Failed the MS BAR exam twice — what finally helped me pass

by Jessica L. 4 views3 replies
J
Jessica L.OP
May 27, 2026

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it — I bombed this thing twice before I figured out what I was actually doing wrong. First attempt I scored a 68, needed a 75. Second time a 71. I was studying, but I was studying the wrong way. Just reading the materials cover to cover like it was a textbook and hoping it would stick.

What changed everything was switching to active recall. I started hammering an MS BAR practice test every single morning before work — like 30 questions, timed, no looking anything up until after. Brutal at first but my retention went through the roof. I also grabbed a solid study guide that broke down the Mississippi-specific procedures because that's honestly where most people get tripped up.

Third attempt I passed with an 81. The whole process took me about 14 months total. Anyone else been through multiple attempts? What finally clicked for you? Also happy to share my week-by-week schedule if anyone's prepping right now.

K
Kevin O.
May 27, 2026
The Mississippi-specific stuff is no joke. I spent way too long on federal rules and then got blindsided on the state procedure questions. My biggest exam tip would be to spend at least a third of your prep time on the state-specific content. I used a study guide that had a dedicated section for it and that honestly saved me. Passed on my second attempt with a 78.
D
Daniel M.
May 28, 2026
What practice test resource were you using? I'm about six weeks out from my first attempt and I've been doing maybe 20 questions a day but I'm not sure if that's enough volume. I'm scoring around 72-74 on the practice sets right now. Curious whether you think I should push that up or focus more on reviewing the ones I'm getting wrong.
K
Kevin O.
May 28, 2026
Review your wrong answers before bed, not right after you miss them. Letting it sit a few hours then coming back to it seriously helps it stick. Small thing but it made a real difference for me.

Join the Discussion

Sign in or register to reply with your account, or reply as a guest below.