TBLE's February 2023 General Instruction Manual

I had the opportunity to compare the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners’ February 2023 General Instruction Manual with its July 2022 General Instruction Manual. There are many changes in the current Manual to reflect the different exam date and location as well as many other changes to clarify previous instructions. There are, however, several completely different instructions and rules from the July 2022 exam that you should note.

While the following doesn’t reflect all the changes between the February 2023 Manual and the July 2022 Manual, these are the ones that stood out to me as being most significant. Tennessee examinees are still encouraged to review the February 2023 Manual carefully and in its entirety.

Here are some of the more significant changes reflected in the February 2023 Manual (all emphases—italics, underlining, bolding, etc.—in the quoted language are original):

The new Manual indicates that examinees are to stay home for “any illness” and identifies additional examples of illnesses. [Page 2, “Public Health and Safety Protocols”]

February 2023 language: “You are expected to stay home if you are sick with any illness, including but not limited to the flu, stomach virus, Covid-19, bronchitis, etc., or if you test positive for Covid-19.”

July 2022 language: “You are expected to stay home if you are sick (with anything, including but not limited to flu, Covid-19, bronchitis, etc.) or if you test positive for Covid-19.”

The new Manual now recommends—rather than requiring—previous versions of Examplify to be removed from examinees' laptops. [Page 2, “Laptop Software Registration and Reminders”]

February 2023 language: “You must register and download the software each time you take the exam. It is highly recommended that you remove any other versions of Examplify from your computer for best exam day performance.”

July 2022 language: “You must register and download the software each time you take the exam. You must remove any other versions of Examplify from your computer to assure best exam day performance.”

The new Manual clarifies when examinees will receive their exam badge. [Page 4, “Exam Badge”]

February 2023 language: “You will be given a picture ID badge at registration the first day of the exam.”

July 2022 language: “You will be given a picture ID badge at registration each morning of the exam.”

The new Manual allows examinees to use a detachable keyboard as long as it is an integral part of their laptop (presumably detachable keyboards for Microsoft Surfaces, Apple iPads, and similar “laptops”). [Page 5, “Laptop Testing”]

February 2023 language: “Your keyboard must be an integral part of your laptop; if it is a detachable keyboard, the keyboard must remain docked (attached) while your laptop is in the Secure Area. If you separate the keyboard, you will be ejected from the exam and you will not receive an exam score. Violations are reported to the Board and the Board may conduct a hearing regarding your character and fitness, and/or take other actions in addition to your disqualification from the exam.”

July 2022 language: “You cannot use a wired or wireless mouse and your keyboard must be an integral part of your laptop; it cannot be detachable.”

The new Manual, on two occasions under “Incorrectly Formatted Answers,” states “The Board does not search for your answers.” This statement appears only once in the July 2022 Manual. The additional reminder is likely not an accident. [Page 6, “Incorrectly Formatted Answers”]

The new Manual expands the list of “Required Items” to include pens and pencils. [Page 8, “Required Items”]

February 2023 language: The list of “Required Items,” in its entirety, states:

For registration each day, you must present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, passport,or driver’s license in order to enter the Secure A school ID is not acceptable, even if issued by astate school. Do not bring your seat assignment email.

For the MPT and MEE, you must bring no more than 2 stick pens with black or blue ink if using a laptop; if handwriting, you may bring 3 stick pens with black or blue Retractable, “click” pens are not permitted.

For the MBE, you may bring up to 4 - Number 2 pencils and one pencil-top

July 2022 language: The list of “Required Documents at Registration,” in its entirety, states:

You must present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, passport, or driver’s license in order to enter the Secure Area. A school ID is not acceptable, even if issued by a state school. Do not bring your seat assignment email.

The new Manual clarifies the list of “Prohibited Items” with respect to pens and pencils since examinees are now required to bring pens and pencils as required in the revised language of the “Required Items” list. [Page 8, “Prohibited Items”]

February 2023 language: “Mechanical pencils, retractable pens, ‘smart’ pens or pencils, highlighters, erasers, pencil sharpeners, or pencil grips (other than as noted in Provided Items, above)”

July 2022 language: “Pens and Pencils, including highlighters and erasers; pencil sharpeners; pencil grips (other than as noted in Provided Items, above)”

The new Manual clarifies the list of “Prohibited Items” with respect to bags, seemingly now prohibiting all bags. [Page 8, “Prohibited Items”]

February 2023 language: “Backpacks, purses, tote bags, plastic or other bags, laptop cases, laptop sleeves, or laptop shells”

July 2022 language: “Backpacks, purses, tote bags, laptop cases, laptop sleeves or laptop shells (remove before entering secure area)”

The new Manual indicates that the Chief Proctor will provide additional “time remaining” warnings for both the MPT and MEE sections. [Page 11, “Day 1—AM Session: Multistate Performance Test 1 & 2” and “Day 1—PM Session: Multistate Essay Examination”]

February 2023 language: “The Chief Proctor will post a sign indicating how much time is remaining (after each hour, when 30 minutes remain, and when 15 minutes remain) but there will not be a general announcement when half the time has passed.”

July 2022 language: “The Chief Proctor will post a note each hour but there will not be a general announcement when half the time has passed.”

The new Manual reminds examinees that they must use their own pencils to complete the MBE section of the exam. [Page 11, “Day 2—Multistate Bar Examination”]

February 2023 language: “The MBE is machine-graded and must be taken with No. 2 pencils. Pencil sharpeners will be provided by the Board of Law Examiners. You must bring No. 2 pencils (up to 4) and may bring up to one pencil-top eraser.”

July 2022 language: “The MBE is machine-graded and must be taken with the provided No. 2 pencils. Pencils, erasers and sharpeners will be provided by the Board of Law Examiners. You may not bring your own (see Prohibited Items, above).”