NCBE
UBE
Uniform Bar Examination
The standardized bar examination required to practice law in most U.S. jurisdictions, producing a portable score accepted across UBE states. It combines three NCBE components — the Multistate Bar Examination, Multistate Essay Examination, and Multistate Performance Test.
Full program: 11 decks, 1,191 cards.
What's on the exam
Legacy UBE component structure (MBE 50%, MEE 30%, MPT 20%); NextGen bar exam began July 2026 in initial jurisdictions, legacy UBE administered through February 2028
Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
50%Civil Procedure · Constitutional Law · Contracts · Criminal Law and Procedure · Evidence · Real Property · Torts
Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
30%Business associations and Conflict of Laws · Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law · Contracts and UCC Sales · Criminal law, Evidence, and Family Law · Real Property and Torts · Trusts, estates, and Secured Transactions
Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
20%Fact analysis from a case file and library · Legal analysis and problem solving · Persuasive and objective legal writing · Drafting documents (memos, briefs, letters) · Identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas
Frequently asked questions
How much does the UBE cost?
Fees vary. Bar exam application and seat fees are set by each jurisdiction and vary widely (commonly several hundred dollars); confirm with your board of bar examiners.
How long is the UBE and how many questions does it have?
200 MBE multiple-choice items, 6 MEE essays, 2 MPT tasks — About 12 hours of testing across two days.
What do you need to pass the UBE?
Total scaled score on a 400-point scale; each jurisdiction sets its own passing score (typically 260–280).
Can you retake the UBE?
Permitted; number of attempts and waiting periods are set by each jurisdiction.
What is the best way to study for the UBE?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) 50%, Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) 30%, Multistate Performance Test (MPT) 20%). 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 UBE Bar Exam 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.