ube essay grading

Uniform Bar Examination

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• Score Portability
• Minimum Scores
• Maximum Score Age
• Local Components
• UBE Jurisdictions

About the UBE

The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is coordinated by NCBE and is composed of the following components:

• the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
• two  Multistate Performance Test (MPT)  tasks
• the  Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) . 

It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored and results in a portable score that can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. 

The UBE is administered over two days, with the MBE given on the last Wednesday of February and July and the MEE and MPT given on the Tuesday prior to that. Jurisdictions that use the UBE may also require applicants to complete jurisdiction-specific law component .

Purpose 

The UBE is designed to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It results in a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions.

Jurisdictions That Have Adopted the UBE

Select a jurisdiction for a summary of bar admission information specific to that jurisdiction and contact information for its bar admission agency. Note that jurisdictions that adopt the UBE may be indicated as such with incomplete information until rule amendments are finalized.

• UBE Adopted
• UBE Not Adopted
• District of Columbia
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Virgin Islands

Understanding the Uniform Bar Examination

For an in-depth understanding of the UBE, download our informational PDF. 

For a downloadable map of jurisdictions that have adopted the UBE, access the PDF map.

Click the link for a list of UBE Jurisdictions and their first administration dates.

Articles About the UBE

Visit the Bar Examiner website for articles about the UBE. Learn about the evolution of the UBE, policies and statistics, portability, jurisdiction local law components—and hear from early advocates of UBE adoption.

Policies Set by Jurisdictions

While the UBE is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions, the user jurisdictions continue to independently

• decide who may sit for the bar exam and who will be admitted to practice;
• determine underlying educational requirements;
• make all character and fitness decisions;
• set their own policies regarding the number of times applicants may retake the bar examination;
• make ADA decisions;
• grade the MEE and MPT;
• set their own pre-release regrading policies;
• assess candidate knowledge of jurisdiction-specific content through a separate test, course, or some combination of the two if the jurisdiction chooses;
• accept MBE scores earned in a previous examination or concurrently in another jurisdiction for purposes of making local admission decisions if they wish. Note: candidates must sit for all portions of the UBE in the same UBE jurisdiction and in the same administration in order to earn a portable UBE score;
• set their own passing scores; and
• determine how long incoming UBE scores will be accepted.
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The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is coordinated by the NCBE and is composed of the MEE, two MPT tasks, and the MBE. It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored and results in a portable score that can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. For a list of jurisdictions that administer the UBE, please see the map at the bottom of this page.

Content and Scoring of the Exam

The UBE is administered over two days, with the MBE given on the last Wednesday of February and July and the MEE and MPT given on the Tuesday prior to that. Jurisdictions that use the UBE may also require applicants to complete a  jurisdiction-specific law component . 

NCBE scores the MBE component of the UBE. Jurisdictions grade the MEE and MPT components. The MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE and UBE total scores are calculated by the NCBE. The MBE is weighted 50%, the MEE 30%, and the MPT 20%. UBE total scores are reported on a 400-point scale. Jurisdictions set their own  minimum passing scores  for the UBE. 

According to the NCBE, “[t]he UBE is designed to test knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It results in a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions.”

Study Resources for the UBE

The Law Library contains a special  Bar Success Collection  of resources to help you prepare for the bar exam. This collection is located in the Main Reading Room on Level 3A.

The Library also has eBook collections that can assist you in studying: 

• Bar Exam Success eBooks  
• Black Letter Outlines
• Gilbert Law Summaries
• Law School Legends Audio
• Lexis Digital Library Study Aids
• Short and Happy Guides
• Sum and Substance Audio

Below is a sampling of the print and electronic resources available from the Law Library: 

There are multiple resources that provide sample questions and answers for the UBE:

• Recent MEE questions and model answers .
• Recent MPT questions, model answers, and point sheets . 
• Sample MBE questions . 

If you’re looking to purchase additional resources yourself:

• The NCBE provides you with some  sample MBE test questios  online. 
• When you register for a Bar Review course they will provide you with multiple simulated MBE exams.
• The NCBE has a list of MBE study aids in their  online store .
• (FREE)  MEE Questions and Analyses  from older administrations are available on the NCBE website. 
• The NCBE provides you with some  sample MEE test questions  online. 
• When you register for a Bar Review course they will provide you with multiple simulated MEE exams.
• The NCBE has a list of MEE study aids in their  online store .
•  (FREE)  MPTs and Point Sheets  from older administrations are available on the NCBE website. 
• (FREE)  Summaries of MPTs  from recent administrations are available on the NCBE website. 
• When you register for a Bar Review course they will provide you with multiple simulated MPT exams.
• The NCBE has a list of MPT study aids in their  online store .

Jurisdictions Administering the UBE

(updated Feb. 22, 2024)

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• Last Updated: Apr 30, 2024 10:59 AM
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What is the uniform bar exam (ube) - complete guide.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 4/3/24

If you’re curious about what the Uniform Bar Exam is, keep reading. We’ll walk through its structure, content, and where you can take it.

Since 2011, the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) has steadily gained ground across the US. Over time, more and more states are adopting the UBE as a means to streamline the process of attorney licensure. It's designed to make sure that everyone who passes meets the same high standards of legal know-how, no matter where they plan to practice.

In this guide, we'll cover the basics of the UBE, including its components, the states and jurisdictions where it's accepted, how it's graded, the subjects it covers, the exam schedule, and the portability of UBE scores. Whether you're thinking about taking the exam or just want to understand what it's all about, this overview has got you covered.

What Is the Uniform Bar Exam?

The Uniform Bar Exam is a standardized test conducted by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Its main aim is to assess the essential knowledge and skills needed for practicing law effectively. 

This exam includes multiple-choice questions, essays, and performance tests covering various legal topics like constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, and evidence. 

What sets the UBE apart is its portability; once you've taken it, you can use your scores to apply for admission to the bar in different jurisdictions that accept the UBE. This saves you the hassle of taking separate bar exams for each place you want to practice law.

UBE Components

The UBE is made up of three main sections: 

• The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
• The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
• The Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)

The MBE is the first step in the UBE. It tests whether candidates understand important legal principles and can analyze legal situations.

This section consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering a range of legal topics, such as civil procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, and Evidence. It is split into morning and afternoon sessions, each lasting three hours. Candidates face both scored and unscored pretest questions. 

The MBE contributes 50% to the total UBE score, so it plays a significant role in determining candidates' readiness for the legal profession.

Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)

Following the MBE is the MEE , which focuses on assessing candidates' writing and analytical skills. Through six essay questions spanning subjects such as Business Associations, Torts, and Trusts and Estates, candidates must provide clear and concise responses within a 30-minute timeframe per question. 

Graded by individual jurisdictions, the MEE constitutes 30% of the overall UBE score, offering valuable insights into candidates' ability to articulate legal concepts effectively.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The MPT evaluates candidates' practical application of legal knowledge and skills. With two 90-minute tasks, candidates are presented with case materials, including a File containing relevant facts and a Library with reference materials. 

From drafting legal documents to analyzing case materials, candidates demonstrate their legal research, analysis, and writing abilities. Accounting for 20% of the UBE score, the MPT provides an opportunity for candidates to showcase their readiness for the challenges of legal practice.

UBE States and Jurisdictions

Below is a breakdown of the UBE states and jurisdictions that have embraced the UBE, along with when they first introduced it.

Jurisdictions That Have Adopted the UBE

States and jurisdictions that have not adopted the ube.

The following states and jurisdictions have not adopted the UBE:

• Mississippi

Additionally, the following territories and jurisdictions have not adopted the UBE:

• Northern Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico

Source : NCBE

Grading of the UBE

The UBE is graded through a combination of scoring by the NCBE for the MBE component, while the MEE and the MPT components are graded by individual jurisdictions. 

After grading, the scores from the MEE and MPT are scaled to align with the MBE scores, and the UBE total scores are calculated by the NCBE. These total scores are reported on a 400-point scale, with the MBE weighted at 50%, the MEE at 30%, and the MPT at 20%. 

Each jurisdiction sets its own minimum passing score for the UBE, and NCBE automatically reports UBE scores to jurisdictions, which then report the scores to examinees. If a jurisdiction does not report scores to examinees, individuals may request their scores from NCBE via UBE Score Services.

UBE Bar Exam Subjects

The Uniform Bar Exam covers key legal subjects like Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, and Civil Procedure. 

Additionally, the MEE includes topics such as Business Associations, Conflict of Laws, Family Law, UCC Art. 9 (Secured Transactions), and Trusts & Estates. This broad range of subjects ensures that candidates have a well-rounded understanding of essential legal principles needed for the practice of law.

UBE Schedule

To prepare for the UBE, candidates typically put in around 35-40 hours of study time per week for nine to 10 weeks, totaling about 300-400 hours. 

The strategy is to take things one step at a time. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, candidates focus on mastering one part of the exam before moving on to the next. 

Your first aim should be to learn the material. This involves listening to lectures, going through practice questions , and getting to grips with the nuts and bolts of each section. Once that's done, it's all about practice, practice, practice.

By breaking it down and building a study schedule , candidates can dig deep into each component of the exam. This approach not only builds up knowledge but also helps develop those all-important test-taking strategies. So when exam day rolls around, candidates are ready to handle anything that comes their way.

UBE Score Portability

Score portability on the UBE allows candidates who pass the exam in one jurisdiction to transfer their scores for admission to other UBE jurisdictions. This simplifies the process for lawyers who want to practice in multiple states by providing a standardized measure of their legal competence across different jurisdictions. 

However, it's important to check the specific requirements of the jurisdiction where admission is sought, as procedures may vary slightly.

Final Thoughts

To wrap it up, understanding what the Uniform Bar Exam is key. It provides a standardized way for future lawyers to prove their skills, making it easier to practice across different states. 

And when it comes to acing the UBE, look no further than our customized Uniform Bar Exam tutoring . Our skilled tutors provide customized online sessions designed to target your areas for improvement, guiding you toward reaching your full potential.

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Topic 10: MEE Grading & Scoring: What You Need to Know

Mee grading & scoring: what you need to know.

In this post, we cover how the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) is graded and scored. We tell you the grading standards and what you should aim for when you write a MEE answer.

A few notes about MEE graders

• Keep in mind who your bar exam grader is. A typical bar exam grader oftentimes is a practicing attorney or judge (rather than, say, a law professor). Thus, an MEE grader will not be impressed by the same things that your law school professor was impressed by (i.e., detailed policy analysis, references to obscure cases, etc.).
• Graders often are given a checklist which tells them how to award points.
• Importantly, graders are often paid per essay, which means they have an incentive to read essays quickly. It is important to make it easy for graders to award points to your essay.
• After a grader grades enough of the same essay, the grader naturally begins to “scan” essays rather than reading them word-for-word. Thus, it is important to bold or underline key words to quickly draw the grader’s attention to what you know.

Scaling of MEE scores

• Each jurisdiction sets their own grading scale. Most MEE jurisdictions use a 1–6 scale, while some use a 1–10 scale, and some use different scales altogether (e.g., New York uses a 20–80 scale).
• Each jurisdiction has their own grading policies, re-grading policies, and standards for essay graders.
• The MEE is worth 30% of your score in a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) jurisdiction. It is added to your Multistate Performance Test (MPT) score (which is worth 20% of your score in a UBE jurisdiction). Your overall raw score is scaled in comparison with how other examinees in your jurisdiction did. So if the exam is harder, the scale should be more generous. If the exam is easier, and students did better than average, the grading scale may be less generous.

MEE grading rubric

Below we have an MEE grading rubric which is released by the state of Washington. Many states do  not release grading rubrics, but this is a good indication of approximately what each score means.

What MEE score do I need to pass?

Naturally, you may be wondering what average score you need on each MEE answer to pass the MEE portion of the bar exam. In UBE jurisdictions,  you need an average score somewhere between 3.9 and 4.2 to pass. Specifically:

• An average score of 3.9 is passing for jurisdictions that require a 260 .
• An average score of 4 out of 6 is passing for jurisdictions that require a 266.  
• An average score of 4.1 out of 6 is passing for jurisdictions that require a 273.
• An average score of 4.2 out of 6 is passing for jurisdictions that require a score of 280. 

This table tells you exactly what score you need to pass in your jurisdiction.

(If you are curious about the math, check out this post .)

If you are not sure what a passing score is in your jurisdiction, check out this post on passing UBE scores by state .

Remember that you do not technically “need” to get these scores to pass the MEE in the vast majority of jurisdictions, including UBE jurisdictions. Rather, these scores will lead to an overall passing score on the MEE, so it is good to be aware of them. If you are in New York (where a 266 is a passing score) you could technically score higher on the MBE and as long as you got that overall score of 266, you could still “fail” the MEE and pass the bar exam.

How do I write a high-scoring MEE answer?

If you are studying the rubric above, it is clear there are a few things you want to focus on in order to write a high-scoring MEE answer: 

• First, learn the rules of law. Focus on the  highly tested MEE topics . If you do not know the rules, you will have nothing to apply!
• Make sure to address the issues posed. You should closely focus on the call of the question and also reread the facts to make sure you’ve addressed issues in the fact pattern.
• Make sure you are using enough facts to support your conclusions in your MEE answer.
• Arrive at an accurate and well-reasoned conclusion using the law and facts provided.

Additional MEE posts you may find helpful:

• Highly Tested MEE Topics : You cannot learn everything for the bar exam—nor do you need to know everything! So, study efficiently when you study for the MEE by reviewing the highly tested MEE topics!
• How to Write an MEE Answer : in this post, we tell you how to approach the MEE portion of the bar exam.
• How to Structure a Multistate Essay Exam Answer : we give you several excellent tips on structure and format in this post.
• 15 MEE Tips From a 99th Percentile Scorer : these are excellent tips that you should definitely check out if you want to maximize your MEE score.
• Where to find past MEE questions and analyses : here, we give you some online resources for past MEE questions and model answers, and most of them are free!
• Invest in our MEE Essay Course ,  MEE One-Sheets  and/or  Multistate Essay Exam Seminar if you are looking for top-notch MEE preparation!

Go to the next topic, Bonus: 15 MEE Tips from a 99th Percentile Scorer .

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