Missouri Supreme Court Letter - August 11, 2026 - Statement on July 2026 Bar Exam Addressing NextGen Wi-Fi Issues

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

Letter from the Supreme Court of Missouri dated August 11, 2026 addressing the July 2026 Bar Exam that used the NCBE NextGen Uniform Bar Examination. The Court explains it adopted NextGen, coordinated with the Missouri Board of Law Examiners and NCBE, and notes Missouri administered the exam in July. It acknowledges unacceptable disruptions in administration for Missouri and another jurisdiction, expresses appreciation for professionalism, and reports findings that the exam-site Wi‑Fi network was inadequate, not the NextGen exam or its testing platform.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Statement Overview

Background and Administration Review

Identified Cause and Ongoing Next Steps

SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI POST OFFICE BOX 150 JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI 65102 TELEPHONE (573) 751-4144 August 11, 2026 STATEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI ADDRESSING THE JULY 2026 BAR EXAM Several years ago, the Supreme Court of Missouri adopted the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ (NCBE) NextGen Uniform Bar Examination. Over the following years, the Court and the Missouri Board of Law Examiners (MBLE) worked closely with NCBE to plan and prepare for the successful administration of this exam. In July 2026, Missouri was one of 10 jurisdictions to administer the new exam. Unfortunately, Missouri and another jurisdiction experienced complications significantly interfering with the examination’s administration. The Court recognizes these interruptions are unacceptable and added enormous stress for applicants taking the exam. We sincerely appreciate the professionalism and patience they demonstrated under such challenging circumstances. Following the examination, the Court began actively reviewing the circumstances affecting its administration and continues to work closely with MBLE and NCBE to ensure we fully understand the issues. We also have sought feedback from examinees, law school deans, and others who have provided valuable insights. Based on the information available to us at this time, the Court believes the Wi-Fi network at the exam site was inadequate and did not perform as was represented. The disruption was not due to either the NextGen examination itself or its testing platform. The Court has otherwise received positive feedback from examinees about the NextGen exam and its testing platform. The Court values its partnership with NCBE and appreciates its continued collaboration in reviewing the July exam administration and addressing the issues that arose. The Court remains confident in the NextGen examination and in our collective ability to provide examinees with a reliable and effective testing experience going forward. The Court continues to evaluate how best to address next steps for those affected by the July exam administration and to ensure appropriate measures are in place for future examinations. We thank all examinees for their patience as this work continues.

FAQs

What examination is being addressed in the letter?

The letter addresses the July 2026 Bar Exam administered using the NCBE NextGen Uniform Bar Examination.

What did the Court identify as the cause of the disruptions?

Based on information available at the time, the Court believes the exam-site Wi‑Fi network was inadequate and did not perform as represented.

What does the Court say about the NextGen exam itself?

The Court states the disruption was not due to the NextGen examination itself or its testing platform, and it received positive feedback about both.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana