How hard is the bar exam in California?
Asked by: Gaetano Swaniawski MD | Last update: October 14, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (3 votes)
Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.
How hard is it to pass the California bar?
The Committee of Bar Examiners reduced the passing score from 1440 points to 1390 points. Even with this lowering of a passing score, the California Bar Exam remains an incredibly difficult test. For example, in February 2021, only approximately 37% of all test-takers passed the California Bar Exam.
How long does it take to study for the California bar exam?
While your study time, days and location are extremely flexible, passing the bar exam requires time and commitment. Plan on spending approximately 40 hours per week over 8-10 weeks studying for the bar exam. During the few weeks of bar prep, treat your studies like you would treat a new, important job.
Which US bar exam is the hardest?
Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.
Why is CA bar the hardest?
For several reasons, the California bar exam is often considered to be the hardest in the country. California's legal system is known for its complexity. The state has its own set of laws, regulations, and precedents that often differ significantly from federal laws and those of other states.
California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)
How many times can you fail the bar USA?
Most states allow 2-4 attempts of the bar exam, but about 35 states, including California, New York, and Florida, don't have any limits on the number of times you can take the bar.
How many times can you take bar exam in California?
In California, there is no strict limit to the number of times a candidate can take the bar exam. In other words, if you don't succeed on your first try, you can retake the exam in the subsequent session, and so on.
Has the California bar exam gotten easier?
The pass rate of California's bar exam has slightly increased since the state announced it would be lowering the cut score from 1440 to 1390 and spreading the exam over two days rather than three, but it is still widely considered the most challenging in the country.
Can you pass the bar without going to law school in California?
In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school. Most law schools require a college degree, but some may only ask for equivalent course work, and some law schools focus on your legal interest and life experiences and not on your grades or LSAT scores.
Is the California bar exam multiple-choice?
California Bar Examination
The exam is given over two days and consists of the following parts: Five one-hour Essay Questions. One 90-minute Performance Test. 200 Multiple-Choice Questions.
What is the easiest state to pass the bar?
Easiest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:
Utah: Utah had the highest first-time pass rate in July 2023, with 94% of first-time takers passing the exam. (It's pass rate dipped to 69% in February 2024, but this is still higher than most other jurisdictions.)
Is 295 a good bar score?
In order to pass the Uniform Bar Exam, examinees must earn a score of at least 260 on the MBE and MEE. However, a score of 280 is generally considered to be a good score, and a score of 300 to 330 (highest score on bar exam) is considered to be excellent.
What happens if you fail the bar exam?
Just like with the LSAT, retaking the bar exam is always an option. If you didn't pass the bar exam, there are several things you can do to regroup and move ahead in preparation for a bar exam retake. Explore different options to refocus and keep progressing.
Why is it called the bar exam?
The exam's name actually derives from this very idea of division by referencing the physical “bar” railing that would divide courtrooms. The outer side of the bar would be for public observation, while the inner side would contain the judge's bench where the actual court proceedings would occur.
How many hours is the California bar exam?
The exam is taken between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. over a two-day period. The exam consists of three parts: five one-hour essay questions, one 90-minute performance test, and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).
Does California have the hardest bar exam?
California's bar exam is generally considered the most difficult. It covers a wide range of subjects and takes two days. However, the pass/fail stats vary greatly among schools. Top schools such as Stanford, Berkeley, USC, UCLA have very high pass rates.
How much are bar dues in California 2024?
For 2024, the annual fees for active licensees is $510.00; for inactive licensees, $182.40.
Does California bar exam expire?
State Bar rules set a five-year expiration date on a passing bar exam score by requiring that, within “five years from the last day of administration of the California Bar Examination the applicant passes,” the applicant must meet all requirements for certification to the California Supreme Court for admission and must ...
Is baby bar harder than bar?
The baby bar has a much lower pass rate than most other bar exams. Around 27% of first-time test takers passed in 2020. But this doesn't mean the exam is harder than the actual bar exam in California or any other state.
Can I take the bar exam for fun?
Most states (not all) require you to have a J.D. to sit for the bar exam (or be sufficiently close in credits to having a J.D.). The exam is not free and no matter how brilliant you are, you're not going to pass without good preparation.
What percentage of lawyers never pass the bar?
Wondering how test-takers are doing as a whole? According to the most recent data released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®), in 2021, of the 64,833 total persons taking the bar exam, 39,873 passed, which is an overall pass rate of 60% (down 1%from the previous year).
How hard is law school?
In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.
How many times did Kim Kardashian take the bar exam?
After failing the California Baby Bar Exam three times, she unveiled in a lengthy Instagram post that she finally passed. The exam is not an easy task.