The state of Iowa uses the Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) and consists of the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”). State law is not tested.
MEE (Multi State Essay Exam)
Day one of the Iowa Bar Exam consists of 6 hours of testing. The first three hours include (6) MEE essays. 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)
Iowa Bar Exam also includes two (2) MPT performance tests which occur in the second half of the first day of the exam after an afternoon lunch period which follows the MEE testing.
MBE (Multiple Choice Bar Exam)
Iowa 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 Iowa bar exam test 7 subjects:
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts (Common Law, Sales/UCC Art. 2)
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Evidence
- Real Property
- Torts
UBE and MBE Score Transfer
The state of Iowa allows transfers based on a few factors, UBE scores for those who: (1) Have a juris doctor from a accredited law school; (2) Passed the UBE with a score of 266 or more (Scores are out of 400 points).
Bar Exam Testing Schedule
Day 1
- First three hours = 6 MEE Essays
- Lunch Break
- Second 3 hours = 2 MPTs
Day 2
- Morning first 3 hours – MBE Part 1 (100 questions)
- Lunch Break
- Afternoon second 3 hours – MBE Part 2 (100 questions)
Exam Dates and Application
Iowa Bar Exam consists of two days of testing. The testing generally occurs on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.
Grading
Iowa bar exam final scores are based on a scalable score. The minimum score to pass is 266/400. Appeals are not allowed.
Exam Date Results
Feb. 21-22, 20XX May. 11, 20XX
July 24-25, 20XX Oct. 13, 20XX
Iowa Bar Exam Weighted Scores
MPT | 20% |
MEE | 30% |
MBE | 50% |