What Bar Exam Topics Does the MBE Test Most Frequently?

You don't need us to tell you that studying for the MBE isn't easy.

One of the main reasons is the sheer breadth of information that could be tested on the exam: hundreds of testable issues across seven subjects.

But here's an important tip to help organize your approach to studying for the exam: you can identify what subjects arise most frequently on the MBE simply by looking at outlines provided by the people who write the MBE--the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).

NCBE Subject Matter Outlines. The NCBE's subject matter outlines, which can be found here, go through all of the topics that will be tested across the seven MBE subjects. (By the way, the “seven” MBE subjects are really eight or nine--Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure are combined as one subject, and Con Law is often taught as two separate classes in law school.)

Make sure to read the blurb below each subject heading describing how questions are distributed. For example, there are four major areas of con law covered on the MBE, but half of all con law questions on the MBE come from just one area--individual rights. Similarly, half of the torts questions come from just one of the five major torts areas tested on the exam--negligence.

So how can you use this information to your advantage? The examiners are telling you what they're going to test most frequently, and the outline shows that you shouldn't be giving equal weight to all topics within an MBE subject.

So use the outline to tailor your approach and allot more study time to those subjects that are most frequently tested. Don't spin your wheels over memorizing obscure concepts, and instead nail down the subjects that you know you're going to see on exam day.

Critical Pass flashcards are weighted to focus more on the heavily tested subjects, so be sure to include them as part of your MBE study plan.