california bar february 2021 essays

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Previously Released Bar Exam Essay Questions

Welcome to the past California Bar Exam past essays directory. 

To view a varying range of graded essays from the State Bar, visit BarEssays.com . Email us for a  $25 discount code  at  [email protected] .

Join the Facebook Group titled:   California Bar Exam Essay Discussions . 

One-Hour Essays

90 minute performance tests.

Multistate Performance Test.  Property of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

MPT 2002   MPT 1:  State v. Tweedy

MPT February 2009 MPT 1:  Phoenix Corporation v. Biogenesis, Inc. MPT 2:  Ronald v. Department of Motor Vehicles MPT Point Sheets

MPT July 2009   MPT 1:  Jackson v. Franklin Sports Gazette , Inc. MPT 2:  In re City of Bluewater MPT Point Sheets

MPT February 2010   MPT 1:  State of Franklin v. McLain MPT 2:  Logan v. Rios MPT Point Sheets

MPT July 2010   MPT 1:  In re Hammond MPT 2:  City of Ontario MPT Point Sheets

MPT February 2011   MPT 1:  Butler v. Hill MPT 2:  In re Magnolia County MPT Point Sheets

MPT July 2011   MPT 1:  In re Field Hogs, Inc. MPT 2:  In re Social Networking Inquiry MPT Point Sheets

MPT February 2012   MPT 1:  Franklin Resale Royalties Legislation MPT 2:  In re WPE Property Development, Inc. MPT Point Sheets

MPT July 2012   MPT 1:  State of Franklin v. Soper MPT 2:  Ashton v. Indigo Construction Co. MPT Point Sheets

MPT February 2013   MPT 1:  In re Wendy Martel MPT 2:  In re Guardianship of Will Fox MPT Point Sheets

MPT July 2013   MPT 1:  Monroe v . Franklin Flags Amusement Park MPT 2:  Palindrome Recording Contract MPT Point Sheets

See this link for  more   MPTs and Score Sheets.  

Also, here are  MPTs from Georgia . I like these MPTs because the library does not have a two-column format for cases. https://www.gabaradmissions.org/essay-and-mpt-questions-and-selected-answers

Disclaimer:  Past exams found here are the property of the State Bar of California and the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The property is used here in accordance with all written regulations.

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Performance  test, on  the   cal. bar, e-book is titled   1440:  mastering the, performance test, get this free, pt  e-book, delivered to your email now.

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Bar Exam Preparation

Past Bar Exam Essays and Performance Tests (PTs)

Where do you find essays and performance tests from past exams to practice on?

Rather than have you go hunting for them or flip through your bar course materials, I’ve compiled past essays and PTs for California . I also link to past MEE and MPT questions from various UBE jurisdictions.

California : Here are downloadable California Bar Exam essays and selected answers going back to 2001, and California performance tests (PTs) and selected answers.

👉 See also the essay answer bank for real graded answers

👉 CA essays – frequency chart and issue chart (use this to find when topics were tested)

UBE: Downloadable MEE questions and representative answers

NCBE MEE Questions and Analyses are available from 2013 July to 2018 February.

Representative answers to MEE questions are available from various states (some may be missing):

• Arkansas from 2013 February to 2021 February
• Maryland from 2019 July to 2023 February
• Minnesota from 2020 September to 2023 February
• New York from 2016 July to 2023 February
• South Dakota from 2019 February to 2021 February

MPT questions and answers are below this section. Click here to jump to MPT.

MEE questions

Sample answers: Maryland

Sample answers: Maryland , Minnesota , New York

Sample answers: Arkansas , Maryland , Minnesota , New York , South Dakota

MEE questions (October version)

Sample answers: Maryland , New York , South Dakota

Sample answers: Arkansas , New York , South Dakota

Sample answers: Arkansas , New York

NCBE Questions and Analyses

Sample answers: Arkansas

UBE: Downloadable MPT questions and representative answers

NCBE MPT Questions and Point Sheets are available from 2013 July to 2018 February.

Representative answers to MPT questions are available from various states (some may be missing):

• Georgia from 2011 July to 2023 February

MEE questions and answers are above this section. Click here to jump to MEE.

MPT question 1 , MPT question 2

MPT questions

Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota

Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota , New York

Sample answers: Arkansas MPT-1 MPT-2 , Georgia , Maryland , Minnesota , New York , South Dakota

MPT question (one MPT administered)

Sample answers: Georgia , Maryland , New York , South Dakota

Sample answers: Arkansas MPT-1 MPT-2 , Georgia , New York , South Dakota

Sample answers: Georgia , New York

NCBE Questions and Point Sheets

Sample answers: Arkansas , Georgia , New York

Sample answers: Arkansas , Georgia

Sample answers

UBE: Links to find past MEE questions and answers, past MPT questions and answers, and MEE and MPT analyses

The files above were sourced from these places:

• Free recent MEE questions and analyses from NCBE
• Free recent MPT questions and point sheets from NCBE
• If you want the official analyses for more recent ones, you can find them in the MEE study aids (paid)
• Arkansas MEE and MPT questions and best answers (2013 and on)
• Minnesota’s representative answers (last few years)
• Maryland’s representative answers (last few years)
• South Dakota’s representative answers (last few years)
• New York Past Exam Essay Questions with Sample Candidate Answers (2016 July and on)
• Georgia Essay (not MEE) and MPT Questions and Selected Answers (2011 July and on include MPT questions and sample answers)
• Colorado MEE and MPT selected answers (past year)

Others : Check your state bar website or law school’s academics resources to see if it offers questions and selected answers

• Nevada offers sample passing answers for essays and PTs going back to 2007
• A Virginia law school offers past Virginia bar exams to review

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This page includes the exams removed from the Bar’s web site on June 7, 2012, and other selected exams.

Noticing a trend? We’d be happy to take these down from here as soon as the Bar puts them back up on its website. Until then, enjoy the resources! And if you’re looking for even more resources, check out my California Bar Exam Prep Books, Winnin’ Time + Trigger List! 

• February 2002
• February 2003
• February 2004
• February 2005
• February 2006
• February 2007
• February 2008
• February 2009
• February 2010
• February 2011

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All of this is cute, but how do you pull it all together? You need time to master the issue-spotting process and to memorize the material. We have plans to help you do just that.

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California Bar Exam Essay Frequency Chart

Are you looking for a comprehensive California bar exam essay frequency chart? Here’s our chart of the essay subjects tested on the California bar exam through the present date. The essay chart will show you which subjects tend to be frequently tested (e.g., Professional Responsibility!) and which ones are not tested as often (e.g., Agency).  You can also get an idea of which subjects are generally tested in conjunction with another subject (which you are more likely to see with the new test format as of July 2017).

Our chart provides a more accurate representation of when subjects were tested because we have separated Corporations, Agency, and Partnership; Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure; Contract Remedies and Tort Remedies; California Civil Procedure and Federal Civil Procedure; Trusts and Wills; and the California Evidence Code and the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Key Takeaways from the California Bar Exam Essay Frequency Chart:

1. make sure you study professional responsibility..

Professional Responsibility has been tested more than 37 times since 2006 on the California essays. In addition to conflicts of interest, advertising, and fee agreements, you may see questions in the corporations context and the criminal context (e.g., duties of prosecutor). Almost every single essay asks examinees to answer according to the ABA rules as well as the California distinctions. Therefore, it is worth it to study the most highly tested California distinctions. There may be times when the ABA rule and the California rule are the same. In those instances, you should tell the examiners that the outcome would be the same under both rules.

2. Be aware of common crossover questions.

If you are aware that certain subjects are always or generally tested with another subject you will be more likely to spot all of the issues on exam day. Never read a fact pattern assuming that only one subject will be tested. Based on the chart above, some common crossover essays include:

• Community Property/Wills
• Contracts/Contract Remedies
• Corporations/Professional Responsibility

Additionally, Agency usually is tested with another subject. Because students will write five essays instead of six essays beginning with the July 2017 administration, it is highly likely that you will see more crossover essays (even though you will write one less essay you still need to study all of the subjects). Our chart tells you exactly which essay questions to review if you are struggling with certain crossover essays.

3. Even though California Civil Procedure has only been tested once, you should study it!

The Examiners tested California Civil Procedure for the first time on the July 2016 exam (three of the four questions required knowledge of California Civil Procedure). Even though the fact pattern did not state that examinees should answer according to California law, it is important to note that the case took place in California. Now that California Civil Procedure has been tested once it is likely that it will be tested again. If you have not read through this essay and the student answers, take a look at the past exams on the State Bar of California’s website.

4. It is possible for essays to test a subject more than once!

Many examinees think if a subject has been tested on one essay it will not be tested again during the exam! This is not the case. If you look at the chart you will see that the following subjects have been tested twice on the same exam: Contracts, Professional Responsibility, Federal Civil Procedure, and recently, Real Property. This is important to know so that you do not quickly dismiss issues as you read the fact patterns on exam day.

5. Review highly tested California Evidence distinctions!

Since 2006, Evidence has been tested a total of 18 times. On about half of those essays, students were asked to respond according to the California Rules of Evidence and on about half of those essays students were asked to respond according to the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE). Thus, both the FRE and the California Evidence Code are commonly tested. It would be a mistake to assume that you do not really need to study the California evidence distinctions.

This post was written by Ambika, our California Bar Exam tutor, who has passed not only the California Bar Exam but also bar exams in New York and New Jersey!

If you are looking for a new approach, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.

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• Board index Law School Bar Exam Prep and Discussion Forum

2021 February California Bar Exam Forum

2021 February California Bar Exam

• Anonymous reply with quote

Post by a male human » Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:24 am

Re: 2021 February California Bar Exam

Post by goingwest » Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:01 am

Post by JDMBALLMMS » Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:31 am

Post by Heyall » Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:10 pm

Post by JDMBALLMMS » Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:53 pm

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Post by Anonymous User » Fri Feb 26, 2021 4:10 pm

Heyall wrote: ↑ Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:10 pm I thought the essays were reasonable. I'm suprised they seemed to test less rules this years than any set of exams I can remember. The MBE's were very straight-forward. The PT was a nightmare though.

Post by JDMBALLMMS » Sun Feb 28, 2021 10:01 pm

Post by a male human » Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:15 pm

JDMBALLMMS wrote: ↑ Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:31 am So unusually quiet on this forum. What happened?

Post by a male human » Fri May 07, 2021 8:59 pm

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BarEssays.com Blog

How to properly set up issues and rules in bar essays.

06/22/2021 by baressays

A Guest Column by Brian Hahn of Make This Your Last Time Last time in the BarEssays blog, I alluded to how issues were the most important component of IRAC in an essay answer. That’s different … [Read more...]

Making Sense of the February 2020 California Bar Exam 26.8% Pass Rate

05/24/2020 by baressays

Results for the February 2020 California Bar Exam were released on May 8 and the news was not pretty. Which is an understatement. In fact, the news was awful for the 73.2% of exam takers that did not … [Read more...]

Get Ready for the Online September 2020 California Bar Exam

04/28/2020 by baressays

On April 27, 2020, the California Supreme Court partially adopted recommendations from the California State Bar Board of Trustees and moved the California Bar Exam to September 9 and 10, 2020. In a … [Read more...]

Write a High Scoring California Bar Exam Essay

03/24/2020 by baressays

A Guest Column by Brian Hahn at Make This Your Last Time How do I write a passing California Bar Exam essay? Imagine you stop random bar exam takers on the street and ask them this … [Read more...]

Should the California Bar Exam ditch the multiple choice section (MBE)?

12/26/2019 by baressays

A Prominent Law Professor Thinks the MBE Needs To Go The July 2019 California Bar Exam results were recently released with an overall pass rate of 50.1 percent, the highest pass rate in six years. … [Read more...]

3 Reasons People Fail the California Bar Exam

11/01/2019 by baressays

As you might know, BarEssays.com is the only online database of real graded California Bar Exam essays, containing over 4,000 high scoring, middle scoring, and low scoring examples to every California … [Read more...]

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• Jun 7, 2021

July 2021 California Bar Exam Predictions

We correctly predicted 3 out of 5 subjects on the February 2021 California Bar Exam;

4 out of 5 subjects on the October 2020 California Bar Exam; and 4 out of 5 subjects on the July 2019 and February 2020 California Bar Exams, respectively. Since July 2017, the California Bar Exam has changed its examination format to five essays and one performance test. We have said this many times before – be ready for crossover essays. Crossovers are being tested more frequently now that the examination has changed its format. We ask that you not rely solely on these predictions and study all essay subjects tested on the California Bar Exam.

We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again: Study Professional Responsibility! Study all past essays and all PR rule statements in detail so that you can score high and compensate for other lower scoring essays.

Here are Cal Bar Bible’s predictions for the July 2021 California Bar Exam:

1. Professional Responsibility

2. Torts w/ Remedies Crossover

3. Constitutional Law

4. Civil Procedure

5. Business Associations

*Wild card: Crimes

The February 2021 California Bar Exam Pass Rate was 37.2%. The pass rate reflected an increase of 10.4% compared to the February 2020 California Bar Exam. The February 2021 Bar Exam was the second remote exam and second exam graded under the new passing score of 1390.

We have spent the last few years working with California Bar Exam repeaters, which provided us with great insight into the crux of the problem: Why is it so difficult to pass the CA bar exam? Focusing only on the essay writing component of the exam, we discovered a number of issues, but overall, it came down to 1) understanding the information, 2) retaining the information, 3) regurgitating the information, and 4) applying the information. All of which are essential to pass the California bar exam.

As a result, we have compiled a guide that will help overcome barriers faced by all bar takers – whether it’s your first time taking the exam, or you are a repeater, our Cal Bar Bible materials (only $199) includes all subjects tested on the California Bar Exam. Each CBB subject copy includes an essay checklist, simplified and easy to memorize rule statements, condensed study sheets, essay templates, essay cheat sheets, outlines, hot topics, essay tracking, MBE tips, issue spotting, mnemonics, and much more to help you pass the formidable CA Bar Exam. Our reviews speak for themselves so feel free to checkout a sample of a CBB copy on Civil Procedure here .

Recent Posts

February 2024 California Bar Exam Essay Predictions

Thank You, Cal Bar Bible Subscribers: A Special Shoutout to Feedpost!

Conquering the California Bar Exam: A 3-Month Study Plan for Success

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How to Interpret Your Bar Score Letter

• Maureen MacManus
• CA Bar Exam , Essays , MBE , Performance Tests

On a Friday in early May, unsuccessful California Bar Exam candidates receive a letter from the Committee of Bar Examiners stating “… you were unsuccessful on the February 2021 California Bar Examination.”

The CA Bar results are in. If you didn’t pass, you likely spent the evening alternating between tears and anger. If you did pass, you’re probably celebrating instead of searching the internet for ways to pass next time.

The sting of failing is tough.

But it’s time to step into problem-solving mode.

Use your bar score letter to help you figure out what to focus on going forward. With this information in hand, you can dedicate your time + resources to areas that require the most improvement.

This is an opportunity.

Let’s dive into maximizing it!

First, a refresher on CA Bar Exam scoring.

You need to achieve a total scaled 1390 or better to pass the CA Bar Exam. The exam is broken into two parts for scoring purposes.

The written portion of the exam (essays and performance tests) is worth 50% of your grade.

The detailed breakdown is as follows:

• Your five essays are worth 80% of your written score and 40% of your overall exam score.
• Your performance test (“PT”) is double weighted, meaning one PT counts for two essays.
• Your PT makes up 20% of your written score and 10% of your overall bar exam score.

The big takeaway?

Good PTs can carry you—and bad PTs mean you’ll take the exam again.

(Did you know we offer a Mastering the PT Course and a CA Essays Course ? Be sure to check them out!)

The MBE also makes up 50% of your total score.

Because it’s worth half of your score, it’s difficult to score well enough on the MBE to overcome serious writing deficits.

For example, you can score slightly over 1400 on the MBE, but still fail because your written score was in the mid-1300s. BarMD teaches students how to improve their MBE score by breaking down the question to the narrow controversy. With our methodical process, students truly have to demonstrate they understand what is being tested.

(Need to hone your MBE skills? Consider our revolutionary MBE DNA Course . If you need a comprehensive Cal Bar prep program, see our CA Bar Review Course .)

Your Bar Exam Scores

The written scores are broken down by graded event. You’ll see a score for each essay and PT.

Sometimes you’ll see scores in the second read column. A second read means your scaled written score was at least a 1350 (within 40 points of passing), but didn’t reach the required 1390. If you fall between a 1350 and 1390, all of your answers were read a second time by a different set of graders. Your scores are then averaged.

If your score after two readings is 1390 or higher, you pass. I’ve seen a 75 scored down to 55. All of your mistakes become obvious, and no amount of pretty formatting or headings can hide the fact that you incorrectly invalidated a will and the property passed through intestacy and ended up in the hands of the testator’s brother that he hated for stealing his wife.

To determine your scaled score, the bar uses a formula to make sure the scores stay constant. Here’s the formula used for the February 2021 bar exam:

Written scaled score = (Raw written score x 4.1641) – 386.5342

The number needed to get to a 1390 on the written portion was 60.9473. The means you needed to average 60.9473 across all written graded assignments, and a total scaled score of 426.631 on the written portion.

If you got a 427, should you be happy?

I wouldn’t be.

Scores to hit a 1390 can be much higher. Repeating a 427 may not be good enough in July. Even if you did well on the written portion in February, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels and ignore essay + PT practice.

Previously, bar candidates were given a raw MBE score and sub-scores for each of the six MBE topics. Now, the bar only provides scaled MBE scores.

Why does the California Bar use scaled scores?

The idea is scaled scores balance out the difficulty of the exam so that, in theory, no exam is harder than another. When the Cal Bar provided a scoring table, the number of correct scores needed to achieve a scaled 1440 ranged from 126 to 135. If you divide your scaled MBE score by 10 or 11 points, that should give you a rough idea of how many correct answers you got out of the 100 scored MBE questions.

Scaled scores are deceiving. In February 2011, you need to score 128 answers correct to reach 1440 (the score required to pass at the time). If you scored 120 correct answers, your scaled score would be a 1372. That gap seems greater than just eight correct answers.

And this is why:

• You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself; and
• It’s smart to review your score letter with a California Bar Exam expert.

Take the steps that are necessary to end up on the CA Bar pass list. We’re here to help!

Request a free CA Bar Score Letter review with our faculty >

BarMD can help you become an attorney.

Turn around your CA Bar results with BarMD.

Whether you need an intensive course or a lighter regimen, we have a program to match your needs.

The BarMD toolbox includes everything from a course focused on just PTs to our CA Bar Review Extreme package, which includes 10 hours of one-on-one tutoring with me ( Maureen MacManus , President + CEO of BarMD). In our CA Bar Review Courses , you gain a comprehensive foundation for the entire exam. You learn how to issue-spot like never before. Your MBE skills can skyrocket. Your analysis can be pristine. Your structure can be perfect. You can maximize your score.

Explore our array of programs in the BarMD Shop—and pass.

Feel free to email [email protected] if you’d like help with choosing the right program for you.

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California Bar Exam Info

California bar exam information.

AmeriBar’s California Bar Review Course and California Attorneys’ Exam Course have helped students pass the California bar exam for over 20 years.

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Schedule a free california bar exam strategy session, schedule coaching session, california bar exam format.

The California Bar Exam is administered over two days.

The written portion of the exam will occur on Tuesday of the week containing the Wednesday of the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”), the multiple-choice portion of the exam. You will have three hours to answer three California essay questions. You will have two hours to answer two California essay questions and one and one-half hour to answer one California Performance Test.

The MBE is administered on the second day of the California bar exam. The MBE is a multiple-choice test containing 200 questions. The MBE is split into a morning and afternoon session. Each session consists of 100 questions. You have three hours to complete each session.

California Bar Exam Format Video

Useful Links

• California Bar Review Course – AmeriBar has been helping students pass the California bar exam for over 20 years.
• California Attorneys’ Exam Course – If you are only taking the California Attorneys’ Exam, then this course is specifically for you.
• CaliforniaBarExamTutor.com – Intensive tutoring for the California bar exam.
• MBEQuestionBank.com   – Online question bank with over 2500 simulated MBE questions.
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California Bar Admissions

California mpre score requirement.

California requires bar exam applicants to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”). You must score 86 or higher on the MPRE in order to pass in California.

Scoring/Grading and Results

In order to pass the California bar exam, you must score at least 1,390 on a 2,000-point scale, based on the combined scaled scores of the California Performance Test, the California essay questions, and the MBE. The California Committee of Bar Examiners weights the California Performance Test and the California essay questions at 50% and the MBE at 50%. The California Performance Test is worth twice the amount as a California essay question score. Usually, the California Committee of Bar Examiners releases the February California Bar Exam results by the end of May, and the July California Bar Exam results before Thanksgiving.

Reciprocity

California does not provide for admission on motion or reciprocity, rather it offers the California Bar Exam. If an attorney does not qualify to sit for the California Attorneys’ Exam, then the attorney would sit for the California General Bar Exam.

California Bar Exam Course Free Trial

No fuss, no card, no commitments - It's the California Way!

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

“Once you go with AmeriBar they will help you emotionally and academically. They will get you 100% ready for the bar exam… I’m grateful for AmeriBar – because they helped me accomplish my dream. And without them, I wouldn’t be an attorney today.”

California Bar Review Course

AmeriBar has been helping students pass the California bar exam for over 20 years. 

AmeriBar Students

California bar exam subjects, california essay subjects.

• Business Associations
• Civil Procedure (federal and California law)
• Community Property (California law)
• Evidence (federal and California law)
• Professional Responsibility (California and American Bar Association rules)
• U.C.C. Articles 1, 2, and 9 (regarding fixtures)
• Wills & Succession (California law)
• All MBE Subjects

MBE Subjects

• Civil Procedure
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts and Sales
• Criminal Law and Procedure

Thomas Cooley Law School

Heidi, who failed twice with BarBri, describes how AmeriBar was instrumental in raising her score from 121 to 144.

California Bar Exam Statewide Pass Rates