United States · Licensing examWhen does each state switch to the next gen bar exam?
From NCBE's adoption list, as of October 2026. The legacy UBE is given through February 2028, so a state switching in July 2028 still gives the old exam until then.
| First NextGen exam | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Virgin Islands |
| July 2027 | Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Wyoming |
| February 2028 | Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Montana |
| July 2028 | Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Not set | Mississippi |
| Not adopted | Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Puerto Rico |
Question types
NCBE doesn't publish a total number of questions.
| Type | Share of exam time | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | About 40% | Standalone questions with 4 to 6 options and one or more right answers |
| Integrated question sets | Just over a quarter | One fact pattern with documents or law, then multiple-choice, short and medium answers |
| Performance tasks | About a third | A client file and a library of sources, with one long written answer; some are legal research tasks |
What NextGen tests
Eight foundational subjects: business associations, civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and constitutional protections of the accused, evidence, real property and torts. Family law and trusts and estates turn up in performance tasks from July 2026 to at least February 2028, with the law provided, and family law becomes a full subject in July 2028.
It also tests skills: legal research and writing, issue spotting and analysis, investigation, client counseling, negotiation and client relationship management.
NextGen scores and passing scores
You get one score from 500 to 750, and each jurisdiction sets its own passing score in that range. As of October 2026:
| Passing score | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| 610 | Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington |
| 612 | Guam, Palau |
| 614 | Indiana |
| 615 | Oregon (July 2026 only), Northern Mariana Islands |
| 616 | Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Virgin Islands |
| 620 | Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; Oregon after July 2026 |
Other jurisdictions are still deciding.
How to prepare for NextGen
NCBE's free resources are sample questions, a preview of the exam software, the Examinees' Guide and the content scope outlines. The tutorial runs outside the secure browser, so the real thing can look slightly different. Paid practice includes two simulated exams and a full bundle.
Sources: NCBE and 4 more. Checked October 2026.
- NCBE: NextGen bar exam (jurisdictions and dates) ↗
- NCBE: About the NextGen bar exam ↗
- NCBE: Preparing for the NextGen UBE ↗
- NCBE: NextGen UBE minimum passing scores ↗
- NCBE: NextGen UBE study aids ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.