Bar Exam Practice Questions & Answers

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Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 2/16/24

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As your bar exam looms near, it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed by the multitude of statutes, cases, and complex legal terms you need to grasp. Sure, the multitude of legal concepts might feel like a handful, but we’re here to help! This guide will delve into some bar exam practice questions to provide a clearer perspective on the exam.

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We're here to help you study! We've gathered a bunch of practice questions for the bar exam. And don't worry, we've also included all the answers and some explanations. Ready to start?

The bar exam, a critical milestone in every budding lawyer's journey, is notorious for its difficulty. But remember, with a strategic approach, consistent practice of real MBE practice questions, the perfect bar exam practice test, and the right mindset, you can significantly improve your chances of success.

Practice Questions and Answers

Bar exam prep can be expensive, so to start you off on the right foot, we’ll explore some free bar exam sample questions and answers, with a special emphasis on multiple-choice questions:

1. Torts Law: Understanding Liability and Damages

Question: Tom, in a moment of inattention, collides with Jerry's car, inflicting $2000 worth of damage. Jerry decides to sue Tom for negligence. Tom admits his mistake but refuses to pay, asserting that Jerry's car was already in a state of disrepair. Can Jerry still claim damages?

1. Yes, Jerry can claim the full amount of $2000.
2. No, Jerry cannot claim any damages because his car was already in disrepair.
3. Yes, but Jerry can only claim half the amount ($1000) due to pre-existing damages.
4. No, Jerry can only claim damages if Tom had intentionally caused the accident.

Correct Answer: A) Yes, Jerry can claim the full amount of $2,000.

Explanation

Tort cases are commonly referenced in MBE bar exam questions. In a tort case, such as this, Jerry can recover damages as long as he can prove the cost of repairs or the diminished value of his car due to the accident. Tom's belief about pre-existing damage doesn't negate his liability for the damages he caused. 

While the state of the car before the accident might be relevant in assessing the degree of damage caused by the accident, it does not absolve Tom of his responsibility to pay for the harm he directly caused.

2. Criminal Law: Grasping the Concept of Intent

Question: Can Ann be convicted of burglary if her defense is that she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm?

1. Yes, Ann can be convicted of burglary even if she entered the building to seek refuge from a sudden storm.
2. No, Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm.
3. Maybe, it depends on whether Ann had a history of committing crimes.
4. It depends on the severity of the storm that Ann encountered.

Correct Answer: B. No, Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm.

Explanation

Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she can prove that she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm. 

Burglary requires the intent to commit a crime upon entering a building, and seeking shelter from a storm is not a criminal act. Therefore, if Ann can validate her claim of seeking shelter, she lacks the requisite intent for a burglary conviction.

3. Constitutional Law: Freedom of Speech

Question: Which of the following statements is true regarding the state law that prohibits residents from criticizing the governor on social media?

1. Yes, the law violates the First Amendment rights of the residents.
2. No, the law does not violate the First Amendment rights of the residents.
3. Maybe, it depends on the type of social media platform being used.
4. It depends on the popularity of the governor.

Correct Answer: A. Yes, the law violates the First Amendment rights of the residents.

Explanation

This is because the First Amendment of The Constitution protects the right to freely criticize the government, which would include government officials such as a state governor. A law that prohibits such criticism would likely be seen as infringing on these protected rights. 

4. Contracts Law: The Essentials of a Contract

Question: Which of the following statements is true regarding the scenario where Jane proposed to sell her car to John for $5,000, but sold the car to someone else the very next day without receiving any acceptance or consideration from John?

1. Yes, John can sue Jane for breach of contract because she made an offer to him.
2. No, John cannot sue Jane for breach of contract because no contract was formed between them.
3. Maybe, John can sue Jane for breach of contract because he needed time to think it over.
4. It depends on the type of contract Jane proposed.

Correct Answer: B. No, John cannot sue Jane for breach of contract because no contract was formed between them.

Explanation

Many of the bar test questions you’ll see will involve contract law since it’s such an important part of the legal field. For a contract to be formed, it requires an offer, acceptance, and consideration. In this scenario, Jane made an offer to sell her car to John, but John did not accept the offer or provide any consideration to Jane. 

Therefore, there was no legally binding contract formed between them, and Jane was not obligated to sell the car to John. Since there was no contract, there can be no breach of contract, and John cannot sue Jane. 

Option A is incorrect because an offer alone does not constitute a contract. Option C is incorrect because John's need for more time to think it over is not relevant to the formation of a contract. Option D is incorrect because the type of contract proposed by Jane is irrelevant when no contract was formed.

5. Property Law: The Obligations of a Finder

Question: Is Jim legally allowed to keep the $1000 he found in a wallet in a public park, even though the owner later posted flyers in search of the wallet?

1. Yes, Jim is legally allowed to keep the money as he found it in a public place.
2. No, Jim is not legally allowed to keep the money as it belongs to the owner of the wallet.
3. Maybe, it depends on whether Jim reported the found wallet to the authorities.
4. It depends on whether Jim made any attempts to locate the owner of the wallet.

Correct Answer: B. No, Jim is not legally allowed to keep the money as it belongs to the owner of the wallet.

Explanation

Jim is not legally allowed to keep the $1000 he found in the wallet in a public park. Property law requires finders of lost property to make a reasonable effort to return it to its rightful owner. Since the owner is known and has posted flyers in search of the wallet, Jim is legally bound to return the wallet and the money to the owner. 

Keeping the money without attempting to locate the owner is considered theft. Therefore, Jim is not allowed to keep the money, and he must make a reasonable effort to return the wallet to its rightful owner.

Hopefully going over these MBE practice questions in depth has helped you understand them better and offered insights into how to best approach them! Continue going over sample MBE questions and past bar exams to get familiar with various question types and feel prepared for test day!