This book found in our law library provides an overview of the 8 “secret” tips to enhance your performance in law school.  The book addresses problem that almost every law student can relate to- time management, organization, and setting up a winning essay answer during an exam.  In fact, my two favorite tips in the book both revolve around time management and organization. 

Here is a list of the book’s tips

#1 The Three Keys to Handling Any Essay Question

#2 Adding Points to Your Score by making Time Work for You, Not Against You

#3 Flawless Issue Spotting- The Crucial First Step for Top Exam Performance

#4 Organizing Your Answers for Maximum Possible Points

#5 The Hidden Traps to “IRAC” That Most Student Miss

#6 Writing a Winning Exam Answer Every Time

#7 Preparation- The Detective Work You Need to Do to Determine What Your Professor Will Test On Your Exam

#8 How to Ace Any Unusual Exam Your Professor Might Throw At You: Open Book, Take Home, Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Policy Questions

My first favorite secret tip, #1, discusses the key to answering an essay exam question- time management.  A major component of tackling an exam is ensuring that you have enough time answer the question.  This comes in two forms- both internal and external time management … but what does this mean?  External Time Management looks to the exam as a whole.  For example, if an assessment or a midterm is 20 multiple choice, and one essay, how would you split your time?  Internal Time Management looks at each individual section of the exam.  For example, on an essay question how much time do you want to spend reading the question and highlighting the information?  How much time should you spend writing your answer?  This book highlights different strategies that law students can use to determine how to split their time and make the exam work best for them. 

My other favorite secret tip, #2, describes the importance of organizing an essay answer.  After determining how much time should be spent on each part of the exam, the next important step is to start by reading the questions and organizing how you will answer the question.  As the book notes, many students jump right in and begin answering straight away when it would be more beneficial to read the question and begin outlining an answer.  This ensures that you are understanding the call of the question and write an answer that’s addressing the problem.  When organizing your answer, make sure to pick out each potential issue that you may need to address.  As the book discusses, many students zero in on one issue and miss points by failing to address other issues.  By breaking the question apart and outlining your answer, you set yourself up for success to address everything the question asks. 

For more tips, including the best ways to attack different types of questions, and how to effectively use “IRAC”  make sure to check this book out from the library!

Allison R. Carswell

Sol Blatt, Jr. Law Library Research Fellow
Student Ambassador
Associate Justice of External Competitions, Moot Court Executive Board
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2024 Charleston School of Law