What is considered a good score on the bar exam?

A good bar exam score is generally anything above the minimum passing score for your state, with scores of 280+ on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) being strong enough to pass in every UBE jurisdiction, while scores in the 60-65% range on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) (around 120-130 correct out of 200) often put you in a passing zone, with higher scores like 300+ showing excellent performance. Ultimately, "good" means passing, but a significantly higher score offers score portability and competitive advantage.

What is considered a good bar exam score?

The lowest possible passing score of 266 will suffice in states like South Carolina, Montana, and some others. Depending on how many people have taken the UBE, a score of 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 300 is in about the 90th percentile, and 330 is in the top 1% of all scores.

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar exam?

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.
 

Is 317 a good bar score?

Your overall score

(Your Uniform Bar Exam score report should also clearly indicate “PASS” or “FAIL”!) 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.

Is 280 a good bar exam score?

280: This is considered a strong score. You'll meet the passing standard in every UBE jurisdiction and be competitive for score transfers. 270–279: Solid. You'll pass in most jurisdictions, and you're only a few points away from the highest bar states.

The Bar Exam & What to Expect: Scaled Scoring, MBE Subjects, Essays, the Performance Test and More

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.
 

How many people pass the bar first try?

Preliminary analyses show that of the 7,362 applicants who completed the July 2025 GBX, 73.9 percent were first-time exam takers; the pass rate for these first-time takers was 69.7 percent. The pass rate for the 26.1 percent of applicants who were repeating the exam was 12.4 percent.

What is a passing bar exam score?

If the applicant's averaged total scaled score after two readings is 1390 or higher, the applicant passes the exam. Applicants with averaged total scale scores of less than 1390 fail the exam.

What is the easiest bar exam to pass?

What is the easiest bar exam to pass? 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.

Has anyone ever gotten a perfect score on the bar exam?

It has probably happened before, but very rarely. Also, the “300 is the top 1%” is an oft-repeated falsehood. That statistic came from a single administration of a February exam.

Did Joe Biden pass a 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. 

Did JFK ever pass the bar exam?

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.

What was 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.
 

What is the lowest score on the bar exam?

Each UBE jurisdiction sets a minimum passing score, ranging from 260 to 270. Recently, many jurisdictions have re-evaluated these scores in response to national discussions on bar exam difficulty, candidate performance, and the demand for new lawyers.

What are my odds of passing the bar exam?

The bar exam pass rate is typically between 60-80% depending on your bar exam state.

What is a 266 on the bar exam?

If you are in New York, for example, you need a 266 to pass the bar exam and a 133 to have a “passing” MBE score. (Note that most jurisdictions, including Uniform Bar Exam jurisdictions, do not require a minimum passing MBE score. So long as you receive 266 points total, you will pass!)

Which state is easiest to become a lawyer?

Wisconsin makes the list of easiest bar exams for a unique reason: if you attend an ABA law school in Wisconsin, you don't have to take the bar! Students who have graduated from these universities can just apply to practice law in the state. No studying, no stressing, no grueling examination period.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

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.
 

How many people have passed the bar exam without going to law school?

Only 4 States Allow It: California, Virginia, Washington, and Vermont let you take the bar exam through a legal apprenticeship—no law school required. It's Affordable, but Tough: You'll save thousands in tuition, but bar pass rates for apprentices are much lower (about 27% vs. 80% for law grads).

Is 311 a good bar exam 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.

How long is your bar exam score good for?

Rule 4.17 of the Rules of the State Bar of California provides that an applicant for admission to the practice of law must satisfy all admission requirements for certification to the Supreme Court within five years of achieving a passing score on the bar exam.

What is the fail rate for the bar exam?

California: 47% Virgin Islands: 50%

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 the bar or CPA harder?

There's no definitive answer, as it's subjective, but many who've taken both find the CPA Exam harder due to its four distinct sections, breadth of technical accounting knowledge, and the need to pass all within 18 months (a marathon), while the Bar Exam is often seen as a more intense, physically demanding sprint over two days testing broad legal concepts. The CPA's difficulty often comes from its multifaceted nature and the challenge of mastering different accounting/tax areas, whereas the Bar's challenge lies in the sheer volume of legal information and mental stamina required over consecutive days. 

What percent of lawyers never pass the bar?

Yakowitz's findings are consistent with ABA reports. For example, in the graduating class of 2019, 8.83% of law school graduates never passed a bar exam and law schools had no information about another . 98% of graduates.