10 Questions Students Still Ask About the NextGen Bar Exam

The NextGen Uniform Bar Examination is officially here, but that does not mean law students have stopped having questions about it. 

The first NextGen UBE was administered in July 2026, beginning a multiyear transition away from the legacy UBE. Most jurisdictions that are making the change will transition between July 2026 and July 2028. 

If youʼre trying to determine which exam you'll take, what you'll need to study, or how the new format could affect your bar prep, youʼre not alone. 

Here are answers to 10 of the questions future bar takers are still asking. 

1. What Is the NextGen Bar Exam? 

The NextGen UBE is the new version of the Uniform Bar Examination developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). 

The exam is designed to assess both foundational legal knowledge and the practical lawyering skills newly licensed attorneys use in practice. 

Rather than separating multiple-choice questions, essays, and performance tasks as distinctly as the legacy UBE, the NextGen UBE uses an integrated approach to test what candidates know and what they can do with that knowledge. 

2. When Did the NextGen Bar Exam Start? 

The first NextGen UBE administration took place in July 2026. 

However, not every jurisdiction switched at the same time. The transition is happening over several administrations, with most adopting jurisdictions moving to the NextGen UBE between July 2026 and July 2028. 

That means some candidates during this transition period will take the NextGen UBE while others will still take the legacy exam. 

3. How Do I Know Which Bar Exam Iʼll Take? 

Your exam depends on both where and when you plan to take the bar. 

Do not assume that your jurisdiction has already transitioned simply because the NextGen UBE has launched nationally. 

Check your jurisdictionʼs official bar admissions information and the NCBE's NextGen decisions by jurisdiction before planning your preparation. Your expected graduation date can help you estimate when youʼll sit for the exam, but your jurisdictionʼs implementation date determines which version youʼll actually take. 

4. What Subjects Are Tested on the NextGen Bar Exam? 

For administrations from July 2026 through February 2028, the foundational legal subjects are: 

• Business associations and relationships 
• Civil procedure 
• Constitutional law 
• Contract law 
• Criminal law and constitutional protections of accused persons 
• Evidence 
• Real property 
• Torts 

Family Law and Trusts and Estates also appear during this period, but candidates are provided legal resources when those concepts are tested. Beginning in July 2028, Family Law becomes a foundational subject. 

Other areas of law can also provide context for skills-based questions without requiring candidates to have memorized that area of substantive law. 

5. Does the NextGen Bar Exam Require Less Memorization? 

Not exactly. 

The NextGen UBE is designed to test more than your ability to memorize rules, but candidates still need substantive legal knowledge. 

The difference is that the exam places significant emphasis on applying that knowledge alongside practical lawyering skills. 

For some questions, you will need to recall applicable law. For others, legal resources may be provided and youʼll need to determine how to use them effectively. 

Think of the NextGen UBE as testing knowledge plus application, rather than eliminating memorization altogether. 

6. What Skills Does the NextGen Bar Exam Test? 

The NCBE identifies seven foundational lawyering skills: 

• Legal research 
• Legal writing 
• Issue spotting and analysis 
• Investigation and evaluation 
• Client counseling and advising 
• Negotiation and dispute resolution 
• Client relationship and management 

This is one of the biggest changes candidates should understand. 

You are not preparing solely to recognize the right legal rule. You may need to evaluate information, communicate advice, work with legal authorities, or solve a problem in a way that reflects actual legal practice. 

7. Is the NextGen Bar Exam Easier Than the Current Bar Exam? 

“Different” is a better way to think about it. 

The NextGen UBE has a more focused content scope than the legacy UBE, but it also asks candidates to demonstrate a broader range of practical skills. 

A smaller universe of memorized doctrine does not automatically make an exam easier. Success still requires substantive preparation, repeated practice, time management, and the ability to perform under exam conditions. 

8. How Is the NextGen Bar Exam Scored? 

NextGen UBE scores are reported as a single number on a scale from 500 to 750. 

There is no single national passing score. Each jurisdiction establishes its own minimum passing score, which means the score you need depends on where youʼre seeking admission. 

A jurisdiction may also set a different minimum score for transferred NextGen UBE scores, so candidates considering score portability should check the rules of the jurisdiction where they ultimately want to practice. 

9. Can I Transfer a NextGen UBE Score to Another State? 

The NextGen UBE is designed to preserve the portability that has been a central feature of the UBE, but portability rules are jurisdiction-specific. 

During the transition period, things can be particularly complicated because jurisdictions are switching to the new exam at different times and establishing their own policies for accepting legacy and NextGen UBE scores. 

If you think you may want to transfer your score, research both the jurisdiction where you plan to test and any jurisdiction where you may later seek admission. 

10. How Should I Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam? 

The most important thing is to prepare specifically for the exam youʼll take. 

NextGen preparation should combine substantive law review with active practice in the skills and question types the new exam is designed to assess. 

That means you should expect your preparation to involve more than watching lectures or memorizing outlines. Youʼll need opportunities to apply legal concepts, analyze realistic scenarios, work with legal resources, write clearly, and make decisions under time constraints. 

The earlier you know which exam you're taking, the easier it becomes to build the right preparation strategy. 

Bottom Line 

The NextGen UBE changes both what candidates study and how theyʼre expected to demonstrate what they know. 

Start by confirming when your jurisdiction is transitioning. From there, familiarize yourself with the NextGen content scope, understand the skills youʼll be expected to demonstrate, and make sure your bar preparation is designed for the exam you'll actually face. 

Prepare for the NextGen Bar Exam With BARBRI 

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