Key points:
- The February 2025 Multistate Bar Exam average score fell to 130.8—the lowest since the MBE's inception in 1972.
- California’s exit from the MBE and a high percentage of repeat test takers contributed to the decline.
- Repeaters now account for 71% of February examinees, affecting national performance averages.
The national average score for the February 2025 administration of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) has fallen to an all-time low, according to data released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). The average score of 130.8 on the 200-question multiple-choice section is the lowest recorded since the MBE was introduced in 1972, dropping below the previous low of 131.1 set in 2023 and down from 131.8 in February 2024.
NCBE officials attributed part of the decline to California’s departure from the national exam format. For the first time, California administered its own bar exam in February, removing between 3,000 and 4,000 test takers—who historically have above-average MBE scores—from the national pool. Bob Schwartz, NCBE’s managing director of psychometrics, noted that when California scores are removed from last year’s average, the year-over-year drop is less steep, as reported by Reuters.
Another major factor behind the low average is the high percentage of repeat test takers. The February exam consistently sees a larger share of candidates retaking the test—this year, 71% of examinees were repeaters, who statistically have lower pass rates. The NCBE noted that, due to the widespread adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), repeaters today are more likely to be individuals who have failed the exam previously, rather than those who passed in another jurisdiction.
The MBE is one of three components of the bar exam, alongside essay questions and a performance test. While many jurisdictions have reported lower pass rates for February bar exams historically, the record-low MBE average this year may portend even more disappointing results when full bar exam outcomes are released in the coming weeks.
California’s February results, which are not included in the national MBE data, are expected on May 2. The administration of that exam faced its own set of issues, including technical and logistical problems during a hybrid remote and in-person format, which may further complicate comparisons with other jurisdictions.
