Closed-book exams in 1L?

[StoneMason]

Just found out I have closed-book exams for crim and contracts in 1L whereas the other sections have open-book. Is it normal for different sections to be treated differently? Idk, this seems kind of unfair lol. Just thinking out loud here (and over-stressing before first day of class of course).

[chaboywb]

It's not uncommon. Closed-book exams are less common but there was a mix when I was in school, with different profs having different preferences.

You're curved against other people in your class, not the entire year, so it doesn't end up hurting you in that sense. Closed book exams aren't necessarily harder. You just have to prepare for them differently. Having thorough notes and your textbook in front of you will not help if you don't understand the material. 

[StoneMason]

16 minutes ago, chaboywb said:

It's not uncommon. Closed-book exams are less common but there was a mix when I was in school, with different profs having different preferences.

You're curved against other people in your class, not the entire year, so it doesn't end up hurting you in that sense. Closed book exams aren't necessarily harder. You just have to prepare for them differently. Having thorough notes and your textbook in front of you will not help if you don't understand the material. 

Could you elaborate on how you would study differently for closed-book exams versus open-book? Would it just be more focus on memorizing rules and cases? 

[Renerik]

10 hours ago, StoneMason said:

Could you elaborate on how you would study differently for closed-book exams versus open-book?

What you should do the same:

• Do practice exams
• Ask your professor to review your practice exam

What you should do differently for closed book exams:

• Don't prewrite
• Don't spend much time perfecting your outline
• Memorize each rule/ratio.
• (Prof dependent) memorize the case names that belong to each rule/ratio.