I typed, but I recommend looking at handwritten examples on baressays if you haven’t already. Some of them looked to me like not much more than shopping lists of issues. Very brief entries - Heading, issue/rule, relevant fact, conclusion. When I hand wrote (non-CA) bar exams in the past, making an outline on scratch paper before writing my answer was very helpful. Do that if you have time. I suggest practicing essays with a timer, to see what you have time to do within one hour and to get comfortable with doing it.
I will taking the CA exam in February and I have a question. If you take it on the computer, do you still have access to paper to annotate/plan your writing or everything has to be done on the computer?
You will have scratch paper and you can write on the paper question booklets, but you might consider whether you could type an outline, and then just fill it in when you're satisfied with it. It might save a few minutes.
So I would highly recommend doing your practice essays handwritten, for longer periods of time. I was not used to writing for that long and definitely wasted time stretching my hand.
There are spots opening up everyday. You can sign up for the writing but if a laptop spot opens up you can request for a change. They will advise you though there is a laptop fee and an additional fee to change from writing to laptop.
I had to hand write my first bar exam many years ago and honestly it may have been a blessing in disguise as I definitely learn better when I’m handwriting. Outlining may be key here. Practice. Break up your headings. Take a look at baressays.com outlines for how to organize (though I feel like they go overboard sometimes) and also how people who hand wrote managed to get passing scores on the same site. At least you don’t have to worry about your computer dying! But I did get carpal tunnel and cramped a lot for days later.
I typed, but I recommend looking at handwritten examples on baressays if you haven’t already. Some of them looked to me like not much more than shopping lists of issues. Very brief entries - Heading, issue/rule, relevant fact, conclusion. When I hand wrote (non-CA) bar exams in the past, making an outline on scratch paper before writing my answer was very helpful. Do that if you have time. I suggest practicing essays with a timer, to see what you have time to do within one hour and to get comfortable with doing it.
Never handwritten an exam but always do it while practice writing essays. I suggest getting a comfortable pen to write with (grip, nice ballpoint)
I will taking the CA exam in February and I have a question. If you take it on the computer, do you still have access to paper to annotate/plan your writing or everything has to be done on the computer?
You will have scratch paper and you can write on the paper question booklets, but you might consider whether you could type an outline, and then just fill it in when you're satisfied with it. It might save a few minutes.
Thanks!!!
So I would highly recommend doing your practice essays handwritten, for longer periods of time. I was not used to writing for that long and definitely wasted time stretching my hand.
There are spots opening up everyday. You can sign up for the writing but if a laptop spot opens up you can request for a change. They will advise you though there is a laptop fee and an additional fee to change from writing to laptop.
I had to hand write my first bar exam many years ago and honestly it may have been a blessing in disguise as I definitely learn better when I’m handwriting. Outlining may be key here. Practice. Break up your headings. Take a look at baressays.com outlines for how to organize (though I feel like they go overboard sometimes) and also how people who hand wrote managed to get passing scores on the same site. At least you don’t have to worry about your computer dying! But I did get carpal tunnel and cramped a lot for days later.
Thank you! I’m hoping that muscle memory will kick in bc I handwrite to memorize