News/Resources

Here you will find helpful information for bar candidates, jurisdictions, the bar admissions community, the legal education community, and media/press. 

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Press Release

NCBE Announces National Mean for February 2024 MBE

Apr 2, 2024
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the February 2024 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 131.8, an increase of more than 0.6 points compared to the February 2023 mean of 131.1. The MBE, one of three sections that make up the bar exam in most US jurisdictions, consists of 200 multiple-choice questions answered over six hours.
Press Release

Colorado and Minnesota Announce Plans to Administer NextGen Bar Exam

Mar 14, 2024
Two states announced plans this week to adopt the NextGen bar exam, bringing the total number of jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam to sixteen. Minnesota intends to first administer the exam in July 2027, and Colorado will hold its first administration in July 2028.
Press Release

Kansas to Administer NextGen Bar Exam in July 2028

Feb 22, 2024
Kansas has announced that it will administer the NextGen bar exam, joining thirteen other jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam. Kansas will first administer the NextGen exam in July 2028.
Press Release

NCBE Conducts Nationwide Field Test to Prepare for NextGen Bar Exam

Feb 20, 2024
4,124 participants from 88 law schools in 41 jurisdictions recently participated in a nationwide field test for the NextGen bar exam, providing exam developers and psychometric experts at the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) with key data and feedback on new question types that will appear on the exam.
Press Release

NCBE Announces Members of NextGen Family Law Content Scope Panel

Feb 13, 2024
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has announced the formation of the Family Law Content Scope Panel, which will develop the content outline specifying the breadth and depth of family law material that will be tested on the NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2028. The panel held its inaugural meeting last week.
Press Release

2024 NCBE Research Award Recipients Announced

Feb 6, 2024
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has announced the 2024 recipients of two awards that provide funding for research related to testing and measurement, with a particular focus on research related to high-stakes licensure testing such as the bar exam.
Press Release

New Mexico to Administer NextGen Bar Exam in July 2027

Feb 5, 2024
The New Mexico Supreme Court has announced that it will administer the NextGen bar exam, joining twelve other jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam. New Mexico will first administer the NextGen exam in July 2027.
Press Release

Utah Announces Plan to Adopt NextGen Bar Exam in July 2028

Jan 31, 2024
Utah has announced that it plans to administer the NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2028. It joins ten other jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam, which is set to launch in July 2026. Three jurisdictions plan to begin administering the NextGen exam in July 2026, six jurisdictions will first administer the exam in July 2027, and one jurisdiction has not yet announced the date of its first administration.
Press Release

Vermont Will Administer NextGen Bar Exam in July 2027

Jan 17, 2024
Vermont is the tenth jurisdiction to announce that it will administer the NextGen bar exam, joining nine other jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam. Vermont will first administer the NextGen exam in July 2027.
Press Release

Professor Jon J. Lee Appointed Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NCBE

Jan 2, 2024
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that Professor Jon J. Lee has been appointed Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NCBE. Professor Lee will contribute his expertise to a wide variety of initiatives at NCBE, including the development of the NextGen bar exam, drawing on his many years of experience as a legal educator and scholar. Professor Lee was a member of the Content Scope Committee that developed the NextGen test content specifications, and he currently serves as a member of the Item Set Drafting Committee and Tasks and Rubrics Advisory Committee for the new exam.
Press Release

NCBE Releases National Mean for November 2023 MPRE

Dec 14, 2023
The national mean scaled score for the November 2023 MPRE was 98.0, 0.8 points higher than the November 2022 mean of 97.2. The November 2023 mean reflects the performance of 21,275 examinees, 1,691 more than the November 2022 examinee count of 19,584.
Press Release

Kentucky Announces Plan to Adopt NextGen Bar Exam in July 2027

Dec 13, 2023
Kentucky is among the first jurisdictions to announce that it will administer the NextGen bar exam, which will replace the exam currently used to license attorneys across the US. The Bluegrass State will join seven other jurisdictions that have announced their intent to adopt the new exam: Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, and Wyoming. Kentucky will first administer the NextGen exam in July 2027.