MADISON, WISCONSIN, May 12, 2023—The national mean scaled score for the March 2023 MPRE was 94.9, 0.7 points lower than the March 2022 mean of 95.6. The March 2023 mean reflects the performance of 20,184 examinees, 978 more than the March 2022 examinee count of 19,206.
The MPRE is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice examination administered three times per year at Pearson VUE testing centers. It is required for admission to the bars of most US jurisdictions. The purpose of the MPRE is to measure candidates’ knowledge and understanding of established standards related to the professional conduct of lawyers. Passing scores are set by individual jurisdictions and range from 75.0 to 86.0.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1931. NCBE promotes fairness, integrity, and best practices in bar admissions for the benefit and protection of the public, in pursuit of its vision of a competent, ethical, and diverse legal profession. Best known for developing bar exam content used by 54 US jurisdictions, NCBE serves admission authorities, courts, the legal education community, and candidates by providing high-quality assessment products, services, and research; character investigations; and informational and educational resources and programs. In 2026, NCBE will launch the next generation of the bar examination, ensuring that the exam continues to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for competent entry-level legal practice in a changing profession. For more information, visit the NCBE website at https://www.ncbex.org.
