New York Bar Exam Information

New York administers the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), a two-day examination consisting of three components: the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). The exam is given twice a year — on the Tuesday and Wednesday at the end of February and July. The exam is administered in Multiple sites including New York City, Albany, Buffalo, and other locations. New York requires two state-specific components in addition to passing the UBE: the New York Law Course (NYLC), a ~17-hour online video course on New York-specific law (with embedded comprehension checks); and the New York Law Examination (NYLE), a 50-question, 2-hour, open-book online exam (60% to pass). The NYLC must be completed before the NYLE, and both must be completed within 3 years of taking the UBE. New York also requires 50 hours of pro bono service prior to admission. New York is the largest US jurisdiction by examinee volume.

The required passing score in New York is a combined scaled UBE score of 266 out of 400. Each component is weighted: MBE 50%, MEE 30%, MPT 20%. Applicants must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a score of 85 or higher within 3 years before or after passing the New York bar exam, measured from the date the applicant sat for each examination of applying for admission.

Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)

The MEE consists of six 30-minute essay questions administered Tuesday morning. Each question presents a hypothetical factual situation and asks examinees to identify legal issues, separate relevant from irrelevant material, and present a reasoned analysis. The MEE is weighted at 30% of an applicant’s total UBE score.

Areas of law that may be covered on the MEE include the following: Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. Some questions may include issues in more than one area of law. The particular areas covered vary from exam to exam.

Effective with the July 2026 administration, the NCBE has removed four subjects from the MEE: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions. From July 2026 through February 2028, Family Law and Trusts and Estates may instead appear on the MPT.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The MPT consists of two 90-minute tasks administered Tuesday afternoon. It is designed to test fundamental lawyering skills in realistic situations — problem-solving, factual analysis, legal analysis, reasoning, written communication, and recognizing ethical dilemmas — rather than substantive knowledge of any specific area of law. The MPT is weighted at 20% of an applicant’s total UBE score.

Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)

The MBE is administered Wednesday in two 3-hour sessions: 100 multiple-choice questions in the morning and 100 in the afternoon (200 total). It is developed and graded by the NCBE. The MBE is weighted at 50% of an applicant’s total UBE score.

The MBE tests 7 subjects: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

New York does not accept transferred MBE scores from prior administrations as a substitute for the MBE portion of the exam.

Filing Deadlines & Fees

Upcoming New York Bar Exam Administrations

Administration	Dates
July 2026	Tue–Wed, July 28–29, 2026
February 2027	Tue–Wed, February 23–24, 2027
July 2027	Tue–Wed, July 27–28, 2027 (anticipated)
February 2028 (last legacy UBE)	Tue–Wed, February 22–23, 2028 (anticipated)
July 2028 (first NextGen UBE)	New York’s first NextGen UBE administration

Filing Deadlines & Fees

Laptop fee: $100. New York does not accept late filings. Applicants with 4 or more unsuccessful attempts face additional restrictions (effective December 1, 2024). New York also requires completion of a 50-hour pro bono service requirement.

Administration	Deadline	Fee
July 2026	April 1–30, 2026 (no late filing accepted)	$250 ($750 for foreign-educated applicants)
February 2027	November 1–30, 2026 (anticipated, no late filing)	$250 ($750 for foreign-educated applicants)

Grading & Scoring

The NCBE scores the MBE component. New York grades the MEE and MPT components. Raw scores from the written portion and the MBE portion are converted to scaled scores. UBE total scores are reported on a 400-point scale.

A passing score of 266 is required in New York.

• MBE: 50%
• MEE: 30%
• MPT: 20%

Required MPRE Score: 85, taken within 3 years before or after passing the New York bar exam, measured from the date the applicant sat for each examination prior to application.

Results

Results are typically released approximately 12 weeks after each administration. February 2026 results were posted on April 22, 2026.

Reciprocity & Score Transfers

UBE Score Transfer

New York accepts transferred legacy UBE scores. An applicant may transfer a UBE score of 266 or higher earned within 3 years of application to New York.

NextGen UBE Score Transfer

Beginning July 2028, New York accepts transferred NextGen UBE scores.

Admission on Motion

New York allows admission on motion. Applicants must have been admitted in a reciprocal jurisdiction and have actively practiced law for 5 of past 7 years immediately preceding application. The MPRE and New York’s character and fitness standards still apply.

MBE Score Transfer

New York does not accept transferred MBE scores from previous administrations.

New York Bar Exam Schedule

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is a two-day exam administered twice a year, with the MBE given on the last Wednesday of February and July and the MEE/MPT given on the Tuesday prior.

Day	Morning	Afternoon
Tuesday	6 MEE essay questions (3 hours)	2 MPT tasks (3 hours)
Wednesday	100 MBE questions (3 hours)	100 MBE questions (3 hours)

Subjects Tested

MBE Subjects (7)

• Civil Procedure
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Criminal Law & Procedure
• Evidence
• Real Property
• Torts

MEE Subjects (8, effective July 2026)

• Business Associations
• Civil Procedure
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Evidence
• Real Property
• Torts

Beginning with the July 2026 administration, the NCBE has removed Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions from the MEE. From July 2026 through February 2028, Family Law and Trusts and Estates may be tested on the MPT.

New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) Contact Information

New York State Board of Law Examiners

Corporate Plaza, Building 3

254 Washington Avenue Extension

Albany, NY 12203-5195

https://www.nybarexam.org/

Phone: (518) 453-5990

Fax: (518) 452-5729