Bar Exam
NextGen UBE
The bar exam is the licensing examination each U.S. jurisdiction uses to decide whether a candidate is ready to practice law. It is written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and administered and graded by the individual jurisdiction (state or territory) where you seek admission.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Testing time
9
hours
Sections
10
Delivery
Jurisdiction-managed, proctored sites
Cost
$1,000
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Business Associations and Relationships
Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law
Contract Law
Criminal Law and Constitutional Protections of Accused Persons
Evidence
Real Property
Torts
Family Law (added to NextGen UBE beginning July 2028)
Foundational skills — legal research, writing, issue spotting, investigation, client counseling, negotiation, client relationship
About the Bar Exam
July 2026 began a phased rollout of the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (NextGen UBE): a fully computer-based, 9-hour exam that tests foundational legal knowledge together with lawyering skills. A first group of jurisdictions administered NextGen in July 2026; others continue the legacy Uniform Bar Exam (MBE, MEE, and MPT over two days) until they transition, which NCBE expects NextGen UBE jurisdictions to complete by July 2028. Always confirm which exam your jurisdiction is using for your sitting.
Who it’s for
Law-school graduates (and other candidates eligible under their jurisdiction's rules) seeking admission to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction.
- Format
- NextGen UBE: three 3-hour sections mixing standalone multiple-choice questions (49% of the score), integrated question sets (21%), and performance tasks (30%). Legacy UBE (still used in many jurisdictions): Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
- Testing time
- NextGen UBE: 9 hours over 1.5 days (two sessions on day 1, one on day 2). Legacy UBE: typically 12 hours over two days. Jurisdictions may add a local-law component.
- Delivery
- NextGen UBE is fully computer-based on the examinee's laptop using NCBE's exam software.
- Passing score
- NextGen UBE scores are reported on a 500–750 scale; each jurisdiction sets its own cut score. Legacy UBE jurisdictions likewise set their own minimum scores.
- Cost
- Jurisdiction application/exam fee (varies widely, often several hundred to over $1,000) plus NextGen exam software fee ($149). Confirm current fees with your board of bar examiners.
- Validity
- A portable NextGen UBE or legacy UBE score can be transferred to other participating jurisdictions, subject to each jurisdiction's age-of-score and admission rules. Licensure itself is granted by the jurisdiction, not by NCBE.
- Prerequisites
- Set by your jurisdiction — typically a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school (or an equivalent path such as a foreign-educated lawyer evaluation). Character-and-fitness review is separate from the exam.
Official exam page· Details verified August 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Confirm with your board of bar examiners whether your sitting is NextGen UBE or the legacy UBE, and note any local-law add-on.
02
Download the current NextGen UBE Blueprint (or the MBE/MEE/MPT subject matter outlines) from NCBE.
03
Master the eight foundational concepts; Family Law is not a standalone NextGen subject until July 2028.
04
Practice all three NextGen item types: standalone multiple-choice, integrated question sets, and one-hour performance tasks.
05
Use NCBE's official study aids in the real exam software so the interface is not a surprise on test day.
FAQ
Is the bar exam the same in every state?
No. NCBE writes the national components, but each jurisdiction administers the exam, sets the passing score, and may add a local-law test. During 2026–2028 some jurisdictions use NextGen UBE and others still use the legacy UBE.
What is the NextGen Bar Exam?
The NextGen Uniform Bar Exam is NCBE's replacement for the legacy UBE. It is 9 hours over 1.5 days, fully computer-based, and scores standalone multiple-choice (49%), integrated question sets (21%), and performance tasks (30%) onto a 500–750 scale.
When did NextGen start?
First administration was July 2026 (July 28–29, 2026). Participating that sitting included Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, and Washington. Other jurisdictions phase in through July 2028.
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