How much harder is the California bar exam?

Asked by: Reece Monahan  |  Last update: February 6, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (46 votes)

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.

Is the California bar exam the hardest?

Which State Bar Is Most Difficult? California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

Is the California law exam hard?

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.

Will the California bar get easier?

It doesn't get easier or harder. As an equated and scaled test, the difficulty of the bar exam remains the same for each administration. The remaining possibilities are the law graduates taking the test or the law schools admitting students and preparing their graduates to take the test.

How many times can you fail the California bar exam?

There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California. While it may come as a relief to many students who are planning to take the bar exam in California that there are no limits, California's bar exam is known for being one of the hardest exams in the U.S.

The Bar Exam, Is It Really That Hard?

18 related questions found

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.

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.

Is CA getting rid of the bar exam?

Transition Away from the MBE: Starting in 2025, California will no longer use the National Conference of Bar Examiners' (NCBE) Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) for its multiple-choice component. Instead, Kaplan will develop new multiple-choice questions specific to California.

How long should you study for California bar?

Time is of the essence!

In the 10 weeks prior to the bar exam, your bar studies will require the bulk of your time and attention. Most California Law graduates spend at least 50 hours per week studying in May and June and 60 hours per week studying in July.

What is the easiest state to become a lawyer in?

Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass. However, we don't really get the full picture by just looking at the passing rates. Each state's bar exam can differ in difficulty and content.

Which is the law toughest exam?

List Of Top Toughest Law Exams To Crack
  • All India Law Entrance Test. This exam is held by the National Law University, Delhi, to grant admission to its BA.LLB, LLM, and PhD programmes.
  • LSAT India. ...
  • MH CET for 5-Year LLB Exam. ...
  • SLAT. ...
  • AP LAWCET. ...
  • Delhi University LLB Entrance Exam. ...
  • Kerala Law Entrance Exam (KLEE)

Is the series 7 harder than the bar exam?

Is the Series 7 exam harder than the bar exam? The Series 7 and the bar exam are both known for their difficulty. You can't really compare the two because of the differences in content and purpose. Both exams require dedicated study and preparation.

What state has the easiest bar?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

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 is the minimum score for the California bar exam?

To pass the examination in the first phase of grading, an applicant must have a total scaled score (after one reading) of at least 1440 points out of 2000 possible points. Those with total scaled scores after one reading below 1390 fail the examination.

Can you pass the California bar without going to law school?

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.

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.

How many people fail the California bar?

On the contrary, the overall pass rate for the exam rose to 33.9% from 32.5% in February 2023, following a national trend in which the majority of states posted pass rate gains. A total of 3,944 took California's February exam, and 1,337 passed.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian learned very quickly how hard bar exams can be. The California state bar is one of the most difficult states to pass, with a 40-50% pass rate. The first attempt rate, the second attempt, and after the third time, she finally passed!

How many times can you fail the bar USA?

While the majority of states (around 35) don't have a limit on the number of times you can take the bar exam, the remaining states typically allow candidates between two and four attempts.

Is bar exam harder than law school?

Generally, the bar exam is considered harder than the LSAT. The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law.

What is a 266 on the bar?

In most states that grade on a 1–6 scale, a 4 is considered a passing score. Here is the exact number a passing score for each essay: A 3.9 is considered passing in Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions that require a 260 to pass. A 4.0 is considered passing in Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions that require a 266 to pass.

Are bar exams curved?

Most bar takers fall right in the middle on the curve, within a few points of each other. The MBE portion of the bar exam is significant to your overall score in almost all U.S. states. Getting just a few additional points can really tip you into the “passing zone.”

What is a 270 on the bar?

A 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 270 is approximately the 58th percentile. A 260 is approximately the 44th percentile. A 250 is approximately the 26th percentile.