RATING: ★★★★★

Crush the Bar Exam has given BARmax Review the award for best Bar review course of 2018!  Their Bar Exam prep course has earned the #1 spot due to its flexible course offering along with all of the following reasons:

• Affordable price for those on a strict budget
• Suggested study calendar to keep you on track
• Audio lectures by Harvard-trained law professors
• 1,580+ real multiple choice questions from past Bar exams
• Real practice essays and PTs with model answers and/or point sheets
• Message boards for help with MBE questions

 

If you’re simply looking for the best Bar prep course to help you pass, BarMax is your best bet!  

TAKE ME TO BARMAX!

 

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BARmax Course Features

Many courses are “mobile optimized” but really have limited functionality on a smaller screen. BarMax is one of the best on-the-go study courses and it is available at a much lower price than some of its competitors. Despite the relatively low cost, there’s a lot of value for this review course, as it is comprehensive and comes with great planning tools. BarMax is a great Bar review course and will get you to the promised land even if you’re constantly on the move.  

PROS

1. Flexibility

The BarMax online prep course gives you the ability to carry all the information you need around in your pocket. Having access to stacks of books through the app makes this course the easiest to use on the fly or whenever you have a spare moment to study. Studying for the bar exam is almost fun when you can do it on your iPhone or iPad at the coffee shop, gym, or beach. Internet access is not required to access content through the BarMax app, and you don’t have to waste time driving to class.

2. BarMax Price

At $1,000, BarMax Bar Exam Review’s comprehensive state course price is much lower than the industry average. The price includes lifetime access to audio lectures from Harvard Law alumni, such as the legendary Arthur Miller, corresponding black-letter law outlines, and flashcards. There’s more than 1,500 real multiple-choice questions (MBEs), real practice essays, real performance test (PT) questions, personalized writing revisions, analytics and customer support by phone, email and in-app message boards. This is an incredible value. BarMax also offers 0% financing, which allows you to get immediate access to any BarMax course and split the purchase into budget friendly 3, 6 or 12 monthly payments. BarMax also offers a public interest discount for students pursuing careers in public interest law. In addition to the comprehensive state courses, Bar Max offers supplements for the MBE portion. The MBE full course is $499.99 (audio lectures, outlines, flashcards and over 1500 MBE questions), while the question bank is $249.99.

3. Study Planner

BarMax provides a recommended study calendar that sets forth daily assignments and a clear overview of the material, including how much you will need to study. The calendar suggests a more reasonable study plan of 15-25 hours per week for 12 weeks. This efficiency is unparalleled. Additionally, since BarMax is the only bar review course to offer instant and lifetime access, it is an amazing option for students who would like to get started with bar prep sooner—a great idea if you are working full-time or are an international student.

Ideal User

This course is especially suited for students who may be overwhelmed by the massive information overload that is typical in other review courses. Straightforward outlines and easy-to-understand lectures along with actual multiple-choice questions (MBEs) from previous bar exams, as well as flashcards and practice essays make this program less complex and more effective. BarMax currently offers preparation for the bar exam in California (CA), Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)—currently used in 33 jurisdictions, including New York—the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the CA First Year Law Students Exam (FLYSE or Baby Bar) and the MPRE (free). TAKE ME TO BARMAX!  

Summary of Course Features

• Black-letter law outlines for every subject with all pertinent material needed to pass the exam
• Suggested study calendar
• Audio lectures by Harvard-trained law professors
• 1,580+ real multiple choice questions from past bar exams
• Real practice essays and PTs with model answers and/or point sheets
• Flashcards
• Message Boards for help with MBE questions
• Two writing critiques (your choice of either essays or PTs)
• Technical support team is available Monday through Friday, with emergency support available on weekends and holidays as well
• Additional for-fee options include remote tutoring by phone/online, additional essay and PT critiques, and notebooks for those who prefer to study with hard copy and print materials.

Pricing

California Course: $999.99 UBE Course: $999.99 MBE Course: $499.99 MBE Question Bank: $249.99 California FYLSE Course: $249.99 MPRE Course: Free MPRE Online Practice Exam 1: $24.99 TAKE ME TO BARMAX!

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 PROS

1. Available for a Wide Range of Devices

One of the first online programs in its field, Themis capitalizes on its universal availability. The entire Themis program is compatible with virtually all devices, including smartphones, computers, tablets, and e-readers. The app is available for iOS and Android, making this course very portable.

2. Concise Learning Modules

Video lectures are broken down into shorter, more manageable segments of 15-20 minutes to keep learners interested and focused. Based on research in instructional design and learning retention, Themis Bar Review presents information in smaller doses to prevent learners from becoming overwhelmed, and allows them to process information at their own pace.

3. Fair Price

Themis has a price tag of $1,295 to $1,695 depending on which state and program you choose. While this certainly isn’t cheap, it costs less than the most other major Bar Prep courses on the market. There are no hidden fees or associated costs, and some students may qualify for an additional discount if they plan to work in the public interest sector. Discounts are also available for active duty, reserve, and retired military members, as well as members of certain law school and legal organizations.

4. Helpful Planning Tools and Features

Although this course is aimed at learners who want optimal flexibility rather than a traditional classroom approach, several features help learners organize their time. A preset sequence of tasks, a to-do list, and a dynamic calendar keep learners accountable and on track. In addition, the myProgress tracker monitors which assignments have been completed. In other words, there is enough structure for those students who need it.

 CONS

1. Not Available in All Areas

Themis Bar Review is currently available in 34 jurisdictions, as shown on the map on their site. However, students from all states can take advantage of the online review materials Themis offers on their website.

Pass Rates

Themis publishes detailed pass rates by state on its website. Pass rates range from 70-90%, with the higher pass rates coming from students who complete 75% of the course before the exam.

Ideal User

Themis is best suited for self-motivated learners who want the freedom to study on the go from a portable device. As the course is fully online, there are no classroom sessions to attend. Those who are working or have other obligations will benefit from this flexibility and the reasonable recommended study schedule (six to eight hours a day plus review on weekends). One nice option is the ability to customize your level of independent study. In the Directed Study mode, you have to complete a daily list of tasks. If you miss a day or more, the dynamic calendar makes changes to your schedule so you can catch up to where you should be. In the Flex Study mode, you can skip around and complete assignments on your own without a prescribed schedule. It is possible to switch back and forth between the two modes, depending on your schedule and what type of instruction works best for you. Hard copies of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), state outlines, the MBE Milestone and Simulated exams, and Performance Test (PT) questions and answers are provided as well. Visual learners can print hard copies of the handouts that accompany each lecture to take notes.

My Suggestion

Themis Bar Review is a flexible and adaptable course with enough structure to keep students on track while they study for the bar exam. An early adopter of online learning, Themis supports more different kinds of devices than its competitors and has done the educational research to back up its approach. It offers a broad overview rather than an exhaustive review of all relevant material, which makes it ideal for those who want to concentrate on the big picture. COMPARE THE BEST BAR EXAM REVIEW COURSES!

Summary of Course Features

• 8-10 week course is fully online
• Structured daily tasks to be completed in sequence (optional “Directed Study Mode”)
• On-demand video lectures followed by questions for maximum retention
• Searchable outlines and interactive handouts
• Option to study at own pace with “Flex Study Mode”
• Practice MBE-type multiple choice questions and essay questions
• Simulated paper exams and milestone exams track progress and prepare you for the actual test experience
• 24/7 tech support, academic support, and Personal Attorney Adviser (trained in bar review essay grading) and state director are available for guidance, to answer questions, and provide detailed feedback and advice for essays
• MyProgress tracker monitors which assignments have been completed
• Pass or a Free Repeat Guarantee for first-time Themis takers. Those who do not pass the bar the first time can take the course again at no additional cost.

 Pricing

Full Course: $1,295 – $1,695, depending on your state and available discounts.
MPRE Review: free Compare Themis to other Bar Review Courses by clicking the button below: COMPARE THE BEST BAR EXAM REVIEW COURSES!

Themis Bar Review Course Information

Themis Bar Review	Top Features
1.	8-10 week course is fully online
2.	On-demand video lectures
3.	Searchable outlines and interactive handouts
4.	Option to study at own pace with “Flex Study Mode”
5.	Practice MBE-type multiple choice questions and essay questions
6.	24/7 tech support

   

RATING: ★★★★★ AdaptiBar was founded in 2003 by a law school graduate searching for digital study options and has been in the online bar exam prep space for more than a decade. Their Online MBE Simulator & Prep course focuses on the MBE portion of the bar exam and uses actual questions from past exams written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

PROS

1. Authentic Material

100% of practice questions in the program are licensed questions that have been released from past bar exams. By practicing with authentic MBE questions (as opposed to those written by test prep companies) students will be better prepared for the questions they will encounter on the actual exam. AdaptiBar recently added 200 new simulated questions in Civil Procedure for 1,700+ MBE practice questions.

2. Score Predictor

The AdaptiBar course keeps track of your overall accuracy rate as you answer practice questions while you study. The company claims that the accuracy rate generated by AdaptiBar is a relatively accurate predictor of the score you will receive on the bar exam, although some students report that the questions on the actual MBE seem more difficult.

3. Adaptive Technology

The AdaptiBar software automatically adapts questions to your strengths and weaknesses by tracking your performance as you answer questions. In the Practice Questions mode, you will be presented with certain types of questions, one question at a time, until you become better at questions of that type. The Past Performance Table allows you to see how many questions you have answered overall and calculates your accuracy in answering them to help guide your study sessions and show you which outlines to review more thoroughly.

4. Improves Time Management Skills

AdaptiBar also helps with exam pacing by keeping track of how long it takes you to answer each question. This will help you determine whether you should spend less time on particular questions and move through the exam more quickly, or spend more time on a question if it helps you select the correct answer. You only get 1.8 minutes to answer each question on the bar exam, and AdaptiBar’s time tracking feature will help you learn to use your time wisely. You can also use the interactive Message Center to guide you through the program and decide how to divide up your study time.

5. Customizable Practice Exams

The MBE Simulator & Prep course comes with NBCE’s practice exams 1-4 (100 questions each from 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2013). You can also create an unlimited number of customized practice exams to take under exam-like conditions. In the Practice Exam Mode you can choose subjects and subtopics and the number of questions in order to generate an exam tailored to your needs. Submit your exam for grading to receive a detailed exam report that breaks down your performance with respect to topic and timing in addition to detailed explanations for each answer.

6. Free Trial

Try AdaptiBar’s course offerings for free to see if this program is a good fit for your study habits and ability level. You can register for a free trial that includes a small selection of simulated practice questions on their website. Try it today to see if AdaptiBar is the right supplementary program for you.

CONS

1. MBE Practice Only

Many students studying for the bar exam are looking for a comprehensive review course to help them cover all the material necessary to pass their exam. However, AdaptiBar focuses only on the MBE portion of the exam which is why it should only be used as a supplement to a more comprehensive bar exam review course.

Ideal User

This focused MBE review program is best for students who plan to use MBE preparation in conjunction with a more comprehensive bar exam review course. Self-motivated students who can find the time and dedication to study on their own without a set schedule of classes or reminders will get the most out of AdaptiBar’s self-paced online course. One nice feature is that explanations are provided for both correct and incorrect answer choices to help you understand why you got a question right or wrong. It helps to know that you got the answer correct for the right reason, not just because you guessed or because you chose the right answer through a flawed reasoning process. Students can choose between the Practice Question and the Exam Question modes. You can also create a customized Past Questions report of all the questions that you previously answered in both modes that can be sorted by various categories for further review and practice. The Early Access Option is a good choice for those who want to get a jump start on their studies. For an additional $125, this option allows you to access course materials before your session is scheduled to begin. Best for visual learners, AdaptiBar also offers online video lectures and flashcards to help you study and memorize key MBE topics.

My Suggestion

AdaptiBar’s adaptive technology is great for helping students pinpoint their weaknesses and drill those content areas until they improve. Their Practice Questions and Exams make their course an effective tool to help students prepare for the MBE portion of the bar exam, but it should not be used as your primary study materials because it doesn’t cover all areas of the Bar exam.  Click below to purchase AdaptiBar’s course.  COMPARE THE BEST BAR PREP COURSES!

Summary of Course Features

• 1,730 practice questions (1,530 Licensed Questions; 200 Simulated Civil Procedure Questions)
• Exam Simulator
• NCBE’s Online Practice Exams 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Adaptive Technology
• Practice Question or Exam Question Modes
• 950+ Flashcards
• Online Video Lectures
• Customer Support via Phone & Email
• Free Trial

Pricing

Save $30 on all Adapti Bar Prep today! Users can now sign up for AdaptiBar and pay with PayPal Credit. PayPal Credit offers “No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months” so it is a great option for students interested in financing their bar prep.