I'm sitting for the Massachusetts bar in July and trying to figure out the right balance between MBE prep and MEE/MPT prep. Massachusetts is a UBE state, so the passing score is 266 on a 400-point scale, with MBE making up 50% and the written portion making up the other 50%. I'm a month into prep and spending about 70% of my time on MBE practice questions.
My MBE practice scores are running around 62-64% on BarBri sets, which I know translates to something in the 130s scaled — probably a few points below where I need to be. My evidence and constitutional law scores are fine but real property and secured transactions are embarrassing, around 48% on timed sets.
For MEE I haven't started writing practice answers yet, which I know is a problem. I keep telling myself I need the black letter law foundation first, but I'm eight weeks out and I should probably start drafting essays even if they're rough.
Is 62-64% on BarBri at this stage actually reasonable for where I'll end up in July, or is that a sign I need to reset my schedule? I've heard BarBri questions tend to run harder than NCBE official questions but I don't want to assume I'm safer than I actually am.
I passed July 2024 with a 274. My MBE score was around 139 and the written pushed me over. Don't neglect MPT — it's 20% of your score and it's very learnable if you practice the format a few times before exam day.
Start MEE practice essays now. The structure and issue-spotting is a different skill than knowing the rules and it takes time to build. Two essays a week minimum, even rough ones. I improved more from writing bad essays and reviewing them than from reading outlines.
BarBri questions are harder than NCBE released questions on average, so 62-64% with eight weeks left isn't a crisis. But real property and secured transactions need real work — those are two of the higher-variance subjects on the MBE.
For MA specifically, check the Board of Bar Examiners site for Massachusetts-tested subjects. Some MEE topics get tested in conjunction with Massachusetts-specific law and you can't rely on a national outline alone for those.
I'm in a similar boat — working full-time and squeezing in prep whenever I can. What's been working for me is treating MBE like a daily habit, even if it's just 20-30 questions on my lunch break or commute. The repetition matters more than big study blocks, honestly. For MEE I've been doing one full practice essay per week, usually Sunday mornings before anyone's awake, then comparing to the model answers. It's slow but it sticks.
The 50/50 split sounds balanced on paper but I've heard from people who passed that your MBE score can really carry you if you get it high enough, so I've been weighting it a little heavier in my schedule. That said, don't sleep on MPT — it's the part most working adults actually feel decent about since it's open materials and more practical. If you're short on time, an hour on MPT goes further than an hour on MBE cramming. Just my two cents from someone who's definitely not as prepared as I'd like to be right now.