So as most of you taking the bar exam are aware by now, the Examsof software and website is crashing all over the country.  At present, states I’ve heard about problems from include:

• Iowa
• Texas
• Connecticut
• Utah
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Minnesota
• Colorado
• California
• Rhode Island
• Ohio
• New York
• Florida

and others.  

Personally, I didn’t take this exam so I haven’t gone through this problem with the rest of you.  But I do have a lot of my law school year’s classmates who are currently discussing their problems and results on Facebook.  In case it helps someone else, here is what we’ve gathered:

• Samples of the problems being experienced: 
  • Website crashing
  • ExamSof itself crashing during the Test
  • Error Messages Appearing when takers attempt to upload their test answers. 
  • Conflicting emails and messages about whether or not tests have been uploaded. 
  • Problems with one test uploading and not another.
  • Reports that some tests have actually been lost (unverified ~ this was hearsay from someone who heard someone)
  • Attempts using Auto-load stop working when the option quits appearing.
  • Attempts using the Manual upload stops working when the page won’t load.

• People tried calling Examsof, it took hours to get through if they got past the busy signal or got an answer at all.  Calling doesn’t seem to be worth the time.
• They so far haven’t been responding to Emails, Chat Questions, or Technical Support calls.
• The few people who got responses to Facebook comments on the ExamSof Website were told that ExamSof was working as quickly as possible to mend the situation.  They also said not to worry because all the tests are stored on your computer, and can simply be uploaded later.  

At this time several of my friends have finally gotten their tests to upload. Here is how they did it:

• Repeated attempts over and over until something worked.  
• Keep attempting Auto-Upload until that option disappears. If it works, good. If the option disappears and you still haven’t uploaded, manual up-load is your only option.
• Visiting: Examsoft.com/manup and signing in (repeated attempts eventually worked)
• Verifying that it worked.

What I’ve taken away from what I’m hearing:

• Just keep attempting to make it work. Most people who got through did because they were patient and just kept trying.  Apparently letting things just keep loading instead of refreshing the page every few minutes is key.
• The state bar associations are aware of the situation.  So don’t panic yet, they know something is wrong.  
• Just leave your test answers closed and keep attempting to upload them. 
• Save all the emails regardless of whether they say failure or confirmation just to show you made the effort. 
• If you get failure emails after the confirmation emails, it appears that they did load successfully.  Not positive about that, but that’s what I’m hearing.  Calling ExamSof later and verifying is probably the way to go.
• If it still isn’t working. Stop.  Sleep. Try in the morning. Tell Exam Coordinators. Then try again in the afternoon. Before all other things, sleep and rest.  Stop stressing.  You have to make it through tomorrow, and it is all going to be fine.  

GOOD LUCK!

Tags: Bar Exam, failure, not working, problems, website