US Bar Exam Results
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 the estimated release dates for the 2022 bar exam results.
Bar Exam Results - February and July 2022
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.
The table below lists the estimated release dates of the bar exam results for the February and July administrations, according to NCBE.
Jurisdiction | Feb 2022 Window Results Release Date | July 2022 Window Results Release Date |
---|---|---|
Alabama | Released | |
Alaska | Released | |
Arizona | Released | |
Arkansas | Released | September 8 |
California | Released | |
Colorado | Released | |
Connecticut | Released | |
Delaware | No February exam | |
District of Columbia | Released | |
Florida | Released | |
Georgia | Released | |
Hawaii | Released | |
Idaho | Released | September 14 |
Illinois | Released | |
Indiana | Released | |
Iowa | Released | September 2 |
Kansas | Released | |
Kentucky | Released | |
Louisiana | Released | |
Maine | Released | |
Maryland | Released | |
Massachusetts | Released | |
Michigan | ||
Minnesota | Released | |
Mississippi | ||
Missouri | Released | September 14 |
Montana | Released | |
Nebraska | Released | |
Nevada | ||
New Hampshire | ||
New Jersey | Released | |
New Mexico | Released | September 9 |
New York | Released | |
North Carolina | Released | September 1 |
North Dakota | Released | September 13 |
Ohio | Released | |
Oklahoma | Released | September 9 |
Oregon | ||
Pennsylvania | Released | |
Rhode Island | Released | |
South Carolina | ||
South Dakota | ||
Tennessee | Released | |
Texas | Released | |
Utah | Released | September 15 |
Vermont | Released | |
Virginia | Released | |
Washington | Released | September 9 |
West Virginia | Released | August 29 |
Wisconsin | Released | August 30 |
Wyoming | Released | |
Guam | ||
Northern Mariana Islands | ||
Palau | No February Exam | |
Puerto Rico | ||
Virgin Islands |
Jurisdictions that post a public list
Many jurisdictions publicly provide a list by name (some by seat number) of those who have passed the bar exam. While some of these announcements are available on the jurisdiction’s board of bar examiners website, many are easily searchable online.
The jurisdictions that publicly post the results of the bar exam include:
Alabama | Georgia | Missouri | Pennsylvania |
Alaska | Hawaii | Montana | Rhode Island |
Arizona | Idaho | Nevada | South Carolina |
Arkansas | Indiana | New Jersey | Tennessee |
California | Iowa | New Mexico | Texas |
Colorado | Louisiana | Northern Mariana Islands | Vermont |
Connecticut | Maine | North Carolina | Virginia |
Delaware | Massachusetts | Ohio | Washington |
District of Columbia | Michigan | Oklahoma | West Virginia |
Florida | Mississippi | Oregon |
States like Michigan, Missouri, and North Carolina release a list of candidates that pass the bar exam and fulfill all eligibility requirements. While some jurisdictions like Michigan, Maine, and New York give advance notice to candidates before making results public, other states like Kansas, Kentucky, and Maryland provide "public" bar exam results that include seat numbers.
Jurisdictions that do not post any type of pass list
When it comes to posting a pass list, the number of jurisdictions that don't is few. Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming, andPuerto Rico, for example, do not publish a pass list at all, so the details are kept discreet between the candidate and the administrator.
Comprehending your UBE results
If you 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get bar exam results?
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.
How to pass the bar exam a second time?
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.
Is there any limit to taking the bar exam?
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.
Why do students fail the bar exam?
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 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.