Understand the NextGen UBE
Independent overview for July 2026–February 2027, checked against NCBE’s blueprint on October 11, 2026. Check the current content scope and your jurisdiction’s requirements for your administration.
9 hours · 1.5 days
Three 3-hour sections, each combining MCQs, integrated sets and a performance task.3 task families
Standalone MCQs · integrated question sets · performance tasks120 MCQs · 6 sets · 3 tasks
Each section: 40 standalone MCQs, 2 integrated sets and 1 performance task. Totals include unscored pretests.8 foundational subjects
Business associations, Civ Pro, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Real Property, Torts and Constitutional LawTask families and response formats
MCQ (select one of four)
Choose one answer. Standalone questions cover eight foundational subjects; MCQs also appear in counseling sets and research tasks.
Tip: Read the question carefully and assess every choice against the facts and applicable law.
MCQ (select two of six)
Choose exactly two answers from six options. Partial credit is available.
Tip: Evaluate every option independently before selecting your two answers.
Short answer
A focused response to the requested task, such as identifying a fact and explaining its significance. These appear in counseling sets and research tasks.
Tip: Answer every requested part. Add rule explanation or a conclusion when the task calls for it.
Medium answer
A written response in drafting sets or legal research tasks, assessed against the specific assignment.
Tip: Follow the requested audience, purpose and format; tie your reasoning to relevant facts and law.
Integrated question sets (IQS)
Questions share a scenario. Drafting sets use medium answers; counseling sets use MCQs and short answers. Legal resources or other documents may be supplied.
Tip: Use the shared materials and answer each component on its own terms.
Performance tasks (PT)
Standard tasks ask for a longer written work product. Research tasks combine research questions with a medium writing assignment. Both supply a File and Library.
Tip: Read the assignment and use the supplied materials to produce the requested work.
8 foundational subjects
Business associations and relationships
Agency, partnerships, corporations and other business-relationship topics within the applicable content scopeCivil Procedure (CivPro)
Personal jurisdiction, SMJ, venue, pleading, discovery, motions, appealsContracts (K)
Formation, defenses, remedies, UCC Art. 2, third-party rights, conditionsCriminal Law & Procedure (Crim)
Inchoate crimes, homicide, defenses, 4th/5th/6th Amendment, trial rightsEvidence (Evid)
Relevance, hearsay exceptions, privilege, authentication, FRE rulesReal Property (RProp)
Estates, future interests, landlord-tenant, deeds, mortgages, recording actsTorts
Negligence, strict liability, intentional torts, products liability, defensesConstitutional Law (Con Law)
Federalism, separation of powers, individual rights, equal protection, due processFamily law and trusts and estates also appear in skills-focused questions with supplied legal resources. Family law becomes a foundational subject in July 2028.
Sources and scoring
Twenty standalone MCQs and one integrated set are unscored pretests. Official score weights are 49% standalone MCQs, 21% integrated sets and 30% performance tasks. NCBE reports scores on a 500–750 scale; each jurisdiction sets its passing score.
Written responses receive jurisdiction-appointed grading, with dual grading and reconciliation; NCBE performs final scaling and equating. Our AI feedback supplies practice guidance.
NCBE blueprint: July 2026–February 2027 · NCBE content scope · NCBE scoring and grading
Classic UBE vs NextGen — side by side
Comparison of legacy UBE (MBE+MEE+MPT) vs NextGen across structure, item types, scoring, and skills. Figures summarized from public sources — verify with your board.
| Dimension | Classic UBE | NextGen UBE |
|---|---|---|
| First administration | Adopted 2011 | First administration July 2026; later adoption varies by jurisdiction |
| Total time | 12 hrs / 2 days (3-hr blocks) | 9 hrs / 1.5 days; three mixed-format 3-hour sections |
| Exam components | 200 MBE MCQ · 6 MEE essays · 2 MPT | 120 standalone MCQ · 6 integrated sets · 3 performance tasks |
| Subjects | 7 MBE subjects, with additional MEE subjects | 8 foundational subjects through February 2028; supplied law supports other skill-focused subjects |
| Scoring weights | MBE 50% / MEE 30% / MPT 20% | Standalone MCQ 49% / IQS 21% / PT 30% |
| Partial credit | MBE none; MEE/MPT holistic | Select-Two partial credit; IQS scored independently; PT rubric |
| Score scale | 0–400; passing score set by jurisdiction | 500–750; passing score set by jurisdiction |
| MPRE | Check your jurisdiction’s separate requirement | Check your jurisdiction’s separate requirement |
7 Foundational Skills
NextGen Study Plan
Use a repeatable weekly system: doctrine refresh, integrated practice, writing loops, and benchmark simulation.
7-Day Execution Loop
| Day | Primary Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Foundation review + 25 MCQ | Error list and weak-topic tags |
| Tue | Integrated set (IQS) | Tab citation and pivot-fact notes |
| Wed | Short + medium answer writing | Rubric feedback and rewrite |
| Thu | 50 mixed MCQ block | Timed pace check |
| Fri | Performance task | Full memo with diagnostics |
| Sat | Benchmark mini-sim (40 MCQ + IQS + PT excerpt) | Readiness score snapshot |
| Sun | Recovery + targeted remediation | Next-week plan settings |
Milestone schedule
Week 2
Baseline benchmark (pacing/tab-usage errors)Week 5
Mid-cycle benchmark (compare vs. baseline, retune skill focus)Week 8+
Final benchmark cadence (timed execution, clean writing structure)Frequently asked questions
When does the NextGen bar exam launch?
The first administration was July 2026. Adoption dates vary by jurisdiction; check NCBE and your jurisdiction’s bar admission agency.
Will my jurisdiction adopt the NextGen exam?
Adoption is jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions have expressed intent to adopt — verify with your state's board of bar examiners.
Is partial credit on MCQ-Multi official policy?
Yes. NCBE’s blueprint provides partial credit for select-two questions, on a 0–2-point raw scale.
Does a practice score predict my official result?
Our practice feedback is not an official or equated NextGen score. Official written grading and final scaling follow NCBE and jurisdiction procedures.