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NextGen Bar Exam: What is it, When is it, Which States, Register, Scoring, 2026
The NextGen Bar Exam replaces the current Uniform Bar Exam starting July 2026, running nine hours over a day and a half instead of the previous two-day format. The National Conference of Bar Examiners developed the NextGen Bar Exam through extensive research and pilot testing beginning in 2021. The new exam reduces testing time, eliminates traditional essays, and increases the weight of performance tasks in the overall score. Fifty jurisdictions adopted the NextGen Bar Exam on a rolling schedule between July 2026 and July 2028. The first administrations take place in July 2026 across ten jurisdictions. Examinees register for the NextGen Bar Exam through their jurisdiction’s bar admission authority rather than through NCBE directly. The exam tests foundational legal concepts including civil procedure, contract law, evidence, torts, constitutional law, criminal law, real property, and family law. The NextGen exam features multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks across three sessions. The exam presents different challenges than the traditional format by emphasizing applied legal analysis over memorization. The NextGen exam uses a scoring scale of 500 to 750 with a recommended passing range between 610 and 620. Skills-based testing evaluates real lawyering competencies including legal research, client counseling, and dispute resolution. Performance tasks account for 30% of the total score, with examinees completing three 60-minute tasks across the exam sessions.
Table of Contents
What is the NextGen Bar Exam?
The NextGen Bar Exam is the redesigned uniform bar examination. The NextGen uniform bar examination replaces the current UBE format. It tests foundational legal concepts and lawyering skills together. The exam nextgen format runs nine hours over two calendar days. It will be administered across a day and a half. The exam will feature multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks.
| Feature | Legacy UBE | NextGen UBE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Duration | 12 hours | 9 hours |
| Days Administered | Two full days | 1.5 days |
| Performance Task Weight | 20% | 30% |
| Scoring Scale | 400–800 | 500–750 |
The NextGen uniform bar exam is practice of law designed to test real skills. It replaces pure memorization with applied legal analysis.
Who Developed the NextGen Bar Exam?
The National Conference of Bar Examiners NCBE developed the NextGen Bar Exam. NCBE is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and was founded in 1931. Formal development commenced in early 2021 following a three-year study begun in 2018. NCBE develops bar exam content used by 54 of 56 US jurisdictions.
Since 2022, more than 10,000 law students participated in research phases:
- Pilot Testing (August 2022–April 2023): 2,500+ participants
- Field Testing (January 2024): 4,016 participants at 88 law schools
- Prototype Exam (October 2024): 2,044 participants from 51 jurisdictions
- Beta Test (January 2026): 1,500 examinees in four cities
The bar examination nextgen uniform format emerged from this extensive research. NCBE gathered adoption information from 43 jurisdictions during standard-setting studies.
How is the NextGen Bar Different from the Current Bar?
The new bar examination differs significantly from the current uniform bar examination. It reduces hours of testing from 12 to nine hours. Three sessions of three hours each replace the old two-day structure. Performance tasks increase from 20% to 30% of total scores. Below is a chart showing the component weight changes:
Below is a chart showing the component weight changes:
| Component | Current UBE | NextGen UBE |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice Weight | ~50% | 49% |
| Integrated Question Sets | None | 21% |
| Performance Tasks | 20% | 30% |
| Written Essays | 30% | Replaced by integrated sets |
The multiple-choice questions and integrated question sets will test knowledge needed for modern practice. The exam will have an alternative to pure essay writing through integrated sets. The most significant grading change involves switching from relative grading to an objective, absolute grading model applied across all jurisdictions.
Which States Adopted NextGen Bar Exam?
Fifty jurisdictions adopted the NextGen Bar Exam between July 2026 and July 2028. The following list includes adoption information organized by date. Per the University of Dayton School of Law, adoption follows this schedule:
July 2026 – Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, Washington
The July 2026 group includes Connecticut, Guam, and Idaho as the first three adopters. Guam, Idaho, and Maryland transition together under this schedule. Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, and Oregon form the core July 2026 group. Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, and Washington complete the first wave. Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, and Washington are the July 2026 jurisdictions that will first administer the exam. Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and Virgin Islands represent Pacific territories adopting early.
July 2027 – Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming
February 2028 – Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois
July 2028 – Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin
How Do I Register for the NextGen Bar Exam?
Examinees register for the NextGen Bar Exam through their jurisdiction’s bar admission authority. NCBE does not handle registration directly. Each state bar sets its own registration deadlines and requirements. Portability program rules may be transferable across adopting jurisdictions. Learn more about portability by contacting your state bar directly.
Key registration steps include:
- Identify your jurisdiction’s adoption date
- Contact your state bar admission office
- Submit required law school documentation
- Complete character and fitness evaluation
- Register for MPRE separately
- Pay jurisdiction-specific examination fees
The MPRE will continue as a separate requirement. A limited number of jurisdictions may have alternative registration pathways. Examinees should confirm a limited number of portability exceptions with their jurisdiction.
When is the First NextGen Bar Exam?
The first NextGen Bar Exam administration occurs in July 2026. Ten jurisdictions will first be administering the exam in July 2026. Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, and Washington will administer the NextGen uniform bar exam first. Additional jurisdictions join through July 2028. The last legacy UBE exams will occur before each jurisdiction transitions. Examinees in non-adopting jurisdictions may be taking the legacy UBE temporarily. California will no longer be administering the current UBE after its adoption date.What Subjects Are Tested on NextGen Bar Exam?
The NextGen Bar Exam will test a broad range of foundational legal concepts. The exam is practice of law designed to assess real competency. As indicated by NCBE, the exam will test clearly identified fundamental concepts across core law areas.
Subjects tested include:
- Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Evidence, and Torts – procedure, contract law, evidence, and torts cover core litigation skills
- Constitutional Law and Criminal Law – constitutional law and criminal law cover government powers and rights
- Real Property and Family Law – real property and family law cover ownership and domestic relations
- Business Associations and Trusts
- Criminal Law and Evidence and Torts appear across multiple question types
- Procedure, Real Property, and Contract Law are all heavily tested
- Dispute Resolution and Client Relationship Management principles
- Legal Research and Legal Writing – research and legal writing skills appear throughout
- Skills, legal research, and analytical writing are evaluated in integrated sets
The exam also tests client counseling, client advising, negotiation, and resolution client relationship management. Legal information including a limited library may appear during specific question sets.
What Types of Questions Appear on the NextGen Exam?
The NextGen exam will feature three question types across three sessions. Each session contains approximately 40 multiple-choice questions, one performance task, and two integrated question sets. The multiple-choice questions and integrated question sets together account for 70% of the score. Pretest questions comprise 20 of the 120 standalone multiple-choice questions.
Below is a chart showing all question types:
| Question Type | Count | Score Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice Questions | ~120 standalone | 49% |
| Integrated Question Sets | 6 sets | 21% |
| Performance Tasks | 3 tasks | 30% |
| Pretest Questions | 20 MC + 1 IQS | 0% (unscored) |
Integrated question sets present information and a focused set of legal resources. Examinees then answer multiple questions using those resources. The multiple-choice questions and integrated format will test knowledge needed to practice law effectively.
Is NextGen Bar Exam Harder Than Traditional Format?
The NextGen exam presents different challenges compared to the traditional format. Law students had lower average scores than recent graduates in field testing. Field test questions showed lower p-values indicating greater difficulty. The skills-based testing component demands higher-order legal analysis.
However, the exam also provides legal information during certain question sets. The performance task component rewards practical lawyering skills. Issue spotting and legal writing and issue analysis replace pure memorization tasks. Examinees are taking this exam under a new framework that may be more aligned with actual law practice.
What is the Scoring Scale for the NextGen Exam?
The NextGen exam uses a scoring scale of 500 to 750. The recommended passing score range falls between 610 and 620. This range maps to the legacy UBE passing score range of 260 to 270. NCBE developed this recommendation through psychometric scaling and concordance analyses.
| Score Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale Range | 500–750 |
| Recommended Passing Range | 610–620 |
| Legacy Equivalent | 260–270 |
| Panelists Involved | 80+ from 43 jurisdictions |
Standard-setting studies involved over 80 panelists from 43 jurisdictions. Outcome modeling informed the final recommended range. A limited number of jurisdictions may set passing scores above or below the recommended range.
NextGen Bar Exam Skills-Based Testing Work?
Skills-based testing on the NextGen Bar Examination evaluates real lawyering competencies. The exam will test legal research, legal writing, client counseling, and dispute resolution skills. Integrated question sets present information and a focused set of legal resources. Examinees read those resources and answer analytical questions about a client matter.
Skills and legal research tasks work through these components:
- Legal research tasks: Examinees analyze provided legal resources and information
- Writing tasks: Examinees produce client-facing documents
- Analysis tasks: Examinees evaluate facts against legal concepts
- Dispute resolution and client relationship tasks: Examinees recommend resolution client strategies
- Resolution client relationship management: Examinees draft advising communications
The NextGen exam rewards examinees who apply knowledge to real-world legal scenarios.
Does NextGen Bar Exam Still Have Performance Tasks?
Yes, the NextGen Bar Exam will have performance tasks. Performance tasks now account for 30% of the total score. This weight increases from 20% on the legacy UBE. Examinees complete three 60-minute tasks instead of two 90-minute ones.
Performance tasks appear in each of the three exam sessions. Each task presents a client problem with a library of legal resources and information. Examinees produce a written work product in response.
