Bar Exam Format

Texas will begin administering the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in February 2021. The UBE is a two-day exam that consists of three parts: the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). The MPT and MEE are given on Day One, while the MBE is administered on Day Two. The UBE is scheduled biannually on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. The minimum passing score on the UBE in Texas is 270.*

*Please note: In addition to a minimum score of 270 on the UBE, admission to the State Bar of Texas requires completion of the Texas Law Component, also referred to as the Texas Law Course (TLC). The TLC is structured as an online and on-demand course. The Texas Board of Law Examiners describe the TLC as follows:

"To complete the TLC, you will watch a series of lectures and answer some "hurdle questions" at the end of each segment. The hurdle questions are designed to ensure that you have a minimal level of comprehension of the segment you just watched. The questions are not intended to be tricky, difficult, or hard. If you pay attention to the lecture, and perhaps take a few notes, you should be able to get through the hurdle questions. You must successfully answer most of the hurdle questions in order to proceed to the next segment."

Texas Bar Exam Applicants may complete the TLC as early as one year before taking the UBE or as late as two years after. The TLC is available for free online through the State Bar of Texas and takes approximately 12 hours to complete. For additional information please visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners page.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

(Weighted 20% of Bar Exam Score)

The MPT consists of two 90-minute items that are designed to assess the examinee’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. Each examinee receives a “File” of source documents and a “Library” of cases, statutes, and rules. The MPT is a “closed universe” component in that it provides all necessary materials to answer the question and does not require the applicant to use any state-specific law.

Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)

(Weighted 30% of Bar Exam Score)

The MEE consists of six 30-minute essays testing the following subjects: all MBE subjects (Federal Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts & Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts) plus Business Associations (Agency, Corporations, and Partnerships), Conflicts of Law, Family Law, Secured Transactions, Trusts & Future Interests, and Wills & Decedents' Estates.

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

(Weighted 50% of Bar Exam Score)

The MBE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that test the following areas: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts & Sales, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts. Of the 200 questions, 175 are scored questions and 25 are unscored pre-test questions. The pre-test questions are indistinguishable from the scored questions so applicants are advised to answer all questions.

Subjects Tested Texas has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam.