Uniform Bar Examination Jurisdictions—Grading and Scoring – NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements

All UBE jurisdictions administer the MBE, the MEE, and the MPT; scale the written component to the MBE; and combine the MBE and written component scores. The percent weight of the combined score for the three tests is as follows: MBE 50%, MEE 30%, MPT 20%. No UBE jurisdiction is currently administering a local component as part of its bar exam; however, UBE jurisdictions may require completion of a jurisdiction-specific component before admission (see Chart 5).

Click anywhere in a row to see a summary of that jurisdiction’s answers.

Jurisdiction:

ID	Jurisdiction	What is your average grading/reporting period? (February/July exams)	Minimum passing standard for total bar exam score based on reported score scale	Minimum passing standard for total bar exam score based on 200-point scale	MPRE minimum passing standard (on scale of 50 to 150)
1	Alabama	both 9 weeks	260	130	75
2	Alaska	both 10–12 weeks	270	135	80
3	Arizona	both 9 weeks	270	135	85
4	Arkansas	both 5 weeks	270	135	85
5	Colorado	both approx. 9 wks.	270	135	85
6	Connecticut	10 wks./9 wks	266	133	80
7	District of Columbia	both 9–10 weeks	266	133	75
8	Idaho	both 6 weeks	270	135	85
9	Illinois	both 6 weeks	266	133	80
10	Indiana	both 8–9 weeks	264	132	80
11	Iowa	both 7 weeks	266	133	80
12	Kansas	both 6 weeks	266	133	80
13	Kentucky	both 9 weeks	266	133	80
14	Maine	both 7–9 weeks	270	135	80
15	Maryland	8 wks./12 wks	266	133	85
16	Massachusetts	8 wks./12 wks.	270	135	85
17	Michigan	May 15/Nov. 15	268	134	85
18	Minnesota	6 wks./10 wks	260	130	85
19	Missouri	both 6–7 weeks	260	130	80
20	Montana	both 7–8 weeks	266	133	80
21	Nebraska	both 6–7 weeks	270	135	85
22	New Hampshire	both 10 weeks	270	135	79
23	New Jersey	in May/in Nov.	266	133	75
24	New Mexico	both 6–8 weeks	260	130	80
26	New York	9 wks./12 wks.	266	133	85
26	North Carolina	both 4 weeks	270*	135	80
27	North Dakota	both 7 weeks	260	130	85
28	Ohio	9 wks./12 wks.	270	135	85
29	Oklahoma	both 7 weeks	260	130	80
30	Oregon	both 7 weeks	270†	135	85
31	Pennsylvania	5 wks./9 wks	270	136	75
32	Rhode Island	both 10 weeks	270 (see suppl. remarks)	135	80
33	South Carolina	8 wks./12 wks.	266	133	77
34	Tennessee	6 wks./9 wks	270	135	82
35	Texas	6 wks./9 wks.	270	135	85
36	Utah	both 8 weeks	260	130	86
37	Vermont	both 8–10 wks	270	135	80
38	Washington	both 6 weeks	266‡	133	85
39	West Virginia	both 7 weeks	270	135	80
40	Wyoming	both 6–8 wks.	270	135	85
41	Virgin Islands	both 12–14 wks	266	133	75

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum passing score in North Carolina was temporarily reduced to 268 for the July 2020 and February and July 2021 exams.

†Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum passing score in Oregon was temporarily reduced to 266 for the July 2020 exam.

‡Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum passing score in Washington was temporarily reduced to 266 for the July and September 2020, February and July 2021, and February and July 2022 exams. (The September 2020 exam was an additional exam administered in Washington due to the pandemic.).

Supplemental Remarks

Alaska The 270 minimum passing score is effective February 27, 2023, replacing a minimum passing score of 280. For ramifications for both past and future Alaska examinees and UBE score transfer applicants, see https://alaskabar.org/wp-content/uploads/270-Cut-Score-Announcement-1.pdf.

Arizona The minimum passing score of 270 is effective with the July 2023 exam administration, replacing a score of 273.

Colorado The chart shows the minimum passing score of 270 effective with the February 2023 exam administration. Prior to that, the minimum passing score was 276.

Kentucky Kentucky’s minimum passing score for the MPRE is 80 for applicants taking the exam after July 1, 2017. For scores earned before that date, the previous minimum passing score of 75 will continue to be honored.

Oklahoma The minimum passing score of 260 is effective July 1, 2024.

Oregon The chart shows the minimum passing standard of 270 effective with the July 2021 examination. Prior to that, the minimum passing standard was 274 (with the exception of the July 2020 exam, for which the score was temporarily lowered to 266 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Rhode Island To pass the examination, applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 1 (admission on examination) must achieve a combined total score of 270 or greater. Applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 2(a) (attorney admission on examination) do not take the MBE and must score 135 or greater on the written component of the examination.

Supplemental Remarks

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