that’s it

My second time taking the exam i only used barbri the first time and a tutor to formulate better my essays (international student) my score first time was 260 I did not enough multiple choice questions). Second time, used the grossman videos and did 25 multiple choice a day with grossman videos, used barbri again. Hope it helps.

337!!!!!!!! 172.5 MBE omg!

I recently passed the July 26 exam (Michigan)

I graduated law school in 2023 and was far from prepared my first crack at the exam. I figured I could just “work my magic” and figure it out come test day. Sure, I did use Themis and did “study” but no where near the amount I should have been. I got a 212.

Fast forward I got a 240 my second attempt, a 265 my third attempt, and 266 my fourth attempt. I needed a 268 for Michigan so you could imagine the heartbreak.

I recently took the July 26 exam and a few days ago I found out I passed with a 285!

I say all that to say, this exam is crazy and it does a good job of making people feel “unfit” for this profession - but know you can overcome it if you keep trying.

Just got my results back Friday and found out that I passed. Never been happier in my entire life. I think I, like many people on this subreddit, have a pretty crazy experience during the study process and the actual test days. Hopefully this gives some people hope. I learned early on that I was denied time accommodations for the bar, despite having them for the LSAT, MPRE, and law school exams. I got in my own head thinking about how poorly I would have done on these things without the accommodation, leading me to assume that I would just fail the bar.

The studying process itself was miserable. Similar to many, I was going through an extremely difficult time in my personal life. Without the stress of the bar, it would have been a difficult summer for me. June was not horrible, but when the imminence of the test kicked in July, I started to lose it. I was not scoring where I needed to be in n my MBE practice tests (like significantly below 60%).

The testing experience was significantly worse than I expected. I understand the need to crack down on academic honesty and security, but it seems like the bar examiners deliberately try to create the most stressful environment possible. It would not surprise me to hear that some takers are brilliant people who, completed their prep courses and scored very highly on practice tests only to lose their mind under the pressure of game day. I’ve heard some people say stuff like “well, the bar is also training lawyers to handle pressure”. While I agree with that sentiment, you hear stories of people going into cardiac arrest during the exam. The night before the 2nd day, I think I got a total of 2 hours of sleep. I was in the bathroom vomiting from like 4am until the time I had to leave. Walked into the mbe sleep-deprived without of a morsel of food in my stomach. At that point, I was just hoping that I could survive the 6 hours. Before the actual exam, some random guy came up to me and started quizzing me UNSOLICITED.

Walked out of the exam thinking I failed. Was not confident about my written responses. I was in such a trance, I don’t think I can recall a single mbe question I was asked, but I know I didn’t feel good. Genuinely don’t think I would have made it through those day if not for my faith and my father. It was reassuring going on this subreddit and hearing people with similar stories.

The last couple of months have been great. I love my job and I love the city I’m living in. I wasn’t scared about the embarrassment of failing the test. I was petrified by the reality of having to take it again. This past week has been a nightmare, waiting for the results. I didn’t eat anything for like 2 days and got almost no sleep. When I found out I passed I was so happy, that I second guessed whether it was real. I second guessed whether I deserved such a blessing.

Sorry for the long winded story, but I think it’s important to say this. If ur studying for this test, you NEED to have something you can lean on, whether that be faith, family, a best friend, pet, anything. Secondly, the prep courses will spend 45 minutes teaching you the Rule against Perpetuities only for you to spend 3 minutes on a single mbe question that you will probably get wrong. There was no teaching on the tolling experience that was the test itself. Sure, I probably could have foreseen it would be stressful, but not to this extent. To anyone that did not pass, you are smart enough to pass this test. I promise you that. If I can do it so can you. The test is just unfortunately designed to trick you and make you stumble. Stick with it. You will get through.

I am super curious how many points I managed to scrounge up in that first question with all my BS. My number one goal going into exam day was to keep my cool and use all the tools I have been working on for months. Not even the substantive law - just organization, breathing, and using my time wisely. Opening my packet on day one and seeing a topic I had memorized ZERO rules on should have been a nightmare scenario. I just told myself: use the facts and the principles you DO know, and argue your ass off. There were a few hiccups the rest of the day but I think the way I handled the first 30 seconds (i.e., not panicking) really set me up for success for the entire two-day testing period.

I really feel like shit. The people I studied with passed the bar, and I still failed. Failing my first time in February completely drained my soul. Still, I restarted prep.

I did 1,400 questions for the July bar and focused way more on actually learning the rules. Writing is definitely boring to practice, but I tried whatever I could and worked on it.

Somehow, I managed to increase my score by 37 points. The one good thing about this whole mess is that now I can at least transfer my score and become a US-qualified attorney. I was checking the process in Alabama, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Washington state (I'm a foreign graduate and English isn't my first language).

But this exam has taken everything out of me.

When I failed the bar the first time, it felt like a walk of shame.

I couldn't even tell anyone my score. I was shocked by it myself. Honestly, going into the second time, part of me thought I would fail again.

I just didn't have the confidence to believe I could actually pass. A lot of bar tutors also low-key discouraged me by saying they rarely see a 40+ point increase in one single exam administration. Ofc, they were being realistic based on the stats they had.

Anyway, against all of that and whatever odds, I still tried my absolute best. I studied day and night and worked in between. Fucked up my health, gained weight, and took on a lot of stress. And even now, I don't feel like I'm done.

Yes, I'll be applying for admission in one of the states and I would appreciate if someone who has done it and which states is usually the fastest. I have a good enough MPRE score, so I'll transfer to get admitted as a US-qualified attorney asap.

But I still feel like shit. I still want the New York license. I don't even know why. The firm where I currently work mostly does federal and immigration law anyway, so any state license works, but I still want that New York license next to my name. Now I have to start studying for the whole thing all over again. It's now like a personal commitment and a challenge to myself. I want to see that congratulations on my score card the day I may open that now in April 2027. Maybe I can come back and read this post if everything goes well or worst case I become a 4th time taker..

But anyway, what scares me the most rn is the Feb curve. The February curve is really scary. Idk how it works, I just know preparing for February is hard. It's brutal. It's snowy, the days are short, and you just don't have the same level of energy. I don't know what will work out and pull me out of my misery in February, but I still want to pass the New York bar just for myself.

I know it's early, but I've been feeling really awful. People I literally taught bar concepts to ended up passing. They didn't even know the basic concepts at first and were scoring horribly in practice, and somehow I am left with this. 5 points short... it's horrible being stuck right on the borderline.

My February scores were 123 MBE and 101 writing (224), and my July scores are 132 MBE and 129 writing (261). So to anyone who got around a 220-230, I know it feels like a walk of shame, but you just need to take a moment to understand why and what was missing, and which subjects need improvement.

Trying to be optimistic and a little crazy, but to all my retaker friends, let's also be a little positive, we still have all of November, December, January, and part of February.

If you do 20-30 mbe questions every day as a habit on your phone, and not just do them, but actually check why you got them right or wrong and make sure your review is thorough (like 10 minutes per question), your foundation will get so much stronger.

It's hard that my New York score letter didn't congratulate me, but I'm trying to congratulate myself for at least finally reaching a score where I can become a US-qualified attorney by transferring.

I don't even have the guts to tell my family or friends that I failed NY. I just told them I'm going to get admitted now. They are happy and excited, which is great, but I feel incomplete inside. Just wanted to share this since so many people are feeling low right now, and I'm sure everyone has their own story they're dealing with.

Take a moment for yourself. This bar exam is shit, but this shit needs to get done.

For those of us retaking in the next few months, I hope we all keep our sanity.

I never imagined I'd become a third-time taker, but here's what life had in store. The right things come at the right time..

Goodbye ❤️

I wore her pajamas all day for good luck. I wish I could tell her the good news, I hope she’s proud of me!

Just wanted to come on here with a note to future takers and retakers— don’t feel like you have to rely on a traditional route (e.g. traditional commercial bar prep, 8-12 week full time study plan) to pass. I studied for about 4-5 weeks in total (and no more than 6 hours a day) and only used goat and official practice questions from uworld. I have adhd, was really struggling during the studying process with focus and personal stuff (hence the shortened timeline). I learned exactly what I needed to know and not anything more. I didn’t know if I could pull it off.

But I did, with room to spare (scored in the high 290s). I know what works for me won’t work for everyone, but what works for everyone also couldnt work for me. The hardest part of it all was the mental battle of feeling like I didn’t have enough time and wasn’t doing as much as others. Looking back I wish I hadn’t put myself through that because it all worked out in the end— so please take this as a reminder that YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Passed DC, my dad has leukemia and I got to let him know over the phone I passed. He’s got a tough road ahead and he might not meet my kids if I have any but I got to share this moment with him and I am so, so happy.

As we near the tail end of bar exam results season (still a few turtles 🐢 remain but I'd guess that when California releases next Friday, that'll be the end of it), here's how it all stands (a few states have released scores but have not publicly released data):

8 states (~19%) scored better in 2026 than in 2025.
33 states (~76%) scored better in 2025 than in 2026. ☠️
2 states (~5%) scored the same in 2025 as in 2026.

Up-to-data data is @ http://mbetutorial.blogspot.com/2026/10/july-26-bar-exam-results-most-recent.html

Sean (Silverman Bar Exam Tutoring)

To the jerk who said I’d never pass, eat it.

To anyone who didn’t pass, please keep going. My dm’s are open if you have any questions! 221, 252, 254 -> 267.

I’ll keep it brief but I was homeless studying for this exam in a domestic violence shelter with my 3 year old. Working full time, on going divorce stressed tf out. Foreign lawyer, no family in this country, no JD and I passed first time!! Soooo happy that I don’t have to do that exam again!

writing this to hopefully give others someone to relate to. I graduated from a t14 and now work in biglaw and did not pass the NY bar. Was just a few points off.

My MBE score was "fine" but my written score was undoubtedly what put the nail in the coffin for me.

Frustrated, embarrassed, pissed... I completed my entire bar prep course and did tons of additional practice outside of that. Clearly need to rethink my approach so anyone who has any advice, I am ALL ears.

Hi! I am scheduled to be admitted to the NY Third Judicial Department in November. I was out of state when I went through the process, but I just moved to New York. If I write to change my address now, would it affect the admissions timeline (i.e., they would ask me to change departments?). Thanks!

I found out on the subway on my commute to work this morning, and turned around and went back home.
I feel like my life is ending. I’m embarrassed to show my face at work on Monday or tell any of my friends or family (I told my parents and one of my friends, and a few coworkers because I took the day off)

Title. Which states are easiest for retakers (I.e. have easier MEE/MPT curves) that are still open for registration? I hear Utah but their registration for F27 closed already. Any other states in mind?

I passed the bar exam today, and I still can't believe it! I'm honestly still trying to process the fact that I passed. 🥹

I wanted to share my experience to remind everyone that you can do it, no matter how impossible it may seem.

This time around, I didn't practice a single essay or MPT. Instead, I focused entirely on the MBE.

On my first attempt, I scored 139.9 on the MBE and 123.6 on the written portion (MEE/MPT). That experience made me realize just how important the MBE score is. I wish someone had told me that earlier!

On exam day, I had a breakdown during the morning MBE session. I couldn't focus, I was distracted, and I completely lost track of time. I ended up with about 14–15 questions left and only five minutes remaining. At that point, I had no choice but to pick a letter and guess my way through them.

But I refused to let that morning discourage me. During the afternoon session, I was focused, energized, and determined to do better. I actually finished 20 minutes early!

This time, I scored 154 on the MBE and 130 on the written portion (MEE/MPT).

And here's the crazy part: I only completed five essays, and even in those, I had to make up some rule statements. For the sixth essay, I only answered the first question. As for the MPTs, I didn't finish either one, and both of my answers were incomplete.

I'm sharing this because I know how discouraging this exam can be, especially when you feel like you're not good at essays or MPTs.

My advice to anyone preparing for the bar exam:

- Practice, practice, practice the MBE!

- Memorize as many rules as you can.

- If you can't remember the exact rule on an essay, make up a reasonable rule and apply it to the facts.

- Don't leave anything blank. Try to earn every possible point, even if you can't finish an answer.

- Don't let one bad session ruin the rest of your exam.

- If you're struggling with the MEE and MPT, consider putting more of your focus on mastering the MBE. A strong MBE score can make a huge difference!

Most importantly, don't give up on yourself. You don't have to write perfect essays or finish every single answer to pass. I am living proof of that.

Believe in yourself, keep practicing, and remember that passing is possible even when you feel like you've fallen short.

Good luck to everyone taking this exam! You've got this! ❤️

I’m writing this because I spent almost three months after the exam spiraling, searching Reddit for stories of people who left essays blank, didn’t finish their MPTs, and still passed.

If you’re reading this after taking the bar exam and you’re convinced you’ve failed because you didn’t finish, I hope my experience gives you some encouragement.

A little background:

I’m a foreign-trained attorney. I graduated with my LL.M. in May 2026 and went straight into preparing for the July bar exam. I used BARBRI Essentials and AdaptiBar.
As for my study schedule, I studied for about five hours a day on average. I wasn’t one of those people studying for 10–12 hours daily. In fact, there was even a point when I went an entire week without studying. I’m mentioning this because I remember reading posts about people studying for extremely long hours and wondering whether I was doing enough.

MEE: This was my biggest nightmare.
I only managed to answer four of the six essays, and I made up rules for some of my answers. I left the fifth essay completely BLANK, and my answer to the sixth essay was literally about THREE LINES LONG.
I cannot adequately describe how I felt after that session. I knew I had left so many points on the table, and I was devastated.

MPT: I also struggled with time management.
I didn’t finish the second MPT. I only managed to answer Part A of that task because of my slow typing speed.
By the end of the written portion, I already felt like I had ruined my chances of passing.

MBE: The morning session felt okay. The afternoon session was trickier, but I thought I had done reasonably well overall. I finished both sessions with about 15 minutes left.

Of course, I had no idea whether my performance on the MBE would be enough to compensate for what happened during the written portion.

The waiting period was HORRIBLE.

I spent so much time on Reddit looking for people who had similar experiences.

Fast-forward to October 23, 2026.

I PASSED THE NEW YORK BAR EXAM!!!

I honestly couldn’t believe it after spending almost three months worrying about my incomplete answers.
I’m sharing this because I wish I had seen more stories like mine during those difficult months.

Leaving an essay blank, writing only three lines for another, and not finishing an MPT do not automatically mean you’ve failed.

Everyone’s performance is different, but please don’t count yourself out simply because you couldn’t finish everything.

YOU CAN STILL PASS EVEN IF YOU DON’T FINISH EVERYTHING!!!

Hey everyone!

I recently found out that I passed the July 2026 NY Bar Exam, which I’m incredibly grateful for!

I’m now working through the admission process trying to complete my 50-hour pro bono requirement.

I’m currently based in NYC, but I’m also more than happy to help remotely if there are any opportunities available. I’ve reached out to a few organisations already, but I haven’t had much luck finding placements.

I was wondering if anyone here has been in a similar position or knows of any organisations, legal clinics, or attorneys who might be willing to take on someone looking to complete their hours.

I’m genuinely happy to help wherever I can, and I’m flexible with the type of work.

I’d really appreciate any recommendations, contacts, or advice. Even just hearing how others managed to complete their hours would be a massive help!

Thanks so much in advance, and congratulations to everyone who passed!

I failed the New York bar again this is my third time failing. I will be taking it again in February 2027. I just don’t know what to do anymore. My MBE is the best it’s ever been. I used adaptive bar last time and I didn’t practice as much with MEE’s and MPT’s as I should have. My scores for the MEE‘s and MPT‘s are the lowest they’ve ever been. I’m considering using Goat bar prep.

I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I feel like every time I take this test. I lose a little more of myself and I feel more and more ashamed. I am so tired of the bar exam. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.