How often do people fail the bar exam?
Asked by: Miss Mabelle Gleason | Last update: November 13, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (11 votes)
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).
Is it common to fail the bar exam?
Let's face it: everyone hates failing, especially such important exams. However, it might make you feel better to know you are definitely not alone if you have failed the bar exam. According to the American Bar Association, 75.79% of people pass after taking the bar exam for the first time in recent years.
What are the odds of passing the bar the first time?
March 11 (Reuters) - More than 79% of U.S. law school graduates who took the bar exam for the first time in 2023 passed, according to new data released on Monday by the American Bar Association.
What percentage of lawyers fail the bar?
For the nation, 58% of those who took the bar exam passed. To be sure you pass, a great MBE test preparation program, such as AdaptiBar, can greatly increase your chances of passing. *These stats are for all bar examinees nationwide, not AdaptiBar statistics.
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.
i failed the bar exam...
What state has the easiest bar exam?
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.
How many times did JFK Jr. take the bar exam?
Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was ninety-five years old or passed.
Which state is the hardest to pass the bar exam?
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.
What is the youngest person to pass the bar?
ROB SCHMITZ, HOST: So what were you doing when you were 17 years and eight months old? Well, Sophia Park was taking the California State Bar exam and breaking a record for the youngest person ever to pass the exam in the state. SOPHIA PARK: Well, we were both 13 years old when we started law school.
What happens if you fail the bar exam 3 times?
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.
What school has the highest bar pass rate?
- Harvard University: 97 percent.
- Duke University 97 percent.
- New York University: 97 percent.
- University of Michigan: 96 percent.
- Liberty University School of Law: 95.65 percent.
- Stanford University: 95 percent.
- University of Alabama: 95 percent.
- Baylor University: 92 percent.
How hard is it to pass the bar without law school?
Pass Rate. The bar exam pass rate of an apprentice is about ⅓ of that of a student who attends an ABA approved law school, according to a study by Priceconomics. With a passing rate of approximately 27% for apprentices, it is clear there are topics that can be missed, that a traditional law school is sure to cover.
Are you a lawyer if you don't pass the bar exam?
Not passing the Bar means you are not a Lawyer*
If you have not taken or passed the Bar, you are not a lawyer. You could have a doctorate degree in law, but you would not be a lawyer. And without having passed the Bar, you are not legally allowed to practice law.
What is a bad bar exam score?
Those with total scale scores after one reading below 1350 fail the exam. If the applicant's total scale score is at least 1350 but less than 1390 after one reading, their answers are read a second time by a different set of graders.
Is passing the bar exam a big deal?
It is generally viewed as the most difficult exam a law graduate will ever take. Pass it, and you are sworn in as a member of bar. But not all are successful. A typical explanation for why the bar exam exists is, “To evaluate an individual's mastery of legal knowledge, reasoning, and ethical principles.
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.
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!
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.
Where did Joe Biden pass the bar exam?
His grades were relatively poor, and he graduated 76th in a class of 85. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969. Biden clerked at a Wilmington law firm headed by prominent local Republican William Prickett in 1968 and, he later said, "thought of myself as a Republican".
How many people pass the bar on their first try?
Unsurprisingly, California has the lowest passage rate (44.42%) by a wide margin. Take even a great in-state school like UCLA and only 86% percent of students are passing on their first try. That gives you an idea of how hard the CA bar is.
What happened to JFK's son?
John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a tragic plane crash on July 16, 1999, with his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette.
Which state does not require bar exam?
Forty-one jurisdictions have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which is composed entirely of NCBE-created components. In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.
How many times can you take the bar?
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.
Which state has the lowest bar exam pass rate?
- Utah stands out with a significantly higher passing rate (60%) compared to other jurisdictions.
- Alabama has the lowest passing rate (16%) among the 50 states.
- California, despite being home to many law schools, has a relatively low passing rate (26%) for repeaters.