The passing score on the DC bar exam is 266 out of 400 on the Uniform Bar Examination. That same 266 applies whether you sit for the exam in the District of Columbia or transfer a qualifying UBE score from another jurisdiction.1District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar Starting February 2028, DC switches to the NextGen bar exam, which uses a 500–750 scale and requires 616 to pass.2DC Bar Admissions. DC Bar Admissions News
What 266 Means on the UBE Scale
D.C. App. Rule 46 sets the threshold at a combined UBE scaled score of 266 or higher.1District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar The UBE reports total scores on a 400-point scale, so 266 sits at roughly the 67th percentile of the scale itself.3NCBE. UBE Bar Exam Scores Because UBE scores are statistically scaled, a 266 represents the same level of competence regardless of which administration you sat for. A slightly harder exam will not penalize you against someone who took an easier one.
Among UBE jurisdictions, 266 is middle of the pack. Some states accept scores as low as 260; others require 270 or higher.
How the Score Is Built
Your total comes from three components developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The Multistate Bar Examination is half the score, with 200 multiple-choice questions covering contracts, torts, constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, and real property. The other half comes from the Multistate Essay Examination, which is six 30-minute essays, and the Multistate Performance Test, which is two practical legal tasks using a provided case file and library.
Raw scores on the written sections are scaled so they combine with the MBE on the same 400-point scale. The result is a single number between 0 and 400, and you need it to reach 266.1District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar
The NextGen Switch and Its 616 Threshold
The UBE is being phased out. The NCBE begins administering the NextGen bar exam in July 2026, and DC adopts it in February 2028.4NCBE. NextGen Bar Exam NextGen uses a 500–750 scale rather than 0–400. DC’s passing score on the NextGen exam is 616.2DC Bar Admissions. DC Bar Admissions News
This affects applicants well before 2028. Some jurisdictions administer the NextGen exam as early as July 2026, and DC will accept a transferred NextGen score of 616 or higher beginning that same month.5District of Columbia Court of Appeals. District of Columbia Court of Appeals – General Information If you are planning your timeline, confirm which version of the exam your jurisdiction will give on the date you intend to sit.
Transferring a Score to DC
If you passed the UBE in another state, you can apply for DC admission without retaking the exam. You need 266 or higher on the current UBE, or 616 or higher on the NextGen, earned in a single administration.5District of Columbia Court of Appeals. District of Columbia Court of Appeals – General Information The score must have been earned within five years of filing your DC application.1District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar Past that window, you will need to sit again or qualify through another admission path.
The NCBE must transmit the score directly to DC. Request transmission through your NCBE account; self-reported scores and unofficial transcripts do not satisfy the requirement.6District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Application for Admission by Transferred UBE Score Instructions
What the Score Alone Does Not Cover
Reaching 266 clears the exam itself, but it is not the whole admission requirement. You also need a passing score of 75 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, a separate ethics test on a 50–150 scale given three times a year.7DC Bar Admissions. District of Columbia Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions Most applicants take it during law school. DC will not finalize admission without it.
If you do not pass, Rule 46(c)(14) allows up to four attempts on any component of the exam.7DC Bar Admissions. District of Columbia Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions That cap is firm. With the NextGen transition approaching, anyone close to the limit should plan carefully around which version of the exam they will be taking.
When Scores Are Released
Results for the February 2026 administration were posted to applicant accounts on April 17, 2026.8District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions – Latest News July exam results typically arrive in late October or early November.7DC Bar Admissions. District of Columbia Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions Scores appear in your secure account on the DC Court of Appeals admissions portal, with a breakdown of performance by component.