Is there an essay on the bar?

Asked by: Dr. Oswaldo Toy  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (60 votes)

The essay portion of the bar exam is called the Multistate Essay Exam, or MEE for short. It is made up of six different essay questions that you must write answers to over the course of three hours.

Is there an essay on the bar exam?

The written portion of the exam (essay questions and Performance Test) is typically administered on the first day, with three essay questions given in the morning session and two essay questions plus the Performance Test given in the afternoon session.

Can you fail an essay on the bar and still pass?

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.

How much is each essay worth on the bar exam?

There is a total of 700 possible raw points for the written portion of the California bar exam (100 points for each essay and 200 points for the performance test).

Is real property on the mee?

Areas of law that may be covered on the MEE include the following: Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the Uniform Commercial Code), Criminal Law and Procedure, ...

Don't write THIS on your bar exam essays!

26 related questions found

What are the requirements for a deed on the bar exam?

Requirements for deed

A valid deed requires (1) writing, (2) competent grantor, (3) grantee identity, (4) words of conveyance, (5) an adequate description of the land, (6) consideration, (7) grantor signature, (8) witnesses, and (9) grantee receipt.

How many essays are on the mee?

The MEE consists of six essays. You have 30 minutes to complete each question, making the total duration of the exam to be three hours. The MEE is one of several factors that a board of bar examiners may use to determine your readiness to practice law.

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.

How long is the bar exam essay?

California Bar Examination

Five one-hour Essay Questions. One 90-minute Performance Test.

How many times can you fail the bar in Canada?

During your licensing term, you may write the barrister and solicitor licensing examinations up to three times each. If you have been authorized pursuant to the Lawyer Licensing Process Policies, you may write the licensing examination(s) up to four times.

Is it illegal to cheat on the bar exam?

The Impact of Cheating on the Bar Exam

ABA Model Rule 8.4 states it is professional misconduct to “engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.” Cheating demonstrates a propensity to violate the critical duty of honesty and candor expected of lawyers.

Is the bar exam curved?

The bar exam curve is very real, and it can be your ally in passing the exam. By understanding how the curve works and leveraging tools like BARBRI's bar prep courses, you can maximize your chances of landing on the passing side.

What is a good bar essay score?

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.

How many essays are on the bar?

Overview. The California Bar Exam consists of the General Bar Exam and the Attorneys' Exam. The General Bar Exam consists of three parts: five essay questions, one performance test (PT), and a 200 multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam.

How many times can you take the 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.

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.

Why do most people fail the bar?

Overstudying, understudying, studying the wrong things, getting sick or panicked on test day…things happen. Just look at all of the famous people who've failed the bar exam! (My personal favorite being Kathleen Sullivan, who failed in California, shortly after stepping down as dean of Stanford Law.

What is the pass rate for the bar exam in Canada?

The latest statistics from the LSO indicate that overall, only 71 percent of candidates were successful on their first attempt at the barrister exam, and only 69 percent of candidates were successful on their solicitor exam.

What is the top 1% score on the bar exam?

A 300 is in about the 90th percentile, and 330 is in the top 1% of all scores. Keep in mind that out of the 200 points that make up the MPT and the MEE, only 175 of them are actually scored, and the remainder are considered to be 'pretest' questions that do not count towards your overall score.

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.

How difficult is the bar?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

How to write an essay for the bar exam?

Bar Exam Essay Tips
  1. First, work on your structure! To implement this tip, you should think like a grader. ...
  2. Secondly, don't waste your time on issue statements. ...
  3. Next, be sure you only conclude once. ...
  4. Be sure to memorize rule statements. ...
  5. Use facts in your analysis! ...
  6. Lastly, be sure you self-grade your essays.

Can I fail the mee and still pass the bar?

In Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdictions, the MEE is worth 30% of your score. In non-UBE jurisdictions, the MEE percentage varies but is typically around 30%. Because you need a score total between 65% and 70% to pass the bar, it is possible to fail the MEE and still pass!

How many essays does Harvard ask for?

Students applying for admission to Harvard College — the undergraduate college at Harvard University — during the 2024-25 admissions cycle are required to respond to five supplemental essays.