Texas Bar Exam Information

Dates, Cost & Location

Do you know what the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Medicare, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have in common? They were all signed into law by a President from Texas: Lyndon B. Johnson. While he didn’t graduate from law school, Johnson is an example of the positive impact that Texans have made on American legal history. Today, lawyers across the country base their civil rights, healthcare, and education law cases on the bills that a Texan signed into law. If you want to join their efforts to make America a more just place by practicing law, then we’re excited to help you pass the bar exam!

The Texas Bar Exam is offered twice a year, in February and July. Both versions of the exam take place over two days. The February exam will be administered from February 24–25, 2026, while the July exam will take place from July 28–29, 2026.

The exam application fee is $300. The initial deadline to apply for the February exam was September 1, 2025. If you apply between September 2 and November 1, you’ll need to pay a $150 late fee. If you apply between November 2 and December 1, the late fee is $300. The initial deadline to apply for the July exam is February 1, 2026. If you apply between February 2 and April 1, you’ll need to pay a $150 late fee. If you apply between April 2 and May 1, the late fee is $300.

Like most U.S. states, Texas uses the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). The UBE is administered over two days, with the first day reserved for the essay portions of the exam and the second day for multiple choice. You’ll take the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) on day one of the exam. The MEE has six essay questions that take thirty minutes each, while the MPT has two essay questions that take ninety minutes each. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is administered on day two of the exam. For the MBE, test takers will spend six hours answering 200 multiple-choice questions.

Effective July 2028, Texas will use the NextGen version of the UBE. The NextGen bar exam is designed to prioritize real-world lawyering skills more than the current version of the UBE. The NextGen exam won’t test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates. The NextGen exam will include more questions about practical legal work, such as dispute resolution and legal research.

What subjects will you be tested on?

The MEE may test Business Associations (including Agency, Partnerships, and Corporations), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Secured Transactions (including Article 9 Uniform Commercial Code), Torts, and Wills & Estates. It’s impossible to predict the subjects on which you will be tested, but we recommend you play it safe by studying all of the above subjects so you’re fully prepared to pass the bar.

During the MPT, you’ll be asked to write a memorandum or legal brief in response to a fictional case. The relevant laws that apply to the question will be supplied to you in the prompt. You’ll be graded primarily on your ability to structure a persuasive argument and your analytical skills.

The MBE will test you on Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, and Torts.

What’s the minimum score for the MPRE?

To pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in South Dakota, you must receive a scaled score of at least 85.

How is the exam scored?

You need a score of at least 270 to pass. Your scores from the three sections of the exam are tallied up into a single scaled score out of 400. The MBE is worth half the total score, the MPT is worth 20%, and the MEE is worth 30%.

When are the results released?

Test takers can expect to receive their results two months after the exam administration, but there is no guaranteed date for releasing the scores.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

Yes.

What about reciprocity across states?

To practice law in Texas without taking the UBE, you can apply for admission on motion. To apply, you must have practiced law for five of the previous seven years, have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, and be in good standing in all jurisdictions where you’re presently licensed to practice.