What is a good score on the California bar exam?

Asked by: Savannah Larkin  |  Last update: May 19, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (56 votes)

To determine your average raw written score, divide your Raw Written number by 7 (PT counts twice). Consider a “weak” essay or MBE score to be under 1340 scaled (50 points under passing) and a “strong” score to be over 1440 (50 points over passing).

What score is needed to pass CA bar?

As mentioned above, you need a score of 1390 out of 2000 possible points to pass the California bar exam.

Is 266 a good bar exam score?

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. A 4.1 is considered passing in Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions that require a 273 to pass.

What is a good score on the bar exam?

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.

Is 75% on MBE good?

We suggest aiming for at least 60% to be safe. 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%. If you are aiming for an MBE score of 144 (which is considered passing in California), you should aim for about 67%.

California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)

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Is 60% enough to pass MBE?

These are the approximate scores you want to aim for in order to have a passing MBE score: If you are aiming for a MBE converted score of 131-135 (which is a passing score in most jurisdictions that require scores of 262-270 to pass), you should aim for 58%-62%. We suggest aiming for at least 60% to be safe.

What is a good MBE score California?

MBE Scores: Raw vs.

The percentage needed for a passing MBE score in California is 69.5% (1390/2000 or 139/200) is the scaled score. Being that 25 random questions are dropped; a raw score of 1220/1750 or 122/175 is needed.

How hard is the California bar?

Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.

What is a 270 on the bar exam?

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.

Who has the highest bar score?

Matthew Graham, a University of Baltimore Law School alumnus, smashed the previous bar exam record by scoring 309 out of 400 on his first attempt.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar?

No, Kim Kardashian has not passed not the California General Bar exam but successfully passed the baby bar in 2021. She cleared it in her fourth attempt. Her journey illustrates the many challenges and frustrations that she has gone through in order to achieve this career in the legal field.

What state has the hardest bar exam?

For several reasons, the California bar exam is often considered to be the hardest in the country. California's legal system is known for its complexity. The state has its own set of laws, regulations, and precedents that often differ significantly from federal laws and those of other states.

How to interpret California bar exam results?

If the applicant's averaged total scaled score after two readings is 1390 or higher, the applicant passes the exam. Applicants with averaged total scale scores of less than 1390 fail the exam.

How many times can you fail the bar exam in California?

Most states allow 2-4 attempts of the bar exam, but about 35 states, including California, New York, and Florida, don't have any limits on the number of times you can take the bar.

How much do bar exam graders make?

$11-$27/hr Bar Exam Grader Jobs (NOW HIRING) Jan 2025.

Is a 295 on the bar exam good?

Depending on how many people have taken the UBE, a score of 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 300 is in about the 90th percentile, and 330 is in the top 1% of all scores.

What is an average bar score?

For example, California's bar exam passing score is 1390 out of 2000 points. You should aim for a scaled score of 139, but there is no way to accurately gauge what raw score you need. If you're taking the bar exam in a non-UBE jurisdiction, check out the appropriate UWorld state-specific bar exam pages: California.

Why is California bar passage rate so low?

In comparison to other states, California has a large number of applicants. The fact that California's population of exam takers is so large contributes to the overall lower pass rate the state is regularly pumping out. To put this into perspective, in 2017 California had 12,985 applicants who sat for the exam.

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.

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 a bad bar exam score?

To determine your average raw written score, divide your Raw Written number by 7 (PT counts twice). Consider a “weak” essay or MBE score to be under 1340 scaled (50 points under passing) and a “strong” score to be over 1440 (50 points over passing).

Is the California bar curved?

the bar exam isn't curved, but scaled. That means it's normalized to adjust for the difficulty from one administration to the next, not the applicant pool.

Has anyone ever gotten a perfect score on the bar exam?

Has anyone ever gotten a perfect score on the bar exam? Have you ever seen an essay exam answer written during an actual state-administered exam that the CA Bar Examiners scored a perfect 100? We never have either, which is why we're bringing it to your attention.