The state of Illinois uses the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) and consists of 1 Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”), Illinois Essays and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”). State law is tested.
Illinois Essays
The Illinois bar exam consists of three state essays and six MEE essays. The state essay topics are as follows and should be completed within 30 minutes:
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MEE
Each essay should be completed within 30 minutes for a bar applicant to have the best chance at passing. The MEE essays may include the following:
- Business Associations (Agency and Partnerships; Corporations and LLCs)
- Civil Procedure (Federal)
- Conflict of Laws
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure (Constitutional aspects)
- Evidence
- Family Law
- Real Property
- Secured Transactions (UCC Art. 9)
- Torts
- Trusts and Estates (Decedents’ Estates, Trusts, Future Interests)
MPT (Multi-State Performance Test)
Illinois Bar Exam also includes one (1) MPT performance tests which occur in the second half of the first day of the exam after an afternoon lunch period which follows the essay testing.
MBE (Multiple Choice Bar Exam)
Illinois Bar Exam tests (MBE) is conducted on the second day of the two-day test and consists of a 6-hour time period. Each time period is divided in half so you have 100 questions to answer in the first three hours, followed by a lunch break and then 3 more hours to complete the second 100 questions for a total of 200 questions. The Illiniois bar exam test 7 subjects:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
MBE Score Transfer
Illinois accepts MBE scores from other jurisdictions. Illinois accepts MBE scaled scores of 141 or greater.
Bar Exam Testing Schedule
Day 1
- First three hours = 3 Illinois Essays and 1 MPT
- Lunch Break
- Second 3 hours = 6 MEE
Day 2
- Morning first 3 hours – MBE Part 1 (100 questions)
- Lunch Break
- Afternoon second 3 hours – MBE Part 2 (100 questions)
Grading
Illinois bar exam final scores are based on a scalable score. The minimum score to pass is 264. Appeals are not allowed. Applicants who fail may retake the test up to four times. On the fourth time, permission to take must be asked by the applicant to the state.
Exam Date Results
Feb. 21-22, 20XX May. 11, 20XX
July 24-25, 20XX Oct. 13, 20XX
Illinois Bar Exam Weighted Scores
| MPT | 7% |
| MEE | 43% |
| MBE | 50% |