Washington Bar Exam News & Format Changes
Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the Washington Bar Exam cluster.
Living timeline of WSBA rule changes and announcements.
Summary
Washington administers the NextGen UBE beginning with the July 2026 administration. The Washington Supreme Court Amended Order No. 25700-B-747 (December 17, 2025) set the NextGen cut at 610 and lowered the final legacy UBE cut score to 260 for the February 2026 administration. The MPRE 80 minimum is unchanged.
NextGen status
Washington administers the NextGen UBE beginning with the July 2026 administration. The Washington Supreme Court Amended Order No. 25700-B-747 (December 17, 2025) set the NextGen cut at 610 and lowered the final legacy UBE cut score to 260 for the February 2026 administration.
Score acceptance: accepts transferred NextGen UBE scores from other adopting jurisdictions at 610.
Cut and MPRE
Washington cut score: 610 (NextGen UBE July 2026 onward); legacy UBE 260 (Feb 2026 final, lowered from 266) (500-750 (NextGen) / 400 (legacy) scale). MPRE minimum: 80.
Fee schedule
WSBA fees for 2026: $595 application fee for the bar exam; $970 Admission by Motion + NCBE Investigation fee. February 2026: November 1, 2025. July 2026: April 1, 2026.
Study plan implications
- Verify which exam format applies to your administration.
- Free MBE practice: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
Sources
- Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) — https://www.wsba.org/.
- NCBE jurisdiction page — ncbex.org/jurisdictions/WA.