How Difficult is The California Bar Exam Really?

How Difficult is The California Bar Exam Really?

If you’re planning to take the February 2021 California Bar Exam, you may be feeling anxious about bar prep. It’s no secret that the California bar exam is notorious for its low pass rates—in February 2020, the pass rate was 26.8 percent. While it’s important to take your preparation seriously, do not let the rumors about the exam deter you from your goal. So, how difficult is the California Bar Exam, really? It’s tough, but we’ve got your back with some context and helpful tips.

UPDATE: California passed an order on January 28, 2021 that allows examinees who narrowly passed the California Bar Exam between July 2015 and February 2020 to be admitted to the state bar after completing 300 hours of supervised legal work (no second bar exam is required).

How Difficult is The California Bar Exam Really?

A Few Reasons Why the California Bar is So Difficult

There are several factors that help explain the difficulty of the California Bar Exam. First, California has a huge pool of applicants compared to other states. Virtually every other state besides New York has far fewer applicants.

In addition to the sheer number of applicants, California also had a particularly high “cut score”, or minimum passing score. But don’t fret. We have plenty of materials to help you succeed on the exam, such as this free in-depth California bar exam essay guide, how best to memorize CA law, and timing tips for those sitting for the California exam.    Since the Feb 2021 bar exam will be online, here’s additional tailored advice on how to study for that Feb 2021 exam in the time of COVID.

Good News: The California Supreme Court Recently Lowered the Passing Score

If you’re in the middle of preparing to take the California Bar Exam, we’ve got good news for you. In July 2020, the California Supreme Court announced it would lower the minimum passing score. The new cut score is still the seventh highest in the country, but it will make passing easier than ever before.

How to Pass the California Bar Exam

As of October 2020, you need 1390 points to pass the California Bar Exam. Both the MBE section and the written section of the exam are weighted equally, so you’ll need to balance your preparation between the two. Learn more about how exactly the California bar exam is scored here. If you’re worried about how hard the California bar is, we can help. Our California Bar Exam materials will help you focus your study and maximize your time.

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