Current Students

Self-Evaluation of Exam Performance

1. Did I scan the entire exam to get a sense of scope and substance before I started to read and answer questions?

2. Did I allocate the use of my time properly?

  • Did I apportion my time according to the point allocation of each question?
  • Did I set up a timetable and then follow it?
  • Did I complete the exam?

3. Did I follow all exam instructions?

  • Did I answer the specific question that was asked of me?
  • Did I follow all formatting and procedural requirements?

4. Did I read the question at least twice before beginning to outline?

5. Did I make an outline of the main issues before I began to write?

6. Did I develop the legal issues sufficiently?

  • Did I identify the sub-issues?
  • For each issue and sub-issue, did I articulate the relevant rule of law?
  • Did I stray from the relevant issues and discuss irrelevant ones?

7. Did I write a complete paragraph of law for each issue by working from the general to the specific?

8. Did I analyze the facts sufficiently?

  • Did I use the word “because” to match up the relevant facts to the rule of law?
  • Did I merely repeat the facts in the hypo?
  • If applicable, did I discuss the “other side” to the facts or offer an alternative argument?
  • If appropriate, did I discuss policy considerations?

9. Was my writing clear, organized, and “lawyerly”?

  • Was my writing organized so that my meaning was clear to the reader?
  • Did I use topic sentences to introduce my points?
  • Was my essay organized properly to address the question?
  • By party?
  • By cause of action?
  • Did I use appropriate legal vocabulary?

10. How can I improve?