Is the bar exam MBE curved?

Asked by: Zula Lindgren IV  |  Last update: October 12, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (5 votes)

MBE score results consistently follow a bell curve pattern for every single bar exam administration. A few students have a very high MBE scaled score and some have a very low scaled score. Most bar takers fall right in the middle, within a few points of each other.

How does the bar scale the MBE?

MBE scaled scores are calculated by NCBE based on a statistical process known as equating that is commonly used on standardized examinations. This statistical process adjusts raw scores on the current examination to account for differences in difficulty as compared with past examinations.

What is a good MBE score on the bar exam?

You want to aim for a scaled score of at least 140-145 (which is the average score).

What is a 145 MBE score?

Your percentile for the MBE Score is as follows:

A 160 is about 90th percentile. A 155 is about 82nd percentile. A 150 is about 72nd percentile. A 145 is about 62nd percentile.

Is MBE harder 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.

How the UBE Bar Exam is Scaled (simplified)

18 related questions found

What is the hardest section on 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 hardest US bar exam?

While Delaware has a higher cut score than California, California's bar exam is arguably the hardest in the country because more students take and fail the test.

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.

What is the average raw MBE score?

Average Scores on Multistate Bar Exam Remain Consistent with Previous Years. MADISON, WISCONSIN, September 13, 2022—The national Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) mean scaled score for July 2022 was 140.3, consistent with results from recent years' July administrations.

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 MBE questions do you need to get right to pass the bar?

However, the NCBE's scale means that if you get 60-66% correct, you should “pass” the MBE, depending on your jurisdiction's overall passage rate. So, to answer the question “How Many MBE Questions Do I Need to Get Correct?”, answering 60-66% correct may get you there.

What percentage of the bar is MBE?

To get a 266 in New York, you'd have to get 133 on the MBE and 133 on the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE®) and Multistate Performance Test (MPT®) combined. Once again, a strong essay score can make up for a lackluster performance on the MBE. The MBE has a 50% weight in practically all states.

What is the lowest score to pass the MBE?

Well... in most states you really only need a score of 131-135 to pass the MBE®. Scoring higher than needed on the MBE exam is actually very beneficial, because in most states, any number over passing will be added to MEE score, which will give you a better chance of passing the exam!

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 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.

How can I improve my MBE score?

How To Improve Your MBE® Score
  1. Review, Reevaluate, and Revise Your Study Plan. ...
  2. Focus On Highly Tested Subjects. ...
  3. Practice, Practice, Practice. ...
  4. Practice in Exam-Like Conditions. ...
  5. Practice With Licensed Questions. ...
  6. Performance Monitoring With Custom Reports.

Is a raw score of 30 good?

The median score is 30, which means if you have a raw study score of 30 then you have performed better than half of all students. If you have a study score of 40, then you've performed better than about 91% of all students who took the same subject.

What does a raw score of 50 mean?

Raw Scores: Raw scores are scores that describe the number of correct answers on a test or the number of tasks performed correctly. For example, if a student answered 50 out of 100 questions correctly, they would receive a raw score of 50.

What does a raw score of 40 mean?

A raw study score of 40 would mean that you performed better than around 91% of all students who took the same subject. A raw study score of 50 means that you performed in the top 0.3% of students enrolled in the subject.

Can you pass the bar with a low MBE score?

While it would be great to ace every potion of your bar exam, you don't necessarily need to get a passing MBE score to pass the bar. Often, students are able to balance out lower MBE scores with higher essays scores. In UBE states, the MBE and essays are weighted equally.

Why are my MBE scores going down?

Your MBE scores might be getting worse if you dive right into timing practice with 100 question sets. This is a very overwhelming exercise and it takes a lot of skill to be able to complete one of these, let alone complete it with a high score. You need to build up to 100 questions by starting smaller.

Is the bar harder than the CPA?

Just look at the pass rates for first time exam takers. You passed the bar, but the CPA Exam will be much more difficult,” came the advice from my CPA friends. My attorney colleagues had this to say, “Well, after studying for and taking the Bar Exam, the CPA Exam will be a piece of cake for you.”

What state has the easiest bar exam?

Easiest Bar Exams
  • South Dakota (Pass rate: 68%)
  • Wisconsin (Pass rate: 59%)
  • Nebraska (Pass rate: 80%)*
  • Iowa (Pass rate: 79%)
  • Montana (Pass rate: 77%)

What is the hardest state to pass the bar exam in?

California. The California Bar Exam has one of the lowest pass rates in the country. The exam takes full days, including a performance test to evaluate your ability to handle several legal challenges involving a client.

Is the MBE easy?

2) The MBE is hard

Most people regard the MBE as the hardest portion of the bar exam. The questions are rarely easy or straightforward. They can be tricky, and sometimes worded in a way that guides you to the wrong answer. The only upside of the MBE is, again, that you know ahead of time what subjects will be tested.