The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE)

The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, is composed of the MEE, two MPT tasks, and the MBE. Its first administration was in February 2011. It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored and results in a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions.

The UBE is designed to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law.

NCBE scores the MBE component of the UBE. Jurisdictions grade the MEE and MPT components. The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE, and UBE total scores are calculated by NCBE. The MBE is weighted 50%, the MEE 30%, and the MPT 20%. UBE total scores are reported on a 400-point scale.

UBE jurisdictions agree to certain administrative policies in order to generate scores that qualify to be certified by NCBE as UBE scores. UBE jurisdictions independently set other policies, such as establishing their own passing scores, determining how long incoming UBE scores will be accepted, and whether or not to require applicants to complete a jurisdiction-specific component, such as a course or test on jurisdiction-specific law, either pre- or post-admission.

Jurisdictions Administering the UBE in 2023

Map of the continental US plus Hawaii and Alaska with those jurisdictions that used the UBE in 2023 shaded orange. 41 jurisdictions used the UBE

2023 UBE National Score Distributions

The values in the following charts reflect valid scores available electronically as of 1/31/24.

These data represent scaled scores in increments of 10, with the exception of 180, which includes all examinees at or below 189. For example, the percentage reported for 210 includes examinees whose UBE scaled scores were between 210 and 219. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

ID	UBE Scaled Score	February (Mean = 260.9) — Percentage of Examinees	July (Mean = 281.8) — Percentage of Examinees
1	180	0.3	0.3
2	190	0.8	0.4
3	200	1.8	0.8
4	210	3.2	1.5
5	220	5.9	2.7
6	230	9.0	4.3
7	240	12.6	6.3
8	250	14.7	8.8
9	260	13.9	9.2
10	270	13.3	11.6
11	280	9.8	11.6
12	290	5.8	11.2
13	300	3.6	10.3
14	310	2.4	8.5
15	320	1.5	6.5
16	330	0.7	3.8
17	340	0.3	1.7
18	350	0.1	0.6
19	360	0.0	0.1
20	370	0.0	0.0

Minimum Passing UBE Score by Jurisdiction in 2023

Map of the continental US plus Hawaii and Alaska with those jurisdictions that used the UBE in 2023 shaded orange. Minimum UBE passing scores listed on each jurisdiction

Minimum Passing UBE Score by Jurisdiction in 2023

ID	Minimum Passing UBE Score in 2023	Jurisdiction(s)
1	260	Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah*
2	264	Indiana, Oklahoma
3	266	Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Virgin Islands
4	268	Michigan
5	270	Alaska, Arizona,† Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho,‡ Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina,§ Ohio, Oregon,** Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington,†† West Virginia, Wyoming
6	272	Pennsylvania‡‡

* The minimum passing score of 260 in Utah was effective with the July 2023 exam administration, replacing a score of 270.† The minimum passing score of 270 in Arizona was effective with the July 2023 exam administration, replacing a score of 273.‡ The minimum passing score of 270 in Idaho was effective with the July 2023 exam administration, replacing a score of 272. (For scores earned in Idaho only, the 260 minimum passing score also applied to the February 2023 exam.)§ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum passing score in North Carolina was temporarily reduced to 268 for the July 2020 and February and July 2021 exams.** Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum passing score in Oregon was temporarily reduced to 266 for the July 2020 exam, at which time the passing score had been 274. (The passing score was permanently lowered to 270 effective with the July 2021 exam administration).†† In March 2024, the minimum passing score in Washington was reduced from 270 to 266; the new passing score also applies to exams administered in February and July 2023 and February 2024. (Washington had temporarily reduced its passing score from 270 to 266 due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the July and September 2020, February and July 2021, and February 2022 exams. The September 2020 exam was an additional exam administered in Washington due to the pandemic.)‡‡ The minimum passing score in Pennsylvania was reduced from 272 to 270, effective with the February 2024 exam administration.
bar graph representation of number of jurisdictions with each respective UBE passing score in use in 2023

UBE Scores Earned and Transferred by Jurisdiction in 2023

To earn UBE scores, applicants take all portions of the examination (MEE, MPT, and MBE) in the same UBE jurisdiction and in the same administration. Use of a banked, transferred, or concurrent MBE or written scaled score earned in a prior examination or concurrently in another jurisdiction does not result in a UBE score.

ID	UBE Jurisdiction	2023 UBE Scores Earned	2023 Scores Transferred Out	2023 Scores Transferred In
1	Alabama	767	97	230
2	Alaska	88	52	81
3	Arizona	696	265	201
4	Arkansas	338	95	31
5	Colorado	983	316	286
6	Connecticut	538	118	238
7	District of Columbia	2,796	528	1,196
8	Idaho	194	71	69
9	Illinois	2,750	489	405
10	Indiana	577	94	250
11	Iowa	225	94	94
12	Kansas	199	107	150
13	Kentucky	430	91	136
14	Maine	219	100	36
15	Maryland	1,168	408	216
16	Massachusetts	2,072	536	305
17	Michigan	988	55	153
18	Minnesota	706	152	322
19	Missouri	884	403	423
20	Montana	149	44	75
21	Nebraska	270	113	46
22	New Hampshire	115	54	90
23	New Jersey	1,402	503	771
24	New Mexico	249	78	317
25	New York	13,440	1,852	1,018
26	North Carolina	1,201	329	261
27	North Dakota	82	34	65
28	Ohio	1,325	273	144
29	Oklahoma	562	130	116
30	Oregon	582	184	83
31	Pennsylvania	1,910	448	427
32	Rhode Island	106	76	112
33	South Carolina	580	329	436
34	Tennessee	1,010	225	134
35	Texas	4,183	863	609
36	Utah	349	81	165
37	Vermont	92	60	36
38	Washington	963	195	211
39	West Virginia	173	62	47
40	Wyoming	78	41	54
41	Virgin Islands	19	9	15
42	Total for All Jurisdictions	45,458	10,054	10,054