NCBE Exams

A two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice examination developed by NCBE that is administered three times per year and is designed to measure knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer’s professional conduct. It is administered by NCBE through its test contractor.

A bar examination coordinated by NCBE that is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score. It is composed of the MEE, two MPT tasks, and the MBE.

A six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice examination developed by NCBE covering Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. It is administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination. 

An examination developed by NCBE consisting of 30-minute essay questions. Areas of law tested are Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the Uniform Commercial Code), Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates, and Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code. It is administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination. 

An examination developed by NCBE consisting of 90-minute tasks requiring the application of fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. Skills tested are factual analysis, legal analysis and reasoning, problem solving, identification and resolution of ethical dilemmas, written communication, and organization and management of a legal task. It is administered by user jurisdictions as part of the bar examination. 

The NextGen bar exam is currently under development. Set to debut in a limited number of US jurisdictions in July 2026, the NextGen bar exam will test a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, utilizing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law.