The New York bar passing score is 266 on a 400-point scale, the minimum scaled score the New York State Board of Law Examiners requires on the Uniform Bar Examination. That places New York in the middle of the 41 UBE jurisdictions, where cutoffs run from 260 to 270. A handful of states share the 266 threshold, including Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey, while Massachusetts, Texas, and Pennsylvania require 270 and Alabama and Missouri set their floors at 260.1National Conference of Bar Examiners. UBE Bar Exam Score Range
The authority for this standard sits in 22 NYCRR § 520.7, which requires the Board of Law Examiners to certify that an applicant has passed the bar examination before the Appellate Division will admit them.2Legal Information Institute. New York Code 22 NYCRR 520.7 – Certification by Board of Law Examiners The Board sets the numerical threshold, and it has held at 266 since New York adopted the UBE in 2016.
How the 266 Is Calculated
The 266 isn’t a percentage of questions right. It’s a scaled composite of three exam components, each weighted differently. The Multistate Bar Examination (200 multiple-choice questions) makes up 50% of your total. The Multistate Essay Examination (six 30-minute essays) contributes 30%. The Multistate Performance Test (two 90-minute skills tasks) is the remaining 20%.3National Conference of Bar Examiners. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
Written scores are scaled to the MBE from the same administration, and the MBE itself is equated across administrations. That’s what allows a February 266 to mean the same thing as a July 266.4National Conference of Bar Examiners. Frequently Asked Questions About Scaling Written Test Scores to the MBE Because the MBE is half the score and drives the scaling of the other half, its influence on whether you clear 266 is larger than the 50% headline suggests.
How Often People Clear It
In 2024, 61% of New York bar takers passed overall. First-time takers passed at 77%; repeat takers passed at 30%. The two administrations diverge sharply: July 2024 produced a 69% pass rate, February 2024 only 42%.5New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York Bar Exam 2024 Statistics The gap has an explanation. Most graduating students take the July exam, so the February pool skews toward repeat takers, which pulls the number down.
Transferring a Score Into New York
A 266 or higher earned on the UBE in any participating jurisdiction can be transferred to New York. You don’t retake the exam. The score must be no more than three years old, measured from the date you sat for the exam.6New York State Board of Law Examiners. Application by Transferred UBE Score
Transferring a score doesn’t waive New York’s other admission requirements. You still need the MPRE, the New York Law Course and Exam, the pro bono hours, and character and fitness clearance.6New York State Board of Law Examiners. Application by Transferred UBE Score
What Else You Need for Admission
MPRE
You must pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination with a score of at least 85. The MPRE is administered separately by the NCBE and can be taken before or after the bar exam. A passing score is good for four years. If it expires before the Board certifies you to the Appellate Division, you’ll retake it. Passing the bar without a valid MPRE on file means you won’t be certified for admission until you submit proof.7New York State Board of Law Examiners. Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
New York Law Course and New York Law Exam
Because the UBE tests general legal principles, New York layers on a state-specific requirement. You complete the online New York Law Course and then pass the New York Law Exam, which requires a score of at least 30. There’s no cap on retakes, but you must repeat the NYLC every time before you can sit for the NYLE again.8New York State Board of Law Examiners. Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners The requirement is codified at 22 NYCRR § 520.9.9Legal Information Institute. New York Code 22 NYCRR 520.9 – Additional Requirements for Applicants for Admission Upon Examination
50 Hours of Pro Bono
You must complete 50 hours of qualifying pro bono service before filing your admission application. The work has to be law-related, supervised by a licensed attorney or law professor, and performed without charge for people of limited means or the organizations serving them. Partisan political activity doesn’t count. You’ll submit a sworn affidavit with dates, hours, and a supervisor’s certification.10Legal Information Institute. New York Code 22 NYCRR 520.16 – Pro Bono Requirement for Bar Admission
Character and Fitness
The Appellate Division’s Committee on Character and Fitness reviews every applicant.11New York Courts – Appellate Division, First Department. Committee on Character and Fitness The questionnaire covers education, employment, residence, and finances, and asks about criminal history, school discipline, unpaid debts, and substance use. Full disclosure matters. Omissions and misrepresentations are treated more seriously than the underlying facts.
Deadlines and Retakes
You have three years from the second day of the UBE to file a complete admission application with the Appellate Division. That window has to cover the MPRE, the NYLC and NYLE, the pro bono hours, and the character and fitness submission. Miss it and you retake the exam.12New York State Court of Appeals. Part 520 – Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law
There is no absolute cap on attempts. After four unsuccessful tries, though, you can only sit for the February administration, which is the harder-passing of the two.8New York State Board of Law Examiners. Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners July results typically arrive in late October or November; February results come out in late April or early May.