Easiest Bar Exam to Pass and Hardest Bar Exam to Pass
Are you wondering what the easiest bar exam is to pass? And what the hardest bar exam is to pass? Statistics only paint part of the picture, but here we take a deep dive into recent stats to show you the easiest—and most difficult—exams to pass. We also look at how these stats differ for first-time takers and repeat takers.
Easiest Bar Exam to Pass and Hardest Bar Exam to Pass
Before we go into details, lets answer the question quickly:
What is the easiest bar exam to pass?
Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260. (States range from 260 – 273).
What is the hardest bar exam to pass?
California has a notoriously hard bar exam, with only 45% of first-time takers passing the Feb 2024 bar exam, and 24% of repeat takers passing the July 2023 exam. However, there are other states with lower pass rates in July 2023, including Maine, Wyoming, and Maryland.
Now let’s dive into the data.
Easiest Bar Exam to Pass and Hardest Bar Exam to Pass
Based on the most recent bar exam data for July 2023 and February 2024, which you can find here, here is a summary of the jurisdictions with the highest and lowest pass rates for first-time takers. Pass rates are not necessarily the only indication of whether a bar exam is easy to pass or hard to pass. (For example, it is also important to look at the substance of the bar exam itself. Louisiana’s bar exam may be exceptionally difficult for many examinees to pass given the subject matter that it tests—nuanced Louisiana bar exam law!)
However, being aware of the statistics and the passing score requirements for each of the states can help shed light on which bar exams may be easier—or more difficult—to pass.
Easiest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:
- Utah: Utah had the highest first-time pass rate in July 2023, with 94% of first-time takers passing the exam. (It’s pass rate dipped to 69% in February 2024, but this is still higher than most other jurisdictions.) It also has a low passing score of 260.
- Missouri: Missouri followed closely, with an impressive 88% first-time pass rate in July 2023. Missouri’s passing score is 260.
- Montana: Montana had an 88% pass rate for first-time takers in July 2023. This is high considering its passing score is 266.
- Iowa: Iowa had an 88% pass rate for first-time takers in July 2023, making it one of the easier jurisdictions for first-time examinees. Its passing score is 266.
- Minnesota: Minnesota also showed a high pass rate with 86% of first-time takers passing the bar exam in July 2023. It requires a 260 to pass.
Hardest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:
- California: California had a notably low pass rate for first-time takers, with only 45% passing the February 2024 exam (though 65% passed the July 2023 exam!). It has not adopted the UBE and its passing score was recently lowered to 1390.
- Maine: Maine had a first-time pass rate of just 44% in February 2024, making it one of the more difficult states for first-time takers during this exam period. It requires a score of 270 to pass.
- Wyoming: had a pass rate of 40% in February 2024 (with its repeat taker pass rate actually exceeding its first-time taker pass rate! This is likely due to the low number of takers). It requires a score of 270 to pass.
- Maryland: Maryland had a first-time taker pass rate of 41% in February 2024, which is exceptionally low. It requires a score of 266 to pass.
- Other jurisdictions with low pass rates for first-time takers in February 2024 include Alabama (49%) and Alaska (48%).
Now let’s look at repeat taker pass rates to see where repeat takers tend to pass—and not pass—the bar exam.
Highest Pass Rates for Repeat Takers:
- Utah (July 2023):73% of repeat takers passed.
- South Dakota (July 2023): 67% of repeat takers passed.
- Rhode Island (July 2023): 58% of repeat takers passed
- Kansas (July 2023): 56% of repeat takers passed.
- Delaware (July 2023): 53% of repeat takers passed.
Lowest Pass Rates for Repeat Takers:
- Alabama (July 2023): 11% of repeat takers passed.
- Connecticut (July 2023):16% of repeat takers passed.
- Michigan (July 2023):16% of repeat takers passed.
- California (July 2023):24% of repeat takers passed. In Feb 2024, just 28% of repeat takers passed.
- Other jurisdictions with low repeat taker pass rates in July 2023 include Hawaii (18%) and Maine (20%).
These statistics suggest that states like Utah and Iowa might have more favorable conditions or support systems for repeat takers, leading to higher pass rates, while states like California and Connecticut pose more significant challenges for those retaking the bar exam.
Should I take the bar exam in a jurisdiction where it is easier to pass?
In general, it is probably not worth it. If you travel to a different jurisdiction in an effort to pass the bar exam, not only is it expensive but you may also face other hurdles. For example, if you have to change time zones, that may make it harder to focus. You will be in an unfamiliar place and this may increase anxiety or make it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Lastly, just because the pass rate is higher, doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily pass in that jurisdiction (or even increase your chances of passing by a significant amount). In fact, chances are if you took the money you’d spend on traveling and invested it in something like tutoring, you’d be much more likely to pass in the jurisdiction that you are in.
If you insist on considering traveling to a jurisdiction with a higher pass rate, there are a few things to consider:
- Will the score transfer to your jurisdiction? If you are going to head to a different state to take the bar exam, it is worth it to first figure out if you will have a portable score!
- Does the jurisdiction have a different passing score? If the jurisdiction has a passing score of 260 and your jurisdiction requires a 270, even if you pass in that jurisdiction you will still not be able to practice law in your home state.
- Does the jurisdiction always have a higher than average pass rate? Or does this change year over year?
- Why is the pass rate higher? Do the law schools where the examinees come from offer more support for their students before they take the bar exam? Is there some other explanation?
Consider all of these factors before making the big decision to travel out of state to take the bar exam!
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