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For law school and the bar exam

How the bar exam works

Every state admits its own lawyers, but most use the same building blocks from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). This page explains them from the NCBE documents, and what changes with the NextGen UBE.

The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE)

The UBE combines three parts: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) counts for 50 %, the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) for 30 % and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) for 20 %. The result is reported on a 400-point scale and can be transferred between UBE jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction sets its own passing score and its own admission rules.

  • MBE, 50 %200 multiple-choice questions, of which 175 are scored and 25 are pretest questions; 25 scored questions in each of the seven subjects.
  • MEE, 30 %Six 30-minute essays. A question can combine several subjects.
  • MPT, 20 %Two 90-minute tasks that test lawyering skills with a file and a library of materials, not memorised law.

The NCBE offers this format, now called the legacy UBE, until the February 2028 exam.

The seven MBE subjects

The MBE tests the same seven subjects in every jurisdiction, each with 25 of the 175 scored questions:

  • Civil Procedure
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts (including UCC Article 2)
  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Real Property
  • Torts

In Lexxington these are the multistate subjects of the US course, with cases, questions and flashcards for each.

Essays and performance tests from July 2026

From the July 2026 exam the MEE no longer tests Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates or Secured Transactions. Family Law and Trusts and Estates now appear in the MPT, with the law provided in the task materials. The remaining MEE subjects are Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property and Torts.

The MPT tests problem solving, legal analysis and reasoning, factual analysis, communication, the organisation of legal work, and recognising and resolving ethical dilemmas, in two 90-minute tasks.

The NextGen UBE

The NextGen UBE replaces the MBE, MEE and MPT with one integrated exam: three sections of three hours over one and a half days. Standalone multiple-choice questions count for 49 %, integrated question sets for 21 % and performance tasks for 30 %. It tests foundational concepts together with lawyering skills such as issue spotting, client counselling, negotiation and legal writing.

  • July 2026Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon and Washington, as well as Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and the Virgin Islands.
  • July 2027Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming.
  • February 2028Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Montana.
  • July 2028Among others California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

First NextGen administration by jurisdiction, from the NCBE adoption table. Always check your own jurisdiction’s rules.

The MPRE

Separate from the bar exam is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. It lasts two hours and has 60 multiple-choice questions, 50 of them scored, and is offered three times a year. It is based on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct.

Lexxington has a separate MPRE course alongside the bar courses.

California

California runs its own exam. Since July 2025 it uses the MBE again, together with five essays and one performance test, taken in person. The written part and the MBE each count for half of the total score. According to the NCBE table, California plans its first NextGen UBE for July 2028.

The California essays can cover 13 subjects, including Community Property, Remedies, and Wills and Succession, which are not on the UBE.

How Lexxington prepares you

The US course covers the multistate subjects, the essay subjects and professional responsibility, with a course for each of 56 jurisdictions. You choose yours when you start.

  • Casesmore than 5,000 short cases, worked statement by statement, each with the rule and the reasoning.
  • Questionsmore than 5,000 practice questions with an explanation for every answer.
  • Flashcardsmore than 2,000 cards for rules and elements, repeated before you forget them.
  • Essays65 timed essays with a model answer.
  • LexxiAn AI tutor that answers questions about the material and names the rules it relies on. Check them: Lexxi can be wrong.

The questions are original study material, not released NCBE questions. Lexxington is not affiliated with the NCBE or any bar examiner.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the UBE and the NextGen UBE?

The UBE has three separate parts: MBE (50 %), MEE (30 %) and MPT (20 %). The NextGen UBE combines knowledge and skills in one exam of three 3-hour sections, scored 49 % standalone questions, 21 % integrated question sets and 30 % performance tasks.

How many MBE questions are scored?

175 of the 200 questions are scored; 25 are pretest questions. Each of the seven subjects has 25 scored questions.

Which subjects left the MEE in July 2026?

Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions. Family Law and Trusts and Estates are tested through the MPT with the law provided in the materials.

When does my state switch to the NextGen UBE?

It depends on the jurisdiction: the first ones started in July 2026, others follow in July 2027, February 2028 and July 2028. The list on this page follows the NCBE adoption table; check your bar examiner’s current rules.

Is the MPRE part of the bar exam?

It is a separate exam of 60 questions on professional responsibility; your jurisdiction’s rules say whether and when you need it. Lexxington has its own MPRE course.

Does Lexxington use real NCBE questions?

No. All questions and cases are written for Lexxington from public sources. Lexxington is not affiliated with the NCBE.

Sources

The facts on this page come from these official documents. The current version published by the responsible body always prevails.

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