US Bar Exam Results

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One of the glaring questions that comes up when you talk about any exam, in general, is the results. Even before you sit for an exam, it is hard not to think about how you will perform. The Bar Exam and the stress related to its results are not unknown, and this stress is compounded when states do not give clear and detailed instructions on when the results will be announced. Anticipating the results of a massive test like the bar exam isn't ideal when you have deadlines and goals to achieve. Here's a detailed breakdown of bar exam results and release dates for 2023, as well as estimated release dates for 2024.

Bar Exam Results and Release Dates - February and July 2023

The average wait time for bar exam results is 1-3 months. The smaller the jurisdiction, the more likely the results will be released earlier. However, some larger states take nearly the same length of time. In some cases, exam administration also impacts the timing of the release of the results.

Since more candidates take the test in July, the results usually take longer. For example, the bar exam results in Ohio take approximately nine weeks for the February exam and approximately 12 weeks for the July exam.

Estimated Bar Exam Results Release Dates - February and July 2024

Every jurisdiction releases their bar exam results independently. While release dates vary by jurisdiction and from year to year, reporting and grading periods typically fall between 6-12 weeks. We’ve estimated bar exam result release dates for February and July 2024 based on these periods. Read the table below as follows:

  • One number OR x-x = both
  • x/x = July/February
Estimated Bar Exam Results Release Dates 2024
State/Territory July/Feb. (weeks) February July
Alabama 9 Late April, Early May Early October
Alaska 10-12 Mid to Late May Mid to Late October
Arizona 9 Late April, Early May Early October
Arkansas 5 Late March Late August
California May/Nov May November
Colorado 9 Late April, Early May Early October
Connecticut 10/9 Early to Mid May Mid to Late October
Delaware 9/11 Late April, Early May Late October, Early November
District of Columbia 9-10 Late April, Early May Mid to Late October
Florida 6-8 Early to Mid April Late August, Early September
Georgia 11 Late May Late October
Hawaii 10-12 Early to Mid May Mid to Late October
Idaho 6 Early April Early September
Illinois 6 Early April Early September
Indiana 8-9 Late April, Early May Early to Mid October
Iowa 7 Mid April Mid September
Kansas 6 Early April Early September
Kentucky 9 Late April, Early May Early October
Louisiana 5-6/8-9 Late March, Early April Late August, Early September
Maine 7-9 Mid April to Early May Mid to Late September
Maryland 8/12 Late April Late October
Massachusetts 8/12 Late April Late October
Michigan May 15/Nov 15 May 15 Nov 15
Minnesota 6/10 Early April Early November
Mississippi 7-8 Mid April Late September
Missouri 7 Mid April Mid September
Montana 7-8 Mid April Mid-Late September
Nebraska 6-7 Early to Mid April Early to Mid September
Nevada 8 Late April Late September
New Hampshire 10 Early May Early November
New Jersey May/Nov May November
New Mexico 6-8 Early to Mid April Late August, Early September
New York 9/12 Late April, Early May Late October
North Carolina 4 Late March Late August
North Dakota 7 Mid April Mid September
Ohio 9/12 Late April, Early May Late October
Oklahoma 7 Mid April Mid September
Oregon 7 Mid April Mid September
Pennsylvania 5/9 Late March Early October
Rhode Island 10 Early May Early November
South Carolina 8/12 Late April Late October
South Dakota 6-8 Early to Mid April Late August, Early September
Tennessee 6/9 Early April Early October
Texas 6/9 Early April Early October
Utah 8 Late April Late September
Vermont 10-12 Early to Mid May Mid to Late October
Virginia 8/12 Late April Late October
Washington 6 Early April Early September
West Virginia 7 Mid April Mid September
Wisconsin 6 Early April Early September
Wyoming 6-8 Early to Mid April Late August, Early September
Guam 6-8 Early to Mid April Late August, Early September
Northern Mariana Islands 8-9 Late April, Early May Early to Mid October
Palau 10-12 Early to Mid May Mid to Late October
Puerto Rico 8-12 Late April to Late May Late September to Late October
Virgin Islands 12-14 Late May to Early June Late October to Mid November

Jurisdictions that post a public list

Some jurisdictions are known to publicly post the names of those who pass the bar exam. Notable jurisdictions that do this include California, New York, and Texas. Other jurisdictions, like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts, prefer to keep the names of passers private. However, you may be able to obtain a list that hasn’t been publicly posted through a public records request. These policies change, so it’s important to check with the appropriate board of bar examiners or state supreme court website for details.

Comprehending your UBE results

If you’ve sat for a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE®) and your results have been released, finding your score is pretty straightforward. You must log in to your National Conference of Bar Examiners NCBE® account and go to the score services section to submit a Transcript Services Request for your UBE score. As part of the process, the candidate is asked to provide the jurisdiction where they took the bar exam, the exam date, and the year.

Once you have your results, you must understand your score. Aside from providing your exact bar exam score, your UBE score report should also state whether or not you passed the bar test.

Note: A "passing" score on the UBE differs by jurisdiction. Just because you have a passing score in one jurisdiction doesn't mean you have a passing score in another.

When reviewing your UBE results, you should also be able to see your Multistate Bar Examination (MBE®) score; this score does not indicate the precise number of questions you answered correctly. Instead, this information is transformed into a scaled score using an algorithm. Technically speaking, there is no minimum MBE passing score. Therefore, if you performed poorly on the MBE but made up for it in the essays, you would pass the bar exam. If you fail the bar exam, you need to understand how your MBE score relates to your UBE score. To determine a passing MBE score in your jurisdiction, divide the total passing score by two. This will help you understand and decide whether you are above or below the passing number.

For further information on how scoring is calculated and for historical candidate performance data, the NCBE publishes bar statistics across all jurisdictions. The bar statistics include:

  • Raw score distributions.
  • Examinee counts.
  • Scaled scores for the MBE and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®).
  • Scores earned and transferred by each jurisdiction for the UBE.
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Frequently Asked Questions

The average wait time for bar exam results is 1-3 months, depending on the state. The smaller the jurisdiction, the more likely the results will be released sooner.

With thorough preparation and a particular focus on the MBE, one can pass the bar exam, their second time. For those who used Themis Bar Review to prepare for the exam and didn’t pass (or were unable to sit for the exam at all), there is a free repeat made available to them.

While most jurisdictions allow unlimited attempts to pass the bar exam, 21 states limit the time you can retake their bar exams ranging from 2 to 6 attempts. Some states allow you to take their bar exam over their normal limit with specific approval.

Failing is a very integral part of any examination. For each candidate, the reason for failing can differ, ranging from passive learning, misallocating their study time, stress, or, more commonly, a loss of motivation.

Read More about Bar Exam

When it comes to any test, knowing the scoring rates is critical. Here is a thorough list of UBE passing scores per jurisdiction, as well as the minimal passing score.

When have statistics not been useful? Here’s a comprehensive collection of MBE, MPRE, and UBE score data, all current, to help you comprehend the scoring.

Do you know if your state has some unique prerequisites to sit for the bar exam? Well, we’ve got you covered – know how each state has its own parameters.
Are you an international student waiting to kickstart your journey to practicing law in the US? Discover the foreign eligibility requirements, exceptions, and so on!
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