Minnesota Bar Exam
***Minnesota permits admission based on a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) score of 260 or greater.
Minnesota Bar Exam Format
The Minnesota bar exam is the UBE and consists of the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), the Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”). Minnesota law is no longer tested on the Minnesota bar exam.
MPT (Performance Test)
Minnesota tests two (2) MPT performance test.
Minnesota Essays
Minnesota tests six (6) MEE essays. Subjects may include:
- Business Associations
- Agency
- Partnership
- Corporations
- LLCs
- Civil Procedure (Federal)
- Conflict of Laws (Always tested within another subject and never by itself)
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Common Law
- Sales (UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Negotiable Instruments/Commercial Paper (UCC Art. 3)
- Real Property
- Secured Transactions (UCC Art. 9)
- Torts
- Trusts and Estates
- Decedents’ Estates
- Trusts
- Future Interests
MBE (Multiple Choice)
Minnesota uses the standard MBE. Subjects include:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
MBE and UBE Score Transfer
Please see the Minnesota Bar Reciprocity Page for more information. Minnesota also permits admission based on a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) score of 260 or greater.
Minnesota Bar Exam Testing Schedule
Day 1 (Tuesday)
Morning – 2 MPTs
Afternoon – 6 MEE Essays
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Morning – MBE Part I (100 questions; 3 hours)
Afternoon – MBE Part II (100 questions; 3 hours)
Minnesota Bar Exam Dates and Application
The Minnesota bar exam is administered twice each year on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Applications can be found on the Minnesota State Bar of Examiners’ Website.
| Exam Date | Application Deadline | Final Deadline |
| February 21-22, 2017 | Oct. 15 | Dec. 1 |
| July 25-26, 2017 | March 15 | May 1 |
Grading
Minnesota Bar Exam Weight
| MPT | 20% |
| MEE | 30% |
| MBE | 50% |
Grading Procedure
The written portion of the bar exam is scaled to the MBE. The written scaled score and the MBE scaled score are then combined to generate a total bar exam score.
Passing Score
The minimum passing score is a total combined score of 260 out of 400 points. Applicants must be admitted within 36 months of passing the Minnesota bar exam.
Pass Rates
Pass rates can be found here.
Review and Appeal for Applicants Failing the Minnesota Bar Exam
Unsuccessful applicants may obtain a copy of their Minnesota essay answers. The Minnesota bar exam scores are final and there is no opportunity for appeal.
Retaking the Minnesota Bar Exam
Applicants are required to file another application to take the Minnesota bar exam.