Massachusetts Bar Exam News & Format Changes

Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the Massachusetts Bar Exam cluster.

A living timeline of BBE rule changes and announcements that affect Massachusetts bar applicants. Bookmark this page if you are sitting in 2026, 2027, or 2028 — the NextGen transition is a significant format change.

One-line summary

Massachusetts will administer the NextGen UBE starting July 2028. NextGen will not test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, or Trusts & Estates and will add lawyering-skills questions (negotiation, client counseling). The MPRE 85 minimum is unchanged.

NextGen UBE status in Massachusetts

Massachusetts will administer the NextGen UBE starting July 2028. NextGen will not test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, or Trusts & Estates and will add lawyering-skills questions (negotiation, client counseling).

Score acceptance: has not announced NextGen score acceptance ahead of the July 2028 administration.

Cut score and MPRE stability

Massachusetts cut score: 270 (on the 400 scale). MPRE minimum: 85. Both have been stable in recent years.

Fee schedule changes

BBE fees for 2026: $815 first-time and repeat, $175 laptop fee, $1,015 admission on motion. February 2026 deadlines: November 1, 2025. July 2026 deadlines: Filing window April 6 through May 8, 2026.

What this means for your study plan

• Verify which exam format applies to your administration (Massachusetts status: Massachusetts will administer the NextGen UBE starting July 2028. NextGen will not test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Se...).
• For legacy UBE prep: traditional MEE/MPT/MBE materials. Free MBE practice: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
• For NextGen prep: NCBE-released NextGen sample items plus a NextGen-aligned commercial bar prep course. Skip Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates as doctrinal study (not tested on NextGen).

Companion pages

• Massachusetts Admission on Motion
• Return to the Massachusetts Bar Exam Hub

Sources

• Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) — https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-board-of-bar-examiners.
• NCBE jurisdiction page — ncbex.org/jurisdictions/MA.