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What is the Multistate Essay Exam?
The Multistate Essay Exam is a written component of the bar examination. It tests a candidate’s ability to identify legal issues and write concise, organized answers. The NCBE has produced the MEE since 1988.
The MEE consists of six 30-minute essay questions per administration. Each question presents a hypothetical scenario with embedded legal issues. Examinees must apply IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) to reach a conclusion for each question clearly.
| MEE Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Producer | NCBE (National Conference of Bar Examiners) |
| Questions per exam | 6 essay questions |
| Time per question | 30 minutes |
| First administered | 1988 |
| Format | Written essay answers |
Table of Contents
Which States Administer the Multistate Essay Exam?
Forty-one jurisdictions administered the MEE as part of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in 2024. As reported by NCBE’s Bar Examiner (Spring 2025), more than 48,579 UBE scores were earned that year. Every jurisdiction that administers the UBE also administers the MEE.
The following jurisdictions administer the MEE as part of the bar exam uniform testing framework:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine
Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah
Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Virgin Islands
A jurisdiction not on this list, such as Georgia, does not administer the UBE. Each jurisdiction controls its own policy with regard to score transfers. Check out your specific bar board’s website to find out local transfer rules. A board of bar examiners will provide a number of jurisdiction-specific policies online. Students are taking the bar exam in non-UBE states must research state law requirements separately.
The full alphabetical sequence runs:
Alabama Alaska Arizona, Alaska Arizona Arkansas, Arizona Arkansas Colorado, Arkansas Colorado Connecticut, Colorado Connecticut District, Connecticut District of Columbia, District of Columbia Guam, Guam Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii Idaho Illinois, Iowa Kansas Kentucky, Kansas Kentucky Maine, Kentucky Maine Maryland, Minnesota Mississippi Missouri, Mississippi Missouri Montana, Missouri Montana Nebraska, Nebraska New Hampshire, New Hampshire New Jersey, Hampshire New Jersey, New Jersey New Mexico, Jersey New Mexico, New Mexico New York, Mexico New York, New York North Carolina, York North Carolina, Carolina South Dakota, South Carolina South Dakota, South Dakota Tennessee, Utah Vermont Washington, Vermont Washington West, Washington West Virginia, Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming, Wisconsin Wyoming. This list will be a useful reference when determining competence requirements by jurisdiction.
When Does the Multistate Essay Exam Get Discontinued?
The MEE does not get fully discontinued immediately. The NCBE will replace it gradually through the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE) rollout beginning in 2026. The NextGen bar exam will first administer in jurisdictions that adopt it early.
The MEE will remain active for jurisdictions that have not yet transitioned. Examinees taking exams in 2025 still face the current MEE format. The transition timeline varies by jurisdiction, so students must check their specific board of bar examiners for updates. Learn more about NextGen UBE timelines at the NCBE website.
| Transition Phase | Year | MEE Status |
|---|---|---|
| Current format | 2025 | Fully active |
| NextGen early adoption | 2026 | MEE phasing out |
| Full NextGen rollout | 2028 | MEE replaced |
How is the Multistate Essay Exam Scored?
The MEE is scored by trained graders using rubric-based evaluation. Each jurisdiction will provide its own policy with regard to grading standards. Graders assess a candidate’s ability to spot issues and apply relevant law concisely.
According to a study published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, GPT-4 scored an average of 4.2 out of 6.0 on the MEE. A rebuttal study by Eric Martínez (MIT) raised methodological concerns. Martínez noted that evaluators did not use standardized UBE grading rubrics or blinding protocols.
The MEE score combines with the MBE and MPT scores. Together, these three components form the final UBE score. Each jurisdiction applies its own relative weight given to grading calibration. Students who do identify weak areas early will have more time to improve before test day.
What Grading Scale Does the Multistate Essay Exam Use?
Most jurisdictions use a six-point scale for the MEE. As indicated by the Royal Society Publishing study, a score of 4 or higher is generally considered passing. Graders evaluate organization, issue identification, rule application, and a conclusion’s overall quality.
The grading scale works as follows:
6 – Exceptional answer; thorough issue-spotting and analysis
5 – Strong answer; minor gaps in rule application
4 – Passing answer; adequate issue spotting
3 – Marginal answer; incomplete analysis
2 – Weak answer; significant errors or omissions
1 – Failing answer; minimal legal understanding shown
A clear IRAC structure improves scores significantly. Students must write a concise answer that maps each legal issue to the correct rule. A little extra focus on organization may be the difference between passing and failing.
What is the Most Frequently Tested MEE Subject?
The most frequently tested MEE subject historically is Civil Procedure. As noted by JD Advising’s MEE subject frequency chart, Civil Procedure appears more consistently than any other area of law. Law students must prioritize this subject in bar exam preparation.
The top subjects follow a clear sequence of frequency:
Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law – high frequency cluster
Law Contracts, including UCC Article 2 Sales, Criminal Law – regularly tested
Procedure, Evidence, Family Law – appear across most administrations
Family Law, Real Property – tested consistently each year
Torts, Trusts and Estates, Decedents – appear in rotation
The subject sequence matters for preparing essays efficiently. Students preparing for the bar exam should focus on Civil Procedure Conflict of Laws first. Conflict of Laws Constitutional Law questions frequently appear together. Evidence Family Law crossover questions are common on recent exams. Family Law Real Property combinations also appear as one of a number of multi-subject questions. The main content focus should remain on high-frequency subjects. Business Associations and Constitutional Law Contracts overlap also appears regularly. Law Real Property questions will be tested in most administrations.
Study aids and writing guides remain the most reliable resources for mastering these subjects. Students must check out available information from bar review providers. More information on subject frequency is available through NCBE’s published resources.
How Does the Multistate Essay Exam Weight the UBE?
The uniform bar examination weight distributes points across three components. The bar examination weight allocates 30% to the MEE specifically. As stated by NCBE, the examination weight gives the MEE 120 points of the total 400-point UBE score. The MBE contributes 200 points, and the MPT contributes 80 points.
| UBE Component | Points | Examination Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MBE (Multistate Bar Examination) | 200 | 50% |
| MEE (Multistate Essay Examination) | 120 | 30% |
| MPT (Multistate Performance Test) | 80 | 20% |
| Total UBE Score | 400 | 100% |
Per NCBE data, the UBE mean scaled score was 262.0 for February 2024 and 284.7 for July 2024. Minimum passing UBE scores ranged from 260 to 270, with 270 being the most common threshold. The exam administered last Wednesday in February consistently yields lower mean scores than the July sitting.
Which Subjects Are Being Removed from the MEE?
Several subjects are no longer tested under the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination framework. The NCBE is restructuring tested content to reflect modern legal practice. Students must check the NCBE website for finalized subject removal announcements.
Subjects under review or removal include:
Conflict of Laws – reduced emphasis in NextGen
Secured Transactions – UCC-specific content being restructured
Trusts and Estates, Decedents – scope being modified
Family Law – coverage being re-evaluated
The subject sequence being restructured follows this pattern: Civil Procedure Conflict of Laws Constitutional Law, Conflict of Laws Constitutional Law, Procedure Evidence Family, Evidence Family Law Real Property, Law Real Property, Torts Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates Decedents. Students must note which subjects will be no longer tested in their jurisdiction’s specific bar exam cycle.
The NextGen exam will test agency, limited liability companies, civil procedure, partnership, and corporations differently. Limited Liability Companies Civil Procedure overlap will shift under the new framework. The uniform commercial code criminal law provisions and sales criminal law content are also being restructured. Uniform Commercial Code Criminal Law coverage will be integrated differently in NextGen writing tasks. A jurisdiction’s board of bar examiners will first announce local adoption timelines. Students should review updated NCBE subject lists before beginning bar exam preparation
What is the Multistate Essay Exam Time Format?
The MEE time format gives examinees three hours total for all six questions. Each of the six 30-minute questions receives equal time. Students must manage their time carefully on test day.
The time format breaks down as follows:
Total MEE time: 3 hours (180 minutes)
Questions: 6 essay questions
Time per question: 30 minutes
Recommended approach: 5 minutes to outline, 20 minutes to write, 5 minutes to review
Effective time management separates passing and failing examinees. Students who spend too long on one question risk failing others. Bar review courses consistently emphasize strict minute-by-minute practice under timed conditions.
What is the Format of the Multistate Essay Exam?
The format of the Multistate Essay Exam consists of six written essay questions. Each question presents a hypothetical legal scenario. Examinees must identify legal issues and write organized answers using IRAC structure.
| Format Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Question type | Written essay (open-book prohibited) |
| Hypothetical style | Fact pattern with embedded legal issues |
| Answer structure | IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) |
| Number of questions | 6 per administration |
| Topics per question | May include one or more areas of law |
Prior to February 2014, the NCBE released between 7 and 9 questions for jurisdictions to choose from. As noted by JD Advising, beginning February 2014, NCBE began releasing only 6 questions. This change eliminated jurisdiction choice in question selection. A number of jurisdictions had relied on that flexibility for determining competence benchmarks before this shift.
What Subjects Are Tested on the Multistate Essay Exam?
The MEE tests 12 subjects across the bar examination. As stated by NCBE, these subjects cover the core areas of American law. Each MEE administration may include one area of law or overlap multiple topics in a single question.
The 12 tested subjects are:
Business Associations (corporations, limited liability companies, partnership, agency)
Civil Procedure (federal rules, jurisdiction)
Conflict of Laws (choice of law, apply state law rules)
Constitutional Law (federal constitutional principles)
Contracts (common law and UCC Article 2, sales)
Criminal Law and Procedure (evidence, rights, uniform commercial code criminal law overlap)
Evidence (federal rules, admissibility)
Family Law (domestic relations, majority law principles)
Real Property (property torts, estates, conveyances)
Secured Transactions (uniform commercial code, commercial code)
Torts
