In 2024, the median pay for American attorneys reached $150,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the biggest obstacle at the end of your law school education is the difficult bar exam, holding you back from that salary until you pass.
Could Crushendo Bar Prep Review help you pass faster?
I pored through the materials myself, covering Crushendo’s study materials, audio outlines, and flashcards to help you decide whether Crushendo’s unique approach deserves a chance or if your money is better spent with a different bar prep company.
Should You Choose Crushendo?
- If you’re an auditory learner, Crushendo’s podcast-style outlines and flashcards will feel like a natural fit.
- If you’ve struggled with traditional bar prep before, Crushendo’s mnemonic-driven approach might finally make the material stick.
- If you want lifetime access with no pressure to finish in a few months, Crushendo offers that peace of mind.
- If you prefer guided lectures or visual learning, the lack of video content may be a letdown.
- If you thrive with real-time support or instructor feedback, Crushendo’s limited support system may not be enough for you.
Crushendo Bar Prep Overview
Crushendo bar review is one of the most unique bar exam preparation solutions out there, with a heavy focus on affordability, audio-based study tools, mnemonic devices for memorization, and lifetime access included in the UBE Suite package. They boast an overwhelmingly positive recommendation rate on Facebook Reviews and were voted the Best Bar Exam Preparation Course Provider by Corporate Vision in 2024. So, at first glance, it seems like Crushendo has some serious study tools to offer.
Overall, I feel that Crushendo’s courses may not be expansive enough for every student, nor are they ideal if you learn best from video lessons. However, if you struggle to memorize exam content, learn well through recordings and podcasts, or want a budget-friendly option, Crushendo could be the best fit for you.
“Crushendo was the only Bar prep material I purchased. It provided a really good foundation for learning the necessary material and, of course, having access to tons of MBE/MEE/MPT questions was a huge part of Crushendo’s value.”
u/rt44dvc
Pros
- A reasonable price compared to other bar prep (some cost thousands more)
- Lifetime access can help reduce the anxiety of a fixed access deadline
- The unique method may work for students who haven’t succeeded with other courses
- Focus on memorization and retention, not just covering the material
- Practice questions are from past exams, so students build familiarity and confidence
Cons
- Some candidates may need supplementary materials in addition to Crushendo to pass
- No video lectures, so it may not be ideal for more visual learners
Crushendo Bar Prep Review
Course Package Options
Ultimately, the deciding choice between whether the UBE Suite or the MBE Suite is best for you depends on where you live. 39 of the 50 states use the UBE bar exam system, but 11 of them do their own thing. Of those 11, 10 of them still use the MBE (Louisiana is the only state that doesn’t). So, if you’re in a state like New York, Pennsylvania, or Texas, stick to the UBE Suite. If you live in California, Florida, or Nevada, go for the MBE Suite.
| Package | UBE Suite | MBE Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Sections Covered | MBE, MEE, and MPT | MBE Only |
| Practice Questions | 1,800+ | 1,400+ |
| Audio and Written Outlines |  | |
| Online Visual Flashcards | | |
| Audio Flashcards | | |
| Lifetime Access | | |
| Money-Back Pass Guarantee | |  |
| Price | $970 | $590 |
| Get Started | Get the UBE Suite | Get the MBE Suite |
Crushendo Bar Prep Discounts
No Discounts on Crushendo’s audio-centric bar exam prep materials.
Individual Course Details
The Structure, Process, and Experience
Crushendo’s structured experience can be as loosely or closely implemented as you’d like. For the most part, you’re able to skip around from one resource to the next, regardless of where it fits into the overall curriculum. However, the Crushendo creators also have complete, step-by-step study plans, separated by topic, activity, and morning/afternoon study times.
Here’s the general process you can expect if you follow the complete structure:
- Read/listen to the topic outline
- Listen to the tracks on repeat 5-10 times
- Review by listening to the CrammerTime or no-mnemonic outline 5-10 times
- Later in the plan, you’ll refresh your mind by re-listening to the review outlines
- Go through the practice question set for that topic
- Retake sets and quizzes as needed
- Take practice exams leading up to exam day
I’ll be honest. Sometimes, I latch onto things really quickly, and any repetition feels like a waste of time. However, the benefit of these quick lessons is that repetition and multiple reviews cement those ideas in your mind. If you like a lot of novelty, the repetitions can be a little grating, but “grating” is a low price to pay for ensuring the key concepts stick in your mind until you need to recall them. Plus, with a minimum of 1,400 practice questions from past exams to work with, you’ll get seriously prepped if you wholly dedicate yourself to the process.
“A friend told me about Crushendo, so I started listening on my commute, while I worked out, etc… I would also spend about two hours a day reading the outlines and memorizing every mnemonic. I was shocked how quickly Crushendo helped me memorize and retain the information. I’m happy to report that Crushendo helped me feel prepared and ultimately pass the Utah exam while allowing me to fulfill my responsibilities as a husband, father, and while working as a full-time attorney.”
Burke Williamson
Audio Outlines and Flashcards
Crushendo’s bar review courses have really revolutionized the prep world in the past few years, in large part due to their audio lectures. The layout is pretty simple: you have the written component on the page, with the toolbar to control the lectures at the bottom. Often, these written components will feature images as well, to further tie in key concepts.
I loved having so much control over the sound, with options for speed (from 0.5x to 3x), and toggling background music and autoplay on or off. It’s beneficial to pair the sound with the text, and having the ability to take notes in the program as you listen was a huge help for my focus while simulating the student experience.
Meanwhile, the audio flashcards were a fascinating tool that I grew to enjoy in my time using the course, and the ability to access them from a mobile app (available for Android or iOS), made them my go-to for cramming in more study time for this review while I lived my day-to-day life. The sound quality was crisp and clear regardless of where or how I accessed the audio tools, and I believe that if you enjoy things like podcasts or audiobooks, you’ll sincerely enjoy Crushendo’s prep packages.
Support, Access, and Guarantees
Crushendo doesn’t offer personalized study support outside of the traditional customer service channels, like phone and email (plus a chatbot messenger). However, they make up for it in their access and guarantees.
We’ve talked about lifetime access, meaning as long as Crushendo sells your course, you’ll retain updated materials. Plus, you get the money-back pass guarantee, so if you follow Crushendo’s current UBE Study Plan and don’t pass, you’re eligible for a full refund. Finally, I have a hypothesis: Crushendo knows they’re a little different, and they want you to try their course. Hence, the 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try the course risk-free for 30 days to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Personally, I really appreciate how much Crushendo caters to their customers’ needs. All these guarantees combined are extraordinarily service-minded, where they benefit students, not profits, and I wish more prep companies led with this level of value in mind.
Price vs. Value
Many complete bar exam prep courses cost several thousand dollars, and even more if you add on additional features. Meanwhile, Crushendo bar prep costs around the $1,000 mark for the UBE Suite, and that includes features like written outlines, audio outlines, flashcards, a money-back pass guarantee, and lifetime access. However, other bar prep companies may provide features like live online lectures, video tutorials, physical materials, and so on.
Ultimately, as cheesy as it sounds, the value really depends on your needs and learning style. And, naturally, your budget. However, I believe that Crushendo’s price is well worth the value you’re getting.
Comparing Crushendo to the Competition
Crushendo vs. BarMax
BarMax delivers a comprehensive bar prep experience, featuring audio lectures from Harvard Law professors, over 1,950 real MBE questions, and lifetime access to materials. Its structured approach, combined with personalized writing critiques, caters to students seeking an in-depth and traditional study method.
Crushendo, in contrast, emphasizes auditory learning through its audio outlines and flashcards, supplemented by mnemonic devices to aid memorization. While it offers a flexible and unique study method, it may lack the extensive resources and personalized feedback found in BarMax.
⭐ Choose BarMax if you prefer a comprehensive, traditional study approach with extensive resources and real exam questions.
⭐ Pick Crushendo if you’re an auditory learner seeking a flexible, mnemonic-based study method.
Crushendo vs. Quimbee
Quimbee offers a structured bar review course featuring over 1,450 real, licensed bar exam questions, bite-sized video lessons, and unlimited essay grading by real attorneys. Its practice-based approach and flexible scheduling options cater to various learning styles.
Crushendo’s strength lies in its audio-centric materials and mnemonic techniques, providing a different learning experience. However, it may not offer the same level of structured content and visual learning aids as Quimbee.
⭐ Choose Quimbee if you value a structured, practice-oriented course with visual and written materials.
⭐ Pick Crushendo if you’re looking for an audio-focused study method with mnemonic aids.
Crushendo vs. Kaplan
Kaplan is a longstanding name in test prep, offering a comprehensive bar review course with over 4,000 MBE practice questions, 100+ hours of video lectures, and unlimited essay grading. Its structured curriculum and extensive resources cater to students seeking a traditional study approach.
Crushendo provides a more flexible, audio-based study method with lifetime access and mnemonic devices. While it may lack the extensive resources of Kaplan, it offers a unique approach that may suit auditory learners.
⭐ Choose Kaplan if you prefer a traditional, comprehensive study program with extensive resources.
⭐ Pick Crushendo if you’re an auditory learner seeking a flexible, mnemonic-based study method.
Final Verdict
Crushendo isn’t perfect, but it has a lot going for it—and it’s so much more than that low price tag. With some of the most buyer-friendly policies out there, material focused on repetition and memorization, and lifetime access, they’re an excellent choice for out-of-the-box thinkers, particularly if they struggle to remember what they’ve studied and learn best from listening.
Ready to get started? Click here to grab your Crushendo course below.
Want something a little more comprehensive and traditional? BarMax or Quimbee could be good picks.
FAQs
It depends on your learning style—BarMax is great for structure, Crushendo for audio learners, and Quimbee for visual, practice-based prep.
Some do, especially large firms hiring new associates, but it varies—always check your offer details.
Yes, if you follow a focused, full-time study plan, but most students benefit from 10–12 weeks or more.
It’s possible, but bar prep courses offer structure, practice, and support that significantly improve your chances.
Yes—in states like California and Virginia, you can take the bar after a legal apprenticeship, though it’s rare.
