FAQs Regarding the Bar Exam in Massachusetts

When is the exam?

The test schedule for the standard administration of the exam is as follows:

All times are Eastern Time.  

Examinees pre-approved for accommodated testing conditions will be notified by the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners of their respective testing schedules.

More detailed scheduling information, such as when doors open, will be communicated to examinees closer to the exam.

Upcoming exams will take place:

2024: July 30-31

2025: February 25-26; July 29-30

2026: February 24-25; July 28-29

What testing conditions are required?

Examinees are expected to demonstrate integrity, honor, and ethical behavior during all exam sessions, including mock exams.

What can I have/not have during the examination?

A list of items that are required, permitted, or prohibited can be found here. Updated lists will be emailed to petitioners prior to the examination.

Where can I have my phone?

Examinees may have a phone, turned off and secured in a Yondr pouch (provided at the Boston test site each day by the Board of Bar Examiners), at their seat all day. Other electronic devices, aside from laptop computers on day one of testing, are not permitted. 

May I use earplugs?

The Board of Bar Examiners will provide foam earplugs at the exam site.

Must I wear a mask?

The Board of Bar Examiners will follow the health and safety requirements in place at the time of the bar exam. At this time, masks are strongly recommended, but are not required. Should state or local ordinances pertaining to indoor mask use change leading up to the exam, the BBE’s mask policy would change accordingly.

May I wear a head covering?

Examinees are not permitted to wear a head covering during an exam session except for religious or medical reasons, in which case the head covering may not have a brim or otherwise obscure the examinee’s eyes, face, or ears. Pre-approval is not required for head coverings worn for a religious or medical reason.

May I eat or have medication during the exam?

Applicants must submit a health-related condition form (below) to have food, medication (prescription and over-the-counter), and/or medical devices in the testing area during the exam. The health-related condition form must be submitted no later than three weeks before the first day of the exam.

May I use scratch paper during the exam?

Scratch paper will be provided for the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and Multistate Essay Exam (MEE).  Any scratch paper used during the MPT or MEE will be removed from the testing area prior to the next exam session.

Scratch paper and pens are not permitted during the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). 

Will technical support be available?

Yes.  ExamSoft will have technical assistance available on-site before and after each exam session. 

Additional Resources for Exam Takers

• Minimum System Requirements: examsoft.com/resources/examplify-minimum-system-requirements
• Description of the checks that Examplify performs for Minimum System Requirements at startup and additional checks that can be performed before downloading an exam: community.examsoft.com/s/article/Examplify-Checks-for-Minimum-System-Requirements

Exam Taking process and best practices:

• Privacy Policy: examsoft.com/privacy-policy
• This End User License Agreement for ExamSoft Worldwide LLC: examsoft.com/es/eula

When will I know my results?

The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners anticipates releasing the results of the February Bar Exam sometime in April. Similarly, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners anticipates releasing the results of the July Bar Exam sometime in October. The email will include information about next steps, a breakdown of the scores, and the total score. Following the release of results, the names of passing examinees will be posted on the website of the Board of Bar Examiners as required by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:01.

When do I need to complete the Massachusetts Law Component (MLC) exam?

July examinees must successfully complete the MLC by September 30.

February examinees must successfully complete the MLC by March 31.

Failure to complete the MLC by the dates above may result in a delay in bar admission.  Petitioners will receive additional details about this requirement from the Board of Bar Examiners and through the Massachusetts Bar Applicant Portal.

When will the formal admission ceremonies take place?

Examinees who are successful on the Bar Exam and satisfy all other admission requirements will be contacted by the Supreme Judicial Court regarding formal admission ceremonies.

When can I uninstall the Examplify software?

Examinees should keep the Examplify software on their computers until they receive exam results.

How can I transfer a UBE score?

The transfer of the Uniform Bar Exam score in support of admission applications in other UBE jurisdictions is handled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.  See UBE Score Services for more information.

Can I obtain copies of my essay answers?

If a passing score is not achieved, an examinee may request a copy of their Multistate Essay Exam and Multistate Performance Test responses.  These instructions are provided in the email with bar exam results.

Will future Massachusetts bar examinations be administered remotely?

The remote October 2020, February 2021, and July 2021 Massachusetts exams were in response to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Bar Examiners will administer future bar exams in person. 

What information or documentation is required to apply for testing accommodations?

The specific requirements will vary depending on the nature of the condition for which accommodations are sought. At the minimum, all applicants for testing accommodations must submit

1. Form 1, the Application for Nonstandard Test Accommodations
2. At least one of Forms 2-4, which each pertains to different types of disabilities (Mental Disability, Visual Disability, and Physical Disability). You may submit more than one of these if applicable.
3. A comprehensive evaluation report and/or relevant records. The specific reports/records will differ depending on the condition.

Optional: You may provide a personal narrative, describing when you first became impaired by your disability, when you were first diagnosed, how your disability impacts your daily life activities including your educational and testing functions, and how your disability affects your ability to take the bar examination under standard conditions. This is not required, however it is helpful particularly for applicants who do not have a substantial history of accommodations.

If you have applied for accommodations in the past, you must also provide Form 5, the Certification of Accommodations History, and/or a letter issued by testing agencies (such as LSAC, NCBE, etc.) verifying what accommodations have been approved or denied.

A checklist can be found in Form 1.

When is the application for testing accommodations due?

Applications for accommodations for a July bar exam will be due by the close of business April 1 of that year.

Applications for accommodations for a February bar exam will be due by the close of business November 1 of the previous year.

In the event that results for a July exam are released after November 1 or February results are released after April 1, examinees sitting for the immediate prior exam in Massachusetts will be allowed to apply for accommodations up to two weeks following the release of results. All others must meet the November 1 or April 1 deadline.

Should November 1 or April 1 fall on a weekend, the deadline would be extended to the close of business the following Monday.

When should I begin preparing my application?

Applications for testing accommodations can be submitted up to six months in advance of the exam you anticipate sitting (i.e., no earlier than January for a July exam, and no earlier than August for a February exam).

NOTE: Your application will require information and/or documentation from third-party institutions, which may include your health care provider(s), undergraduate institution, law school, standardized testing agencies, and others. It is your responsibility to collect this information by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

How can I submit my application?

You may mail or hand-deliver your application for accommodations to the following address: Board of Bar Examiners, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Suite 5-140, Boston, MA 02108.

If you wish to send your application electronically, please contact accessibility@bbe.state.ma.us and provide

1. Your full name
2. Your NCBE number
3. The email address that you wish to have associated with your account (a non-school email address is preferable), and
4. Your phone number.

You will receive an invitation within 7 business days to register for the Applicant Portal, with instructions for how to upload your application.

When should I expect a decision on my accommodations?

Accommodations requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, an application packet may be referred to an independent consultant to fully evaluate the request. As a result, a decision may be returned as quickly as a few days after an application is received, and may take as long as a few weeks. Accommodations decisions will be sent via email.

Please note that the BBE typically receives a high volume of applications in the two weeks leading up to the deadline, and due to this volume, it typically takes longer to review these requests; submitting your application earlier may help to expedite the process.

What are my options if my application for accommodations is denied?

Applicants whose requests for testing accommodations have been denied may request reconsideration.  Requests for reconsideration must be submitted in writing and received by the Board of Bar Examiners no later than two weeks from the date of the decision.  Requests for reconsideration must include additional information in support of your eligibility for non-standard testing accommodations not included in the NTA Application previously submitted. 

What is the difference between an arrangement for a health-related condition and a testing accommodation?

If you have a health-related condition that can be addressed in a standard testing room and without deviation from the standard testing schedule, you do not need to apply for accommodations, and should instead complete the Special Arrangement for a Health-Related Condition form. Such arrangements may include: accessing medication during testing; use of an assistive device such as lumbar support, diabetic supplies, or a lactation pump; or access to food during testing due to a medical condition.

A testing accommodation is an adjustment or modification to the standard testing conditions, including the testing schedule and testing room. If your request includes extra testing time, additional breaks, and/or a testing environment with fewer examinees, then you must submit a complete application for testing accommodations.

What should I do if a need for accommodations arises after the application deadline?

If a major injury occurs or a newly emergent condition develops after the deadline for accommodations, you should contact the BBE immediately at accessibility@bbe.state.ma.us or 617-482-4466. The BBE has an obligation to engage in due diligence in fully evaluating requests for accommodations. Depending on when the request is made and the nature of the request, it may not be possible to fully review a late request or to make the necessary arrangements.

Petitioners who are unable to sit for the exam due to a medical condition should contact the SJC Clerk’s Office for information about requesting a fee waiver for the next exam.

What if I am unable to obtain certain records?

Applicants should make all reasonable efforts to obtain the relevant documentation. If records have been destroyed, the applicant should provide a letter from the records custodian confirming such.

Is accommodated testing available at each test site?

Due to space and logistical limitations, accommodated testing may not be available at all test sites. Examinees who have been approved for accommodations will be notified of their test location.

Which jurisdictions are reciprocal for the October 2020 Massachusetts remote bar exam? 

The following jurisdictions will accept qualifying scores earned in Massachusetts for the October 2020 remote bar exam:

• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• Illinois
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands
• Washington, DC

How do I transfer my October 2020 exam score from Massachusetts to another jurisdiction?

As part of the reciprocity agreement, scores were automatically shared among these jurisdictions; October 2020 examinees should not contact NCBE to transfer their scores, and should instead contact the jurisdiction where they are planning on applying for more information and to ensure that their score has already been received.