What is a 155 MBE score?

A 155 MBE score is a strong performance, typically placing you around the 82nd percentile, meaning you scored better than 82% of other test-takers nationally, well above the average (around 138-140) and often exceeding passing requirements in most jurisdictions for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).

What is a good MBE score?

In most states, a passing score is 131-125 for the MBE (Multistate Bar Exam). Scoring higher than needed on the MBE exam is actually very beneficial, because in most states, any number over passing will be added to MEE score, which will give you a better chance of passing the Bar exam.

What is a 150 scaled score on the MBE?

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. The national average MBE scaled score for the last few exams was: 142.2 6 in July 2025; 130.8 7 in Feb. 2025; 141.8 8 in July 2024;131.8 9 in Feb.

What is a 160 on the MBE?

Your percentile for the MBE Score is as follows:

A 160 is about 90th percentile. A 155 is about 82nd percentile. A 150 is about 72nd percentile. A 145 is about 62nd percentile.

Is 70% on MBE good?

65% is solid. Above 70% is elite. Your numbers in a few weeks will rise. Look at my post about equator questions and the real MBE. If you took it today you'd be closer to 60%.

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

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.
 

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.

How many times can you take the MBE?

General Rule: Most States Allow Unlimited Attempts

This includes states like: California.

What is the MBE scaled score for 2025?

The July 2025 Multistate Bar Exam national mean scaled score reached 142.4, the highest since 2013, reflecting improved performance by first-time test takers. Key points: National mean scaled MBE score for July 2025 rose to 142.4, highest since 2013.

What percentile do I need to be in to pass the bar?

The bar exam pass rate is typically between 60-80% depending on your bar exam state. That means that 20-40% of people who sit for that bar exam do not pass. As you watch your percentile rank, your goal is to be in the 30th-40th percentile or higher in each subject as you progress in your studies.

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. 

Is a 303 on the bar exam good?

Your overall score

Uniform Bar Exam states require a score between 260 and 280 to pass the Uniform Bar Exam. So, if your score was above 280, you technically received a score that is considered passing in every Uniform Bar Exam state. Congratulations if that is the case.

What is a failing bar exam score?

To pass the exam in the first phase of grading, an applicant must have a total scale score (after one reading) of at least 1390 out of 2000 possible points. Those with total scale scores after one reading below 1350 fail the exam.

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 the average score on the MBE in July 2025?

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the July 2025 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 142.4, an increase of about 0.6 points compared to the July 2024 mean of 141.8, and the highest July MBE mean since 2013 excluding the summer and fall 2020 ...

How long are MBE scores valid?

Maximum Age of MBE Scores

Each jurisdiction sets its own maximum age policy; however, NCBE performs score services only for MBE scores that are seven years old or less.

What is considered a high MBE score?

The performance information provided for the MBE is a scaled score which can range from about 40 (low) to 200 (high). MBE scaled scores are calculated by NCBE based on a statistical process known as equating that is commonly used on standardized examinations.

Is the bar exam changing in 2026?

Yes, the bar exam is changing significantly in 2026 with the launch of the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), debuting in July 2026, designed to test practical lawyering skills and foundational legal knowledge for modern practice, replacing the current UBE by 2028 and focusing on integrated questions, performance tasks, and a streamlined 1.5-day format.
 

What percentile is 160 on the MBE?

If you scored a 160, you were in the 88th percentile, which means you scored higher than 88 percent of examinees taking the MBE.

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.
 

How hard is the MBE to pass?

We'll say you should aim for a raw score of about 115. This raw score is the number correct that an examinee got out of 190. So, do the math: 115/190 = 60.52%. That is the approximate percentage of questions that you need to answer correctly to “pass” the MBE in a state that requires a 133 as a passing MBE score.

How old is the youngest barrister?

An 18 year-old has become the youngest person in the history of the English and Welsh legal system to be called to the Bar.

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 is the lowest score to pass the MBE?

Passing standards range from 130 to 143. Keep in mind that the MBE score is only part of your Uniform Bar Exam (UBE®) score. A stellar Multistate Essay Examination (MEE®) and Multistate Performance Test (MPT®) scores can help offset a lackluster MBE score.

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.