Practice questions are one of the most effective tools for passing the Ontario Bar Exam but only if you use them correctly.

Many candidates either:

• Do too few questions and feel unprepared, or
• Do too many without learning from their mistakes

This guide breaks down how many practice questions you actually need and how to review mistakes properly so your practice translates into points on exam day.

Why Practice Questions Matter for the Ontario Bar Exam

The Ontario Bar Exam is:

• Open-book
• Time-pressured
• Strategy-based

Practice questions help you:

• Improve speed
• Learn how to navigate materials
• Spot issues quickly
• Apply rules under pressure

Reading alone will not prepare you for this exam.

How Many Practice Questions Do You Really Need?

There’s no magic number but there is a realistic range.

A Smart Target Range

• 150–300 quality practice questions total
• Spread across all major subjects
• Timed conditions whenever possible

Doing 50 questions well is better than doing 300 questions poorly.

How to Break It Down by Study Phase

Early Prep

• 10–15 questions per subject
• Untimed
• Focus on understanding structure and issue spotting

Mid Prep

• 20–40 questions per subject
• Light timing
• Start tracking weak areas

Final Prep

• Mixed sets under full exam timing
• Simulate pressure
• Practice navigation speed

Quality Beats Quantity Every Time

Practice questions are only valuable if you:

• Review every mistake
• Understand why you got it wrong
• Adjust your approach

Blindly doing more questions won’t help.

How to Review Mistakes the Right Way

This is where most students fail.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Mistake

Ask yourself:

• Did I misunderstand the question?
• Did I know the rule but apply it wrong?
• Did I run out of time?
• Did I struggle to find the rule in my materials?

Each mistake needs a different fix.

Step 2: Fix the Root Problem

• Rule confusion: Rewrite a short attack outline
• Navigation issue: Improve your index or tabs
• Time issue: Practice faster scanning, not memorization
• Careless errors: Slow down slightly on first read

Step 3: Log Your Mistakes

Keep a simple error log:

• Subject
• Issue
• What went wrong
• What to do differently next time

This prevents repeating the same mistakes.

How Practice Questions Improve Open-Book Strategy

Practice teaches you:

• What not to look up
• When to rely on memory
• When to use your index
• How to prioritize easy points

This is critical for the Ontario Bar Exam.

Common Practice Question Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Doing questions without reviewing answers
• Practicing without timing yourself
• Ignoring weak subjects
• Rewriting notes instead of fixing strategy

Practice should feel uncomfortable that’s how you grow.

Final Advice: Practice With Purpose

You don’t need thousands of questions.

You need:

• Focused practice
• Honest review
• Strategic adjustment

That’s how practice turns into passing.

Study Smarter with BarBuddy

BarBuddy helps Ontario bar candidates:

• Track practice performance
• Identify weak areas
• Improve speed and accuracy

Start studying smarter at BarBuddy.ca

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