What is the hardest section of the MBE?

Asked by: Matilda Stokes  |  Last update: December 24, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (43 votes)

Many aspiring attorneys who have taken or are presently studying for the bar exam, however, appear to agree that the following three topics are the most difficult: Real Property. Contracts. Civil Procedure.

What is the hardest section of the bar exam?

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.

Is a 135 on the MBE good?

you sit for the MBE portion. you need between 126 and 135 correct answers out of 200 on the MBE to get a passing score (which ends up being 139 scaled, or a 1390).

Is the MBE getting harder?

We don't think the MBE is getting harder, but that doesn't mean you don't have to adequately prepare. The MBE tests Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts & Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. These subjects are divided equally among the 200 MBE questions.

What is the lowest MBE score?

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.

The Hardest Area of the MBE - Evidence

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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%.

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.

Can you fail the MBE and still pass the bar?

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 hard is it to get an MBE?

Anyone can be nominated to receive an MBE so long as they meet the necessary King's honour criteria. An MBE award can be given for all types of different achievement, but it is often given in recognition of community achievements or for a local “hands-on” service that has set an example to others.

Is the MBE curved nationally?

Most bar takers fall right in the middle on the curve, within a few points of each other. The MBE portion of the bar exam is significant to your overall score in almost all U.S. states. Getting just a few additional points can really tip you into the “passing zone.”

Is 292 a good bar exam score?

Your overall 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.

What is the average MBE score in July 2024?

MADISON, WISCONSIN, August 29, 2024—The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the July 2024 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 141.8, an increase of about 1.3 points compared to the July 2023 mean of 140.5 and the highest July MBE mean since 2013, ...

Does Barbri use real MBE questions?

Our MBE Final Exam Prep also consists of questions released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) for an authentic taste of the types of questions you can expect to encounter on the actual MBE.

What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?

California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

What's the easiest bar to pass?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

Is property the hardest 1L class?

P​roperty really isn't that bad. If you decide to take classes more geared toward intellectual property in your future years, those can get quite tricky. But 1L property tends to be a lot of common, blackletter law. Do your reading, pay attention in class, study, and you'll be more than okay.

Is an MBE a big deal?

The OBE is given to people who have done something special for their region or country. What honours are there? The BEM is given to people who have worked hard in their local community. The MBE is given to people who have worked hard for their community over a long time and made a big difference.

Has anyone ever turned down an MBE?

As the latest New Year Honours are revealed, a reminder of the famous faces who turned down or returned knighthoods, OBEs and MBEs – or even had them removed. Actor Stephen Fry, former England manager Gareth Southgate and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan are among those to be knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours.

Who was the youngest person to get an MBE?

Ellie Simmonds: Youngest recipient of an MBE | Guinness World Records.

What is the average MBE score?

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.

Is the mee or mbe harder?

While the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE®) is widely regarded as the UBE's most difficult portion, the MEE, too, is regarded as quite a challenging section, due to the vast array of topics it covers. There are six questions on the MEE, and you'll have 30 minutes to answer each.

What is a 135 on the MBE?

Some states will tell you what a passing MBE score. (For example, in Michigan, it is 135. In Virginia, it is 140.) Generally, if your state scores the bar exam out of 200 points and a 135 is passing, a 135 is also what is considered a “passing” score if the MBE portion is worth the same as the essay portion.

What is a 266 on the bar?

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. A 4.0 is considered passing in Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions that require a 266 to pass.

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.