GITNUXREPORT 2025

Bar Exam Statistics

Average bar exam pass rate is 83% across U.S. jurisdictions.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The average pass rate for the U.S. bar exam is approximately 83%

Statistic 2

The California Bar Exam pass rate is roughly 43% for first-time takers

Statistic 3

The passing score for the Uniform Bar Exam is typically 266 out of 400 points

Statistic 4

The percentage of law school graduates who pass the bar exam on their first attempt is about 85%

Statistic 5

Approximately 15% of candidates repeat the bar exam after initial failure

Statistic 6

The first-time pass rate for New York State is around 88%

Statistic 7

The average score on the bar exam for successful candidates hovers around 280 points

Statistic 8

The first-time examinee pass rate in Texas is approximately 70%

Statistic 9

The California Bar Exam has historically had the lowest pass rate among major states, around 43% in recent years

Statistic 10

The average pass rate for the Uniform Bar Exam across all jurisdictions is approximately 84%

Statistic 11

Major cities with high law school graduation rates often see higher bar exam success rates, such as New York and California

Statistic 12

The average score required to pass the bar exam is about 135 out of 200 on the scaled Multistate Bar Examination

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Bar exam failure rates tend to be higher in the Southern states compared to Northern states, with an average difference of around 10 percentage points

Statistic 14

Candidate performance on the MBE correlates strongly with their overall passing likelihood, with a passing threshold typically set at around 135 points

Statistic 15

The percentage of law graduates who pass the bar exam on the second attempt drops to around 70%, indicating the importance of effective preparation

Statistic 16

The average number of times candidates take the bar exam before passing is approximately 1.4 attempts

Statistic 17

Approximately 75,000 candidates take the bar exam annually in the United States

Statistic 18

The average age of first-time bar exam takers is approximately 26 years old

Statistic 19

Female candidates constitute about 50% of all bar exam takers

Statistic 20

Law graduates from accredited U.S. law schools make up the majority of bar exam candidates, estimated at over 90%

Statistic 21

About 60% of bar exam takers are from law schools ranked in the top 50 nationally

Statistic 22

The average age of repeat examinees (those who take the exam multiple times) is around 30 years old

Statistic 23

Approximately 20% of candidates report feeling unprepared or anxious about the exam

Statistic 24

The percentage of international law graduates taking the U.S. bar exam is approximately 7%

Statistic 25

The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) makes up 200 of the 200 questions on the bar exam

Statistic 26

The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is worth 20% of the total score on the bar exam

Statistic 27

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) includes six questions covering various subjects

Statistic 28

The MBE questions test on subjects including contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, and Real Property

Statistic 29

The duration of the bar exam in most states is two days, comprising multiple sections including multiple choice, essays, and performance tests

Statistic 30

Some jurisdictions have reduced the number of essay questions from six to three to streamline the exam

Statistic 31

The majority of U.S. states employ the MBE as part of their bar exam component, with 29 jurisdictions adopting the UBE

Statistic 32

The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered in 29 jurisdictions as of 2023

Statistic 33

The average duration of study required to pass the bar exam is approximately 400 hours

Statistic 34

The most common reason for failure on the bar exam is inadequate preparation, according to surveys

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The bar exam fee varies by jurisdiction but averages around $1,200 to $2,000 per attempt

Statistic 36

Bar exam preparation courses can cost between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the provider and format

Statistic 37

Approximately 70% of law graduates report using commercial bar review courses during their preparation

Statistic 38

The total number of hours most students spend preparing for the bar exam ranges between 300 and 500 hours, depending on their background

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Key Highlights

  • The average pass rate for the U.S. bar exam is approximately 83%
  • Approximately 75,000 candidates take the bar exam annually in the United States
  • The California Bar Exam pass rate is roughly 43% for first-time takers
  • The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) makes up 200 of the 200 questions on the bar exam
  • The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is worth 20% of the total score on the bar exam
  • The average duration of study required to pass the bar exam is approximately 400 hours
  • The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered in 29 jurisdictions as of 2023
  • The passing score for the Uniform Bar Exam is typically 266 out of 400 points
  • The percentage of law school graduates who pass the bar exam on their first attempt is about 85%
  • The average age of first-time bar exam takers is approximately 26 years old
  • Female candidates constitute about 50% of all bar exam takers
  • The most common reason for failure on the bar exam is inadequate preparation, according to surveys
  • Approximately 15% of candidates repeat the bar exam after initial failure

Did you know that while the U.S. boasts an overall bar exam pass rate of about 83%, some major states like California struggle with significantly lower success rates, revealing a complex landscape of legal licensing across the country?

Bar Exam Performance and Pass Rates

  • The average pass rate for the U.S. bar exam is approximately 83%
  • The California Bar Exam pass rate is roughly 43% for first-time takers
  • The passing score for the Uniform Bar Exam is typically 266 out of 400 points
  • The percentage of law school graduates who pass the bar exam on their first attempt is about 85%
  • Approximately 15% of candidates repeat the bar exam after initial failure
  • The first-time pass rate for New York State is around 88%
  • The average score on the bar exam for successful candidates hovers around 280 points
  • The first-time examinee pass rate in Texas is approximately 70%
  • The California Bar Exam has historically had the lowest pass rate among major states, around 43% in recent years
  • The average pass rate for the Uniform Bar Exam across all jurisdictions is approximately 84%
  • Major cities with high law school graduation rates often see higher bar exam success rates, such as New York and California
  • The average score required to pass the bar exam is about 135 out of 200 on the scaled Multistate Bar Examination
  • Bar exam failure rates tend to be higher in the Southern states compared to Northern states, with an average difference of around 10 percentage points
  • Candidate performance on the MBE correlates strongly with their overall passing likelihood, with a passing threshold typically set at around 135 points
  • The percentage of law graduates who pass the bar exam on the second attempt drops to around 70%, indicating the importance of effective preparation
  • The average number of times candidates take the bar exam before passing is approximately 1.4 attempts

Bar Exam Performance and Pass Rates Interpretation

While the overall U.S. bar exam boasts a solid 83% pass rate, California’s grueling 43% for first-timers reminds us that even future lawyers need a strategic game plan, as enduring around 1.4 attempts on average underscores—success often demands more than just a law degree; it requires perseverance, strategic preparation, and perhaps a dash of Northern resilience over Southern struggles.

Candidate Demographics and Characteristics

  • Approximately 75,000 candidates take the bar exam annually in the United States
  • The average age of first-time bar exam takers is approximately 26 years old
  • Female candidates constitute about 50% of all bar exam takers
  • Law graduates from accredited U.S. law schools make up the majority of bar exam candidates, estimated at over 90%
  • About 60% of bar exam takers are from law schools ranked in the top 50 nationally
  • The average age of repeat examinees (those who take the exam multiple times) is around 30 years old
  • Approximately 20% of candidates report feeling unprepared or anxious about the exam
  • The percentage of international law graduates taking the U.S. bar exam is approximately 7%

Candidate Demographics and Characteristics Interpretation

While the bar exam remains a rite of passage predominantly occupied by ambitious recent law graduates—predominantly from top-tier schools—its persistent anxiety-inducing nature and the nearly one-in-five candidates feeling unprepared underscore that even in the hallowed halls of legal education, the path to licensure is as challenging as it is equitable.

Examination Content and Structure

  • The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) makes up 200 of the 200 questions on the bar exam
  • The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is worth 20% of the total score on the bar exam
  • The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) includes six questions covering various subjects
  • The MBE questions test on subjects including contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, and Real Property
  • The duration of the bar exam in most states is two days, comprising multiple sections including multiple choice, essays, and performance tests
  • Some jurisdictions have reduced the number of essay questions from six to three to streamline the exam
  • The majority of U.S. states employ the MBE as part of their bar exam component, with 29 jurisdictions adopting the UBE

Examination Content and Structure Interpretation

With the MBE dominating the bar exam like a multiple-choice monarch, and other components balancing the scales, aspiring lawyers are tested on everything from contracts to constitutional law in a marathon two-day quest—proof that passing the bar truly requires legal stamina, strategic study, and perhaps a dash of luck.

Jurisdictional and Legal Education Factors

  • The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered in 29 jurisdictions as of 2023

Jurisdictional and Legal Education Factors Interpretation

With only 29 jurisdictions adopting the UBE by 2023, it seems the legal community is still debating whether a uniform test is the lawyer's best friend or just a national inconvenience.

Preparation and Costs

  • The average duration of study required to pass the bar exam is approximately 400 hours
  • The most common reason for failure on the bar exam is inadequate preparation, according to surveys
  • The bar exam fee varies by jurisdiction but averages around $1,200 to $2,000 per attempt
  • Bar exam preparation courses can cost between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the provider and format
  • Approximately 70% of law graduates report using commercial bar review courses during their preparation
  • The total number of hours most students spend preparing for the bar exam ranges between 300 and 500 hours, depending on their background

Preparation and Costs Interpretation

With an average of 400 hours in the lab, a hefty fee, and over 70% of grads relying on pricey commercial courses, it's clear that passing the bar isn’t just about legal knowledge—it’s an expensive, time-consuming gamble that underscores the high stakes of legal careers.