Whether you are just starting law school or have a few classes under your belt, law school exams most likely terrify the sh!t out of you. Take a deep breath and argue the very best you can!
Below are tips that will help you remain cool, calm, and collected while you're making As. (Disclaimer: I cannot promise you an A so don't sue me if you get a B+)
#1: Grocery List
Once the proctor says "start," immediately write information down on a piece of scrap piece of paper. I either write out a skeleton version of my outline (just headers and subheaders) or information that I have a hard time remembering. I know this sounds kind of lame and you just want to jump straight into the exam, but I promise you that this will help you. I have been so caught up in the pressure of completing the exam before time is up that I got a brain fart and could not remember even the most basic information. It was so helpful to have a grocery list of information right in front of me so I could refer to it whenever I was blanking on information. Whether it is a brain fart or information that is hard to remember, the list saves the day.
#2: Answer All, Revisit Later
Multiple choice questions can either be easy or wtf hard, there is no in between. Most likely, the multiple choice will not be worth more than the essay, but that does not mean to neglect it. Answer ALL of the multiple choice questions as best (and fast) you can. Any questions that you are less than 65% positive on, write down to revisit later.
Only relook at questions you're reaaaaaaally not positive on. If you revisit each and every question, you most likely will change a correct answer to a wrong answer because you're second guessing yourself. If you only revisit the questions you're stuck on at the end of the exam, then you're most likely going to have more time to focus and have had time to think about the questions.
#3: Read Question Last
I know most people tell you to read the essay questions first, but I prefer to do them last. I feel like if you read the questions first, then you will have to read the facts/hypo more than once because you will be only be looking for information that pertains to that question, which can take time away from you. I read the facts/hypo once through making notes as I go so I can quickly use the notes as "bookmarkers" that can be used later to identify information for the questions.
#4: Outline
Once you read the question(s), outline your answer in either IRAC or CRAC form. you'd be surprised at how easy it is to get disorganized because you are racing against the clock and want to get all that you know down. But professors are looking for organization and clarity, not the kitchen sink. Outlining your answer(s) on a rough piece of paper will help you get a great grade.
#5: Answer
Okay, this may seem obvious but please pay attention! ANSWER ONLY WHAT THE QUESTION ASKS!!!!!!! I just had a midterm yesterday where the professor wanted us to address whether the state could convict a woman based on the statute provided. A lot of people addressed mens rea, actus reus, causation, and the statute. They will not get great grades because the question wanted us to only talk about the statute. Read the question and only answer the question.
There are some questions that you will need to bring in other topics to address the question. For example, my property midterm asked us whether Tom could get specific performance. In order for me to come to a conclusion on specific performance, I had to talk about the Statute of Frauds case that was present in the case because it determined who was at fault in the hypo. To be safe in cases that I talk about information that was not asked for, I will start with "In order to find out if Tom can get specific performance, it is important to discuss Statute of Frauds because . . . " and then I will tell the professor why I believe this information that was not asked for is important.
Also, BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR "TYPOS." Majority of my class performed horribly on a property midterm because the professor decided to have a dying woman say to Bill, "I want you, Dave, to have my watch if I die from cancer" in a gift causa mortis case. A lot of people thought the professor made a typo because the guy was named Bill and the dying woman obviously intended for him to have her watch if she died from cancer. No, they got it incorrect because a vital part of gift causa mortis is that the dying person explicitly says who they want to have the gift. Since the dying woman said Dave, Bill could not have the gift. The professor purposely wrote the wrong name to see if anyone would catch it or mention it. If you think there is a typo, address that scenario first as if the professor meant the typo and then make another argument as if it is a typo. Start with "If Marjory did say that the watch is to go to Dave then ___" and then say "But if it was a typo and Marjory really said the watch is to go Bill then ___." I have done that a few times. 75% of the time the professor meant to write that typo just so they can see who is really paying attention to the facts.
Lastly, write it all out. Professors really want you to argue both sides so they can see that you know the law. Draw a reasonable conclusion and fully explain it. When in doubt, write "because." That is a magical word since it makes you explain, explain, explain. Do not leave any stone unturned. Write about everything that is relevant and fully explain it. If you need more facts to come to a conclusion, state that and give a reason why. JUST DO NOT THROW IN THE KITCHEN SINK. Professors do not want fluff; they want to see how you are analyzing the question. Keep it relevant and explain why it is relevant.
Tip: Pretend you're explaining this to your mom and you do not want her to interrupt you. This will make you think of ways to explain things thoroughly so that "your mom" does not have to ask "why?"
In summary, read the exam carefully and make an outline as soon as the exam starts so you can breathe.
Side note: don't worry if you do not have the same answers as somebody else. It only matters how you argue!