NCBE
MBE
Multistate Bar Examination
The multiple-choice core of the U.S. bar exam, used by nearly every jurisdiction and weighted 50% of the Uniform Bar Examination total. It tests fundamental legal principles and reasoning across seven subjects.
Full program: 7 decks, 993 cards.
What's on the exam
NCBE MBE Subject Matter Outline (25 scored questions per subject; most jurisdictions move to the NextGen UBE between July 2026 and July 2028, with the legacy UBE administered through February 2028)
Civil Procedure
~14%Jurisdiction and venue · Pretrial procedures and pleadings · Discovery · Motions and trial procedure · Verdicts, judgments, and appeals
Constitutional Law
~14%Judicial review and separation of powers · Federalism and the commerce power · Individual rights and due process · Equal protection · First Amendment freedoms
Contracts
~14%Formation and consideration · Defenses to enforceability · UCC Article 2 sales of goods · Performance, breach, and discharge · Remedies and third-party rights
Criminal Law and Procedure
~14%Homicide and other crimes · Inchoate crimes and parties · Defenses · Fourth Amendment search and seizure · Confessions and right to counsel
Evidence
~14%Relevance and its limits · Hearsay and exceptions · Witnesses, impeachment, and opinion · Privileges · Authentication and the best evidence rule
Real Property
~14%Ownership and future interests · Landlord-tenant law · Conveyancing and recording · Mortgages and security interests · Rights in land (easements, covenants)
Torts
~14%Intentional torts · Negligence · Strict liability and products liability · Defenses and damages · Nuisance and economic torts
Frequently asked questions
How much does the MBE cost?
Fees vary. Administered as part of a jurisdiction's bar exam; fees are set by each state board and vary.
How long is the MBE and how many questions does it have?
200 items total; 175 scored, 25 unscored pretest items — Six hours (two three-hour sessions).
What do you need to pass the MBE?
Scaled score; no standalone passing score — combined with written components per jurisdiction.
Can you retake the MBE?
Permitted; governed by each jurisdiction's retake rules.
What is the best way to study for the MBE?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Civil Procedure ~14%, Constitutional Law ~14%, Contracts ~14%, Criminal Law and Procedure ~14%, Evidence ~14%, Real Property ~14%, Torts ~14%). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our MBE — Multistate Bar Examination program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.