What is the passage rate for the California bar exam 2023?

Asked by: Prof. Guido McLaughlin DVM  |  Last update: November 21, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (13 votes)

California's July 2023 bar exam saw the highest number of participants, 7,555, since the pandemic-delayed October 2020 test. The overall pass rate of 51.5%, which includes numbers for those repeating the test, marked an almost one percentage point dip from July 2022.

Has the California bar exam gotten easier?

The pass rate of California's bar exam has slightly increased since the state announced it would be lowering the cut score from 1440 to 1390 and spreading the exam over two days rather than three, but it is still widely considered the most challenging in the country.

What is the passing score for the California bar exam?

To pass the examination an applicant must have a total scaled score of at least 1440 points out of a possible 2000 points.

What is the bar passage rate for UCLA law schools?

2023 first-time bar passage rate: 88.8%

What state has the lowest bar pass rate?

Unsurprisingly, California has the lowest passage rate (44.42%) by a wide margin. Take even a great in-state school like UCLA and only 86% percent of students are passing on their first try.

Changes Are Coming to the California Bar Exam

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What is the hardest state to pass the bar exam?

California is universally regarded as the toughest state for taking the bar exam. This notion is not dissuaded by the state's low bar-pass rate. In addition to the performance test, five essay questions, and the Multistate Bar Exam, the California exam takes two days.

Which law school has the highest bar passage rate?

Law Schools with the Highest Bar-Exam Pass Rate
  • Concordia University School of Law: 100 percent.
  • University of Chicago: 98 percent.
  • Yale University: 98 percent.
  • University of Pennsylvania: 98 percent.
  • Columbia University: 97 percent.
  • Harvard University: 97 percent.
  • Duke University 97 percent.
  • New York University: 97 percent.

What is the easiest law school to get into in California?

What are the Least Competitive Law Schools to Get Into In California? Golden Gate University and the California Western School of Law are the least competitive law schools to get into in California. Golden Gate University has an acceptance rate of 25.5% and a median LSAT score of 154.

What GPA do I need for UCLA law?

UCLA Law School Median GPA: 3.95

Class profile data shows GPA percentiles of incoming J.D. students: 25th percentile GPA: 3.69. Median GPA: 3.95. 75th percentile GPA: 4.00.

How many times can you fail the California 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.

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 much do bar exam graders make?

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

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 tough is the California bar exam?

California's bar exam is generally considered the most difficult. It covers a wide range of subjects and takes two days. However, the pass/fail stats vary greatly among schools. Top schools such as Stanford, Berkeley, USC, UCLA have very high pass rates.

How many months to study for California bar exam?

Most bar examinees prepare for the bar exam in 8–12 weeks. That means that they generally start studying 2-3 months before the bar exam.

Can you become a lawyer in California without going to law school?

Some schools offer flexibility and opportunities for those who need it, including programs that are fully online, part-time or at night, with leeway to spread out your study over four or more years. California is one of only a few states where you can become a lawyer without going to law school, by studying under a ...

What is the hardest law school in the USA?

1. Yale University. With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it's no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. Only around 1 in 15 of their highly qualified applicants makes it through.

Is juris education worth it?

At Juris Education, we don't just promise results—we deliver them. We're 100% legit, and our track record speaks volumes– an exceptional 94% acceptance rate into elite programs like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale, counselors with over 15 years of experience, and over 37,000 coaching hours.

How many people pass the CA bar exam first try?

California's General Bar Exam pass rate of 53.8 percent is up from last year's July pass rate of 51.5 percent, and 2022's July pass rate of 52.4 percent. Preliminary statistical analyses show that of the 8,291 applicants who completed the GBX, 67.7 percent were first-time takers.

Which law school is most prestigious?

Yale Law School is widely regarded as the most prestigious law school in the U.S. thanks to its strong reputation, rich history, distinguished faculty, and influential alumni, even though it's currently the second-ranked law school.

How many law students never pass the bar?

This varies by law school and by state. There are about 200 ABA (American Bar Association) accredited law schools. Among the top 150 law schools—as ranked by US News—bar passage rates for first time bar takers ranges from about 97% to a low of about 65%.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian learned very quickly how hard bar exams can be. The California state bar is one of the most difficult states to pass, with a 40-50% pass rate. The first attempt rate, the second attempt, and after the third time, she finally passed!

Which state does not require bar exam?

Forty-one jurisdictions have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which is composed entirely of NCBE-created components. In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.

Which state has the highest bar passage rate?

Easiest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:

Utah: Utah had the highest first-time pass rate in July 2023, with 94% of first-time takers passing the exam. (It's pass rate dipped to 69% in February 2024, but this is still higher than most other jurisdictions.) It also has a low passing score of 260.