Is the CA bar curved?

The California Bar Exam isn't curved in the traditional sense (limiting passes/fails), but it uses a statistical scaling process called "equating" for the MBE to adjust for exam difficulty across administrations, ensuring fairness, and also scales written scores (essays/PTs) to match the MBE, creating a consistent standard, with specific reviews for scores near the passing mark. So, while not a "curve," scores are adjusted to a fixed standard (like a 1390 passing score), not based on how others perform.

Is the CA bar exam curved?

The bar exam is not curved in the traditional sense.

There is no quota of people who can pass or fail. Scaling is used to adjust scores on the MBE and essay sections to account for variations in difficulty. Your performance is measured against a standard, not against your peers.

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.
 

How difficult was the July 2025 bar exam?

For the July 2025 Attorneys' Exam, the 43.4 percent passing rate is lower than the July 2024 result (48.9 percent) and the July 2023 result (47.8 percent).

How many times did Kim Kardashian take the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian has taken the official California Bar Exam once, in July 2025, which she did not pass, though she previously passed the "baby bar" exam (First-Year Law Students' Exam) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after failing it three times. She is preparing for another attempt at the main bar exam, as California allows multiple tries for apprenticeship-path students.
 

The Bar Exam, Is It Really That Hard?

Who's richer, Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian?

Kim Kardashian just pulled ahead of Taylor Swift in terms of net worth — and she did it with her shapewear brand. According to Forbes, the business mogul's fortune has climbed to an estimated $1.9 billion, officially surpassing Taylor Swift's recently reported 1.6 billion net worth.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

No, Kim Kardashian did not take the LSAT because she pursued a law apprenticeship (like the California Law Office Study Program) instead of traditional law school, but she has faced setbacks passing the actual California Bar Exam, failing her first attempt in July 2025, though she remains determined to pass. She previously passed the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after multiple failures. 

What is the top 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. 

Why do so many people fail the California bar exam?

Overstudying, understudying, studying the wrong things, getting sick or panicked on test day…things happen. Just look at all of the famous people who've failed the bar exam! (My personal favorite being Kathleen Sullivan, who failed in California, shortly after stepping down as dean of Stanford Law.

Is a 269 on the bar exam good?

270–279: Solid. You'll pass in most jurisdictions, and you're only a few points away from the highest bar states. 260–269: Passing in many states but may not be transferable to higher-scoring jurisdictions. Below 260: Unfortunately, this won't get you licensed anywhere.

Did Joe Biden pass his bar exam?

Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, after earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, though he graduated in the lower part of his class. 

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely in the 170s) to gain admission to Harvard Law School, especially given his undergraduate GPA was considered relatively low for Harvard applicants. Experts suggest his score was well above average, probably in the top percentile, possibly placing him in the 94th to 98th percentile range to compensate for his undergraduate record and secure admission.
 

Did JFK Jr pass the bar?

Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time, Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was 95 years old or passed.

Who tops the bar exam in 2025?

UP has topped the 2025 Bar Examinations. The Supreme Court released the good news on Jan. 7, citing Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the UP College of Law (UP Law), placing first of all Bar passers, with a 92.7% rating.

What does 20% curve mean?

Grading on a curve refers to the process of adjusting student grades in order to ensure that a test or assignment has the proper distribution throughout the class (for example, only 20% of students receive As, 30% receive Bs, and so on), as well as a desired total average (for example, a C grade average for a given ...

How many people fail the bar exam the first time in California?

As is typical, those taking the exam for the first-time had the highest pass rate, 69.7%. Of the people who were taking the test again after at least one unsuccessful effort, the pass rate was only 12.4%.

Do smart people fail the bar exam?

The bar exam does not measure intelligence, success or your ability to practice law. There are multiple reasons that perfectly smart, capable and talented lawyers-to-be fail the bar. Here are some of the most common causes of future lawyers needing to retake the exam, and how to avoid them.

How many times can you fail the bar in California?

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.

What percent of lawyers never pass the bar?

States with the Lowest Bar Exam Pass Rates

California: 47%

What is the easiest exam in the world?

List of Easiest Exams in the World

• Duolingo English Test (DET)
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
• SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
• National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Exams.
• Cambridge English: Key (KET)
• SSC Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) Exam.
• IELTS General Training Test.
• Gaokao Mock Test.

What's the hardest exam for lawyers?

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)

Are "tough" exams truly valuable?

Tough exams serve as critical gateways to prestigious universities and professional opportunities.

How did Kim lose 16lbs in 3 weeks?

She lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into her vintage Met Gala gown. How did Kardashian lose weight? She says she cut carbs and ate “just the cleanest veggies and protein.” She also ran on a treadmill and wore a sauna suit twice a day. Kardashian's 3-week weight loss sparked concern over the impact on mental health.

Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?

No, passing the California "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination) does not make you a lawyer; it's a milestone for non-traditional students (unaccredited schools or law office study) to continue their legal education, but you must still pass the main California Bar Exam and meet character/fitness requirements to be licensed and practice law. It's essentially proof you've completed the equivalent of first-year law studies and can proceed to year two, but you're far from being a licensed attorney.
 

How many times has Kim failed the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian failed the baby bar exam (First-Year Law Students' Exam) three times before passing it in December 2021, and she has also failed the main California Bar Exam at least once, with reports in late 2025 indicating she failed her first attempt at the official exam in July 2025 but planned to retake it in February 2026.