Bar Exam Dates
Bar exam dates and schedule guide. The UBE is offered twice a year in February and July. See key dates, registration deadlines, and how to plan your prep.
🏛️ Bar Exam: Complete guide to Uniform Bar Examination (Bar) test dates. See schedules for all available years, registration deadlines, and key dates. Administered by NCBE.
Click a year above to see the complete Bar schedule with exam dates, registration deadlines, and countdown timers.
About the Uniform Bar Examination (Bar)
Law school graduates seeking licensure to practice law. About 50,000+ take the bar exam in the US each year. Required for legal practice in nearly all states.
UBE runs over 2 days. Day 1: MEE (6 essay questions, 3 hours) + MPT (2 performance tasks, 3 hours). Day 2: MBE (200 multiple-choice questions, 6 hours). Some states (CA, FL, etc.) administer their own state-specific exams instead of the UBE.
Barscoring & score release
Scoring: UBE total: 400 points. MBE = 50%, MEE = 30%, MPT = 20%. Passing score varies by state — most are 266-280. New York requires 266, California (own exam, not UBE) requires 1390/2000.
Score release: Bar exam results take 2-4 months to release. February exam results: April-May. July exam results: October-November.
How to register for the Bar
Register through your state's bar examiners (usually NCBE for UBE states). Application includes character & fitness review which can take 6-12 months. Apply 6 months before the exam.
Recent Bar changes
NextGen Bar Exam launches July 2026 in pilot states, fully replacing UBE in most states by 2028. New format: shorter, more skills-focused, less rote memorization.
Bar preparation timeline
Most candidates prepare full-time for 8-10 weeks (Barbri, Themis, Kaplan). Total study time: 400-600 hours. Pass rates vary widely — first-time takers from top schools pass at 85-95%; nationwide first-time pass rate is around 75%.
Bar Test Dates
Bar exam dates and schedule guide. The UBE is offered twice a year in February and July. See key dates, registration deadlines, and how to plan your prep.
Related
Bar FAQ
When is the next Bar test date?
The schedule above shows all Bar dates with live countdowns. Past dates are grayed out; the days-until badges show the next available date. NCBE typically announces dates 6-12 months ahead.
How long is the Bar exam?
UBE runs over 2 days. Day 1: MEE (6 essay questions, 3 hours) + MPT (2 performance tasks, 3 hours). Day 2: MBE (200 multiple-choice questions, 6 hours). Some states (CA, FL, etc.) administer their own state-specific exams instead of the UBE.
What is a good Bar score?
UBE total: 400 points. MBE = 50%, MEE = 30%, MPT = 20%. Passing score varies by state — most are 266-280. New York requires 266, California (own exam, not UBE) requires 1390/2000.
How much does the Bar cost?
$200-1500 depending on state and timing of registration. Register through NCBE at www.ncbex.org.
How long should I prepare for the Bar?
Most candidates prepare full-time for 8-10 weeks (Barbri, Themis, Kaplan). Total study time: 400-600 hours. Pass rates vary widely — first-time takers from top schools pass at 85-95%; nationwide first-time pass rate is around 75%.
Can I reschedule my Bar test date after registering?
Most testing organizations allow date changes for a fee, with deadlines 1-4 weeks before the test. Check NCBE's policy at www.ncbex.org.