ID Bar online vs in-person exam — any difference in difficulty?

Same boat a few months ago. Here's what I'd tell myself:

The ID Bar exam is more concept-focused than the study guides suggest. They test whether you understand ID Bar, not just whether you can define it.

My tip: when you see a scenario question, mentally walk through it step by step before looking at the answers. The wrong answers are designed to catch people who jump to conclusions.

Good luck — the fact that you're doing this level of prep means you're going to be fine.

I actually failed the first time by a few points. Total gut punch. But passed on the second attempt with a comfortable margin.

What changed: I stopped trying to memorize answers and started actually understanding the material. Specifically on ID Bar exam — I went back to basics and worked forward from first principles.

Also switched from reading to doing. Less time with the textbook, more time on practice questions with detailed answer explanations.

You've got this. The second attempt is always better because you know exactly what the exam is like.

For what it's worth from someone who's been through it:

The ID Bar is one of those exams where the practice tests really do prepare you well. The style of questioning is pretty consistent. If you're comfortable with "ID Bar" material under timed conditions, you'll be fine.

The one thing I'd add: read the question stems very carefully. They sometimes add a qualifier that completely changes the right answer and it's easy to miss when you're going fast.

Also check whether you need to schedule the exam in advance — some testing centers book up 2-3 weeks out.

One thing that helped me decide was thinking about where I actually retained information best during my bar prep — not where I thought I studied well. For the Idaho bar specifically, the MEE and MPT components require sustained analytical writing, and if you're the kind of person who gets distracted mid-essay by a notification or a noise outside, home can quietly wreck you even when it feels comfortable. I did a few full practice sessions at home timed to MBE blocks and noticed my performance dipped in the afternoon when the house got louder. That alone pushed me toward the testing center.

The concrete tip I'd give: whatever format you pick, do at least two full-length simulations in that exact environment before exam day. Not just MBE drills — actual timed MEE essays written in the same conditions. If you're going online, use the same laptop, same desk, same browser lockdown software if you can access it in advance. Idaho's bar has some state-specific essay topics (community property used to catch people off guard, and Idaho follows it), so you want your brain already on autopilot with the logistics so it can focus on actual substance. I used an id bar practice test set to get familiar with the question style and pacing before I even started worrying about format choice — knowing the material cold makes the environment question almost secondary.

If your home setup has a dedicated quiet room and you've successfully studied there for long stretches, online is probably fine. But if your "home office" is a kitchen table — just go to the center.