How long is each section of the MBE?

Asked by: Payton Abshire  |  Last update: September 28, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

Each session is three hours long. So the MBE consists of 200 questions, 175 of which are scored and 25 of which are unscored pretest questions.

How long is the MBE section of the bar?

About the MBE

The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination developed by NCBE and administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination on the last Wednesday in February and the last Wednesday in July of each year.

How long should each MBE question take?

How much time you should spend on each MBE® question? A good general rule of thumb is that you have roughly 1 minute and 48 seconds per question. This is based on 200 questions in 6 hours, or 1.8 minutes per question.

How many sections are on the MBE?

Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)

The MBE tests seven subjects: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

How many questions are on the MBE for each subject?

The 175 scored questions on the MBE are distributed evenly, with 25 questions from each of the seven subject areas: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. Each of the questions on the MBE is followed by four possible answers.

The Bar Exam & What to Expect: Scaled Scoring, MBE Subjects, Essays, the Performance Test and More

25 related questions found

How long should 25 MBE questions take?

Regular timing conditions

So, if you take the bar exam under normal timing conditions, you will have, on average, 1.8 minutes, or 1 minute and 48 seconds, to answer each MBE question. As a goal, try to answer, during your practice, 9 questions every 15 minutes.

What is the hardest section of the MBE?

Nevertheless, many future attorneys who have taken or are currently preparing for the bar exam seem to agree that the following three subjects are the most challenging:
  1. Real Property. ...
  2. Contracts. ...
  3. Civil Procedure.

What is the lowest MBE?

MBE Scores

The performance information provided for the MBE is a scaled score which can range from about 40 (low) to 200 (high). MBE scaled scores are calculated by NCBE based on a statistical process known as equating that is commonly used on standardized examinations.

How hard is it to pass the MBE?

This means you should get 60-62 questions correct on a 100-question practice test or 120-124 questions correct on a full MBE exam. If you are aiming for an MBE score of 136-140 (which is a passing MBE score in jurisdictions that require a 272-280 to pass) you should aim for 62%-65%.

How many questions can you miss on the MBE?

That means you'll need to get 115 questions correct out of 190 — or that you can miss up to 75 questions and still pass the MBE!

What are the hardest MBE subjects?

What Are The Most Highly Tested MBE Topics?
  • Torts: (25 questions)
  • Evidence: (25 questions)
  • Real Property: (25 questions)
  • Contracts and Sales: (25 questions)
  • Civil Procedure (25 questions)
  • Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure: (25 questions)
  • Constitutional Law: (25 questions)

What percentage of MBE questions are right to pass?

We suggest aiming for at least 60% to be safe. If you are aiming for an MBE score of 136-140 (which is a passing MBE score in jurisdictions that require a 272-280 to pass) you should aim for 62%-65%.

What is the average MBE score?

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) developed a statistical technique to ensure a scaled score on one examination is equivalent to a score on any other examination). You must shoot for a scaled score of 140 to 145 (which is the average score). A scaled score of 150 or higher is recommended.

How to memorize law for MBE?

Use Context-Based Memorization

You want to make sure when you've got a rule memorized, you're able to think about how that rule works in concept. A great way to do this is to think of a hypothetical MBE question or essay issue that could involve what you've memorized.

How many questions per minute on the MBE?

To complete 100 MBE questions within each 3-hour session, you have 1.8 minutes (1 minute 48 seconds) per question. This will put you on pace to complete at least 33-34 questions per hour during each session.

Is the bar exam MBE curved?

Keep in mind that the MBE is curved. For example, you scored a 125 and needed a 135 to pass. A 10-point difference may seem small, but the percentile difference is much bigger, so you may need more preparation than you think to earn a passing score. The written portion of the UBE consists of the MEE and MPT.

Is 60% on the MBE good?

If you are answering about 60-66% correct on the MBE, you are likely in the “safe zone.” A higher score than that is, of course, even better! If you are scoring lower than that, see below for tips. But also, make sure that you work on the written portion of the exam.

Can I fail MBE and pass bar?

The answer, in most states, is yes. In most states, as long as you make up for any lost points on the essay portion of the exam, you can fail the MBE and still pass the bar exam. For example, in New York, you need a 266 out of 400 potential points to pass the bar exam.

What's a good MBE score?

The short answer:

We suggest aiming for at least 60% to be safe. If you are aiming for an MBE score of 136-140 (which is a passing MBE score in jurisdictions that require a 272-280 to pass) you should aim for 62%-65%.

What MBE score is 99th percentile?

Your percentile for the MBE Score is as follows:

A 180 is 99th percentile. A 170 is 98th percentile.

What is the MBE score for 2023?

MADISON, WISCONSIN, March 31, 2023—The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the February 2023 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 131.1, a decrease of 1.5 points compared to the February 2022 mean of 132.6.

What is a 125 score on the MBE?

In the case of the MBE, a raw score of 125 indicates that the candidate got more than half of the questions correct.

Does an MBE make you a dame?

What is an MBE? Standing for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an MBE is the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood/damehood), behind CBE and then OBE.

Does an MBE make you a knight?

Only individuals who have been awarded a knighthood or damehood are entitled to use these titles with their name. If you are awarded an MBE, OBE or CBE you may use these letters after your name.

Is the MBE easier than Barbri?

The Barbri invented questions are harder than the real MBE questions. (Real MBE questions are still difficult though.) The Barbri MBE compares you to how others score on the Barbri simulated MBE.