The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) has standardized bar exams to test on “majority law.” While states still have their own bar exams, many states are also offering this exam as an option.
Currently, 38 states are “UBE states.” The only states that do not offer the UBE are California, Nevada, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Hawaii.
Lowest Minimum UBE Scores
Alabama, Missouri, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Dakota all have the lowest minimum passing score for the Uniform Bar Exam, at 260. While these states enjoy the lowest grade to pass, it does not reflect their difficulty or challenges. The state with the highest number of passing lawyers was South Dakota, as of 2021. Similarly, New Mexico is one of the toughest landscapes for lawyers to compete with, notably being mentioned in the popular Netflix series "Better Call Saul" and "Breaking Bad". It gave some insight into the issues plaguing New Mexico, especially in the criminal landscape and the drug trade.
However, Alabama and Missouri are among the lowest (if not, the lowest) states in terms of literacy and economic development. As such, the bar exam is both made to be more simple and more inviting for up-and-coming lawyers to add more professional talent to their pool of candidates. Missouri is often ranked 50th in many regards to the economy and quality of life, and it would be a poor decision to increase the difficulty.
Highest Minimum UBE Scores
Alaska is the state with the highest minimum UBE score, at 280. This is followed by Colorado (276), Arizona (273), Idaho (272), and Pennsylvania (272). Alaska is in an extremely unique situation, being separated from the rest of the continental United States. Their closest countries are Canada and Russia and they enjoy some of the lowest tax rates and restrictions in the country. As such, trade and international travel is frequent, bringing to it one of the most challenging environments for lawyers to practice in. Some barristers have been compensated extremely well for moving to Alaska from other countries, and even domestically from the continental U.S.
Colorado and Arizona prove that having a high minimum score does not necessarily prove the exam’s difficulty, as they are located within the same region as NM, which has one of the lowest minimum scores. In general, the mid-west to the west region holds some pronounced competition and challenges that are related to the environment and nature of the legal problems that a licensed state lawyer would need to be competent in their regard.
The Most Difficult Bar Exams
The United States has some of the most difficult exams in the world for becoming a licensed lawyer. With this being said, the difficulty of each state varies from one to the other, often denoted by "Bonus Percentages", which generally denote difficulty.
South Dakota is considered one of the easiest exams, with California's exam being the most difficult. It also has one of the lowest passing rates, below Wyoming. Louisiana is considered the state with the 2nd most difficult exam, but consequently, also has the lowest passing rate of 68.23%. This denotes that although California leads the market in difficulty, it has some of the brightest minds to rise to the occasion.
FAQs
The national mean scaled score for the March 2024 MPRE was 97.1, 2.2 points higher than the March 2023 mean of 94.9. The March 2024 mean reflects the performance of 21,029 examinees, 845 more than the March 2023 examinee count of 20,184.
What are the MPRE scores for 2024? ›
The national mean scaled score for the March 2024 MPRE was 97.1, 2.2 points higher than the March 2023 mean of 94.9. The March 2024 mean reflects the performance of 21,029 examinees, 845 more than the March 2023 examinee count of 20,184.
Which state requires the highest Ube score? ›
The highest passing score in UBE jurisdictions is 280 (Alaska).
What is the easiest state to pass the Ube? ›
By test difficulty, Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, and North Dakota tie as the easiest (UBE passing score of 260!). By academic first-time pass rate, Oklahoma is the victor (86.90%), with Puerto Rico (40.45%) being the hardest to pass!
How hard is it to get a 270 on the ube? ›
A 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 270 is approximately the 58th percentile. A 260 is approximately the 44th percentile. A 250 is approximately the 26th percentile.
Is 117 a good MPRE score? ›
The common minimum MPRE passing score of 85 relates to an exam with around 60% correct answers. MPRE scores go from 50 to 150. The average score is about 93-94, depending on where you take the test. If you get over 130, you're in the top 5% of MPRE score percentiles.
What is the NCBE mean score for 2024? ›
MADISON, WISCONSIN, April 2, 2024— The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the February 2024 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 131.8, an increase of more than 0.6 points compared to the February 2023 mean of 131.1.
Is the ube curved? ›
The UBE is graded on a curve, and median scores tend to be highly consistent year-to-year.
What states don't accept the Ube? ›
The following are not UBE jurisdictions: California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, *Hawaii, *Mississippi, Nevada, *South Dakota, Virginia, *Wisconsin, *Guam, *Northern Mariana Islands, *Palau, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico.
What states have the hardest bar exams? ›
Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.
Wisconsin makes the list of easiest bar exams for a unique reason: if you attend an ABA law school in Wisconsin, you don't have to take the bar! Students who have graduated from these universities can just apply to practice law in the state. No studying, no stressing, no grueling examination period.
How many times can you fail the Ube? ›
You're in luck! There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California.
How long should I study for the Ube? ›
The first big decision you need to make is how much time you should devote to UBE prep. Most people study 35-40 hours per week for 9-10 weeks—a total of about 300-400 hours. That's a rough estimate of the average, not necessarily a goal to shoot for.
Who has the easiest bar? ›
Statistically speaking, Oklahoma has one of the easiest bar exams based on first-time passing rates. Nearly 87% of first-time exam takers pass the Oklahoma state bar exam. In comparison, California has a much lower first-time passing rate at 58.1%.
Is 295 a good Ube score? ›
Depending on how many people have taken the UBE, a score of 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 300 is in about the 90th percentile, and 330 is in the top 1% of all scores.
Is the California bar harder than the Ube? ›
However, in some situations, deciding between the two tests can be a complex decision that requires some thought. The California Bar Exam is often discussed in the context of its notorious difficulty and low pass rate. The UBE, on the other hand, is often considered to be a slightly easier test.
How long until MPRE scores are released? ›
MPRE scores are typically released to examinees within five weeks from the date of the examination.
How hard is it to get a 75 on the MPRE? ›
A score of 100 = 34 correct out of 50 (approximately 68% correct) A score of 85 = 30 correct out of 50 (approximately 60% correct) A score of 80 = 29 correct out of 50 (approximately 58% correct) A score of 75 = 28 correct out of 50 (approximately 56% correct)
Is 119 a good MPRE score? ›
MPRE scores range from 50 to 150, with the average score being 93-94 depending on your jurisdiction. Scores above 130 represent the top 5th percentile, while a score of 50 represents the lowest end of the percentile.
Is 130 a good MPRE score? ›
The average score is 93-94 (depending on when you take the exam). A 130 and above is a high score (in the top 5th percentile and above).
