485 4184 55.9
February 3858 1686 43.7
1995 July 7138 4239 59.4
February 3515 1463 41.6
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
1994 July 7058 4459 63.2
February 3671 1589 43.3
1993 July 7057 4164 59.0
February 3708 1640 44.2
1992 July 7130 4234 59.4
February 3933 2000 50.9
1991 July 7255 3980 54.9
February 3701 1869 50.5
1990 July 6990 4057 58.0
February 3847 1767 45.9
1989 July 6997 4164 59.5
February 4273 2102 49.2
1988 July* 7186 3775 52.5
February* 4555 2076 45.6
1987 Fall 7515 3780 50.3
Spring 4735 2026 42.8
1986 Fall 7809 3466 44.4
Spring 4734 1332 28.1
1985 Fall 7668 3484 45.4
Spring 4689 1555 33.2
1984 Fall 7352 3074 41.8
Spring 4072 1202 29.5
1983 Fall 7694 3773 49.0
Spring 4805 1332 27.7
1982 Fall 7623 3624 47.5
Spring 4747 1492 31.4
1981 Fall 7625 3672 48.2
Spring 4453 1440 32.3
1980 Fall 7846 3935 50.2
Spring 4589 1582 34.5
*Name of examination was changed from “Fall” to July and “Spring” to February.
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
1979 Fall 7812 4099 52.5
Spring 4805 2111 43.9
1978 Fall 7645 3903 51.1
Spring 4222 1622 38.4
1977 Fall 7393 3959 53.6
Spring 3420 1493 43.7
1976 Fall 6769 4002 59.1
Spring 3133 1176 37.5
1975 Fall 5852 3550 60.7
Spring 2647 1136 42.9
1974 Fall 5374 3317 61.7
Spring 2492 1274 51.1
1973 Fall 4607 2519 54.7
Spring 1999 1001 50.1
1972 Fall 3908 2213 56.6
Spring 1738 826 47.5
1971 Fall 3593 2130 59.3
Spring 1734 708 40.8
1970 Fall 3182 1794 56.4
Spring 1713 867 50.6
1969 Fall 3068 1675 54.6
Spring 1515 660 43.6
1968 Fall 2885 1541 53.4
Spring 1407 570 40.5
1967 Fall 2488 1224 49.2
Spring 1225 454 37.1
1966 Fall 2254 1184 52.2
Spring 975 412 42.3
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
1965 Fall 1850 1103 59.6
Spring 1055 602 57.1
1964 Fall 1757 899 51.2
Spring 881 400 45.4
1963 Fall 1535 838 54.6
Spring 774 304 39.3
1962 Fall 1432 908 63.4
Spring 827 451 54.5
1961 Fall 1360 702 51.6
Spring 782 437 55.9
1960 Fall 1375 744 54.1
Spring 863 346 40.1
1959 Fall 1167 643 55.1
Spring 642 281 43.8
1958 Fall 1090 614 56.3
Spring 688 313 45.5
1957 Fall 895 482 53.9
Spring 586 312 53.2
1956 Fall 832 432 51.9
Spring 529 301 56.9
1955 Fall 855 466 54.5
Spring 612 348 56.9
1954 Fall 898 458 51.0
Spring 682 323 47.4
1953 Fall 879 509 57.9
Spring 687 433 63.0
1952 Fall 953 507 53.2
Spring 757 463 61.2
1951 Fall 1041 391 37.6
The Committee of Bar Examiners
Of
The State Bar of California
ATTORNEYS’ EXAMINATION PASS RATE SUMMARY
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
2007 July 335 125 37.3
February 380 181 47.6
2006 July 319 114 35.7
February 403 211 52.4
2005 July 325 92 28.3
February 376 205 54.5
2004 July 338 131 38.8
February 353 191 54.1
2003 July 352 160 45.5
February 374 227 60.7
2002 July 364 141 38.7
February 355 200 56.3
2001 July 362 191 52.8
February 375 233 62.1
2000 July 373 204 54.7
February 316 169 53.5
1999 July 315 138 43.8
February 351 187 53.3
1998 July 273 132 48.4
February 287 155 54.0
1997 July 213 140 65.7
February 178 123 69.1
1996 July 146 68 46.6
February 171 103 60.2
1995 July 126 73 57.9
February 170 111 65.3
1994 July 134 80 59.7
February 140 91 65.0
Date of Total Number Total Number Total %
Examination Examined Passed Passed
1993 July 128 56 43.8
February 139 86 61.9
1992 July 136 73 53.7
February 188 147 78.2
1991 July 189 73 38.6
February 215 151 70.2
1990 July 190 119 62.6
February 247 169 68.4
1989 July 229 134 58.5
February 268 181 67.5

cglaw

I agree with Nikita. I believe the February essay questions are usually more difficult. I wonder if it's because there are a lot of repeat bar examiners in February and people who have already passed another state's bar. I think the examiners attitude is "either way, most of these people have already seen a bar exam, so we can ask them more difficult questions." If you can take July, I would do so. However, an advantage of taking the February exam is that there will be less people (which is an advantage and a disadvantage). It's an advantage, b/c there aren't as many distractions and probably less noise. However, I would believe it's a disadvantage b/c the curve cannot be as high (the scaling of scores, b/c there are less people). And probably since you are dealing with more people who either failed before or passed another state, I think it's a little more competitive than July. In July you have mostly people who are first time takers, so you are all clueless together!

here1234

I would take the February bar because the majority of the people taking it in February are not first timers. Instead, they have already failed, and therefore, are more likely to fail again. This way, the curve will be higher because you will be with a group of people who could not pass the first time.

cglaw

I disagree with here1234. I think that the fact that there are so many repeat people means the curve will be lower. Yes, many of them will fail. But I believe the February questions are harder for two reasons:

1. Because most of the people taking February have already taken a bar before (whether they are repeat offenders or people who passed another state's bar). I have already been warned about this from my friends, since I've passed one bar and will sit for another in February.

2. Because there was an exam given in July, often the July exam of one year and the February exam of the next year have many of the same "question types" on them. Meaning, that the July and February exam use the same study materials, but they revise these materials for each July exam. This is what Barbri told me firsthand. The bar examiners don't want to make it easier for someone just because they failed. If anything, I believe they want to make it more difficult. Even though you have more people taking July, this helps the curve more than hurts it, b/c for every person who does well, you have the same amount who does badly to even it out. But in February, you are more likely to have people who will do extremely well (either b/c they've already passed another state bar and "know the drill" or because they failed the last bar, learned from their mistakes and come harder.) Either way, both of these groups of people have an advantage over the first time taker. This is one of the reasons I think people who take the bar and fail continue to fail. B/c if anything, actually seeing the bar is a form of preparation!

here1234

I disagree. I sat for and passed two bar exams and also took Barbri. Of course the bar examiners arent going to make the test easier in February and I do not believe any one has suggested that. It is a fact, however, that the bar passage rate is lower for those who have taken the bar and failed. Contrary to your statement, you can look at any detailed statistics on bar passage rates and clearly see this. The Pennsylvania statistics, for example, show this: http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examina..._Main_Menu.htm

After viewing that, it is clear that the second-timers do not "learn from their mistakes." Therefore, a first time bar applicant would benefit from the inabilities of those repeating the bar. The repeaters historically have lower scores which translates into a higher curve.

The statistics are clear, however, the theory that the bar is "harder" is not. I have never heard that they make the questions harder in February = its just that the applicants are not as smart.

cglaw

Alright, I do agree with what you said about the second and third time (fourth and on) repeat bar takers. However, I do believe that the second time someone takes the bar exam often is their "make or break." Either they learned from what they "did wrong" the first time and pass, or they do not learn and will continue to fail! However, I have a friend who passed one bar on her first try, and then failed the second bar she took. She is going to take that one again! I'm sure she will pass this time!

cabartutor

Bottom Line: take the bar when you have the time and energy to give to preparation.


i took and passed CA in Feb. 07-- passing rate overall was low-- around 36% i think-- however, the rate for first time takers vs. repeat takers showed a huge difference (in favor of first timers). More repeaters in Feb.= a lower passage rate. Unfortunately people tend to study the same way the 2nd or 3rd time as the did the first. If you do what you have always done, you will get the results you always have gotten... no?

Don't play statistics, you will get more for your time...i.e. bang for your buck... by doing essays and MBE's than figuring out if the numbers will play in your favor depending on July vs. February.

__________________
CABarTutor
~recent grad ('06), admittee MA/CA, and Tutor in the Los Angeles area.

cabartutor

Just wanted to post the following info. about the Feb 2007 exam (I passed and was a first time taker if anyone has questions):

Pass Rate: first time takers-- 53.1% for general (regular) exam
repeat takers -- 29.7 % for general exam

(oddly enough July 2006 was 67.4% pass rate first timers, 14.9% for repeaters)

__________________
CABarTutor
~recent grad ('06), admittee MA/CA, and Tutor in the Los Angeles area.