Press Release, NCBE Announces National Mean for July 2026 MBE:
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced today that the national mean scaled score for the July 2026 Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) was 140.7, a decrease of about 1.7 points compared to the July 2025 mean of 142.4. …
44,472 examinees took the July 2026 MBE, a decrease of about 5% compared to the 46,959 examinees who sat for the exam in July 2025. This decrease is largely attributable to the fact that only 44 jurisdictions administered this July’s MBE.
Reuters, Key US Bar Exam Score Suggests Poorer Showing on Latest Test:
Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller, who tracks bar exam trends, said the decline is likely to fuel speculation that over-reliance on AI for studying and an increase in student accommodations in law school were factors.
Students who use AI shortcuts in law school may not be gaining the foundational knowledge they need to pass the bar, Muller said, though he cautioned that it’s too early to tell. He also said law schools tend to be more generous with accommodations — such as extra time on tests — than bar examiners, meaning test takers who are accustomed to those accommodations might struggle to perform under the time pressure of the bar exam.
- ABA, Scores Are in for July 2026 MBE; How Did Test-Takers Fare?
- Law.com, July MBE Score Drops Nearly 2 Points After Reaching 12-Year High in 2025
- Derek Muller (Notre Dame), Bar Exam Scores Drop for July 2026 Test:
Editor’s Note: If you would like to receive a daily email with links to legal education posts on TaxProf Blog, email me here.
