Is 70% on MBE good?

Yes, scoring 70% on the MBE (Multistate Bar Examination) practice questions is generally considered very good and a strong indicator of passing, putting you in a comfortable position for a passing score, though the actual scaled score depends on jurisdiction and the entire exam's difficulty. While 65% is often seen as the solid threshold for passing, consistently hitting 70% means you're likely well-prepared, with room to manage potential weaker areas in essays or performance tests.

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 exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first attempt; she failed the Illinois bar exam the first time she took it but passed on her second try after graduating from Harvard Law School, later working as a lawyer before becoming First Lady.
 

Bar Exam: Improve Your MBE Score (Multistate Bar Exam)

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. 

What is the highest MBE score?

The MBE consists of 200 questions, with 175 questions being scored and 25 being 'tester questions' that are not graded. Each scored question is worth one point. Your raw MBE score (the number of correct answers out of 175) is then converted to a scaled score, which ranges from 1-200.

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.

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 has not yet passed the California Bar Exam; she failed her most recent attempt in late 2025 but shared tearful reactions and vowed to keep studying, fueled by coming "so close," with plans to retake the difficult exam in 2026. She announced the setback on social media, expressing determination despite the disappointment, which was also featured on The Kardashians. 

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.

Does California accept MBE scores?

The General Bar Examination has three parts: six essay questions, the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), and two performance tests (PT). The parts of the examination may not be taken separately, and California does not accept the transfer of MBE scores from other jurisdictions.

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.

Is 70% on the 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%.

How many times did JFK Jr. fail the bar?

John F. Kennedy Jr. failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third attempt in November 1990, a requirement to keep his job as an assistant district attorney. He failed the exams in November 1989 and February 1990, but passed the July 1990 exam, keeping his position.
 

Is ube easier than ca bar?

However, in some situations, deciding between the two tests can be a complex decision that requires some thought. The California Bar Exam is often discussed in the context of its notorious difficulty and low pass rate. The UBE, on the other hand, is often considered to be a slightly easier test.

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.
 

What is the 7 year rule for USMLE?

The USMLE 7-Year Rule mandates that most applicants must pass USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and Step 3 within seven years of passing their first step, starting from the date of that initial pass, for ECFMG Certification and medical licensure. Failure to meet this deadline invalidates earlier scores, requiring retesting, though waivers or extensions may be possible for documented extenuating circumstances like MD/PhD programs or severe illness, requiring contact with the specific state medical board or ECFMG. 

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.