Why Scoring 70% On Subject Tests Mean Nothing

I've gotten some emails lately asking me if "70% is good enough" in property, contracts, or some other subject.  My answer is the same, the subject test scores don't mean much.  Sure, seeing a high score builds confidence, however tell me you scored 70% on a mixed subject exam and I'll be far more impressed.

Getting 70% is easy when you're only concentrating on one subject.  The questions are just small twists of each other.  Its easy to remember how each question is different when you have another question to compare it to. Seeing so many questions of the same subject allows you to get into a zone or on a roll with those types of questions.  

Getting 70% on a mixed subject exam is far more difficult. You actually have to know each nuance and exception because you don't have another question to compare it to.  Furthermore, you have to switch gears between all the subjects and can't get into a zone or on a roll. Throw in the time constraints of the exam, scoring 70% on a mixed subject exam is more difficult than it seems.  

The lesson here is that you should be practicing the mixed subject exams.  If you haven't yet, start to work them into you study schedule. Its normal to see a drop in score before you reach the average of all your subject tests. Keep plugging away, the test occurs in less than a month.