NCBE
NextGen Bar Exam
NextGen Uniform Bar Examination
NCBE's redesigned bar exam, launching July 2026 and replacing the legacy UBE in adopting jurisdictions. It integrates foundational legal concepts with foundational lawyering skills, testing knowledge and skills together rather than as separate components.
What's on the exam
NCBE NextGen UBE Content Scope (July 2026–February 2028)
Foundational Concepts — Civil Practice
~17%Civil Procedure · Jurisdiction and venue · Pretrial and discovery · Trial and post-trial procedure · Evidence in civil contexts
Foundational Concepts — Criminal Practice
~17%Criminal law · Constitutional protections of accused persons · Search and seizure · Confessions and right to counsel · Evidence in criminal contexts
Foundational Concepts — Contracts and Business
~17%Contract law · UCC Article 2 sales · Business associations and relationships · Agency and partnership · Corporations and LLCs
Foundational Concepts — Public Law
~16%Constitutional Law · Separation of powers and federalism · Individual rights · Equal protection and due process · First Amendment
Foundational Concepts — Property and Torts
~16%Real Property · Estates and future interests · Torts · Negligence and liability · Family Law and Trusts/Estates in skills contexts
Foundational Lawyering Skills
~17%Legal research · Legal writing · Issue spotting and analysis · Investigation and evaluation · Client counseling, advising, and negotiation
Frequently asked questions
How much does the NextGen Bar Exam cost?
Fees vary. Administered by each jurisdiction; application and seat fees are set by the state board and vary.
How long is the NextGen Bar Exam and how many questions does it have?
Mixed item types organized around legal concepts and lawyering skills — About 9 hours of testing — six hours on day one and three hours on day two.
What do you need to pass the NextGen Bar Exam?
Single scaled score reported on a 500–750 scale; each jurisdiction sets its own passing score.
Can you retake the NextGen Bar Exam?
Permitted; attempts and waiting periods set by each jurisdiction.
What is the best way to study for the NextGen Bar Exam?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Foundational Concepts — Civil Practice ~17%, Foundational Concepts — Criminal Practice ~17%, Foundational Concepts — Contracts and Business ~17%, Foundational Concepts — Public Law ~16%, Foundational Concepts — Property and Torts ~16%, Foundational Lawyering Skills ~17%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.
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