What is the breakdown of questions on MBE?

Asked by: Brett Olson  |  Last update: July 20, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (75 votes)

The 175 scored questions on the MBE are distributed evenly, with 25 questions from each of the seven subject areas: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. Each of the questions on the MBE is followed by four possible answers.

What percentage of MBE questions are right to pass?

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%.

How many points is each question on the MBE?

Each MBE question is worth one point, with a maximum score of 175 points. This unscaled score is then normalized to a range from 0 to 200. Scores are modified to account for changes in test difficulty across the administration of the MBE.

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.

How many questions do you need to get right on the MBE?

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. Of course, aiming for a higher score does not hurt!

How to Approach MBE Questions With Jonathan Grossman (Webinar recording)

26 related questions found

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 are the hardest MBE subjects?

What Are The Most Highly Tested MBE Topics?
  • Torts: (25 questions)
  • Evidence: (25 questions)
  • Real Property: (25 questions)
  • Contracts and Sales: (25 questions)
  • Civil Procedure (25 questions)
  • Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure: (25 questions)
  • Constitutional Law: (25 questions)

What is a perfect MBE score?

MBE Scores

The performance information provided for the MBE is a scaled score which can range from about 40 (low) to 200 (high). MBE scaled scores are calculated by NCBE based on a statistical process known as equating that is commonly used on standardized examinations.

Is 150 on the MBE good?

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 the MBE curved?

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.

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 get wrong 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!

How long should 25 MBE questions take?

Regular timing conditions

So, if you take the bar exam under normal timing conditions, you will have, on average, 1.8 minutes, or 1 minute and 48 seconds, to answer each MBE question. As a goal, try to answer, during your practice, 9 questions every 15 minutes.

How long should MBE questions take?

How much time you should spend on each MBE® question? A good general rule of thumb is that you have roughly 1 minute and 48 seconds per question. This is based on 200 questions in 6 hours, or 1.8 minutes per question.

What should I aim for on MBE?

You want to aim for a scaled score of at least 140-145 (which is the average score). Ideally, you should want a 150+ scaled score to have confidence to pass the exam. The national average MBE scaled score for the last few exams was: 131.1 6 in Feb. 2023; 140.3 7 in July 2022; 132.6 8 in Feb.

Does the MBE reuse questions?

The NCBE doesn't reuse old MBE questions, so there's no use in trying to rely on seeing repeat questions on your bar exam. Instead, focus on taking more time to study highly tested topics and practicing using old MBE questions. For more detailed information about passing the MBE, check out our free guide!

How hard is the MBE?

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.

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.

What is a 119 MBE score?

MBE Scores – Raw vs.

The percentage needed for a passing MBE score in California is 67.5%. This means an MBE score of approximately 119 raw (119/175) is passing. A raw score of 119 should equal a scaled score of 144. Keep in mind, California uses a thousand-point scale.

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.

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.

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.

How do you memorize MBE?

Use Context-Based Memorization

A great way to do this is to think of a hypothetical MBE question or essay issue that could involve what you've memorized. When you're visualizing how a concept works, not just what it is, you're memorizing much more effectively.

How do you pass the MBE?

If you're preparing for the MBE, this article covers all you need to know about how to ace the exam and pass with flying colors.
  1. The MBE Structure. ...
  2. Start Early! ...
  3. Study the Right Content. ...
  4. Go Through Previous Bar Exam Questions. ...
  5. Use Flashcards and Mnemonics. ...
  6. Practice Timing Yourself. ...
  7. Most Important: Revise What You've Done.

How can I get faster at MBE questions?

How to answer MBE questions faster (and get them right!)
  1. First, make sure you have the rules memorized. ...
  2. Second, develop a system for quickly jotting out facts. ...
  3. Third, change the order you read the question. ...
  4. Fourth, if you get a really long, convoluted question, skip it.