What can you bring to bar exam NY?

Asked by: Else Kub  |  Last update: April 14, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (18 votes)

For the NY Bar Exam, you can bring essential items in a clear, resealable plastic bag, including your laptop/cord (if applicable), ID, seating ticket, No. 2 pencils, blue/black pens (MEE/MPT days), medications, quiet snacks (no nuts), a clear water bottle (label removed), and earplugs, but no cell phones, bags (other than the clear one for essentials), notes, or electronics. All other personal belongings must go in a designated Personal Belongings Room.

What to bring with you to the bar exam?

subject to inspection): the admittance ticket with no writing on it; non-digital pens (if you are handwriting the examination, you must bring your own pens); silent analog watches, non-digital timers and clocks measuring 4" x 4" or smaller; rulers; paper clips; pen-style highlighters (must not be used on answers); ...

Can you bring a backpack to the bar exam?

You are not permitted to have any extraneous or personal items (e.g., backpacks, purses, cell phones, etc.) in the exam room. Such items will not be allowed into the testing rooms and must be left outside of the secure testing area.

Can you bring water to the bar exam?

Applicants are not allowed to have food or beverages in the exam room other than one bottle of water in a clear, plastic container no larger than 1 liter, without labels or writing, and with a lid. The exam is administered in a quiet environment, and applicants are allowed to bring foam earplugs.

Can you bring Advil to the bar exam?

*MEDICATIONS: Prescription medications and over-the-counter medications are always allowed in the testing room, subject to security screening.

New York Bar Exam | 27 Things You Should Know

23 related questions found

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the full California Bar Exam; she failed the July 2025 exam and publicly shared her results in November 2025, vowing to keep studying, though she previously passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in 2021. She's said she came "so close" and is determined to pass, viewing the setback as motivation for future attempts.
 

Can ChatGPT pass the bar exam?

Yes, the advanced version, GPT-4, passed the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) with a strong score (around the 90th percentile), demonstrating impressive legal knowledge, but it's considered a powerful tool for lawyers, not a replacement, as it lacks the crucial human elements of judgment, ethical reasoning, and real-world application needed to practice law independently, according to research and legal experts.
 

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama failed the Illinois bar exam on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School, but she retook it, passed, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1989, going on to have a successful legal career. She is one of several prominent figures, including Hillary Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who initially failed the bar exam before achieving great success.
 

Is a 269 on the bar exam good?

A 269 on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a strong score that passes in most states but might be just shy of the highest-scoring jurisdictions (which often require 270+), making it a very solid, passing score that opens many doors, though some states like New York (270) or Massachusetts (270) are just out of reach without a few more points, but it's still a great result that qualifies you to practice law in a majority of U.S. jurisdictions. 

Can I go to the toilet during an exam?

Yes, you are allowed to go to the bathroom during an exam and then re-enter the exam room afterwards. Put up your hand and tell the invigilator. Someone will accompany you, wait outside, and then escort you back to the exam room.

Where to put phone during bar exam?

No phones are allowed in the test center, but they can be left out in the corridor outside. Wallets, keys, sunglasses are more things not allowed in the test center.

How many more times can Kim Kardashian take the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian can take the California bar exam an unlimited number of times, as most U.S. states, including California, do not have a limit, but she needs to pass both the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) and the main bar exam, which she passed the baby bar on her fourth attempt and failed the main bar in July 2025, with another chance in February 2026.
 

What is the hardest year of law school?

Most law students agree the first year (1L) is the hardest due to the steep learning curve, new teaching methods (Socratic/Case Method), intense reading/writing, and high-pressure environment designed to build foundational skills, though 2L brings different stressors like career planning and internships. 1L is a "bootcamp" for thinking like a lawyer with unfamiliar concepts and high stakes for grades, making the transition from undergraduate studies particularly challenging. 

What to bring to NY bar exam?

Bar exam test takers should bring their admissions certification and photo ID, a selection of pens, pencils, and highlighters, an eraser, and a manual pencil sharpener to the exam. Remember to bring a plastic bag for your writing utensils and blank paper (if allowed).

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao, India's JEE Advanced, and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam, renowned for immense competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences for a small number of successful candidates, often competing with tests like the All Souls Prize, Master Sommelier Diploma, and CFA for top spots. 

Can I wear jeans to a bar interview?

While bartenders wear dress pants to more formal events and venues, nice jeans, chinos, and khakis would work well, too. The important thing to remember is that they should fit well and be comfortable to work in for extended periods of time.

What's harder, the bar or LSAT?

Most people consider the Bar Exam harder than the LSAT because it requires memorizing vast amounts of "black letter law" and applying it under extreme pressure, whereas the LSAT tests reasoning skills, but the LSAT's difficulty lies in its highly competitive scoring and abstract logic, making high scores harder to achieve for top schools. The LSAT is a skill-based test for law school entry, while the Bar is a knowledge-based test for licensure, making the Bar more about rote learning and the LSAT about logical aptitude.
 

What percentage of lawyers fail the bar exam?

For the July 2025 Attorneys' Exam, the 43.4 percent passing rate is lower than the July 2024 result (48.9 percent) and the July 2023 result (47.8 percent).

Is 311 a good bar exam score?

Uniform Bar Exam states require a score between 260 and 280 to pass the Uniform Bar Exam. So, if your score was above 280, you technically received a score that is considered passing in every Uniform Bar Exam state. Congratulations if that is the case.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the full California Bar Exam; she failed the July 2025 exam and publicly shared her results in November 2025, vowing to keep studying, though she previously passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in 2021. She's said she came "so close" and is determined to pass, viewing the setback as motivation for future attempts.
 

What was Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed to have been very high, likely in the 170-175 range, to gain admission to Harvard Law School with a relatively low undergraduate GPA. Analysts suggest he needed a score in the top percentiles (perhaps 94th-98th) to overcome his lower GPA and secure a spot at the prestigious institution, indicating a strong performance near the perfect 180 score. 

Did Joe Biden ever pass the bar?

Yes, Joe Biden earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, indicating he passed the bar exam required for practice, despite graduating in the lower half of his class. 

How many times did JFK Jr. fail the bar?

John F. Kennedy Jr. failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third attempt in July 1990, after first failing in November 1989 and February 1990. He had to pass on his third try to keep his job as a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office. 

How much IQ do you need to be a lawyer?

Some professionals, such as lawyers, exhibit high average IQ scores (in the 115-130 range), while at the same time scoring lower than the general population on EI (85-95).

Is the bar or CPA harder?

Both the CPA and Bar exams are extremely difficult, but many professionals who've taken both find the CPA exam harder due to its marathon nature (four parts over 18 months), broad technical scope (accounting, tax, auditing), and lower first-time pass rates (around 40-50% per section), compared to the Bar's sprint-like intensity (a few days, but with extremely low overall first-time success rates in some areas) and legal focus. The Bar is often considered a harder "sprint," while the CPA is a longer "marathon" testing extensive, diverse knowledge.