Is 70% good on the MBE?

Yes, scoring 70% on practice MBEs is generally considered very good and puts you in a strong position to pass the bar exam comfortably, often seen as a "comfortable pass" target, though consistency and understanding why you get answers wrong (not just the right ones) are crucial for translating practice scores to the actual scaled exam score. While some aim for 65% as a baseline, 70%+ indicates strong knowledge and skill development across subjects, suggesting you're well-prepared for the real test.

What is a good MBE percentage?

The short answer:

If you are aiming for a MBE score of 131-135 (which is a passing score in 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 60% on the MBE?

We suggest aiming for at least 60% to be safe. This means you should get 60-62 questions correct on a 100-question practice test or 120-124 questions correct on a full MBE exam.

What is the lowest score on the MBE?

The lowest possible MBE scaled score is 40, while the highest is 200. This score represents your performance after accounting for exam difficulty and statistical adjustments made by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first try; she failed the Illinois bar initially, felt discouraged, but eventually passed on her second attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School and went on to have a successful legal career before becoming First Lady.
 

Why most people are only giving 70%—and what happens at 100% | John Amaechi for Big Think+

Is 60% enough to pass step 1?

Yes, around 60% correct is generally considered the approximate pass mark for USMLE Step 1, though the exact percentage varies with each exam form, and the score is reported as Pass/Fail, not a number, so consistently scoring higher (like 65-70%) on practice exams (NBMEs) is recommended for a comfortable pass. The official passing score (around 196 before 2022, now just "Pass") isn't a fixed number of questions, as some are experimental, but aiming for about 60% on practice tests is a good benchmark, with 70%+ being a safer target for a strong pass. 

Is the MBE getting harder?

No, the MBE is not getting harder. The MBE scaled score is adjusted to take any differences in question difficulty into account. As a result, when the average score decreases from July to the next February or from one February to the next February, we can assume that the examinees were less proficient.

Is 60 out of 100 a good score?

A 60 out of 100 (60%) is generally considered a passing grade (a 'D') in many U.S. high schools and colleges, meaning you've met basic requirements, but it's not considered a good grade, often seen as below average or marginal, potentially impacting GPA and financial aid, though a curve in difficult subjects could significantly improve it.
 

What percentile is 170 on the MBE?

Your percentile for the MBE Score is as follows:

A 170 is 98th percentile. A 165 if about 95th percentile. A 160 is about 90th percentile. A 155 is about 82nd percentile.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in her most recent attempt (July 2025), though she shared that she came very close and vowed to keep studying, sharing her disappointment and determination to pass in future attempts on her show and social media, as revealed in late 2025. She stated she's "not a lawyer yet" but is dedicated to her law journey, viewing the setback as motivation, per reports from November 2025.
 

What is the hardest bar exam to pass?

1. California

For starters, the cut score (the score needed to pass the test) of the California bar is 1390 out of 2000, which is 40 points above the national average. The California bar exam is given twice a year over two days and is made up of the following components: Five essay questions (60 minutes each)

Has anyone gotten a perfect MBE score?

The NCBE publishes MBE statistics going back to 2016 and the highest reported scaled MBE score is 191.2. So no one has come close to a 200 in 7 years.

What is an 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.

How to ace the MBE?

Top 10 Best MBE Tips and Tricks By a Bar Expert who Scored A 180 On The MBE

1. Memorize the law! ...
2. Focus on the highly tested topics. ...
3. Answer questions one by one when you are trying to improve your MBE score. ...
4. Practice answering MBE questions in a timed setting. ...
5. Use released bar exam questions.

Is 70% a C?

Yes, 70% is typically a 'C' grade in the US grading system, often falling into the C- or C range, but it can vary by institution, sometimes being a low C or a failing grade if a C (70-79%) is the minimum passing score, so always check your specific syllabus.
 

Is 70/100 a good score?

A (90-100): Exceptional understanding and mastery. B (80-89): Good comprehension with some areas needing improvement. C (70-79): Satisfactory grasp; passing but not outstanding. D (60-69): Below average; significant gaps in knowledge or skills.

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The three toughest exams globally often cited for their extreme difficulty, low pass rates, and high stakes are China's Gaokao (National College Entrance Exam) for its sheer scale and competitiveness, India's UPSC Civil Services Exam for its life-altering potential and minuscule selection, and India's IIT-JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Exam) for its rigorous engineering entrance criteria, alongside prestigious UK fellowships like the All Souls Prize Exam, with difficulty varying by individual and goals. 

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.

Are board exams harder than USMLE?

According to most US doctors, the USMLE board exams are the most difficult series of exams a medical student will ever take.

What is a 75% on Step 1?

A 75% on USMLE Step 1 usually refers to a high performance level, often meaning you scored better than 75% of other test-takers (75th percentile) or got around 75% of questions correct on practice exams, indicating a very high chance of passing, as a ~65% correct on NBMEs often predicts passing. While Step 1 is now pass/fail, historically, a score in the 75th percentile (around 240-250+ on the old scale) was considered strong for residency applications, and 70-75% on practice NBMEs suggests near-certain success on the actual exam.
 

Has anyone ever gotten a 300 on Step 2?

The highest possible score for the USMLE Step 2 CK is 300, but no one has ever achieved a “perfect” score. A score around 280 would be considered a top Step 2 CK score.

What is the 7 year rule for USMLE?

The USMLE 7-year rule, primarily for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking ECFMG Certification, mandates completing all required USMLE Steps (1, 2 CK/CS, and eventually 3) within seven years of passing the first exam; failure to do so invalidates earlier scores, requiring retakes, though waivers or extensions may be granted for documented issues like PhD programs, severe illness, or certain military service. Most U.S. medical licensing boards also enforce this timeframe for state licensure, starting from the first successful Step pass.