What is the MPRE passing score?

There is no single national MPRE passing score — each U.S. jurisdiction sets its own minimum. Passing scores range from 75 (the lowest, used by Alabama, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, DC, and South Dakota) to 86 (the highest, used by California and Utah). The most common passing score is 80, used by approximately 20 jurisdictions including Florida, Texas, Illinois, and most southern and midwestern states. The MPRE is scored on a 50-150 scaled-score range; passing scores cluster between 75 and 86.

What is the MPRE passing score in California?

California requires an MPRE scaled score of 86 — the highest passing score in the country, tied with Utah. The California State Bar enforces this requirement before admission to practice. California is also a non-UBE jurisdiction with its own bar exam, so applicants face the highest combined bar admission requirements in the country.

What is the MPRE passing score in New York?

New York requires an MPRE scaled score of 85. New York adopted the UBE in 2016 and combines the UBE plus MPRE plus the New York Law Course (NYLC) and New York Law Exam (NYLE) for admission. New York's MPRE requirement applies to all admissions even via UBE score transfer.

Is the MPRE difficult?

The MPRE has a roughly 75-80% first-time pass rate among test-takers. Most applicants pass on their first attempt with 20-40 hours of focused preparation. The test covers the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (60 questions, 2 hours), and many applicants find the material more straightforward than bar exam doctrines. The difficulty comes from precise rule memorization and identifying conflict-of-interest scenarios — not from analytical complexity.

How do I retake the MPRE?

The MPRE is offered three times per year (typically March, August, and November). To retake, register with NCBE and pay the $150 registration fee per attempt. There is no limit on the number of times you can retake the MPRE. Most jurisdictions accept MPRE scores indefinitely once you pass — the score doesn't expire — though a few have time limits between MPRE passage and bar admission.

Can I take the MPRE in one state and use it in another?

Yes — your MPRE score is portable across all jurisdictions that require the MPRE. You only need to score above the receiving jurisdiction's minimum. If you scored 87 (above California's 86), you can use that score in California even if you took the test while applying to admit in New York. Wisconsin and Puerto Rico do not require the MPRE; everywhere else accepts portable MPRE scores.

Bar Exam Guides

MPRE Passing Score by State (2026)

Complete table of MPRE minimum passing scores for every U.S. jurisdiction, plus how the MPRE is scored, when to take it, and what counts as a competitive score.

Last updated: January 2026. Verify with each jurisdiction's bar admissions office before relying on a number for admission purposes.

MPRE Passing Scores Grouped by Score

7 jurisdictions

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1 jurisdiction

19 jurisdictions

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1 jurisdiction

20 jurisdictions

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2 jurisdictions

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Full State-by-State Table

Jurisdiction	MPRE Passing Score	Notes
Alabama	75	—
Alaska	80	—
Arizona	85	—
Arkansas	85	—
California	86	Highest passing score in the country, tied with Utah.
Colorado	85	—
Connecticut	80	—
Delaware	85	—
District of Columbia	75	—
Florida	80	—
Georgia	75	—
Hawaii	85	—
Idaho	85	—
Illinois	80	—
Indiana	80	—
Iowa	80	—
Kansas	80	—
Kentucky	80	—
Louisiana	80	—
Maine	80	—
Maryland	85	—
Massachusetts	85	—
Michigan	85	—
Minnesota	85	—
Mississippi	80	—
Missouri	80	—
Montana	80	—
Nebraska	80	—
Nevada	85	—
New Hampshire	79	—
New Jersey	75	—
New Mexico	80	—
New York	85	—
North Carolina	80	—
North Dakota	85	—
Ohio	85	—
Oklahoma	85	—
Oregon	85	—
Pennsylvania	75	—
Puerto Rico	Not required	Has its own ethics requirement separate from the MPRE.
Rhode Island	80	—
South Carolina	77	—
South Dakota	75	—
Tennessee	82	—
Texas	85	—
Utah	86	Highest passing score in the country, tied with California.
Vermont	80	—
Virgin Islands	75	—
Virginia	85	—
Washington	85	—
West Virginia	80	—
Wisconsin	Not required	Diploma-privilege state. UW and Marquette grads exempt; out-of-state takers admit via UBE/MPRE elsewhere first.
Wyoming	85	—

What Is the MPRE?

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 2-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). It tests an applicant's knowledge of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct — the rules governing lawyer behavior, conflicts of interest, client confidentiality, advertising, fee splitting, and the lawyer's duties to courts and third parties.

Almost every U.S. jurisdiction requires applicants to pass the MPRE before admission to practice. The exceptions are Wisconsin (which grants diploma privilege to University of Wisconsin and Marquette law graduates) and Puerto Rico (which has its own ethics requirements). Maryland, Washington state, and a few others have considered alternative ethics requirements but currently still require the MPRE.

The test is offered three times per year — typically March, August, and November. Most applicants take it during the summer between 2L and 3L, while bar exam preparation is fresh.

When to Take the MPRE

The MPRE is not part of the bar exam itself, but admissions offices require it before licensing. Strategic timing:

Summer between 2L and 3L (August): Most common. Bar exam prep hasn't started yet, and you can knock out the MPRE while still in academic mode.
3L year (November or March): Common for students who want to delay or who haven't completed the relevant 2L courses (Professional Responsibility is typically required in 2L).
After law school graduation: Possible but risky — most jurisdictions require MPRE passage before bar admission, so failing post-graduation can delay your start date.

The MPRE doesn't expire in most jurisdictions — once you pass, your score is good indefinitely (or until you switch jurisdictions, in which case you may need to retake if your original score was below the new state's minimum).

How the MPRE Is Scored

The MPRE is scored on a 50-150 scaled score range. Your raw score (correct answers out of 60) is converted to a scaled score using a curve calibrated to the difficulty of that administration. Scaling adjusts for question difficulty so that scores are comparable across administrations.

Approximately 70-75% of the questions count for scoring; the remaining are unscored experimental questions used for future test calibration. You won't know which is which during the test, so treat every question as live.

The first-time pass rate is approximately 75-80% across all takers — slightly higher (85%+) for students from top law schools and slightly lower (60-70%) for repeat takers from lower-ranked schools.

Related Bar Exam Resources

UBE States Guide — all UBE jurisdictions with passing scores and adoption dates.
Bar Exam Passing Scores by State — minimum bar scores and pass rates for every U.S. jurisdiction.
Bar Exam Costs by State — application fees, character & fitness, and total cost.