The bar exam is transitioning to the NextGen Uniform Bar ExaminationTM (UBE) in adopting jurisdictions, replacing the current UBE® format. The legacy UBE includes 3 components: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®), and Multistate Performance Test (MPT®). The NextGen exam combines these into a single, integrated test and removes the MBE.
The NextGen bar exam still includes multiple-choice questions, but they are embedded within realistic legal scenarios alongside short-answer questions and performance tasks.
In summary:
- The MBE will not be part of NextGen in participating jurisdictions.
- Multiple-choice questions remain a core part of the exam.
- NextGen questions are structured and used differently.
Is the MBE Going Away?
In jurisdictions that have adopted the NextGen bar exam, the MBE is no longer used as a standalone exam. Multiple-choice questions remain part of the test, but they are no longer grouped into a single section. Instead, they appear alongside other formats and are often tied to broader scenarios that require more than quick rule recognition.
What Still Matters from MBE Preparation
Though the format of the bar exam has shifted, the foundational skills needed to succeed remain the same:
Foundational Legal Knowledge
You still need a strong command of core subjects including Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Criminal Law, since these rules form the basis of most questions and are often tested together within the same scenario.
Issue Spotting and Rule Application
Identifying issues quickly and applying the correct rule under time pressure remains central, since questions now require working through multiple issues within a single fact pattern.
Multiple-Choice Fundamentals
Strategies such as process of elimination, pattern recognition, and time management still apply, since answer choices often hinge on subtle distinctions within longer, more complex scenarios.
Train with real NextGen-style MCQs and build the skills the new exam actually tests.
NextGen Bar Exam Key Changes
NextGen replaces the traditional MBE, MEE, and MPT structure with a more integrated exam built around 3 core question types:
- Standalone multiple-choice questions
- Integrated question sets
- Portfolio tasks
Instead of separate sections, you move across formats within a single, connected testing experience. Questions are tied to realistic scenarios spanning multiple subjects, requiring you to apply legal knowledge in context.
This shift changes how your skills are evaluated, testing how well you apply legal knowledge, analyze issues, and express your reasoning within the same problem.
No Standalone MBE Section
Multiple-choice questions are no longer grouped into a single exam block. They now appear throughout the exam alongside other formats.
Integrated Question Sets
Integrated sets group multiple questions around a shared scenario. You work through a single fact pattern, applying different areas of law as issues develop.
Standalone MCQs Still Exist
Standalone multiple-choice questions (MCQs) remain, but they focus on applying rules in context instead of simply identifying them.
Skills-Based Testing
Overall, NextGen emphasizes applying legal skills in combination, including:
- Interpreting facts
- Analyzing issues
- Communicating reasoning
Standalone MCQs vs. Integrated Sets: What's the Difference?
NextGen introduces 2 distinct multiple-choice formats. Understanding how they function is key to preparing effectively.
Standalone MCQs
Standalone multiple-choice questions focus on a single issue. Each question stands on its own, requiring you to identify and apply the correct rule quickly.
Integrated Question Sets
Integrated sets group multiple questions around a shared scenario. Instead of resetting with each question, you work through the same fact pattern, applying different legal concepts as new issues emerge.
Practice smarter using questions designed for the new exam.
What Effective NextGen Practice Looks Like
Quality NextGen prep shifts from isolated questions to scenario-based sets, allowing you to work through multiple items tied to a case while carrying your reasoning forward without having to reset.
Our MCQBank is designed to support this approach in 3 ways:
Covers Multiple Question Types
MCQBank includes standalone MCQs and integrated sets. Standalone questions reinforce rule recognition and answer selection, while integrated sets mirror how multiple issues are tested within a single scenario.
Structured Around Shared Scenarios
Questions are organized into sets tied to the same fact pattern, allowing you to move through multiple issues without resetting between each question, which reflects how the exam is structured.
Focused on Application, Not Memorization
Questions emphasize applying rules within context, where answer choices depend on how specific facts are interpreted and how multiple concepts interact.
Join students preparing with Themis and UWorld combined tools.
How to Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam
Preparing for the NextGen bar exam means practicing with longer, scenario-based questions that require applying multiple legal concepts at once.
Focus on Core Subjects
Study the core areas most frequently tested, which are Business Associations and Relationships, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law and Constitutional Protections of Accused Persons, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. These subjects form the basis for most questions and are often tested together within the same scenario.
Use Standalone MCQs to Reinforce Rules
Use standalone questions to strengthen rule recognition, eliminate incorrect answers, and improve timing. These questions test your ability to quickly identify the governing rule and apply it accurately.
Practice Integrated Question Sets
Work through question sets tied to a single fact pattern, tracking how issues develop across questions and how different subjects interact. The exam often requires applying multiple concepts within the same scenario.
Practice in Timed Blocks
Complete questions in sequence under time constraints to build focus and maintain accuracy across longer sets. The exam requires sustained attention without resetting between questions.
Themis bar prep course provides everything you need to pass the NextGen UBE with structured learning and proven results.
These same skills, reading fact patterns, identifying issues, and applying rules under time pressure, carry across standalone questions, integrated sets, and more complex exam formats.
