How to excel in the Nigerian Bar Final Exams

Introduction

Achieving success in law school exams is a multifaceted endeavour, with high grades as a pivotal marker of accomplishment. Law school exams are a unique challenge, necessitating thorough preparation and a well-structured approach. Penned in 2011, this blog post offers valuable insights on enhancing your performance and excelling in these demanding assessments. While maintaining the core advice, let’s delve into each step and elaborate on its significance.

Law school success can be defined in multiple ways, but getting good grades meets any definition of success. Law school exams are unlike any other test you’ve taken, meaning you must meticulously prepare and execute your game plan.

Here’s how to make it happen.

Step 1: Cultivating the Right Mindset and Formulating a Game Plan.

Beyond the academic rigour, the mental state you bring to law school exams is crucial. While the post highlights the importance of insulating oneself from undue competition, a more comprehensive approach would delve into fostering a growth mindset. Although often overlooked and underrated, getting yourself in the right frame of mind is critical to success. It is important to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth rather than stressors. As you’ve likely heard, Bar finals differ from university exams, but you can still rely on some of your old (presumably successful) study habits.

One of the most helpful things I learned to do in NLS was to live in a bubble, insulating myself from the pressures of other students’ study habits, including what other students were studying, where they studied, and how much time they committed to their studies. All of these external factors will not be relevant to you. Instead, spend time crafting your study strategy; customisation is key. Recognise your strengths and preferred study methods while aligning them with each course’s demands. Creating a detailed study schedule, as mentioned, remains an excellent practice. However, integrating flexibility to adjust for unexpected challenges or topics can be an asset. Get your head right and make a game plan. For me, this meant creating a bespoke schedule or calendar of every activity I wanted to be involved with, both academic and non-academic. My timetable included allotted time for sleeping, reading, watching movies, sporting activities, and even the odd stroll around the Agbani grounds.

Also, decide how you want to prepare for each class. I was never a fan of cramming a semester’s worth of work a fortnight before the exam. Instead, I dedicated time to preparing ahead of each class, reading bits and chunks of the material, just enough to understand what will be discussed in each class. This way, I could ensure I devoted sufficient time to each class. Don’t forget that the grade for each module in law school, depending on the number of credits, counts the same. Getting an A in one module and C’s in three others is not a success.

Here’s another brilliant tip: your lecturers’ insights hold value. Expanding on this, forming a strong rapport with professors can provide invaluable guidance throughout the semester, enabling you to anticipate exam content effectively. They will usually tell you what to expect in the final exams—and eliminate topics you do not need to study.

Step 2: Don’t Panic! Take a deep breath, navigating Challenges with Confidence

The competitive nature of law school makes even the brightest students think they are in the wrong line of work. I’ll never forget looking at one of the class gunners during an exam and realising he was sweating more profusely than anyone else in the room. That was a pretty gratifying moment.

Law school exams often introduce elements of unpredictability. You will get some curve balls during exams regardless of how well-prepared you are. But don’t forget that everyone else is getting the same curve balls and is probably as dumbfounded as you. Recognising that even the most accomplished peers encounter similar challenges can help alleviate the pressure. Cultivate self-assurance by recognising that your peers also grapple with unforeseen twists, and your ability to adapt sets you on a path to success. Rather than focusing on comparisons, shift your perspective to personal growth. Embrace the notion that your journey is unique and your growth is independent of others’ progress.

Step 3: Embrace Complexity and Confront Unclear Areas

Believe me, it’s profitable to shine the ‘light’ of ‘hard work and time’ on those ‘dark’ and ‘difficult’ areas or courses. The recommendation to allocate time for tackling difficult subjects remains invaluable. Set aside time every week to critically analyse grey areas of confusion and set out time to tackle and understand such areas. I would advocate for active learning methods, such as group discussions and tutoring to others, which help you develop your understanding of those difficult or complex areas. Furthermore, such supporting learning methods can enhance your comprehension of intricate subjects. Tutoring complex topics to other students will force you to break down content into understandable components, solidifying your understanding. The more you master all such areas, the easier it will become.

Step 4: Sustain Determination and Goal Focus

As simple as this may sound, it is correct to say that setting and focusing on goals is the only way to achieve success in the heart. Indeed, goal setting and maintaining focus are critical. Consider adopting a SMART goal approach— set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Setting specific targets with quantifiable measures helps channel your efforts more effectively.

I wish you success. Remember that the Q&A is highly important. Students familiar with the techniques of answering questions early enough have begun the race before the whistle. I recommend simulated exam environments, engaging in timed practice exams under exam-like conditions to hone your time-management skills and be familiarised with the pressure of the real exam.

“The race is not to the swift nor the battle for the strong…”

Conclusion

A multifaceted approach is imperative in navigating the intricacies of law school exams. This blog post expands on our experiences incorporating growth mindset principles, embracing challenges, utilising active learning methods, and setting specific goals. By amalgamating these strategies, you can confidently tackle law school exams and position yourself for academic and legal career success.

All the best.

Kingsley Udofa and Randall Ryder.