Final 48 Hours Before the Florida Bar Exam

The final 48 hours before the Florida Bar Exam are not about learning new law.
They are about eliminating variables.

You are not gaining points right now. You are preventing mistakes.

This article highlights what actually matters and incorporates lessons from the School of Hard Knocks. If you want the official specs from the FBBE, check out the Florida Bar Exam Virtual Tour (updated for February 2026). 

If you are taking the February 2026 Florida Bar Exam in Tampa, read this carefully.

Here’s what actually matters.

Go get your admission ticket the day before — at your designated time

You are assigned a window. Typically between 1:30-4:30 PM. 

When you arrive, present your signed ticket with your government-issued ID at the registration stations on the Lower Level.  

The tables will display large signs dividing applicants alphabetically.  The lines can get long, so make sure you are at the correct alphabetical table to pick up your badge.   

Typically: 

• A-C 1:30-2:00
• D-G 2:00-2:30
• H-L 2:30-3:00
• M-Q 3:00-3:30
• R-S 3:30-4:00
• T-Z 4:00-4:30

Go. At. That. Time.

Do not wait until the morning of.
Do not “figure it out later.”
Do not assume nothing will go wrong.

Don’t be that person on a forum the day of panicking because you didn’t get your ticket. If that ends up being you, please don’t tag us. 

Traffic happens.
Parking issues happen.
Printers fail.
Lines get long.

Go the day before. Do not mess this up.

Pack your bag like you’re prepping evidence for trial 

Bring:

• Clear water bottle (no label)
• Foam earplugs (not the wired kind)
• Clear quart-sized ziplock bag
• Loose Tylenol in the ziplock (thank us later)
• Laptop (if you were approved in advance) and your power cord
• Cash or card
• Keys
• Admission ticket
• Government-issued photo ID

They will provide pencils, pens, and scratch paper.

You are not allowed a watch — not analog, not digital, not a Fitbit, not an Apple Watch. If you took the UBE and relied on a basic wristwatch, that does not carry over here. You will use the large timers all over the room and/or your laptop timer for certain sections of the test.

Pack your lunch 

Bring food that agrees with you.

Simple. Predictable. Dry.

Examples:

• PB&J
• Tofurkey sandwich
• Protein bar
• Nuts
• Banana
• Crackers

This is not the day to experiment.

There is no food sold inside the Tampa Convention Center. Do not waste your break walking around looking for something to buy. You want that time to eat, breathe, and reset.

Your lunch will stay in your bag in the designated storage area while you test. There is no refrigerator.

Plan accordingly.

That means:

• Avoid anything that needs to be kept cold
• Avoid anything messy
• Avoid heavy or liquid meals

Do not bring a protein shake for lunch. Between nerves and timing, the last thing you want is something that’s harder to digest and sends you running to the restroom during a timed session.

Use judgment about what else you leave in that bag. I’m not leaving my Social Security card in there. Wallet with debit card? Fine. Irreplaceable documents? No.

On your break:

• Eat
• Use the restroom
• Get fresh air
• Lightly review notes if needed

Then go back in steady.

Physical preparation: control what you can

Wear a sweatshirt (no hood — nothing covering your neck). Religious apparel is permitted, provided it does not contain a brim or obscure your facial features.

Your pockets must be empty when you pass through the metal detectors.

Wear dark, comfortable clothes. Dark sweatpants are practical — not aesthetic.

If something spills, leaks, or shifts unexpectedly, dark fabric is forgiving. This is not the day to care about how you look.

Plan ahead if you deal with anxiety-related stomach issues or if you’ll be on your cycle. Wear whatever makes you feel secure and stable.

No one in that room is judging you. Everyone is focused on the exam.

Eliminate distractions.

Your attention belongs on the exam — nowhere else.

Items not permitted in the testing room 

Do not bring any of the following into the testing room:

• Backpack or purse
• Wallet
• Notes, books, or study materials
• Cell phone
• Watch or any timekeeping device
• Fitness bands
• Calculators
• Highlighters
• USB drives or wires
• Wireless mouse
• Eyeglass case
• Hats
• Food (other than your approved clear water bottle)

If you have taken the bar exam in another state, review Florida’s prohibited items list carefully. It is not identical.

Know the lay of the land

The Tampa Convention Center layout matters. Familiarize yourself in advance.

On the Lower Level:

• Badge pickup (Rooms 101–103)
• Lactation space (Room 104)
• Personal belongings storage area

The testing room is on the Second Floor (Mezzanine). You will pass through metal detectors before entry.

Inside the testing room, locate:

• The closest restroom to your seat.
• The nearest electrical outlet.
• The large digital timers displayed throughout the room.

You will not have a wristwatch, so you will rely on those timers (and your laptop screen, if applicable) to track time.

Also — know exactly how you are getting there.

Do not decide that the morning of the exam. Plan your route. Confirm parking options if you are driving. If you are using rideshare, account for traffic and demand. Build in extra time.

Transportation is part of the logistics. Remove it as a variable.

If you are traveling from another state, confirm the local time zone. Do not rely on autopilot. Make sure any watch or device you use before entry reflects the correct time so you are not late for ticket pickup or exam sessions.

Testing format 

Tuesday – Part A

• Morning: Essays
• Afternoon: Florida multiple choice

Wednesday – Part B

• 100 multiple choice (morning)
• 100 multiple choice (afternoon)

Morning Session

8:00–8:30 AM – Staggered arrival
8:00–9:10 AM – Entry into the testing room
9:10–9:30 AM – Instructions
9:30 AM–12:30 PM – Exam session

Afternoon Session

1:30–1:45 PM – Staggered arrival
1:30–2:00 PM – Entry into the testing room
2:00–2:15 PM – Instructions
2:15–5:15 PM – Exam session

If you arrive late, you will not receive additional time. No exceptions.

If you leave the testing room during a session, you will not be permitted to re-enter until the next session.

Mental framing / focus 

Mentally prepare yourself for distractions.

There may be a pigeon in the room. Someone may vomit. Someone may scream or cry. Someone might pass out on the floor next to you.

Know in advance how you would handle those situations.

Yes, we all want to pass the exam. But there are moments that may be bigger than the exam. If someone next to you appears to be unconscious or in serious distress, think through how you would respond. You are the one who has to live with how you handled that moment afterward.

Also be prepared for the environment itself.

People will be walking behind you constantly. Your ziplock bag and water cannot be on your desk. You must keep your scantron covered at all times. You will look up periodically and check the large digital timers.

If you haven’t practiced covering your scantron, it can feel awkward at first. I hadn’t practiced that, and it caught me off guard.

Expect the structure. Expect the monitoring. Expect the distractions.

How to study 

During breaks 

This is not the moment to start learning something new in the hallway.

Before the essays, skim high-frequency subjects. 

For Florida multiple choice, glance through a couple subjects – Florida Evidence, Business Entities, Florida Civ Pro / Crim Pro / Judicial Administration, Trusts / Wills, or UCC Articles 3 & 9 beforehand.

On MBE day, stay high level. Big subjects. High Frequency areas (refer to the NCBE Subject Matter Outline). 

In the two days before 

If you’re sitting for both Part A and Part B, do a light set of 50 MBE questions. Review Florida distinctions. Read two or three essays from an FBBE study guide from the last five years. That’s enough.

If you’re sitting for Part A only, review Florida-specific law and federal distinctions. Read a few recent essays. Reinforce structure.

You are consolidating what you already know. Not expanding.

What not to do 

Don’t amplify negative emotions. The exam already comes with enough pressure.

This is not the week to experiment. Don’t introduce anything new to your routine. If you normally drink caffeine, keep it consistent. If you don’t, don’t suddenly start.

Don’t start a diet. Don’t quit something your body is used to. Stability matters more than discipline right now.

Don’t stay up late trying to squeeze in extra review. You are not gaining points at midnight.

Be cautious about hallway conversations. You don’t need to debate distinctions or speculate about what “might” be tested. Protect your focus.

This is not the time to change strategy.

It’s the time to execute what you’ve already prepared.

Closing thoughts

Wishing you the best of luck.

I am confident in you. You’ve put the time in. You’ve shown up. Now trust your preparation.

And if this exam doesn’t go the way you hoped, you learn from it. Showing up and facing it matters.

Give yourself some grace. You’re human.