Breaking Down the NextGen UBE Format

The bar exam is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history, with the debut of the next generation of the Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE). Set to be administered in a limited number of U.S. jurisdictions in July 2026, the new version of the UBE has been redesigned by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) to better reflect the competencies required of newly licensed attorneys.

While the exam will continue to assess legal knowledge, its format will move away from a heavy focus on pure memorization. The NextGen UBE will usher in a more practical, efficient, and accessible way to assess future legal professionals with questions and tasks that mimic how lawyers work in the real world while testing essential foundational legal concepts.

What is Changing

From the length and format of the exam to its scoring structure, the NextGen UBE introduces a host of changes. Here, we will explore some notable differences in the exam format.

Shortened Testing Period

The NextGen UBE shortens the bar exam from 12 hours over 2 days to 9 hours over 1.5 days, allowing for a state-specific component if desired.

The dates for the July 2026 and February 2027 administrations are July 28–29, 2026, and February 23–24, 2027.

New Structure and Question Types

The legacy UBE tested 12 subjects, but not all were included in every exam. The NextGen UBE focuses equally on fewer Foundational Concepts and Principles. This allows for more targeted preparation on specific subjects that will be tested.

• Business Associations (including Agency)
• Civil Procedure
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
• Evidence
• Real Property
• Torts
• Professional Responsibility (specific concepts)
• Family Law will be included starting in July 2028

The exam is made up of three sections that will appear together in each three-hour block of the exam:

• Standalone Multiple-Choice Questions
• 40 questions per block, 120 total (accounting for 49% of your total score)
• Two formats: Select one of four options and select two of six options
• Partial credit is available for select-two multiple-choice questions
• Some questions may test more than one Foundational Concepts and Principles
• Questions are independent from each other; the answer for any one question does not require information from any other question
• Time allotted is approximately 1.8 minutes per question
• Performance Tasks
• Each hour-long task is designed to demonstrate fundamental lawyering skills, such as drafting legal documents or analyzing client files (30% of your overall exam score)
• One performance task per block, three tasks total
• Standard performance tasks focus on a single longer writing assignment; legal research performance tasks include several multiple-choice and short-answer questions followed by a medium-answer writing assignment
• Legal resources, in the form of a case file and library, are provided within each task
• Integrated Question Sets
• Two sets of Integrated Question Sets designed to assess real-world application will appear in each of the three blocks (21% of your total score)
• Question sets are based on a common fact scenario, appearing in two formats: drafting sets and counseling sets
• Drafting sets require applicants to draft a response to a prompt, which is longer than a short answer question but shorter than a 30-minute essay prompt.
• Counseling sets contain a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions 
• Sets may feature areas of doctrinal law, with accompanying legal resources, not included in the Foundational Concepts and Principles
• Sets may test more than one of the Foundational Concepts and Principles and/or non-Foundational area of doctrinal law; the Foundational Concepts and Principles are not equally distributed among the integrated question sets
• Legal resources, such as excerpts of statutes or judicial opinions, a police report, or excerpt from a deposition, are included
• Time allotted is 24 minutes per question set, or about 48 minutes total

Pretest questions

• Pretest questions comprise 20 of the 120 standalone multiple-choice questions and one of the six integrated question sets.
• Pretest questions do not contribute to your score.
• Pretest questions are not identified as such and are indistinguishable from the scored items.

Skill-Based Testing

Beyond just knowledge, the exam heavily emphasizes Foundational Skills needed for lawyering:

• Legal Writing
• Legal Research
• Issue Spotting and Analysis
• Investigation and Evaluation
• Client Counseling and Advising
• Client Relationship and Management
• Negotiation and Dispute Resolution

Sample Questions

Want a taste of what will be tested on the NextGen UBE? Samples of each question type are available on the NCBE website.

Stay Ahead on Everything NextGen UBE

BARBRI has you covered for the latest information about the NextGen UBE, including what to expect and how to prepare. Continue to check the BARBRI Resource Center for updates as the new version of the bar exam unfolds. We're here to help you navigate the changes and prepare to pass the bar as only BARBRI can.

Learn more about the next generation of the Uniform Bar Exam and what it might mean for you.