Quick Answer
The NextGen Bar Exam is a completely redesigned version of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), debuting July 28–29, 2026 in 10 US jurisdictions. It is shorter (9 hours instead of 12), fully laptop-based, tests only 8 core subjects instead of 14, and scores on a new 500–750 scale. The recommended passing score is 620. All US jurisdictions will transition to the NextGen UBE by July 2028.
If you’re planning to take the bar exam in July 2026 or later, the exam you sit for may look nothing like the one lawyers have been taking for decades.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is launching the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination — the biggest overhaul to US bar testing in a generation. It debuts on July 28–29, 2026 in 10 jurisdictions, and will expand to cover every US state by 2028.
This guide covers everything you need to know right now: what changed, which states are switching first, how the new scoring works, and what it means for your preparation.
Why Is the Bar Exam Changing?
The current Uniform Bar Exam has been criticized for years — not because it’s too hard, but because it tests the wrong things.
The old exam leaned heavily on memorization of black-letter law. Law schools, bar prep companies, and the NCBE itself all acknowledged that this approach didn’t reflect what newly licensed attorneys actually need to do on day one of practice.
The NextGen UBE is the result of years of research, examinee surveys, and analysis of what real legal practice requires in 2026. The shift is from “what do you know?” to “what can you do?”
The NCBE has been transparent about this goal: the new exam is designed to assess practical lawyering skills — legal analysis, client counseling, investigation, writing, and problem solving — alongside foundational legal knowledge.
NextGen Bar Exam vs Legacy UBE — The Key Differences
Here is a side-by-side breakdown of what is actually changing:
| What Changed | Legacy UBE | NextGen UBE |
|---|---|---|
| Test Duration | 12 hours (2 full days) | 9 hours (1.5 days) |
| Delivery Format | Paper + Computer mix | 100% laptop-based |
| Subjects Tested | 14 subjects | 8 core subjects |
| Score Scale | 0–400 (varies by state) | 500–750 (new scale) |
| Recommended Pass Score | 260–280 depending on state | 620 (recommended) |
| Components | MBE + MEE + MPT | MCQ + IQS + Performance Tasks |
| MCQ Questions | 200 questions (MBE) | 120 questions |
| Skills Tested | Legal knowledge only | Knowledge + 7 foundational skills |
| First Administration | Phased out by Feb 2028 | Launches July 28–29, 2026 |
The New Exam Format — Exactly What You Will Face
Duration and Structure
The NextGen Bar Exam is shorter than the current UBE — nine hours instead of twelve. It is divided into three three-hour sessions:
- Day 1, Morning (Tuesday): Three-hour session
- Day 1, Afternoon (Tuesday): Three-hour session
- Day 2, Morning (Wednesday): Three-hour session
Every session includes a mix of multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and a performance task. This is a significant departure from the old format, where different components were siloed into separate blocks.
Three Question Types — How They Work
Standalone Multiple-Choice Questions (49% of score) — You will answer 120 MCQs across the exam. Most will have four answer choices with one correct answer, but some will present six choices with two correct answers. These are similar in feel to the old MBE but cover fewer subjects.
Integrated Question Sets — IQS (21% of score) — These are short sets of questions built around a common fact scenario. The scenario may include legal documents, statutes, or case excerpts. Each set mixes multiple-choice items with short written responses. This is a brand-new question type with no equivalent in the old exam.
Performance Tasks (30% of score) — You will complete practical legal writing tasks — drafting memos, advising clients, analyzing documents — using legal resources provided to you in the exam. This replaces the old MPT component but goes further in scope.
Fully Laptop-Based
The NextGen Bar Exam eliminates paper entirely. You will take the entire exam on your own laptop using a secure browser platform. The platform supports highlighting, note-taking, and split-screen viewing — useful when working with provided legal resources during integrated question sets and performance tasks.
You must register your laptop with ExamSoft before exam day. California’s admission ticket and laptop registration opens June 30, 2026. Check your specific jurisdiction’s timeline for this step.
Subjects — What Is Tested and What Is Dropped
This is where the NextGen exam makes the biggest departure from the old UBE.
8 Core Subjects (Foundational Concepts and Principles)
The NextGen exam tests these eight subjects as its core knowledge areas:
- Business Associations
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
Subjects Dropped from Core Testing
The following subjects that appeared on the legacy UBE are no longer core tested subjects on the NextGen exam:
- Conflict of Laws — removed entirely
- Secured Transactions — removed entirely
- Wills and Trusts and Estates — no longer memorization-tested (may appear with provided legal sources)
- Family Law — may appear with provided legal resources July 2026 through February 2028; becomes a core subject starting July 2028
Important note: Removed does not mean completely absent. Trusts and Estates and Family Law may appear in performance tasks and integrated question sets with legal resources provided to you. You won’t need to have the rules memorized — but you’ll need to be able to read and apply them from the document given.
7 Foundational Skills Now Tested
The NextGen exam adds explicit skills-based testing that the old UBE did not assess:
- Issue spotting and analysis
- Investigation and evaluation
- Client counseling and advising
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Client relationship and management
- Legal research
- Legal writing
NextGen Bar Exam Scoring — New Scale Explained
The NextGen UBE uses a completely new scoring scale. Your score will be reported as a single number between 500 and 750.
This replaces the old 400-point scale used by the legacy UBE, where most states set passing scores between 260 and 280.
Score Breakdown by Question Type
- Standalone MCQs: 49% of total score
- Integrated Question Sets: 21% of total score
- Performance Tasks: 30% of total score
Passing Scores by State
Each jurisdiction sets its own passing score within the 500–750 range. The NCBE’s recommended passing score is 620. Here is what the first NextGen jurisdictions have confirmed:
| Jurisdiction | NextGen Passing Score | First Admin |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 620 | July 2026 |
| Idaho | 620 | July 2026 |
| Maryland | 620 | July 2026 |
| Missouri | 620 | July 2026 |
| Oregon | 615 ✱ | July 2026 |
| Washington | 620 | July 2026 |
| Minnesota | TBD (≥620 accepted) | July 2026 |
| New York | TBD | July 2027 |
| Florida | TBD | July 2027 |
| Texas | TBD | July 2027 |
| California | TBD | July 2028 |
✱ Oregon Supreme Court set passing score at 615 for July 2026 administration.
Note: Florida and New York will not accept NextGen transfer scores earned before July 2028.
Which States Are Switching — The Complete Rollout Schedule
The transition is happening in three phases. Here is the complete picture as of May 2026:
July 2026 — First 10 Jurisdictions
Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the US Virgin Islands will be the first jurisdictions to administer the NextGen UBE on July 28–29, 2026.
2027 — 13 Additional States
Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are scheduled to transition in 2027.
2028 — Remaining States Including Major Ones
The largest states — New York, Florida, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, and many others — are scheduled to transition by July or February 2028. The legacy UBE will be fully retired after the February 2028 administration.
If your state is in the 2028 group, you will still take the legacy UBE in July 2026. However, you should still understand the NextGen format because it affects score portability and your future options.
Score Portability — Does My NextGen Score Transfer?
Yes — with important caveats.
NextGen UBE scores are designed to be portable between participating jurisdictions, just like legacy UBE scores. If you take the NextGen exam in Washington in July 2026 and later want to be admitted in Oregon, your score can transfer — provided it meets Oregon’s minimum.
However, some states are not accepting NextGen transfer scores yet. New York and Florida will not accept NextGen transfer scores earned before July 2028. If you are planning to practice in those states, check with their bar admission boards directly before making decisions about where to sit for the exam.
Your legacy UBE score also remains valid for transfer to other UBE jurisdictions during the transition period. Check the time limits for legacy UBE score transfers in your target jurisdiction — these vary and have not changed.
What This Means If You Are Taking the Bar in July 2026
Your first step is simple: find out which exam your jurisdiction is administering. Go to the NCBE’s official page at ncbex.org/exams/nextgen and look up your jurisdiction.
If your state is in the July 2026 NextGen group, you are taking the new exam. If not, you are taking the legacy UBE this cycle.
And If you are taking the NextGen exam, the most important preparation shift is this: stop relying purely on memorization. The new exam gives you legal resources during performance tasks and integrated question sets. What it tests is your ability to read, analyze, and apply those resources quickly and accurately.
Practice with the official free sample questions released by NCBE at their website. The exam software preview is also available online — use it to get comfortable with the digital interface before test day. Laptop registration deadlines vary by state, typically opening in late June 2026.
If you are taking the legacy UBE in July 2026, nothing changes for your current preparation. But if you plan to retake in 2027, start learning the NextGen format now.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the NextGen Bar Exam first launch?
The NextGen UBE officially debuts on July 28–29, 2026 in 10 jurisdictions: Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the US Virgin Islands.
What is the passing score for the NextGen Bar Exam?
Each state sets its own passing score on the 500–750 scale. The NCBE recommends a passing score of 620. Most July 2026 states have adopted 620. Oregon has set its score at 615 for the July 2026 administration.
How is the NextGen Bar Exam different from the UBE?
The NextGen exam is shorter (9 hours vs 12), fully laptop-based, tests only 8 core subjects instead of 14, introduces integrated question sets as a new format, scores on a new 500–750 scale, and explicitly tests 7 foundational lawyering skills alongside legal knowledge.
Will my state take the NextGen exam in July 2026?
Only 10 jurisdictions are using the NextGen exam in July 2026. Most major states — New York, Florida, Texas, California — are scheduled for 2027 or 2028. Check ncbex.org for your specific jurisdiction’s timeline.
Can I transfer my NextGen UBE score to another state?
Yes, in most cases. NextGen scores are portable between participating jurisdictions the same way legacy UBE scores are. However, New York and Florida will not accept NextGen transfer scores earned before July 2028. Always verify with the target jurisdiction directly.
Is the NextGen Bar Exam harder than the UBE?
The NCBE has stated that the NextGen exam is not designed to be harder or easier overall. However, students who relied heavily on pure memorization may find the shift to skills-based testing more challenging. Students who are strong at legal analysis and practical application may find it more suited to their strengths.
What happened to the MBE, MEE, and MPT?
Those three components are specific to the legacy UBE and will be retired with it. The NextGen exam replaces them with standalone multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks — a fundamentally different structure even though some elements feel similar.
When will the legacy UBE be completely retired?
The last administration of the legacy UBE will be February 2028. After that, all UBE jurisdictions will have transitioned to the NextGen exam, chosen to administer their own state-specific bar exam, or adopted an alternative licensure path.
The Bottom Line
The NextGen Bar Exam is the most significant change to US bar testing in decades — and it is arriving fast.
If you are sitting for the bar in July 2026 in one of the 10 launch jurisdictions, you are taking a fundamentally different exam than every attorney before you has taken. Fewer subjects to memorize. Shorter test day. But a much higher premium on analytical skills and practical legal reasoning.
If your state is switching in 2027 or 2028, you have time — but not as much as you think. The best preparation for the NextGen UBE starts with understanding what it actually tests before you begin studying.
The official NCBE website has free sample questions, an exam software preview, and the complete content scope outline. Start there.
Official Resources:
- NCBE NextGen UBE page: ncbex.org/exams/nextgen
- Jurisdiction decisions and passing scores: ncbex.org — NextGen decisions by jurisdiction
- Free sample questions: ncbex.org — NextGen sample questions
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All exam dates, passing scores, and jurisdiction decisions are subject to change. Always verify the most current information directly with NCBE at ncbex.org and your specific jurisdiction’s board of bar examiners before making any decisions.
Deepkant is a content writer and digital researcher with over five years of experience producing in-depth guides on education, student finances, and government benefit programs.
He is passionate about making complex topics simple, accurate, and accessible to everyone — regardless of their background or budget.