How can I upgrade my Kaplan prep?

Upgrade your Kaplan prep by adding Bear the Bar as a complementary tool that provides unlimited MBE practice questions, targeted drills for weak areas, and flexible on-the-go study options. While Kaplan offers flexible on-demand lectures, balanced workload, and effective tutoring sessions, Bear the Bar adds unlimited practice opportunities and personalized study tools that help you identify and strengthen specific weaknesses that may need additional reinforcement beyond Kaplan's course materials.

Bear the Bar is an ideal complement to Kaplan's flexible, on-demand approach. While Kaplan provides a balanced workload with video lectures, practice exams, and personalized essay grading, Bear the Bar focuses on targeted reinforcement, offering students unlimited MBE practice questions and quick-fire drills. With unlimited exam-style questions and personalized analytics, Bear the Bar helps students pinpoint and address specific weak areas that may not receive enough focused attention in Kaplan's broader curriculum.

The flexibility of Bear the Bar means you can practice whenever you have time, whether that's between Kaplan's on-demand lectures or during your commute. This seamless integration allows you to maximize your study time and reinforce key concepts from Kaplan's materials with additional practice opportunities, creating a powerful combination that addresses both broad coverage and focused improvement.

How do Kaplan and Bear the Bar work together?

Kaplan and Bear the Bar work together to create a comprehensive bar exam preparation strategy that combines flexible on-demand learning with unlimited personalized practice. Kaplan provides the foundation with flexible on-demand lectures, balanced workload, effective tutoring sessions, and Mini Conviser outlines for quick reviews, while Bear the Bar enhances your preparation with unlimited MBE practice questions, targeted weak area drills, and flexible on-the-go study options.

The synergy between these two tools addresses different aspects of bar exam preparation. Kaplan's flexible, on-demand approach ensures you can study at your own pace while covering all exam topics, while Bear the Bar's unlimited practice questions let you drill specific areas until you've mastered them. This combination is particularly effective because it allows you to follow Kaplan's flexible schedule while also getting the intensive practice needed to excel on the MBE section.

Complementary Features

Primary Focus

• Kaplan: Flexible on-demand lectures and balanced workload with realistic pacing

• Bear the Bar: Unlimited MBE practice questions and targeted drills for weak areas

Study Schedule

• Kaplan: On-demand lectures and flexible scheduling that fits around work and other commitments

• Bear the Bar: Flexible, on-demand practice sessions that fit around any schedule

MBE Practice Questions

• Kaplan: Practice exams and questions included in course materials

• Bear the Bar: Unlimited exam-style questions across all MBE topics

Tutoring and Support

• Kaplan: Effective one-on-one tutoring sessions that help identify weak areas

• Bear the Bar: Personalized analytics and performance tracking for targeted improvement

Content Delivery

• Kaplan: On-demand video lectures, Mini Conviser outlines for quick reviews

• Bear the Bar: Quick-fire drills and practice sessions for targeted reinforcement

Essay Feedback

• Kaplan: Personalized essay grading (though some students note inconsistency)

• Bear the Bar: Focused on MBE practice (essay support not primary focus)

Content Coverage

• Kaplan: Complete exam coverage with balanced workload and realistic approach

• Bear the Bar: MBE-focused with targeted weak area identification and analytics

Learning Style

• Kaplan: Flexible, on-demand learning with tutoring support

• Bear the Bar: Self-directed, personalized practice with performance tracking

Mobile Access

• Kaplan: On-demand content accessible on mobile (though some technical issues reported)

• Bear the Bar: Optimized for on-the-go study with quick practice sessions

Best For

• Kaplan: Students needing flexibility, first-time takers, those seeking variety in study resources

• Bear the Bar: Students wanting additional MBE practice and targeted reinforcement

Cost

• Kaplan: Mid-range pricing with flexible payment options

• Bear the Bar: Affordable supplement that enhances Kaplan without premium program costs

This complementary approach shows how Bear the Bar enhances Kaplan's flexible curriculum by providing unlimited MBE practice and flexible study options that target specific weak areas, creating a powerful preparation strategy that maintains Kaplan's flexibility while maximizing exam performance.

What are the benefits of supplementing Kaplan with Bear the Bar?

Supplementing Kaplan with Bear the Bar provides several key benefits that enhance your bar exam preparation. The primary advantage is unlimited MBE practice questions that go beyond what's available in Kaplan's course materials. This unlimited practice allows you to drill specific topics repeatedly until you've mastered them, addressing weak areas that may not receive enough focused attention in Kaplan's balanced but broad curriculum.

Bear the Bar's targeted weak area drills help you identify and strengthen specific knowledge gaps through personalized analytics and performance tracking. The program's quick-fire exercises complement Kaplan's tutoring sessions by providing additional practice opportunities that help you drill down on difficult topics identified during your tutoring sessions. This targeted approach ensures you don't have any significant knowledge gaps going into the exam.

The flexible on-the-go study options make Bear the Bar particularly valuable when combined with Kaplan's on-demand approach. Whether you have a few minutes between Kaplan's scheduled lectures or want to review during your commute, Bear the Bar's mobile-optimized platform makes it easy to squeeze in extra practice. This on-the-go capability allows you to maximize your study time regardless of where you are or how much time you have available, seamlessly integrating with Kaplan's flexible structure.

Personalized study tools and analytics in Bear the Bar provide insights into your performance across different MBE topics, helping you make data-driven decisions about where to focus additional study time. This targeted approach complements Kaplan's comprehensive coverage by allowing you to drill down on difficult topics, get more MBE question exposure, and study flexibly to reinforce your understanding where you need it most. The combination creates a comprehensive preparation strategy that addresses both broad coverage and targeted improvement, making it ideal for students who want thorough preparation while maintaining the flexibility that makes Kaplan appealing.

What do students say about Kaplan?

Students consistently praise Kaplan for its balanced workload and realistic approach that makes the course more manageable compared to denser programs. The program is known for effective tutoring sessions that provide personalized guidance, helping students identify weak areas and develop improvement strategies. Kaplan's Mini Conviser outlines are a major strength, providing concise and effective review materials for last-minute study sessions. The on-demand lecture options allow for flexible scheduling, making it suitable for students who need to balance their study schedule with work and other commitments.

Students appreciate that Kaplan's materials are not as heavy as Barbri, with a pacing that feels more achievable without burning out. The tutoring sessions offer a level of support that feels tailored to individual needs, and the Mini Conviser is perfect for condensing information without losing core concepts. The flexibility of on-demand content makes it easier to fit studying into busy schedules, which is particularly valuable for working professionals.

Who is Kaplan best for?

Kaplan is ideal for students needing flexibility to balance their study schedule with other commitments, first-time bar exam takers seeking a comprehensive overview of exam content, and students who want a variety of study resources including video lectures, practice questions, and essay feedback. The program's on-demand content and balanced workload make it particularly well-suited for working professionals and students who need more control over their study pace.

What are some things to be aware of if choosing Kaplan?

Students should be aware that Kaplan's essay grading can be inconsistent, which may make it difficult to track progress accurately. Some students find that Kaplan's lectures can be a bit too long and difficult to follow at times. Additionally, technical issues with Kaplan's app have been reported, which can make studying more difficult. However, supplementing with Bear the Bar can help address these limitations by providing additional practice opportunities and a reliable mobile platform that enhances Kaplan's flexible approach.