Bar exam MBE & scaled score calculator
The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) reports a single scaled total out of 400, weighted 50% MBE (multiple choice) and 50% written (MEE essays + MPT tasks). This tool turns your practice MBE raw count and estimated written scores into a projected UBE total so you can see how close you are to your jurisdiction’s passing line.
How it works
The estimate is built in three parts:
- MBE side (max 200). You enter how many of the 175 scored MBE questions you got right. The tool computes your percentage and maps it onto the 0-200 scaled range as a first-order approximation of NCBE equating.
- Written side (max 200). The MEE counts for 30% and the MPT for 20% of the whole exam — a 3:2 split within the written half. Your 0-100 component scores are combined in that ratio and scaled to the 0-200 written range.
- Total. MBE scaled + written scaled gives a projected total out of 400, which is compared against the cut score you set (commonly 260-270).
Worked examples
Example A — comfortable pass: 130 of 175 MBE questions correct (about 74%) maps to roughly 149 scaled MBE points. Average MEE of 70 and MPT of 72 produces about 142 written points. Projected total: 291, well above a 266 cutoff.
Example B — borderline situation: 105 of 175 correct (~60%) maps to roughly 120 scaled MBE points. Average MEE of 62 and MPT of 65 produces about 126 written points. Projected total: 246, below the typical 260 floor for most jurisdictions.
| MBE correct (of 175) | Approx. scaled MBE | Need on written to reach 260 |
|---|---|---|
| 95 (~54%) | ~109 | ~151/200 needed |
| 115 (~66%) | ~131 | ~129/200 needed |
| 130 (~74%) | ~149 | ~111/200 needed |
| 145 (~83%) | ~166 | ~94/200 needed |
Understanding the written side
The written component — MEE essays and MPT tasks — is worth 200 points total. Within those 200 points, the MEE (six essays) carries 60% of the written portion and the MPT (two tasks) carries 40%, reflecting the 30%/20% weighting in the overall exam. Before combining them, each component is scaled to match the MBE distribution for that sitting, which is why a strong MBE performance can carry a weaker written performance and vice versa.
When studying, many bar takers find it useful to separate the two sides. A weak MBE projected score suggests focusing on black-letter law and multiple-choice strategy; a weak projected written score points toward MEE issue-spotting depth and MPT time management.
Cut scores by jurisdiction
Most UBE jurisdictions accept scores between 260 and 270:
- 266 — New York, California (as of recent adoption), and several others
- 270 — Alaska and a handful of states
- 260 — a small number of states use the lower floor
Always confirm the exact cut score with your specific state’s board of law examiners. Some jurisdictions also impose score portability limits — accepting a transferred UBE score only above a slightly higher threshold than their standard passage line. The NCBE maintains a current list of jurisdictions and their respective requirements.
Because the NCBE’s true equating is proprietary and shifts each sitting, treat projections from this tool as a planning estimate, not a prediction of your official score.