Bar prep is not just stressful—it’s terrifying. So much is riding on a single exam. It doesn’t help that when you study, the material might not stick and your confidence stays in the dumps.
This is where Crushendo comes in.
Designed to break the mold of traditional bar prep, Crushendo utilizes active learning, audio outlines, and mnemonics, which makes it easier to retain information, stay flexible, and avoid burnout.
In this article, we’ll explore how it works and why it might be exactly what you need to pass the bar in 2025.
Table of Contents
Crushendo Bar Prep
Summary
Crushendo Bar Prep is ideal for busy, unconventional, and auditory learners with its flexible, audio-focused study methods that allow students to prep on the go and at their own pace.
- Affordable
- Flexible
- Lifetime access
- Lifetime support
- Audio-based learning
- Uses memory aids to help retention
- Pass guarantee
- Tutoring available
- Innovative
- Limited course options
- Limited jurisdiction availability
- No live lectures
- No video lectures
- No textbooks
- Audio-based learning
- No official practice tests
- No instructor feedback
Who Is Crushendo Bar Prep For?
Crushendo Bar Prep is ideal for unconventional students: those who are busy and struggle with traditional learning methods. Auditory learners will also thrive with Crushendo because of its alternative study methods.
These study methods may also benefit repeat test-takers who may not have performed well with big-name platforms that apply a standard approach to studying.
🎯Crushendo is designed especially for auditory learners.
Crushendo is heavy on audio-based learning. This content is digestible and easy to understand—far from the monotony of some Bueller-esque instructors. One of Crushendo’s more impressive resources Crushendo is its audio flash cards which, let’s be honest, aren’t super common.
So, where other bar prep companies may see auditory learning as an optional, limited resource, Crushendo gives it space to shine. This also means students who are big fans of audiobooks for on-the-move storytelling can experience studying the same way: you can do it anywhere.
🎯Busy students can learn while on the go with Crushendo’s bar prep.
You don’t have to explain it: sometimes you just don’t have the time to sit down and study. Life is hectic, and in this day and age, people are constantly busy. With Crushendo, you don’t have to stop life to study for the bar. Instead, its mobile-friendly platform and audio learning allow you to take bar prep on the go.
🎯Repeat test-takers may find success through Crushendo’s untraditional approach to bar prep.
Maybe you didn’t pass the bar the first time. Maybe not even the second. I’ve read a lot of Crushendo success stories of repeat test-takers who failed the bar time and time again (even with the courses of some competitors) until they signed up for Crushendo. Its untraditional, free-form approach to bar prep may be exactly what some stressed-out students need.
🎯Learn at your own pace, on your own time with Crushendo.
Crushendo allows you to move at your own pace. Studying and learning are done when it’s most convenient for you since it’s entirely self-paced. Students who need flexibility can surely benefit from the freedom that comes with Crushendo. The only time restriction you really have is the bar exam date, so you don’t have to beat yourself up for missing a study session.
❌Who is Crushendo Bar Prep NOT ideal for?
Crushendo is a great resource, but it isn’t for everyone. Notably, students who prefer live instruction or more structure are not ideal for Crushendo. What Crushendo does it does well, but even though it made it onto our list of the best bar prep programs, it’s certainly a niche prep course.
Students who want to take multiple practice tests or get instructor feedback on practice essays will want to look elsewhere. There’s no personalized study calendar or performance analytics to speak of.
It’s also worth adding that visual and kinesthetic learners may struggle in a Crushendo course since it lacks substantial visuals and there are no physical books.
It’s not that Crushendo is a bare-bones program—it’s not. It takes a different approach to bar exam prep, and that approach may not be for everyone. It might be for you, though.
Take a look at what each of the courses offers and how much they cost before you decide it’s not for you—especially if you’ve had trouble passing in the past.
Crushendo Bar Prep Course Options and Pricing
Crushendo has a few different course options, and financing is also available through the financial lending company, Affirm, so most Crushendo courses are realistically affordable.
Let’s take a closer look at what it offers and how much it’ll cost you.
| Courses | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
UBE Suite | $970 | |
MBE Suite | $590 | |
MPRE Suite | $80 | |
Bar Exam Tutoring* | $195– $3200 |
*The cost of Crushendo’s Bar Exam Tutoring depends on how many hours are selected; one hour costs $195, while twenty hours costs $3200
What Does Crushendo Bar Prep Include?
Crushendo Bar Prep has several features that aid students with retention of bar content, including multiple choice and essay questions, black-letter (indisputable) law, and terms and phrases.
☑️Audio Lessons
Audio lessons are something that Crushendo excels in—a majority of the platform’s appeal is its approach to auditory learning. Auditory learners perform best when given information verbally, which they can commit to memory much easier than if given visual or written prompts, or physical materials.
Every one of Crushendo’s courses includes rich audio-based content, such as audio outlines and MP3 flash cards. These are not only immensely helpful for auditory learners but also allow for studying anywhere, at any time.
☑️Mnemonic-Based Learning
Mnemonics are memory aids. They’re devices, like patterns or acronyms, used to help with the retention of new material. One of the big appeals of Crushendo is its effective use of mnemonics to help examinees study.
These mnemonic devices are woven throughout the course materials, from audio outlines to flash cards, making the learning process more engaging. The UBE Suite alone boasts over 250 mnemonics in its course.
When it comes to studying, mnemonics are a game changer. Their inclusion can make or break a student’s retention of a bar subject. It is no surprise that Crushendo has been lauded for its use of memory hacks when teaching students the ins and outs of the bar exam.
☑️Practice Questions and Outlines
Crushendo does a solid job of making bar prep a little less overwhelming, especially when it comes to its outlines and practice questions.
For starters, it offers hundreds of practice questions that are designed to feel like what you’ll actually see on the bar—in fact, some of them are released questions from previous exams. Of course, this is a huge benefit since you’ll be able to study from official questions publicly released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
Outlines are another strength of Crushendo. They are laser-focused on black-letter law, so studying is streamlined instead of drowning you in dense, textbook-style material.
All of Crushendo’s course options come with outlines and practice questions related to the bar exam. Altogether, Crushendo has 1800+ official questions from the MBE, MEE, and MPT to offer bar exam students depending on the course they select.
☑️Mobile-Friendly Access
Although Crushendo lacks a mobile app, it does provide seamless access to its website across various devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops.
Whether you’re listening to audio outlines during a commute or reviewing flash cards between classes, the platform is designed to make studying accessible. Everything is done on your own time. This device-friendly design is a big plus for busy students who need bar prep that fits into a hectic, and sometimes unpredictable, schedule.
Digital Platform and User Experience
Crushendo’s platform, what it calls the “Crushboard,” is designed with user-friendliness in mind, offering a clean and intuitive interface that facilitates easy navigation across devices.
While the company does not currently offer a dedicated mobile app, its website ensures a seamless experience on smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
This adaptability allows students to access study materials—from audio outlines and flash cards to practice questions and progress trackers—on the Crushboard whenever and wherever they choose.
One of the most stand-out features of Crushendo’s digital platform is the ability it gives students to download audio content for offline use.
The platform’s emphasis on auditory learning is complemented by visual aids, such as picture-packed outlines and flash cards, although they are not as engaging as the same resources from Crushendo’s competition. The images included with Crushendo emphasize its integrated mnemonics rather than support visual learners.
Overall, Crushendo’s platform offers a flexible and accessible study environment, particularly beneficial for auditory learners and those seeking to blend bar prep into a busy lifestyle.
Supplemental Study Resources
Crushendo has several supplemental resources on its site that you can purchase in smaller chunks—and for lower prices—than the full courses.
🟢Students who don’t want a full course can instead purchase outline sets.
Outline sets are offered for the UBE ($490), the MBE ($310), and the MPRE ($49).
However, the UBE outlines can be broken up into individual subject outlines—something not offered for the MBE sets—starting at $49.
🟢If it’s your first year of law school in California, Crushendo offers a “Baby Bar” outline set.
It is specially crafted to include topics from the First-Year Law Students’ Exam (FYLSX).
One of Crushendo’s few state-specific materials, the California Baby Bar Exam (FYLSX) Outlines package helps brand-new law students succeed in their first year of law school (1L). The FYLSX outline set costs $135 and should comprehensively cover subjects that students will be introduced to. Crushendo recommends using this supplement while in the first year of law school for better topic retention.
🟢You can purchase official released questions from the MBE, MEE, and the MPT separately—no course required.
If all you are interested in is getting a feel for the style of questions found on the MBE, MEE, or the MPT, then you’re in luck. Crushendo has all questions that it uses in its courses as separate supplemental study resources. These are great to have on hand, especially if you are already confident in other areas of the bar exam, or if you are taking courses with a different company.
The MBE questions package costs $350, the MEE questions are $140, and the MPT questions are $90.
🟢Crushendo has a blog that contains a wealth of information for law students.
Are you looking for bar exam tips and tricks? Effective “how to” articles? Then Crushendo’s blog is the place to go. Although it’s still expanding, what the blog currently has to offer students is better than nothing.
In addition to these supplemental resources, Crushendo also offers tutoring.
Crushendo Bar Prep Tutoring
Crushendo does have bar prep options for students who need one-on-one tutoring support. Tutoring is not included in any of its course options, but it is separately available.
Crushendo’s tutoring program is not as structured as other companies.
However, Crushendo’s departure from the norm is pretty par for the course. While it’s nice that its tutoring can cover just about anything an examinee needs, its lack of guaranteed, guided subject coverage is a downside.
The tutoring’s lack of structure is especially glaring when you check out the prices, which are organized in set-hour packages:
- 1 hour $195
- 5 hours $900
- 10 hours $1750
- 20 hours $3200
It is a little disconcerting when you have to commit to an entire tutoring package before you even know what you’ll gain from it. Altogether, Crushendo’s tutoring is highly customizable and affordable—unless you need 20 hours of one-on-one tutoring, that is.
Content Access Period
Students can access Crushendo’s content for life. You only have to pay once, and then you have lifetime access to your content.
All future updates are included, so you know that all your bar prep stays relevant.
However, there are four requirements to maintain access to Crushendo’s content.
- You have to be active. If you are inactive for two years, your account may be deleted. While you can restore an account, you will lose all course progress.
- You cannot request a refund or cancel an order. Doing so will lose you access to the content.
- The NCBE may remove some content. In short, if the NCBE pulls some of its practice questions, Crushendo will remove the same questions from its courses. This can be because the questions are outdated or for any reason the NCBE determines.
- You cannot breach the Terms of Service in any way. This is simple: don’t violate Crushendo’s intellectual property rights.
The only Crushendo course where lifetime access isn’t available is its tutoring program.
Refund Policy
Crushendo has two separate guarantees for their UBE Suite course option. While this is super nice for examinees in that course, the others are more or less left in the dust.
➡️The first of the guarantees is a thirty-day money-back guarantee.
If you notify the support at Crushendo that you aren’t satisfied with any course within thirty days, you get a full refund.
It’s really nice that Crushendo has such an extended money-back guarantee—most competitors have seven-day or fourteen-day periods before theirs become void. After you receive your refund, you will lose access. Crushendo also requires you destroy any material you may have printed, though it’s unclear what printed material this refers to, as well as deleting all electronic copies of the content. This is all done underneath an honor code—there is no way that Crushendo enforces you to delete electronic copies you have made. However, not complying will violate the company’s intellectual property rights and could lead to some serious consequences.
➡️The second guarantee is a pass guarantee that applies only to the UBE Suite course.
For the pass guarantee to be valid, you have to complete the full UBE Suite within four months before your bar exam day and still fail.
From there, you just have to notify support to get a full refund. Just like the above thirty-day money-back guarantee, you will lose access and be required to destroy and delete any remaining UBE Suite content.
It’s unfortunate that Crushendo’s pass guarantee doesn’t extend to its other courses. The UBE Suite is one of its most popular, but some of its other courses could benefit from a bit more security, too.
Final Verdict: Crushendo Bar Prep Course Review
Crushendo is, in a nutshell, a fantastic course for auditory learners and for students looking to harmonize bar studying with their busy, personal lives.
Is it the most comprehensive bar exam prep course available? No, not at all. However, what it does, it does well.
With its audio-focused, mnemonic-heavy approach and flexible, self-paced format, Crushendo offers an appealing alternative to traditional bar prep. While it lacks live instruction, video content, and broad jurisdictional coverage—deal-breakers for a lot of bar examinees—its affordability, lifetime access, and engaging study aids make it a solid option for those seeking bar prep that breaks the mold.
If you’re ready to explore alternative learning techniques so you can finally pass the bar, Crushendo is definitely worth trying out.
FAQs
How much does Crushendo Bar Prep cost?
The cost of Crushendo Bar Prep depends on which of its three courses you select. You can expect to pay $80 for the cheapest course (MPRE Suite) and $970 for the most expensive (UBE Suite). All in all, each of Crushendo’s courses is less than $1000.
Is Crushendo good for first-time bar exam takers?
Yes, Crushendo is good for first-time bar exam takers. Those examinees who are auditory learners may find Crushendo to be all they need for bar prep.
Does Crushendo offer a higher score guarantee?
No, Crushendo does not offer a higher score guarantee. It does, however, offer a pass guarantee for its UBE Suite course. If you complete the course and fail, you can get a full refund.
Can I use Crushendo if I failed the bar exam before?
Yes, you can use Crushendo if you have failed the bar exam. Many repeat test-takers have found that Crushendo was the only platform that worked for them after failing to pass with other prep companies.
Does Crushendo have a mobile app for studying on the go?
No, Crushendo does not have a mobile app for studying on the go. That being said, it does have a mobile-friendly site and most of its features are downloadable.