Control the assignment before reading deeply
Synthesize instead of summarizing
Combine authorities into one usable framework.
Practice format and pacing together
A common starting point is roughly half the period for task control, reading, synthesis, and outline, followed by half for drafting and editing. Adjust through data, but protect completion. Practice objective memoranda, persuasive briefs, client and demand letters, judicial products, and less common transactional or planning tasks.
What the boards publish about the MPT clock and weight
Indiana's Board describes the MPT as two 90-minute items, three hours in all, each a simulated case file in a realistic setting that calls for fundamental lawyering skills whatever the area of law. New Hampshire gives the same three hours and grades each MPT answer on a scale of 1 to 6 by members of its Board.
The weight is bigger than the item count suggests. The two MPT items are 20% of the total in Illinois and Kentucky, about 10% each, or twice what one MEE essay is worth. In Georgia each MPT item has a weight of 1.5 against 1 for each essay, which makes the two items about 43% of the written half.
Where the MPT is going
From July 2026 to February 2028, Family Law and Trusts and Estates topics may appear on the MPT even though the MEE no longer tests them, according to the Indiana, Michigan and Alaska boards. NextGen replaces the legacy exam over the coming years and mixes question types, including performance tasks.
A template is a timing tool, not a shortcut. Guam and Connecticut started NextGen with July 2026, and Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and West Virginia start in July 2028, so confirm which task format your administration uses before rehearsing a fixed template.
3 original practice questions
Answer each question, then check it. Your result is saved on this device and counts toward your study dashboard.
Question 1
What is an MPT template actually meant to be?
Question 2
Before reading the supplied library deeply, a candidate should extract several things from the task memo first. Which of these is NOT one of them?
Question 3
'Synthesizing' the supplied authorities is different from summarizing them. What does synthesis mean here?
Common questions
How long is each MPT item?+
90 minutes, and the MPT is two items, so three hours in all according to Indiana's Board.
How is the MPT graded?+
New Hampshire's Board grades each MPT answer on a scale of 1 to 6, and Michigan grades the MPT and MEE on NCBE's 6-point scale.
How much is the MPT worth?+
20% of the total in Illinois and Kentucky, about 10% per item. In Georgia each MPT item weighs 1.5 against 1 for each of the four essays.
Is an MPT item worth more than an MEE essay?+
In Illinois and Kentucky, about twice as much: two MPT items share 20% and six essays share 30%. In Georgia it is 1.5 times.
What is an MPT task?+
A simulated case file presented in a realistic setting that calls for fundamental lawyering skills regardless of the area of law, as Indiana describes it.
Can Family Law appear on the MPT?+
Yes. From July 2026 to February 2028, Family Law and Trusts and Estates may still appear on the MPT even though the MEE dropped them.
Do I need a passing grade on each MPT item?+
New Hampshire says it is not necessary to pass each MPT or MEE question, only to perform adequately overall, and that no curve is used.
Does NextGen change the MPT?+
NextGen mixes multiple-choice, short-answer and constructed-response questions, including performance tasks, so confirm your state's format and start date.
What to do next
- 1
Read the task memo first.
- 2
Build a product-specific skeleton.
- 3
Synthesize the library into a rule map.
- 4
Map every material file fact.
- 5
Draft, complete, and self-grade under time.