Adam Ferber is the former Examinations Director for the State Bar of California and grader of 40 California Bar and First-Year Law Students’ Examinations. He provides intensive, individualized tutoring and coaching to applicants for both exams. Contact Adam at www.ferberbarreview.com or, on Facebook at Ferber Bar Review – Student Resource Group.
“Just breathe.” Faith Hill
I often tutor bar exam applicants face-to-face. So I notice when an essay or performance test question gets them extra stressed. When they hit something in the question that stumps them. When they realize they might have missed an issue. Or when they’ve written themselves into a corner.
There are tell-tale signs that they’re losing their composure. Their heads and shoulders slope forward. They slump over from the waist. Their breaths quicken and become shallow. These shallow breaths keep carbon dioxide in their air passages and limit the oxygen they can inhale. All this makes them even more anxious and less able to work their way through their answers.
Scuba divers practice reacting to stressful situations under water. What they do might work for you if you find yourself getting especially anxious during the exam
Stop – Breathe – Think – Act.
It won’t take you much more than a minute to:
- Look up from your computer or answer book;
- Sit up tall;
- Take two or three long, slow, deep breaths; and
- Before returning to the question, consider how you’ll attack the latest problem.
- Carry out your plan.
If you can do that, chances are you’ll return to the task at hand with greater clarity and purpose. It’s worth the time it takes!
Copyright 2010 Adam Ferber and www.ferberbarreview.com. Reprinted by permission.
