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Table of Contents
- One-line summary
- At a glance (2026)
- The NextGen UBE format
- How it is graded
- Fees and deadlines
- Character & Fitness
- The MPRE requirement (85 minimum)
- Pass rates over time
- Eligibility paths
- Admission on motion
- Foreign-trained applicants
- NextGen score portability
- How to prepare for NextGen
- For repeat takers
- Oregon Bar Exam Cluster
- Sources
Bar Exam Project wiki article. Oregon administers the NextGen UBE beginning July 2026.
One-line summary
The Oregon Bar Examination is the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE), administered beginning July 2026. The legacy UBE was last administered February 2026. NextGen replaces the traditional MEE/MPT/MBE structure with an integrated mix of standalone multiple-choice (49%), integrated question sets (21%), and performance tasks (30%). Pass with a scaled score of 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final).
At a glance (2026)
- Next administration: July 28-29, 2026 (first NextGen UBE) — the first NextGen UBE in Oregon.
- Final legacy UBE: February 24-25, 2026 (final legacy UBE).
- February 2026 deadline: November 15, 2025.
- July 2026 deadline: April 15, 2026 (timely), May 15, 2026 (late).
- Format: NextGen UBE — standalone MC (49%), integrated MC question sets (21%), performance tasks (30%).
- Cut score: 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final).
- MPRE minimum: 85.
- Most recent reported pass rate: July 2025 (legacy UBE) ~70% first-time. NextGen pass rate data will be available after July 2026..
- Application fees: $1,000 first-time, $1,600 attorney applicant, $375 late fee, $150 laptop fee.
- Reciprocity / admission on motion: reciprocity-limited under Oregon Bar Rule 14.05 — under Oregon Bar Rule 14.05 (Admission by Motion), with 5 of the past 7 years. Fee: $2,300.
The NextGen UBE format
The NextGen UBE is a fully computer-based, digitally-delivered examination administered on examinee laptops through the NCBE secure testing browser. The exam runs over two days. Major architectural differences from the legacy UBE:
- No separate MEE / MPT / MBE sections. Question types are mixed across testing days.
- Three question types: standalone multiple-choice (49% of score), integrated question sets that combine multiple subjects in a single fact pattern (21%), and performance tasks (30%).
- Subject scope narrower: NextGen does not test Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, or Trusts and Estates.
- Lawyering skills emphasized: NextGen adds questions about negotiation, client counseling, and legal research.
How it is graded
NextGen UBE produces one total scaled score on the 500-750 (NextGen) / 400 (legacy) scale. Oregon’s passing score: 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final). Scores are portable to any other NextGen-adopting jurisdiction whose cut score is at or below Oregon’s, generally within 3 years.
Fees and deadlines
OR BBE fee schedule for 2026: $1,000 first-time, $1,600 attorney applicant, $375 late fee, $150 laptop fee. February 2026 deadline: November 15, 2025. July 2026 deadline: April 15, 2026 (timely), May 15, 2026 (late).
Character & Fitness
Oregon Character & Fitness review is conducted by the Oregon State Bar concurrently with the bar application. Character & Fitness fee: included in application fee. Disclose everything; failure to disclose is treated more harshly than the underlying conduct.
The MPRE requirement (85 minimum)
Oregon requires a passing MPRE score of 85, on the NCBE 50-150 scale. Free MPRE practice: MBEmax MPRE.
Pass rates over time
July 2025 Oregon legacy UBE first-time pass rates ran approximately 70%. NextGen pass rate distribution will not be available until after the July 2026 inaugural NextGen administration.
Eligibility paths
J.D. from an ABA-approved law school is the standard path. The foreign-trained route is covered below.
Admission on motion
Under Oregon Bar Rule 14.05 (Admission by Motion), an attorney admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction with 5 of the past 7 years may be admitted to Oregon without bar exam. Reciprocity-limited under oregon bar rule 14.05. Fee: $2,300. The MPRE 85 requirement still applies. See the standalone Oregon Admission on Motion guide.
Foreign-trained applicants
Oregon admits foreign-educated attorneys with an LL.M. covering specific U.S. law subjects from an ABA-approved school, plus the bar exam itself.
NextGen score portability
A Oregon passing NextGen UBE score is portable to any NextGen-adopting jurisdiction whose cut is at or below Oregon’s, generally within 3 years. Legacy UBE passing scores are NOT directly transferable to Oregon NextGen sittings — if you passed legacy UBE in another state and your score-life has not lapsed, contact OR BBE for current transfer guidance.
How to prepare for NextGen
NextGen prep is meaningfully different from legacy UBE prep:
- Skip the four NextGen-removed subjects. Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates are not tested.
- Practice integrated question sets. NCBE has released sample NextGen questions; work through them carefully.
- Build performance task practice. 30% of your score is on PTs — bigger than legacy MPT (20%). Practice 10-15 PTs across an 8-week arc.
- Add lawyering-skills practice. Negotiation, client counseling, legal research are graded on NextGen.
- Use commercial NextGen prep. Themis, BARBRI, Kaplan, Quimbee, MBEmax all have NextGen-aligned tracks. Free MBE practice on the doctrinal core: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject-specific drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
For repeat takers
If you sat for the legacy UBE in February 2026 or earlier and missed the cut, your retake will be on NextGen. The format is different enough that simply re-doing your legacy prep is not enough. Diagnose your legacy gaps (was it MBE, MEE, or MPT?), then pivot to NextGen-equivalent practice (standalone MC, integrated sets, performance tasks).
Oregon Bar Exam Cluster
Companion wiki articles in the Oregon cluster:
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners — https://admissions.osbar.org/.
- NCBE jurisdiction page for Oregon — ncbex.org/jurisdictions/OR.
- NCBE NextGen UBE published sample items.
Deep dives
The following sections are absorbed companion guides. Each is also navigable from the table of contents above.
Pass Rate Statistics — deep dive
Year-over-year pass rates and school-by-school context.
Summary
Most recent: July 2025 (legacy UBE) ~70% first-time. NextGen pass rate data will be available after July 2026.. Cut: 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final).
Recent pass rates
July 2025 Oregon legacy UBE first-time pass rates ran approximately 70%. NextGen pass rate distribution will not be available until after the July 2026 inaugural NextGen administration.
First-time vs. repeaters
Oregon first-time pass rates run substantially higher than repeater rates. The single best predictor for repeater success is MBE scaled score on the failed sitting.
School clusters
Top Oregon law schools cluster well above the statewide average. OR BBE releases school-by-school data after each administration.
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners statistics releases.
- NCBE Bar Exam Results — ncbex.org/statistics-research/bar-exam-results-jurisdiction.
- ABA Standard 509 disclosures.
NextGen Score Portability — deep dive
Oregon administers the NextGen UBE. NextGen scores are portable to other NextGen-adopting jurisdictions; legacy UBE scores are NOT directly transferable to Oregon NextGen sittings.
Summary
Oregon accepts NextGen UBE scores at 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final) within 3 years of the test date. A passing Oregon NextGen score is portable to any other NextGen-adopting jurisdiction at or below Oregon’s cut.
Transferring a NextGen score into Oregon
To transfer a NextGen UBE score into Oregon: have a passing score at or above 615 (July 2026) / 620 (after July 2026) for NextGen UBE; legacy UBE 270 (Feb 2026 final), earned within 3 years; pass MPRE 85+; clear Oregon Character & Fitness; pay applicable fees.
Transferring out
A Oregon passing NextGen UBE score is portable to any NextGen-adopting jurisdiction whose cut score is at or below Oregon’s. Verify each receiving jurisdiction’s rules at the time of transfer.
Legacy UBE scores
Legacy UBE passing scores are NOT directly transferable to Oregon NextGen sittings. If you passed legacy UBE in another state and want Oregon admission, contact OR BBE for current transfer guidance.
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners — https://admissions.osbar.org/.
- NCBE jurisdiction page for Oregon.
NextGen Format Overview — deep dive
Oregon administers the NextGen UBE beginning July 2026. This page explains the format, what it tests, and how prep shifts.
Summary
NextGen UBE is fully computer-based on examinee laptops. Three integrated question types: standalone MC (49%), integrated question sets (21%), performance tasks (30%). Subjects narrower than legacy UBE; lawyering skills added.
NextGen format
Two days of testing on the standard NCBE NextGen calendar. NCBE secure browser. No separate MEE/MPT/MBE sections. Question types are mixed across both days.
Subjects tested (and not tested)
Tested: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, plus lawyering skills (negotiation, client counseling, legal research).
NOT tested: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, Trusts & Estates.
Timing breakdown
Standalone multiple-choice: 49% of total score. Integrated question sets (multi-subject fact patterns with mixed item types): 21%. Performance tasks: 30%.
How prep shifts vs legacy UBE
- Skip the four NextGen-removed subjects for doctrinal study.
- Practice integrated question sets using NCBE-released NextGen samples.
- Build performance task practice (10-15 PTs across 8-week arc).
- Add lawyering-skills practice (negotiation, client counseling, legal research).
- Free MBE practice on the NextGen-tested doctrinal core: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
Sources
- NCBE NextGen UBE — ncbex.org/exams/nextgen.
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners — https://admissions.osbar.org/.
How to Prepare — deep dive
Eight-week, 50-hour-per-week prep arc tailored to Oregon. Format: NextGen UBE: standalone MC (49%), integrated sets (21%), performance tasks (30%).
Summary
Eight weeks, 50 hours/week, 1,500-2,000 MBE/MC questions, 30-40 timed essays, 10-15 performance tasks, two simulated exams, 5 days of light review/rest before exam day.
Eight-week arc
- Weeks 1-2 (Foundation). Lecture videos, skeletal outlines.
- Weeks 3-4 (Application). Daily 33-question MBE/MC sets, begin essay practice.
- Weeks 5-6 (Volume). Push MBE to 50-75/day, increase essay frequency, add PTs.
- Weeks 7-8 (Simulation and rest). Two full simulated exams; review weakest 3-5 subjects.
Weekly hours
50 hours/week for full-time prep: 40% MBE/MC, 30% essay/PT, 20% outline review, 10% flashcards.
MBE volume
1,500-2,000 questions over 8 weeks. Quality of review > total volume above 2,000. For each missed question, identify the missed rule and why the distractor was tempting. Free MBE practice: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; structured plan: MBEmax study plan; full prep: MBEmax MBE study.
Essay/PT volume
30-40 timed essays over 8 weeks; 5+ graded with feedback. 10-15 timed PTs.
MPRE timing
Administered in March, August, November. Most candidates take it March of 3L year, August before July sitting, or November after July. Free MPRE practice: MBEmax MPRE.
What to buy
- A full commercial bar prep course (Themis, BARBRI, Kaplan, Quimbee, MBEmax).
- NCBE released question sets.
- Don’t need: multiple competing question banks.
The last week
5 days before: stop new questions; review error log and weakest subjects; pre-pack testing-day kit; drive the route. Night before: light review, eat normally, sleep at normal time.
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners — https://admissions.osbar.org/.
- NCBE released questions and analyses.
Repeat Taker Strategy — deep dive
If you sat for the Oregon bar exam previously and missed the cut, this page is for you.
Summary
The single biggest predictor of retake success is your MBE scaled score. Build the retake plan around the limiting component.
Diagnose the gap
Pull component scaled scores from the OR BBE score release. If MBE was below 130, it was the limiter (60% MBE retake). If MEE/MPT (or PTs) below 130, written components limited (50% essay/PT focus with graded feedback).
MBE-driven retake
50-100 MBE questions/day. Build an error log spreadsheet tagged by subject and rule type. Free MBE practice: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
Essay-driven retake
Submit 6-8 timed essays for graded feedback in weeks 1-2. Identify your patterns: under-IRACing, missed calls, weak rule statements.
Retake timeline
February sitters who get results in late April have 10-12 weeks until July retake. Weeks 1-2 decompress and diagnose; weeks 3-10 standard 8-week arc.
Mindset
- Trust the diagnosis.
- Get a graded outside view.
- Limit retake panic.
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners component score releases.
- NCBE released materials — ncbex.org.
Foreign-Trained Path — deep dive
Oregon admits foreign-educated attorneys via specific qualifying paths.
Summary
Oregon admits foreign-educated attorneys with an LL.M. covering specific U.S. law subjects from an ABA-approved school, plus the bar exam itself. The MPRE 85 minimum and Character & Fitness clearance still apply.
The two foreign-trained paths
Path A: One-year LL.M. at an ABA-approved school, 24-26 credit hours covering U.S. law subjects. Path B: Substantial equivalence to a U.S. JD (rare, typically common-law jurisdictions).
LL.M. curriculum
Typical requirements: U.S. Constitutional Law, U.S. Civil Procedure, Professional Responsibility, plus a balance of common-law subjects (Contracts, Torts, Property, Criminal Law). Verify with your law school’s LL.M. advisor.
MPRE and Character & Fitness
Pass MPRE with 85+, clear Oregon Character & Fitness, demonstrate good standing in foreign bar admission. Free MPRE practice: MBEmax MPRE.
Timing
For LL.M. students aiming for July bar: confirm course registration in fall, take MPRE in March, file the bar exam application by the early February deadline, complete 8-week prep in May-July.
Study tips
- Start MBE early. Civil-law-trained candidates need extra time for common-law reasoning patterns.
- Work in English. Supplement bar prep with U.S. case-law reading.
- Use commercial bar prep with foreign-LLM tracks.
- Free MBE practice: MBEmax Free MBE Quiz; subject drills: MBEmax browse subjects.
Sources
- Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners foreign-trained applicant rules.
- NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements — Oregon.