The Decline and Fall of the Repeat Taker

Performance of law graduates taking the bar exam in February has hit the lowest point in more than a decade. The average score on February’s Multistate Bar Exam was 1.3 points lower from last year to 132.7. That’s the lowest average in more than 10 years, and marks the fourth straight year that the February average declined. Most experts say the decline is because of the repeat takers.

70% of those who sat for the bar in February had already taken the test at least once and repeat takers on average perform worse than those in their first sitting. The average MBE score for first-time takers in February was 135, compared to 132 for repeat test takers.

Repeat takers average score fell 1.7 points from 2017.  The repeaters’ performance dropped from last year, affecting the mean,

February bar exam results are taking shape and the repeat taker fail rate is shocking.  North Carolina’s pass rate was 33%, with 80% of the repeat takers failing, Mississippi’s pass rate was 36%, Massachusetts pass rate was 36.2%, with 82% of the repeat takers failing. Ohio’s pass rate was 52%, New York’s pass rate was 38%, with 75% of the repeat takers failing. Alabama’s pass rate was 32.5%, with 85% of repeat takers failing. Pennsylvania’s pass rate was 52%, with over 60% of the repeat takers failing, Missouri’s pass rate was 63%, with 66% of the repeat takers failing.

The repeat takers pass rates do not bode well for the jurisdictions that haven’t yet released scores, like Washington, DC, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, California.

Nevertheless, there is one inescapable conclusion – you must pass the bar exam.  The MBE & UBE Testing Institute can help you succeed and guide you through the areas that will help you pass the bar exam and begin your life as a lawyer.  Don’t wait until you take the bar 2 or 3 or even 5 times – get help now and get the bar exam behind you.

The MBE & UBE Testing Institute knows that taking the bar exam as a repeat taker can be an isolating experience. The MBE & UBE Testing Institute helps the student keep motivated and confident through interaction with an MBE & UBE Testing Institute’s bar tutor.


When you need help passing the bar exam, contact the MBE & UBE Testing Institute at pass@mbetestinginstitute.com for more information, like us on facebook at UBE& MBE Testing Institute, follow us on twitter @MBETesting, see us on youtube.


The PASS System!