Examinations - State Bar Of California

Here are the admissions examinations administered by the State Bar.

California Bar Examination

The California bar examination is given twice each year. The exam is given over two days and consists of the following parts:

• Five one-hour Essay Questions
• One 90-minute Performance Test
• 200 Multiple-Choice Questions

Approximately 16,000 people take the bar exam each year. Find more information about the California bar exam, including dates and details for the next exam.

• Past exam questions and selected answers
• See dates and application deadlines for upcoming exams
• See passage rate statistics
• Admissions fees

First-Year Law Students’ Examination

The First-Year Law Students’ Examination (also known as the “baby bar”) is a half-day test given twice a year. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and covers three subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. More than 500 applicants take the exam each year. Applicants can take the exam if they have completed one year of law study.

• Find out more about the exam, including who must take it, dates, and details for upcoming tests
• Past exam questions and selected answers
• See dates and application deadlines for upcoming exams
• See passage rate statistics

Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)

Every applicant must take and pass the MPRE in order to be admitted. Applicants can take the MPRE any time after completing one year of law study and before being licensed to practice law in California. This two-hour multiple-choice test is administered three times a year by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

• See more information about this test

Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations are available to individuals with mental or physical disabilities. Depending on the nature of the disability, accommodations may include such things as readers or personal healthcare assistants, wheelchair access, permission to dictate to a typist or digital recorder, customized timing, separate testing room, customized exam materials (Braille, large print, etc.), extended testing days, and permission to bring and use specific items or medical aids.

• Find out more about what is required to request special testing accommodations

Exam Administration

Under the supervision of the Supreme Court of California, the State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners is responsible for developing, administering, and grading the California Bar Exam and the First-Year Law Students’ Exam.

Published Standards

Under California Rule of Court 9.6, the Committee of Bar Examiners is responsible for administering the bar examination, including its mode of administration, proctoring, format, scope, topics, content, and grading process. In carrying out these responsibilities, the committee must, in part, develop, maintain, and publish certain standards.

Content Validation Panelist and Subject Matter Expert Qualification Standards

• Policy Regarding Eligibility, Recruitment, and Selection of Content Validation and Standard Validation Panelists
• Policy Regarding Eligibility, Recruitment, and Selection of Subject Matter Experts for Legal Accuracy Review

Third-Party Vendor Exam Administration or Proctoring Assessment Standards

Pending

Bar Exam Testing Accommodations Standards

• Policies Regarding Testing Accommodations
• Policies Regarding Testing Accommodations Requests
• Policies Regarding the Types of Accommodations Requests and Approval of Requests
• Policies Regarding the Appeal of Testing Accommodations Decisions

Grading, Regrading, and Scoring Adjustment Standards

Pending

Bar Exam Studies

Related links

• Becoming a Certified Specialist
• Guidelines Governing the Interpretation and Application of Chapter 6 of the Admissions Rules