The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE)

The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by participating jurisdictions to produce portable scores. Its first administration was in February 2011. The UBE is composed of the MEE, two MPT tasks, and the MBE.

The UBE is designed to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It results in a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions.

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 2017

NOTE: The following jurisdictions will begin administering the UBE in future administrations: Massachusetts (July 2018), North Carolina (February 2019), and Maryland (2019, specific administration to be determined).

Minimum Passing UBE Score by Jurisdiction in 2017

NOTE: Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Maryland will begin administering the UBE in future administrations, with the following minimum passing UBE scores: Massachusetts (270, July 2018); North Carolina (270, February 2019); and Maryland (to be determined; 2019, specific administration to be determined).

UBE Scores Earned and Transferred by Jurisdiction in 2017

Note: 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.

† Maine, Oregon, West Virginia, and the Virgin Islands began administering the UBE in July 2017.

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