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MISSOURI BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS

About the Bar Exam


General

  • Missouri administers the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which is comprised of the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).
  • The MEE, MPT and MBE are written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Visit the NCBE web site for information about the components of the examination, subjects tested, and other states that administer the UBE.
  • There is no limit on the number of times you can take the bar examination in Missouri. If you fail the exam, you may apply to retake the examination.
  • MBLE does not accept applications for the July examination before February 1 or applications for the February examination before September 1. This means that you may not start your July exam application until February 1 AND may not start your February exam application until September 1. Any applications that have been STARTED prior to these dates will be deleted in order to avoid database inconsistencies.


Exam Scores

  • As set out in Regulation 4 to Rule 8.08, a total score of at least 260 is required to pass the Missouri bar examination.
  • For additional information, review the FAQS and this Explanation of Score Report.
  • To review pass/fail rates and performance statistics for recent examinations, click here.


UBE Score vs Non-UBE Score

  • Applicants must sit for both the essay (MEE and MPT) portion and the MBE portion of the examination in a single administration in order to earn a portable UBE score that can be transferred to seek admission in other jurisdictions.
  • Applicants who transfer an MBE score to Missouri and sit for only the essay portion of the examination will earn a score that can be used only to seek admission in Missouri.


Photos

All examination applicants must upload a photo to their MBLE User Homepage. The acceptance of your photo is at the discretion of MBLE. Your photo must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be an image file - .png, .jpg, .jpeg.
  • Color photo.
  • Individual photo taken in front of a plain white background.
  • Taken within the past 6 months to reflect your current appearance
  • Full face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
  • Photo should only include your shoulders and head.
  • No hat or head covering unless worn for religious purposes.
  • Glasses are permitted; however, glare in the photo is not acceptable (glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by turning off the flash).
  • 300 x 300 once uploaded and cropped.

If your photo is over 12 months old or your appearance has changed, you are required to upload a new photo taken within the last 6 months that reflects your current appearance. To do so, you can use the "Upload Photo" button in the UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO box on your user homepage or click the "Edit Personal Info" link in the upper right corner of your user home page. The "Upload New Photo" button is located below the "NCBE Number" field.

Submit a Technical Support Request, found at the bottom of the screen, if you have any issues uploading your photo.


Updating NCBE Each Time You Take a Bar Exam

  • NCBE asks that applicants update their personal information on NCBE's website for each bar examination taken.
  • You should update your personal information on NCBE's website as soon as you receive notice that MBLE has assigned your bar application to a processor.
  • Log in to your NCBE account at www.ncbex.org and edit your personal information to reflect the new examination date.


Past Exams

You can order past MEE, MPT, and MBE questions written by NCBE online at www.ncbex2.org/study-aids/.


Transferring an MBE Score

MBLE will accept an MBE score transferred from another jurisdiction provided the following requirements are met:

  1. The transferred MBE score must have been attained in an examination administered within 19 months preceding the Missouri bar examination;
  2. The applicant must have passed the entire exam in one administration in the transferring jurisdiction; and
  3. The applicant cannot have previously failed the bar examination in Missouri. See Regulation 7 to Rule 8.08.

MBLE must receive the transferred MBE score by July 1 if it is to be used for a July exam or by February 1 if it is to be used for a February exam.

  • It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure his or her MBE score is transferred to MBLE timely.
  • To transfer an MBE score to Missouri, contact either the NCBE or the jurisdiction where you took the MBE.
  • To see a list of the jurisdictions that use NCBE to transfer MBE scores, review the MBE page on NCBE's web site.
  • Missouri receives MBE scores rounded to one decimal place.
  • If you transfer an MBE score to Missouri and sit for only the essay portion of the examination you will NOT earn a UBE score. You will earn a score that can be used only to seek admission in Missouri.
  • To transfer your MBE score earned in Missouri to another jurisdiction, follow these instructions.


Transferring UBE Scores From Missouri

  • MBLE uses the UBE score transcript services provided by NCBE to transfer UBE scores earned in Missouri to other jurisdictions.
  • NCBE will not release any UBE score information until after your scores have been released by MBLE.
  • Instructions for submitting a request can be found on the UBE page on NCBE’s web site.


Postpone Taking the Bar After Submitting Application for Bar Exam

  • Regulation 3 to Rule 8.07 provides that an applicant may postpone taking the exam and carry forward the application fee one time to the next scheduled exam by providing written notice no later than 5:00 p.m. 14 days before the exam the applicant applied.
  • Written notice of postponement should be submitted by e-mail to mble@courts.mo.gov to ensure timely receipt.
  • A postponement fee will be due within ten days, based on the date the written notice is received. The amount will be posted on the applicant's user home page upon receipt of the postponement request. Section N of the fee schedule lists the postponement fee amounts ($175 to $285).
  • Although your application fee will be carried forward, you still must submit a new application for the next examination by the filing deadline.
  • Review the Fee Schedule and the submission date for this examination application to determine the necessary postmark and submission date for the application for the next scheduled examination.
  • In the event that you fail to submit a new application (and any applicable additional fees) by the last filing deadline, you will not be registered for the examination and will forfeit your application fee.
  • As stated in Regulation 3 to Rule 8.07, by allowing you to postpone taking the examination the board in no way waives, alters, or extends any time limits or other provisions of Rule 8, including but not limited to Regulation 7 to Rule 8.08. The regulation does not allow an application fee to be carried forward past the next scheduled bar exam or carried forward a second time.

Click here to apply for the Bar Examination »