Pass Rate of bar exam: Highest State, Lowest State, First-Time vs Repeaters, February vs July, Cut Score, and National Trend
Pass Rate of bar exam data tells a more complicated story than a single headline number ever can. Brieflex.ai builds AI learning systems that help law students understand exactly what these statistics mean for their own exam strategy, not just the national average. State, timing, and taker mix all shape the number examinees see on results day.
Table of Contents
What is the Pass Rate of bar exam?
The Pass Rate of bar exam is the percentage of examinees who pass a state bar examination during a given administration. It combines every taker, first-time and repeat alike, into one headline figure. As stated by National Conference of Bar Examiners data, 67,442 people sat for a bar exam nationwide in 2025, and 42,496 of them passed.
Which state has the highest Pass Rate of bar exam?
Utah has the highest Pass Rate of bar exam among all states, reaching 82% in 2025. A smaller, well-prepared applicant pool contributes to this figure. According to state-by-state comparisons, Minnesota and Kansas followed closely behind Utah at 77% and 75%.
| State | 2025 Overall Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| Utah | 82% |
| Minnesota | 77% |
| Kansas | 75% |
| Montana | 74% |
| Idaho | 74% |
Which state has the lowest Pass Rate of bar exam?
Alabama has the lowest Pass Rate of bar exam among all states, at just 44% in 2025. A high share of repeat takers pulls this number down sharply. As reported by state bar examiner statistics, Vermont and Connecticut followed at 49% and 51%, both still well below the national average.
| State | 2025 Overall Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 44% |
| Vermont | 49% |
| Connecticut | 51% |
| New Hampshire | 55% |
| New Jersey | 55% |
Alaska sits closer to the middle of the national pack rather than the bottom tier. Its results date typically follows an October reporting cycle for the summer administration, alongside most other jurisdictions releasing pass rates that season.
How does the Pass Rate of bar exam differ for first-time takers versus repeaters?
The Pass Rate of bar exam differs sharply for first-time takers versus repeaters, with first-timers passing at more than twice the repeater rate. This gap holds true nationwide. In accordance with 2025 national data, first-time takers passed at 76% while repeat takers passed at only 34%| Taker Type | 2025 National Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| First-time takers | 76% |
| Repeat takers | 34% |
How does the Pass Rate of bar exam differ between February and July?
The Pass Rate of bar exam differs significantly between February and July, with July consistently outperforming February nationwide. Taker composition drives most of the gap. As indicated by 2025 national statistics, 47% of February takers passed compared to 69% of July takers, a 22-point spread explained mainly by repeaters making up 61% of the February pool versus just 19% in July.
Does the cut score affect the Pass Rate of bar exam?
Yes, the cut score directly affects the Pass Rate of bar exam, since jurisdictions with lower minimum passing scores tend to post higher headline rates. Forty-one jurisdictions share a common 400-point UBE scale. As noted by NCBE score data, the same performance can pass in a 260-cut-score state and fail in a 270-cut-score state.
Common UBE minimum passing score tiers include:
- 260, used by Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Washington
- 264, used only by Indiana
- 266, used by a twelve-jurisdiction group including New York and DC
- 270, the strictest tier, used by 19 jurisdictions including Texas and Massachusetts
What is the national Pass Rate of bar exam trend over the past decade?
The national Pass Rate of bar exam trend has moved upward over the past decade, with 2025 posting the best overall figure in ten years. Recovery since the pandemic has been steady. As per NCBE’s ten-year summary, the overall pass rate climbed from 58% in 2016 to 63% in 2025.| Year | Overall Pass Rate | First-Time Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 58% | 69% |
| 2020 | 61% | 76% |
| 2023 | 58% | 72% |
| 2025 | 63% | 76% |
Why did California’s Pass Rate of bar exam change so much in 2025?
California’s Pass Rate of bar exam changed dramatically in 2025 after a disastrous February exam administration forced court-ordered remediation. Platform failures and an undisclosed AI drafting tool triggered the crisis. As cited by the California Supreme Court’s own remedial order, the state ultimately imputed scores for affected February takers, pushing that administration’s final pass rate to 64%, ahead of July’s more typical 55%. The State Bar first announced a 55.9% spring pass rate for that February cycle, at the time the highest spring figure since 1965, before later remediation revised the number upward. Comparing February July combined data year over year shows just how unusual California’s 2025 cycle really was.
How does the NextGen bar exam affect the Pass Rate of bar exam?
The NextGen bar exam is expected to affect the Pass Rate of bar exam as jurisdictions transition away from the traditional MBE, MEE, and MPT format. July 2026 marks its first live administration. As outlined by NCBE’s rollout schedule, most remaining jurisdictions are expected to adopt NextGen in 2027 or 2028.
Early NextGen adopter jurisdictions for July 2026 include:
- Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington
- Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the Virgin Islands
How does law school choice affect the Pass Rate of bar exam?
Law school choice affects an individual’s odds against the Pass Rate of bar exam, since schools vary in bar preparation curriculum and student outcomes. Graduates from schools with strong bar-support programs tend to outperform. As referenced by bar admission disclosure requirements, most ABA-accredited schools publish first-time and ultimate bar passage rates for prospective students to review.
Factors worth comparing across law schools include:
- Published first-time and ultimate bar passage rates, by jurisdiction
- Built-in bar prep support, such as required coursework or stipends
- Alumni pass rates in the specific state you plan to practice in
How can you improve your odds against the Pass Rate of bar exam?
You can improve your odds against the Pass Rate of bar exam through structured, consistent preparation well before test day. Timing your first attempt matters too. As per bar exam preparation research, first-time takers who complete a full structured study program consistently outperform the national repeater average.
Ways to improve your odds include:
- Taking the exam as a first-timer whenever possible, given the sharp first-timer advantage
- Studying under exam conditions with timed practice questions
- Reviewing weak subjects identified through diagnostic practice tests
- Confirming your target jurisdiction’s specific cut score and format in advance
Every Pass Rate of bar exam statistic tells part of a larger story about timing, preparation, and jurisdiction. Brieflex.ai helps students see past the headline number to the strategy that actually improves their own odds, turning national statistics into a personal plan for exam day.
