Bar exam format and scoring: the legacy UBE and the NextGen change
Most jurisdictions still give the legacy Uniform Bar Exam, a two-day test of the MBE, MEE and MPT scored on a 400-point scale. The NextGen UBE launched in July 2026 in 10 jurisdictions and rolls out to others through July 2028, with the final legacy administration scheduled for February 2028.
Last checked October 2026. Based on NCBE’s published information as summarized by NCBE, test-prep providers and law school pages. Which exam you take depends on your jurisdiction, so check its board of law examiners.
The legacy UBE
- Two days, twice a year, in February and July.
- MBE (Multistate Bar Examination): multiple choice, scored by NCBE, 50% of the total.
- MEE (Multistate Essay Examination): graded by the jurisdiction, 30%. Effective July 2026, NCBE removed Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates and Secured Transactions from it, per a test-prep summary.
- MPT (Multistate Performance Test): graded by the jurisdiction, 20%.
- Portable scores. A UBE score can transfer to other UBE jurisdictions, subject to each one’s rules.
The NextGen UBE
NCBE built the NextGen exam after studying what newly licensed lawyers do. According to NCBE, it is given over one and a half days (two three-hour sessions on day one, one on day two), scored on a 500 to 750 scale, and each jurisdiction sets its own passing score; published minimums so far fall roughly between 610 and 620. Scores stay portable across participating jurisdictions.
| When | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, US Virgin Islands and Washington |
| July 2027 | A further 13 jurisdictions, per a test-prep summary, including Iowa and Nebraska |
| July 2028 | Remaining jurisdictions that adopt it, such as New Jersey and North Carolina |
| February 2028 | Final administration of the legacy UBE |
First administrations as reported. Check your jurisdiction.
During the transition some jurisdictions accept both legacy and NextGen scores for transfer, and others only one.
Common questions
Which exam should I prepare for?
Your jurisdiction decides. If it moves to NextGen in July 2026 or 2027, preparing for the NextGen format now matches how you will be tested. If it stays with the legacy UBE until 2028, prepare for that.
What is a passing score?
Jurisdictions set their own minimum passing score on the legacy UBE, so the same score can pass in one jurisdiction and fail in another.