Frequently Asked Questions — California Bar Examination and Attorneys’ Exam
Last updated: April 2026
The California Attorneys’ Exam
What is the California Attorneys’ Exam?
The California Attorneys’ Exam is a one-day written examination for attorneys already licensed and in active good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least four years immediately preceding the exam. It is administered by the State Bar of California twice per year — on the last Tuesday of February and the last Tuesday of July. Attorney applicants are not required to take the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).
What is the format of the Attorneys’ Exam?
The Attorneys’ Exam is completed in a single day with two sessions:
Morning Session (3 hours): Three one-hour essay questions.
Afternoon Session (3.5 hours): Two one-hour essay questions followed by one 90-minute Performance Test.
Applicants respond on their personal laptops using ExamSoft’s Examplify platform. Handwriting is also permitted. Internet access is not required during the exam.
What is the passing score?
Each of the six written components (five essays and one Performance Test) is graded on a 100-point scale. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores. A minimum passing scaled score of 1390 is required — the same threshold used for the full California Bar Examination. For more detail, see our post on the 2026 California Bar Examination for Out-of-State Attorneys.
The Full California Bar Examination
What is the format of the full California Bar Exam?
The full California Bar Examination is a two-day exam:
Day 1 (Written): Five one-hour essay questions and one 90-minute Performance Test, administered in morning and afternoon sessions.
Day 2 (MBE): 200 multiple-choice questions administered in two sessions of 100 questions each, covering Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
Attorney applicants approved for the Attorneys’ Exam sit only for Day 1.
How do I decide between the Attorneys’ Exam and the full bar exam?
Eligibility for the Attorneys’ Exam requires active licensure in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least four years immediately preceding the exam. If you meet this requirement, the Attorneys’ Exam is typically the more efficient path. If you do not qualify, you must sit for the full two-day examination. For a detailed comparison, read California One-Day Attorneys’ Exam vs. Full Bar Examination.
Subjects Tested
What subjects are tested on the California Bar Exam?
The essay and Performance Test portions of the California Bar Examination may cover the following subjects, as published by the State Bar of California:
Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Community Property, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Remedies, Torts, Trusts, and Wills and Succession.
Out-of-state attorneys should pay particular attention to areas where California law diverges from federal or model rules, including Community Property, California Evidence Code, California Civil Procedure, and Professional Responsibility under the California Rules of Professional Conduct. For a detailed breakdown, see California Law Distinctions for Out-of-State Attorneys.
Exam Dates, Deadlines, and Results
When is the next California Bar Exam?
The July 2026 California Bar Examination will be held on Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in person at designated testing sites across California. Attorney applicants sit only on Day 1 (Tuesday). For current dates, deadlines, and filing fees, visit the State Bar’s Dates and Deadlines page.
When are results released?
Results for the February exam are released in May. Results for the July exam are released in November. Results are delivered through the Applicant Portal. The pass list is posted on the State Bar website several days after results are released.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to the California Bar?
In addition to passing the bar examination, applicants must complete the following:
Registration: Register with the State Bar as a law student or attorney applicant.
Education: Complete the requisite legal education (or qualify as an attorney applicant from another jurisdiction).
Moral Character Determination: Submit a moral character application and receive a positive determination. The moral character review assesses honesty, candor, and respect for the law. Details are available at calbar.ca.gov.
MPRE: Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination with a scaled score of 86 or greater. The MPRE is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners in March, August, and November.
Compliance: Be in compliance with California court-ordered child or family support obligations.
All applications are submitted online through the State Bar Applicant Portal.
Pro Hac Vice
Can I practice in California without taking the bar exam?
An attorney licensed in another state who is not a member of the California Bar may appear as counsel pro hac vice in a specific case, provided certain conditions are met and an active California Bar member is associated as attorney of record. Attorneys who are residents of California, regularly employed in California, or regularly engaged in substantial business or professional activities in California are not eligible. See Rule 9.40 of the California Rules of Court for full details.
Preparation and Study
Should I use AI to study for the California Bar Exam?
AI tools like ChatGPT can play a limited supporting role in preparation, but they cannot replace the substantive work the bar exam demands. The cognitive effort of organizing material, applying rules to fact patterns, and developing issue-spotting instincts is what builds the retention and analytical skill tested on exam day. AI will not be present when you sit for the exam. For our full analysis, read AI and the Bar Exam: A Tool, Not a Tutor.
Can I pass the California Bar Exam if I am over 40?
Yes. While practicing attorneys who have been out of law school for years face distinct challenges, those challenges are not insurmountable with proper preparation. Read more: You Can Pass the California Bar Exam After 40.
How is Executive Bar Review different from other bar prep programs?
Executive Bar Review is the only California bar review tutorial program designed exclusively for out-of-state attorneys and full-time professionals. Every program is one-on-one and individually tailored to the applicant’s substantive strengths, weaknesses, and work schedule. ExecBar’s attorney instructors specialize in California bar exam preparation and use proprietary Enhancer Methods™ to develop the specific skills the exam requires. ExecBar maintains the highest pass rate of any one-on-one bar review program in California.
For more about our approach, visit the About Executive Bar Review page, or read what past applicants have to say on our Testimonials page.
Contact Executive Bar Review
To schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation, call 888.393.2392 or contact us online.