Myth or Fact: Test Your Bar Exam Knowledge 

It’s no secret that there’s a lot to navigate in preparing for the bar exam. And some of the information surrounding this legal labyrinth can be conflicting. Put your bar exam knowledge to the test as we aim to set the record straight.  

You Can Get Licensed Without Taking the Bar Exam 

Fact. Jurisdictions are increasingly offering alternative pathways to attorney licensure. For example, Wisconsin and New Hampshire offer diploma privilege for graduates of state law schools who meet certain academic and character and fitness requirements. Washington and Oregon allow graduates to bypass the bar exam if they complete an apprenticeship supervised by a licensed attorney and meet other requirements. And in California, the State Bar of California’s Rule 4.29 allows individuals who have completed at least two years of college to finish the remainder of their legal education in a law office or judge's chamber.  

The February Bar Exam is Harder Than the July Bar Exam 

Myth. Don’t let this myth dissuade you from taking the February exam if the timing works well for you. In terms of achieving passage, February isn’t harder than July. Although the difficulty of the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) can vary by administration, any difference in difficulty is reconciled by the equating process used by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Learn more about MBE scoring and check out the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest for jurisdiction-specific information regarding MBE score requirements. 

A New Version of the Bar Exam is Coming  

Fact. The National Conference of Bar Examiners will unveil a new version of the bar exam in July 2026. The NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) will take a practice-oriented approach with examinees facing drafting and client-counseling questions that put them in the shoes of a newly licensed lawyer. A growing number of jurisdictions plan to administer the NextGen UBE beginning in 2026. Learn where the exam will be administered.  

The Uniform Bar Exam Will Test Fewer Subjects in the Future 

Fact. Each year, bar preppers groan at the mountain of material tested on the UBE, which is administered in many jurisdictions. Beginning with the July 2026 administration of the UBE, 4 subjects will be dropped: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and Secured Transactions. Learn more about future subjects tested.  

Suffering Through Long Bar Prep Lectures is a Rite of Passage 

Myth. With BARBRI Bar Review, you get bite-sized interactive lectures taught by expert legal faculty  that break down the toughest concepts tested on the bar exam. Our on-demand lecture experience has been overhauled to make it super easy to complete shorter segments and take regular breaks. Most of our lectures are 20 to 30 minutes in length so you stay engaged, focused, and on track throughout your bar review course.  

Binge through several videos at a time or take in-depth notes in between lectures. The experience is highly customizable to your learning style. Shorter lectures and a personalized focus mean more productive bar prep. Regular feedback, interactive lectures and practice-question sets, quizzes, and animated explainer videos that include interactive knowledge checks also help build and reinforce your learning.