United States · Licensing examIllinois bar exam dates
The board gives the exam on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. That makes the next dates February 23-24, 2027 and July 27-28, 2027, the same days NCBE lists for every UBE state. The February 2028 exam will be Illinois's first NextGen exam, per NCBE.
The exams are held at several venues in Chicago. Your venue and seat assignment are posted about two weeks before the exam.
How much does the Illinois bar exam cost? It depends on when you file
The board's fees, effective January 1, 2026. Filing early saves $675 on the top rate, by our own subtraction. NCBE's guide adds a $135 laptop fee. After the last date in each row there's no later window.
| Exam | Filed by | Not previously registered | Previously registered and paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | September 15 | $1,200 | $650 (through November 1) |
| February | September 16 to November 1 | $1,475 | $650 |
| February | November 2 to November 30 | $1,875 | $1,125 |
| July | February 15 | $1,200 | $650 (through April 30) |
| July | February 16 to April 1 | $1,475 | $650 |
| July | April 2 to April 30 | $1,875 | $650 |
Passing score, MPRE and what's on the exam
What Illinois asks for on and around the exam:
- The exam is the legacy UBE: two MPT tasks, six MEE essays and the 200-question MBE.
- You pass with a total UBE scaled score of 266 or higher. A passing Illinois score stays valid in Illinois for four years.
- You also need an MPRE score of 80 or more.
- Illinois has no extra Illinois-law course or test before admission, according to NCBE's guide.
- There's no limit on attempts. Since July 2022, Illinois no longer lets you transfer an MBE score from another exam.
Where do Illinois bar exam results show up?
Log in to your account on ilbaradmissions.org. For July 2026, the board said results would be there by the end of the day on October 1. On that exam NCBE reports 71% of 2,259 takers passed, and 80% of first-timers.
A score that falls short of 266 can still pass in a UBE state with a lower cut score, and the board points out that those states accept transferred scores that meet their own standard.
Illinois bar exam reciprocity
You can come in with a UBE score earned elsewhere under Rule 704A, even if you've failed the Illinois exam before. It costs $1,500 and the board says it typically takes up to six months. NCBE's guide lists 266 as the score Illinois needs and four years as the oldest score it takes.
Lawyers can also be admitted on motion without an exam. NCBE lists 3 of the past 5 years of practice, from any state, not only reciprocal ones.
Sources: Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar · NCBE · NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 5 and 6 more. Checked October 2026.
- Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar: bar exam information, deadlines and fees ↗
- Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar: FAQ ↗
- Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar: July 2026 results notice ↗
- NCBE: Uniform Bar Examination (test dates) ↗
- NCBE: NextGen bar exam ↗
- NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 5: UBE jurisdictions, admission by examination ↗
- NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 7: UBE jurisdictions, deadlines and fees ↗
- NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 14: Admission on motion ↗
- NCBE: Bar exam pass rates by jurisdiction, July 2026 ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.