So, you’re staring down the barrel of the bar exam. Or maybe you already took it and you’re playing the "what if" game with your score transfer options. It’s a stressful spot to be in. Honestly, the whole system feels a bit like a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces change shape depending on which state line you cross. One day you’re a legal genius in Missouri; the next, you’re three points shy of a license in Oregon.
It doesn’t have to be that confusing.
Most of the country has moved toward the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which is great because it means your score can actually travel with you. But even with a "uniform" test, the states can't seem to agree on what a "passing" grade actually looks like. Some states want to see a 260. Others won't let you through the door unless you hit a 270 or higher. And then you have the non-UBE states like California and Florida, which basically march to the beat of their own (very difficult) drums.
The Magic Numbers: Bar Scores by State and Where You Stand
If you took the UBE, your total score is out of 400. Basically, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) scales the multiple-choice section (the MBE) and the written stuff to give you that final number.
Right now, the lowest passing score in the country is a 260. If you hit that, you can technically get licensed in states like Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah. It’s a solid number to hit because it opens up a surprising amount of the map.
But what if you want to practice in a place like Texas or New York?
That’s where things get tighter. New York requires a 266. Texas and North Carolina want a 270. If you’re looking at Pennsylvania, you’re aiming for a 272. It sounds like a small difference—what’s ten points, right?—but in the world of scaled scoring, those ten points represent a massive amount of study hours and a whole lot of stress.
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The 270 Club (The High Jumpers)
A huge chunk of the U.S. has settled on 270 as the "gold standard" for passing. If you score a 270, you’re basically safe in the majority of UBE jurisdictions.
- Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming all sit at this mark.
The Middle Ground (264 to 268)
Then you have the states that decided 260 was too low but 270 was a bit much.
- Indiana is the outlier at 264.
- Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, and South Carolina all ask for a 266.
- Michigan is currently tucked away at 268.
Why California and Florida Are Just... Different
We have to talk about the states that don't use the UBE. California is the one everyone fears. They don’t use the 400-point scale. Instead, they use a scale that goes up to 2000, and you need a 1390 to pass. To put that in perspective, the California bar is widely considered one of the hardest in the world, not just because of the score, but because of the sheer volume of state-specific law you have to memorize.
Florida is another beast. They use a scaled score system where you generally need a 136 to pass. But unlike the UBE, where you can carry your score to 40+ other places, a Florida score stays in Florida.
It’s a bit of a gamble. If you take a state-specific exam and fail, you have nothing to show for it. If you take the UBE and "fail" in a 270 state with a 262, you can still apply for admission in Missouri. You’re still a lawyer; you just might need to move.
The NextGen Bar Exam is Coming (And It Changes Everything)
If you aren't taking the bar until July 2026 or later, everything I just said is about to get a makeover. The NCBE is rolling out the NextGen Bar Exam.
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This new version is supposed to be more "practice-based." Less memorizing obscure rules about "shifting executory interests" and more focus on actual lawyering skills. The scoring scale is changing too—instead of 400 points, it’s going to be a 500 to 750 scale.
The NCBE has already suggested that the new passing range should be between 610 and 620.
- Missouri and Washington have already jumped on the 610 train.
- Oregon is looking at 620.
- Connecticut and Maryland are aiming for 616.
It’s all very new, and not every state is switching at once. If you're graduating in 2026, you need to be very careful about which version of the test your state is administering. You don't want to study for the wrong exam.
Can You Actually Transfer Your Score?
This is the biggest "gotcha" in the legal world. Just because you have a 275 doesn't mean you can just waltz into any state and start practicing.
Most states have a "shelf life" for UBE scores. In some places, like Alabama, your score is only good for 25 months. If you wait two years and a day to move there, you might have to take the whole test again. Other states like Arizona or New York give you a bit more breathing room—usually around 3 to 5 years.
Also, watch out for the "local components." Even if you have the score, states like New York and Texas make you take an extra online course or a mini-exam on their specific state laws. It’s usually not as hard as the bar itself, but it’s one more hoop to jump through.
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What You Should Actually Do Now
Look, the bar exam is a marathon. If you’re currently studying or planning your path, don't just aim for the minimum. Aim for the highest score required by any state you might want to live in.
If you think there's even a 10% chance you'll want to move to Colorado or Massachusetts in the next few years, you need that 270. Scoring a 261 is a win today, but it’s a massive headache three years from now when your firm wants you to handle a case in a different jurisdiction.
Your immediate checklist:
- Check the "Age of Score" rules: If you’re transferring a score, verify the cutoff date for your target state immediately. Some are as short as 2 years.
- Verify the NextGen timeline: If you are testing in 2026, go to the NCBE website and see if your jurisdiction is an "early adopter" of the new exam.
- Don't ignore the MPRE: Every state (except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico) requires a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. Most people forget this until the last minute.
- Character and Fitness: Start your application early. This part of the process often takes longer than getting your test results back.
The bar exam is just a gatekeeper. Once you’re through, no one cares what your score was. But until then, knowing these numbers is the difference between a license and a retake.
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