[More capsule outlines are coming. But first, a break to take some words of comfort and/or advice from those who have succeeded before us!]
When I took the bar exam, I was fortunate to have a Firm that was paying for my bar review. One of the senior partners took me aside just after the bar exam and told me that for every point over 75 (passing grade) I scored, I would owe the Firm $100.00 for overstudying.
– Walter D. James III, Grapevine, Texas
As someone once said to me "there’s no Summa Cum Laude on the bar exam." And thank god for that.
– Jake London
I passed the bar–and got a license just as good as the one issued to the Guy Who Most Obviously Studied To Hard For The Bar (Otherwise Known As "The High Scorer").
– Becky Fahle, San Antonio, Texas
Like the Super Bowl the key is not to bury the opposition but to play not to lose. Not going to matter if you passed by 1 point or 100 points. Nobody will know or care. I think the 2 keys are reading and not freaking out. This is a mind game. So don’t fall for it. Relax focus and visualize.
– John Davidson
The worst part of the bar to me was not only the studying, but the wait was much worse. The days that you will be taking the exam are not so bad if you have already prepared. That is if you stay calm and ignore all of the others who are frantic around you and those talking about the exam and what answers they put…don’t listen to it nor discuss it! My advice…relax and all will be fine.
– LaTosha McGill
First, eat a breakfast. This was something I rarely do. Second, punt on future interest questions.
– Michael P. Studebaker
When you’re feeling low afterward, try to remember that perfection is not required (I wish I had).
– Susan Abert (who passed despite messing up a tax question and becoming certain she failed)
After the morning session when, despite all warnings and training to the contrary, I ran short on time and on the last question ended up having to jot down the legal points in outline form because I didn’t have time to actually write an essay. After that, I was 100% sure I had flunked the exam and didn’t even want to go on with it. Totally meltdown was looming….After all, you can’t basically just miss an entire question and expect to pass… [But she did pass.] No matter how bad you think it’s going and you feel the onset of a meltdown. Continue. And, if you run short on time, do what Barbri says: write down anything to get it on paper for the examiner to see. Apparently, it indeed counts, even if it’s not a complete sentence.
– Vonda K. Vandeever
I took comfort in looking at the past statistics for passing the MBE and/or the whole exam. For example, if 69% of the first time takers in yourt state usually pass, and you were in the top half of your class, and you have been studying (not like a maniac or like you think you should, just normal studying) – you should be in great shape.
– Albert Unger
Recognize that on the MBE, you may need to skip some questions. That’s just fine. A Real Property question that takes up an entire page counts just as much as that short Evidence question. … Don’t let the fact that other people do things differently, or that they’re trying to tell you that you are weird for doing things a certain way, make you change your methods. YOU are the only one who knows what it will take for YOU to pass the Bar.
– G.G.
My biggest fear about the bar exam was the number of people who were convinced it would not be difficult for me. While I mostly agreed with the assessment, I was worried about the effect of that assumption proving invalid. I did fine, but it was because of the preparation and discipline in preparing over an extended period.
– Darrell G. Stewart, San Antonio, Texas
The bar exam, however, is not law school, and it is not the practice of law. It is a contorted alternate universe where mediocre and good enough are the proven roads to success. As such, now is the time to stop trying to be perfect and to get comfortable with your mediocrity.
– David Galalis, Massachusetts
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I’m Marissa, can-do-ologist, perpetual Curious George, and daily adventurer. 
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Those are great quotes. The last one is my favorite: “The bar exam, however, is not law school, and it is not the practice of law. It is a contorted alternate universe where mediocre and good enough are the proven roads to success. As such, now is the time to stop trying to be perfect and to get comfortable with your mediocrity.”