What items you can bring when you sit for the New York Bar exam?
Asked by: Dr. Audie Deckow III | Last update: November 8, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (41 votes)
What do you need to bring to the bar exam?
Your admissions certificate, identification, or whatever you need to get into the exam room. A plastic bag (if your jurisdiction requires that you carry all of your pens, pencils, etc. in a large, clear bag—as many do.) A sweater (note: some jurisdictions require that it be without a hood).
What to wear when taking the bar exam?
Dress in layers
You do not want your shivering or sweating to distract you from doing your best on the exam. So wear a shirt with short sleeves and bring a sweatshirt or sweater you can easily slip on and off. Even if you never use it it's good to have just in case.
What photo ID is needed for NY bar exam?
Acceptable forms of ID include 1) U.S. driver's license; (2) U.S. non-driver identification; (3) passport (upload only the page with your passport photo and name); (4) passport card; (5) U.S. Military Identification Card; (6) U.S. Visa or Permanent Resident ID Card; (7) U.S. Employment Authorization Card; or (8) New ...
Can I chew gum during the bar exam?
While gum can be a trusty sidekick when you're preparing for the bar exam, it's not going to be there for you when you're in the exam room. As quirky and fun as chewing gum is—like the colorful collage at Seattle's Gum Wall—it's best left outside on test day.
New York Bar Exam | 27 Things You Should Know
What can you bring to the NY bar exam?
- Nutritious food: Eat well before the bar exam, as most jurisdictions don't allow snacks in their testing locations.
- A transparent water bottle.
- An alarm clock: in addition to your phone alarm.
- Eye mask: to ensure you get a good night's rest.
- Unpackaged earplugs.
Do you get breaks during bar exam?
The General Bar Examination (CBX) is a 2-day exam. Day One of the exam will be comprised of five one-hour essay sessions covering Questions 1 through 5, with a 45-minute lunch break, followed by a 90-minute Performance Test (PT).
What is the passing score for the NY bar exam?
A passing score for the New York bar exam is a 266 on a 400 point scale, once it switches to the UBE. It looks like New York will follow traditional UBE grading in scoring its bar exam. To see the breakdown of how the UBE is graded, please read this post on “what does my UBE score report mean“.
Is the New York Bar exam open book?
After watching all of the videos and completing the NYLC, you will have unlimited access to re- watch the NYLC videos, without the embedded questions, through your BOLE account. 44. What is the New York Law Exam (NYLE)? The NYLE is a 50-item, two-hour, open-book, multiple-choice test administered online.
What counts as ID for bar?
All identification documents must be originals, not photocopies or scans. Documents should be legible and not be torn or taped together. Expired documents are not considered valid and are not accepted. If you have a valid U.S. driver license, DMV-issued ID card, or Passport, it will suffice for identification purposes.
Can you wear jeans to a bar?
If you're heading to a more casual bar, you can opt for a more relaxed outfit. Some ideas for women include a pair of high-waisted jeans with a crop top and sneakers, or a midi skirt paired with a graphic tee and sandals. For men, a casual button-down shirt paired with denim jeans and sneakers can be a great option.
What part of the bar exam is the hardest?
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.
Can you wear jewelry bar exam?
Except for your primary ID and permitted comfort aids, no personal items are allowed in the testing room, including but not limited to cell phones, hand-held computers/personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other electronic devices, e-cigarettes, watches, larger jewelry, wallets, purses, food or beverages, firearms or ...
Which state has the easiest bar exam?
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.
Should I use my laptop on the bar exam?
In the decades since, test-taking software has become nearly ubiquitous, with the result that the vast majority of bar exam takers use laptops for the written portions of the test. And now, my stance has changed: I encourage everyone who can physically use a computer to take the exam on a computer.
Do you need to memorize for the bar exam?
With the bar exam approaching, you've likely been reviewing materials for weeks. But reviewing isn't memorizing. And while studying and practice exams help you absorb some rules and elements, your final phase of bar prep should focus on making sure you've got all the key bar exam concepts committed to memory.
Is NY the hardest bar exam?
However, a majority of states have higher score requirements than New York. This means that the New York bar exam is not one of the most difficult bar exams (at least with respect to the passing score requirement). Nonetheless, the New York Bar Exam still qualifies as a moderately difficult bar exam.
How long is the NY bar exam?
The New York Bar Exam is a 2-day exam. On Day 1 you'll have two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions in the morning and six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions in the afternoon.
How much is the NY bar exam?
The application fee for the NYS bar examination is $250.
How many times can you fail the NY bar exam?
The good news is that you can take the New York bar exam an unlimited amount of times if you do not pass. New York does not place a limit or a restriction on the number of times you may attempt to pass the bar exam. This, of course, does not mean that you want to take it numerous times.
How hard is it to pass the bar in NY?
On a scale of 260-280 of UBE passage rates, New York strikes a happy balance and requires a score of 266 to pass.
Is the NY bar exam curved?
The New York bar exam is graded on a curve or scale. The New York bar examiners convert the two written section scores (of the MEE and the MPT) into scaled scores on the MBE scale, before weighing the MEE 30% and the MPT 20% (learn the New York bar exam format).
Do most people fail the bar exam the first time?
Notably, the most substantial disparity occurred in July 2022, with 36 percent of CALS graduates successfully passing the bar exam as first-time applicants, while only 13 percent of graduates from unaccredited schools achieved the same outcome.
What time should I wake up for the bar exam?
That means you should be waking up around 6:30 a.m. depending on how far you have to travel to the testing site. If you have trouble getting up at the first alarm, don't hesitate to set multiple. Waking up early ensures that you'll give yourself enough time in the event something doesn't go according to plan!
How many questions can you miss on the bar exam?
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!