Themis + UWorld vs. Barbri: Key Feature Comparison
When choosing a bar prep course, compare options that align closely with what they offer. Barbri provides 4 courses, starting from its $1,699 “Essentials” package up to its $5,999 “Extended” package.
We’ve chosen to compare Themis to Barbri's second-tier, “Premium” course because it offers similar features and support that students typically look for in a comprehensive bar prep course.
Important factors for choosing your bar prep course. |
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Barbri Bar
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|---|---|---|
| Base price for comprehensive course including all features and personalized support | $2,195 |
$2,499* |
| Consistently published transparent pass rates provide undeniable proof of success | ||
| Integrated into the bar course, access 2,000+ MBE questions for customizable practice tests | UWorld MBE QBank | |
| Questions from past exams, licensed and released by the NCBE | 1,375+ | Not reported on the website |
| A team of attorneys monitor your progress and offer guidance throughout the course | ||
| There are zero costs for add-on services and book deposits | ||
| Answer explanations and video graphics include vivid illustrations and charts | ||
| Receive personalized guidance on 8 essays** from the same experienced attorney | ||
| Included with every course at no additional cost | Book Deposit Required | |
| Gain access to the full course as early as 4 months before the July exam |
*Listed as the mid-tier price point on Barbri's website.
**Additional essays can be made available based on the student's needs.
UWorld’s MBE QBank
"Free and fully integrated into Themis, the $529 MBE QBank offers customizable practice tests with expert answer explanations. With over 2,000 questions (including 1,375+ NCBE-licensed), UWorld enhances your study using vivid illustrations and charts for better retention.
Accessible up to 12 months before the bar exam, the QBank fits seamlessly into Themis’s schedule. UWorld’s dynamic visuals, learning tools, and mobile app give you extra support to tackle the MBE."
Published Pass Rates
Preparing for the bar is tough. Before investing in a course, you want confidence it works. Themis is the only provider that publishes state-by-state pass rates annually, answering that important question: "How do I know this will help me pass?" See our pass rates.
No Tiered Pricing
Barbri charges extra for additional resources, while Themis delivers a comprehensive experience to all of our students. Whether you enroll at a discount, qualify for public interest tuition or pay full price, our all-inclusive course offers the same study materials to every student.
We believe no one should risk failing the bar because they can't pay top dollar. Passing isn’t a luxury; it’s our priority.
Personal Success Team
Studying for the bar without guidance is a risk you don’t have to take. With Themis, your Personal Success Team provides the support and expertise you need, exactly when you need it most:
All-Inclusive Price
Themis + UWorld offers all-inclusive pricing — what you see is what you get. In contrast, Barbri's courses range from $1,699 to $5,999, with its “Essentials” course missing about half the features found in higher tiers, such as early start access, coaching, and NCBE-licensed questions.
While Barbri charges extra for these additional resources, Themis + UWorld provides a comprehensive experience to all students, regardless of whether they enroll at a discount, qualify for public interest tuition, or pay full price.
For example, Barbri’s $2,399 “Premium” course is the closest match to Themis + UWorld’s $1,695 course. Why not save $700 and get more value? We believe no one should risk failing the bar because they can't pay top dollar. Passing isn’t a luxury; it’s our priority.
Pass Rates
Preparing for the bar is tough. Before investing in a course, you want confidence it works. Themis is the only provider that publishes state-by-state pass rates annually, answering that important question: "How do I know this will help me pass?"
Many providers use surveys, qualifiers, and exclude unconfirmed students from their calculations, which can distort pass rates and mislead you about a course's effectiveness. But not us. Here's how we publish our pass rates.
Additional Free MBE Supplement
Themis + UWorld students routinely praise the difficulty of our MBE questions and their close alignment with the actual exam’s format. Our 4,000+ questions, a combined total from Themis and UWorld, are regularly updated by in-house legal experts to reflect the latest exam standards and crafted to meet or exceed exam-level difficulty.
Accessible up to 12 months before the bar exam, UWorld’s fully integrated MBE QBank (a $529 value) offers industry-leading visual aids designed by in-house graphic designers and in-depth explanations for correct and incorrect answers.
Number of NCBE-Licensed Questions
Exam-like practice is crucial for success. Themis + UWorld offers more than 1,375 NCBE-licensed questions, routinely updated and provided at no extra cost. In contrast, Barbri's basic tier does not include NCBE questions, and its higher-tier courses' number of NCBE questions remains undisclosed.
Personal Attorney Advisors
Studying for the bar without guidance is a risk you don’t have to take. With Themis, your Personal Success Team provides the support and expertise you need, exactly when you need it most, including:
- Local Themis Director: Monitors your progress to keep you on track
- Attorney Adviser: Offers exam pro-tips and expert strategies
- Dedicated Attorney Essay Grader: Provides guidance and tailored feedback
Zero Additional Fees
Barbri's tiered pricing means costly extras such as book deposits, cancellation fees, and add-ons. At Themis + UWorld, we value transparency, so let us be clear — No. Additional. Fees. We won't squeeze you for access to essential tools. What you pay gets you everything you need to pass the bar.
Enhanced Visual Learning
One study* found that after 3 days, subjects retained 10-20% of spoken or written information, while they retained 65% of the visual information they consumed. That’s why we pair our questions and video lectures with industry-leading images, charts, graphs, and diagrams that break down complex rules of law.
Our in-house designers and subject matter experts meticulously crafted these visuals to create a cohesive visual language. Every element is designed to minimize distractions and reduce cognitive load, helping you make connections and retain information more effectively..
Dedicated Attorney Essay Grader
Themis + UWorld students can access 100+ essays from past Multistate Essay Exams (MEE®) at no additional cost. If simulating the actual essay exam wasn't enough, we are the only course that allows you to submit unlimited essays to a Dedicated Attorney Essay Grader for feedback. With Themis, students receive personalized guidance on 8 essays from the same experienced attorney.
With courses like Barbri, you may get unlimited essay reviews, but they go to different graders. This is a critical distinction. Having a dedicated grader is like having a dedicated doctor. By understanding your personal situation, they can better guide you toward the most effective remedy.
Hardcopy Books
Our hardcopy bar course books are included with Themis + UWorld at no extra cost. While Barbri also offers course books, you’ll need to pay a book deposit, and they are only available in certain pricing tiers.
Early Course Access
Themis + UWorld and Barbri both offer early access. But early access to what? For Barbri, it means access to on-demand videos 25 weeks before the exam. For Themis + UWorld, early access means fullaccess to the entire course 4 months before the July bar exam.
Themis + UWorld vs. Barbri: The Verdict
Themis + UWorld offers more NCBE-licensed questions, features, and customization at a lower price. At $1,699, Barbri's “Essential” course lacks critical features, while its $5,999 “Extended” course is more robust but still falls short of Themis + UWorld's $1,695 all-inclusive course.
The verdict is clear: When the stakes are high, it’s important to trust your bar prep to a company that is fully invested in your success. Our pass rates, personalized approach, and commitment to your success are unparalleled. There’s a reason why more and more students are choosing Themis + UWorld over Barbri.
Testimonials
UWorld runs so smoothly. The questions are extremely helpful, and the performance monitoring helps me determine where I'm struggling most so that I can devote more time to those particular questions.
It's nice to see actual bar exam questions. It gives me a good idea of how I will perform on the actual test day. Questions from other bar prep services seem to be very convoluted, and getting lower scores on those gives me unnecessary anxiety.
Actual questions, great comprehensive explanations, high functionality. This course will truly prepare you for the bar exam. I am very impressed and highly recommend UWorld MBE QBank to anyone looking to pass the MBE the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bar review course costs more, Themis + UWorld or Barbri?
How long is the Themis + UWorld bar prep course, and when does it start?
Why is the Themis + UWorld course better than others?
How does the support system differ between Themis + UWorld and Barbri?
Sources
Dale E. 1969. Cone of experience, in Educational Media: Theory into Practice. Wiman RV (ed). Charles Merrill: Columbus, Ohio
