Iowa Bar Exam Update: What Applicants Should Know
Iowa Bar Exam News & Format Changes
Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the Iowa Bar Exam cluster.
Living timeline of Iowa BLE rule changes and announcements.
Summary
Iowa will administer the NextGen UBE starting July 2027. The legacy UBE remains the format through February 2027. The MPRE 80 minimum is unchanged.
NextGen status
Iowa will administer the NextGen UBE starting July 2027. The legacy UBE remains the format through February 2027.
Score acceptance: TBD.
Cut and MPRE
Iowa cut score: 266 (400 scale). MPRE minimum: 80.
Fee schedule
Iowa BLE fees for 2026: $800 first-time, $550 retake, $122 laptop fee, $900 admission on motion. 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
- Iowa Board of Law Examiners — https://www.iowacourts.gov/opr/attorneys/admissions/.
- NCBE jurisdiction page — ncbex.org/jurisdictions/IA.
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