Another layer in the process of transforming law students into lawyers is the final examination. Since most law school grades are based entirely on a student's performance on one final exam, the exam period is a very stressful time for law students. For first-year students, the first set of exams can be even more stressful because they have never experienced law school exams and do not know whether their methods of studying will result in high grades. Grade curves also contribute to high stress levels. At many law schools, professors are required to give high or low grades to certain percentages of the class.
Grade curves can lead to intense competition among law students.
Since helping another student means decreasing one's chances of doing well, some students are unwilling to help others. Exams test students on their ability to think like lawyers. Students are often asked to advocate for one particular side of a dispute or to give arguments justifying a particular legal policy, regardless of whether the side or the policy is one in which they personally believe. Thus, the exam period can create intensified feelings of frustration for students who have not developed this skill or who do not wish to think that way. The exam period can also be particularly stressful for law students because of the amount of time required to prepare for exams, even for students who have kept up with the reading and have outlined their classes throughout the semester.