For many students, the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is the favored part of the bar exam because it is the “think like a lawyer” section. Instead of testing you on your memorization of the law and how to apply it, it tests you on how to be a lawyer.
The MPT requires you to think critically and resourcefully with the information presented and complete a realistic task a beginning lawyer might encounter. You may be asked to create a persuasive brief, legal memorandum, client letter, discovery plan, settlement offer, will, or closing argument. You’ll be given all the information you need to complete the assignment: the case law, statutes, deposition transcripts, etc. Then comes the fun part. You get to demonstrate your ability to evaluate the facts of the case file, analyze the problem, and perform the task within the 90 minutes allotted for each MPT item.
The MPT is included in most state bar exams and carries a good percentage of your overall points. If you sit for the bar in a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state, the MPT is worth 20% of the total bar exam score. Other jurisdictions weigh the MPT differently according to their own policies.
Why the MPT Matters
Because the MPT doesn’t require a ton of memorization, unlike the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) or the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), it might be considered a much easier part of the exam. Nonetheless, the MPT is an opportunity to attain valuable points or miss out on points that could determine whether you pass or fail the exam.
If you are like most students, you’ll spend a lot of your time practicing MBE questions and writing essays. But you’ll also want to make sure you don’t overlook the MPT. It’s a part of the bar exam that’s more important than you may realize because on each exam, many bar takers fall just below a passing score.
The best way to familiarize yourself with possible MPT tasks is to work practice MPTs during your bar review. Your BARBRI Personal Study Plan (PSP) will assign practice MPTs to you. And the BARBRI MPT workbook will get you thoroughly prepped for this often-overlooked area of the bar exam. There is also a valuable MPT workshop in your PSP that should not be skipped. Because your PSP assignments are tailored to the topic areas most in need of improvement, when an MPT comes up on your assignments it means you need that focus.
It’s okay to have some peace of mind knowing you can fall short on the MPT and still pass the bar exam. Just remember, every point on the bar exam counts. Just a few points can make the difference between passing and not passing. If you’re taking the exam in any of the states that require the MPT, be sure to keep this low hanging fruit in sight. Spend time on it and pick up those valuable exam points.