Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) - Basics - Minimum Passing Score, Timeline, and Exam Format

Sep 21, 2026

Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) overview covering passing score structure and jurisdiction-specific law component requirements, plus how scores may transfer between jurisdictions under stated conditions. Includes a chronological timeline for December and May law-school graduates, outlining research, application, submission, graduation, bar review, and exam/result milestones. Describes the exam composition: six 30-minute essays, two 90-minute performance tests, and 200 multiple-choice questions administered over six hours, with a sample 2-day schedule and helpful links.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

UBE Basics

Minimum Passing UBE Score and Jurisdiction Requirements

Timeline for December/May Grads

Exam Components and Sample 2-Day Schedule

Helpful Bar Exam Links

Financial Considerations and Tested Subjects

Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) UBE © NCBE UBE Basics Minimum Passing UBE Score* Jurisdiction-Specific Law Component Requirement | 260 | Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota | | | None | Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 266 | Connecticut, D.C., Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York,
South Carolina, Virgin Islands | | | | | | | | | | | Before Admission | Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, Washington | | | 270 | Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming | | | | | | | 272 | Idaho | | | After Admission | D.C., Idaho, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming | | | 273 | Arizona | | | | | | | 274 | Oregon | | | | | | | 276 | Colorado, Maine, Rhode Island | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 280 | Alaska | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | * A score that does not meet the minimum passing score in the testing jurisdiction may be portable to another jurisdiction if the score is at or above the level required in the receiving jurisdiction. Illinois and Maryland will adopt the UBE effective July 2019. Ohio will adopt the UBE effect July 2020. Texas will adopt the UBE effective February 2021. Texas has yet to announce its minimum passing score or whether it will require a jurisdiction-specific law component. | | | | | | | Timeline* | December Grads 3L/4L Year: | May Grads
3L/4L Year | | --- | --- | | 􀁸 Summer: Research character and fitness requirements for the jurisdiction | 􀁸 Fall: Research character and fitness requirements for the jurisdiction | | 􀁸 August: Apply for Bar loans | 􀁸 January: Apply for Bar loans | | 􀁸 September: Submit any character and fitness requirements for the jurisdiction | 􀁸 February: Submit any character and fitness requirements for the jurisdiction | | 􀁸 December: Graduation + Bar Review Begins | 􀁸 May: Graduation + Bar Review Begins | | 􀁸 February: Bar Exam | 􀁸 July: Bar Exam | | 􀁸 Spring: Bar result available | 􀁸 Fall: Bar result available | | 􀁸 May: Law School loan grace period ends | 􀁸 November: Law School loan grace period ends | The Uniform Bar Exam will consist of: 􀁸 Six, 30-minute essays; 􀁸 Two, 90-minute performance tests; and 􀁸 200 multiple choice questions in six hours: Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) . SAMPLE 2-DAY SCHEDULE (February or July) | Written Day | | | --- | --- | | Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) Six, 30-minute Essays
3 Hours | Multistate Performance Test (MPT) Two, 90-minute PTs
3 Hours | | Multistate Bar Exam Day | | | Multiple Choice
Questions (100)
3 Hours | Multiple Choice
Questions (100)
3 Hours | Helpful Bar Exam Links A summary of requirements and USD-specific bar exam information: [http://www.sandiego.edu/law/student-affairs/bar-exam/](http://www.sandiego.edu/law/student-affairs/bar-exam/) Contact information and summary of bar admission information for Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions: [https://www.ncbex.org/jurisdiction-information/](https://www.ncbex.org/jurisdiction-information/) [MPRE information:](MPRE information:) [https://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre/](https://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre/) Financial Considerations Register with the State Bar* Character & Fitness Application* Register for the MRPE Bar Exam Registration Fee* Bar Exam Laptop Fee* Bar Prep Course Rent/Bills for May 15 to August 1 Living Expenses/Food Varies Varies $119 Varies Varies $3,900 $4,500 $3,000 | The following subjects maybe tested on the Uniform Bar Exam: | | | --- | --- | | On the multiple choice (MBE) section:
Federal Civil Procedure Constitutional Law Contracts
Criminal Law
Criminal Proc

FAQs

What is the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) and what components does it include?

The UBE consists of six 30-minute essays, two 90-minute performance tests, and 200 multiple-choice questions (MBE) delivered over six hours.

How does the minimum passing UBE score work across jurisdictions?

A score below the minimum passing level in the testing jurisdiction may be portable to another jurisdiction if it meets the required level in the receiving jurisdiction, with specific adoption dates noted for certain states.

What is a typical timeline for preparing for the bar exam for December and May graduates?

December/May graduate timelines include research on jurisdiction requirements, applying for bar-related loans, submitting character and fitness requirements, starting bar review after graduation, and then taking the bar exam and receiving results in later months.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Mercer