Start here
One Eli, fifty-one exams. Pick your state below and Eli tailors every answer to it — UBE states get UBE treatment, California gets California treatment. Your pick is saved on your device and shared with the Eli widget on every page.
The NextGen transition is underway. Between July 2026 and July 2028, most jurisdictions transition from the legacy Uniform Bar Examination to the NextGen UBE (per the NCBE). Ten jurisdictions — Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington — administered the inaugural NextGen UBE in July 2026. UBE flags below reflect the NCBE's UBE page as verified 2026-10-02; always confirm your jurisdiction's current exam and format with its bar admissions agency.
The map
UBE Uniform Bar Examination Non-UBE State-specific exam NextGen First administered NextGen UBE July 2026
You'll see which exam it uses, how the exam is built, and what to verify with the bar admissions agency — with California, Texas, New York, and Florida in depth.
UBE adoption status per the NCBE's UBE page (ncbex.org/exams/ube), verified 2026-10-02. NextGen inaugural-administration facts per the NCBE's July 2026 announcement. Exam structures change — confirm with your jurisdiction's bar admissions agency before acting.
The two exams
| UBE jurisdictions | Non-UBE jurisdictions | |
|---|---|---|
| Components | MBE (200 Q, 175 scored — 50%) + MEE (6 essays × 30 min — 30%) + MPT (2 tasks × 90 min — 20%) | MBE + the state's own written portion (essays and/or performance tests on state law) |
| Scoring | Total on a 400-point scale; each jurisdiction sets its own passing score | Set entirely by the jurisdiction |
| Portability | A passing UBE score can transfer to other UBE jurisdictions (each sets its own minimum and acceptance window) | Scores generally do not transfer — check the receiving jurisdiction |
| Examples | Texas, New York, Illinois, and 30+ others | California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, Virginia, and others |
Our read: if you're choosing between a UBE state and a non-UBE state, portability is the practical difference. A UBE score is an option on multiple jurisdictions; a non-UBE score is a single-jurisdiction credential. Study strategy follows the exam: UBE prep is national and portable, non-UBE prep must include the state's own law.