The New York bar exam is given twice a year, on the last consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. In 2026, that means February 24–25 and July 28–29. If you are asking when is the NY bar exam so you can plan an application, a job start date, or a study schedule, those are the two dates to work backward from, and the application window closes months before each sitting.
2026 Exam Dates
The New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) administers the exam on a fixed calendar: the last consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday each February and July.1New York State Board of Law Examiners. NYS Bar Exam Dates
- February 2026: Tuesday, February 24 and Wednesday, February 25
- July 2026: Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29
BOLE has confirmed the February 2026 dates on its website, and the July dates follow the standing rule.2New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners The schedule aligns with the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ national testing window, so candidates sitting in New York take the exam on the same days as those in every other Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdiction.
Application Windows and Fees
Filing windows are narrow, and they close roughly four months before each exam.
- July exam: Applications accepted March 1–31
- February exam: Applications accepted October 1–31
Those are hard deadlines.2New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners New York has no late filing option, so missing the window means waiting six months for the next cycle.3National Conference of Bar Examiners. Uniform Bar Examination Jurisdictions – Bar Examination – New York That alone can push a planned employment start date into the following year.
Exam fees are either $250 or $750, depending on the applicant’s educational background. The same fee structure applies whether you are a first-time taker, a repeater, or an already-admitted attorney.3National Conference of Bar Examiners. Uniform Bar Examination Jurisdictions – Bar Examination – New York Applications are filed through BOLE’s online Applicant Services Portal.
What Happens on Each Day
New York uses the UBE, a two-day paper-based test with three components.4New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners Frequently Asked Questions and General Information Guide for Taking the Uniform Bar Examination
Tuesday
The morning is the Multistate Performance Test (MPT): two 90-minute tasks that simulate real legal work, where you analyze a file of case documents, apply law from a provided library, and produce a written document such as a memo or brief. The afternoon is the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), six 30-minute essay questions on core subjects including constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, evidence, and torts.
Candidates who register for the laptop option type their MPT and MEE answers using ExamSoft’s Examplify software. BOLE sends registration instructions by email roughly two months before the exam.2New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners
Wednesday
The entire second day is the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), 200 multiple-choice questions split into two three-hour sessions of 100 questions each. The MBE covers civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, and torts. Answers go on a paper scantron regardless of whether you registered for a laptop on Day One.
Where the Exam Is Held
BOLE runs the exam at multiple sites across the state. Confirmed venues for the July 2026 administration include:5New York State Board of Law Examiners. NYS Bar Exam Test Sites
- New York City: Jacob Javits Convention Center and the Armory Track & Field Center
- Bronx: Fordham University (Lombardi Center Fieldhouse)
- Long Island: Hofstra University (David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex)
- Albany: Albany Capital Center and Empire State Plaza Convention Center
- Buffalo: Buffalo Convention Center
You select your preferred site when you apply. The Javits Center is the largest venue and where most New York City candidates end up. Sites can change between the February and July administrations, so check BOLE’s site list after your application is confirmed.
What You Can and Can’t Bring
BOLE enforces a strict policy: if an item is not explicitly permitted, it is prohibited, and anything banned will be confiscated on the spot.6New York State Board of Law Examiners. Bar Examination Security Policy The banned list is longer than most candidates expect:
- Cell phones, smart watches, fitness trackers, calculators, and cameras
- Watches of any kind (clocks are provided at every site)
- Wired or wireless headphones, headsets, and earbuds (only foam or silicone earplugs without cords are allowed)
- Backpacks, purses, wallets, briefcases, and laptop sleeves
- Coffee cups and drink cups, even with lids
- Notes, books, bar review materials, and dictionaries in any format
- Hats, baseball caps, visors, and sunglasses (religious headwear is permitted)
Prohibited items must be left in a designated Personal Belongings Room at your own risk. Late arrivals risk being barred from that testing session entirely. Plan to arrive with essentially nothing but your ID, approved writing instruments, and your laptop if you registered for one.
Testing Accommodations
Candidates with disabilities can request accommodations such as extra time, additional breaks, or a smaller testing room. Requests go through the Applicant Services Portal or by mail, along with supporting documentation from a qualified professional that explains your functional limitations and the specific accommodations needed.7New York State Board of Law Examiners. NYS Bar Exam ADA Accommodations
The accommodation deadline aligns with the exam filing deadlines, so begin gathering documentation well before October 1 (for February) or March 1 (for July). Prior approvals from a law school, an IEP, or a Section 504 plan carry weight, but BOLE evaluates every request independently, and prior approval elsewhere does not guarantee the same result.
Passing Score and When Results Arrive
You need a total UBE score of at least 266 out of 400 to pass in New York. The components are weighted into that combined score: the MBE accounts for 50 percent, the MEE for 30 percent, and the MPT for 20 percent. About 61 percent of all candidates passed across both 2025 administrations.8New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York Bar Exam 2025 Statistics
Results take a while. July 2025 scores were posted to candidate accounts on October 23, 2025, with the public pass list going live the following day.2New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners February results generally arrive in late April or early May. You check your score by logging into your BOLE account on the Applicant Services Portal. There is no phone call or mailed letter ahead of the portal posting.
Passing Isn’t Admission
A passing score does not mean you can practice. Several steps remain.
New York requires a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), a separate 60-question ethics test given three times a year in March, August, and November. New York’s minimum MPRE score is 85 on a scaled range of 50 to 150. You can take it before or after the bar exam, but you will not be admitted until both scores are on file. The MPRE has its own registration process through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
You must also file an Application for Admission to the Bar with the Appellate Division department listed on your Notice of Certification. The filing deadline is three years from the date you sat for Day Two of the exam.9Appellate Division – Second Judicial Department. Application Process for Admission to the Bar The application triggers the character and fitness review, which includes a detailed questionnaire, a personal interview, and supporting documents.
New York separately requires proof that you completed 50 hours of qualifying pro bono work. This can be done during or after law school, but the affidavit documenting it must be included in your admission application.10New York Courts. 50-Hour Pro Bono Bar Admission Requirements Candidates who have their MPRE score, pro bono hours, and application materials ready to submit as soon as results post tend to be sworn in fastest; those still needing the MPRE or pro bono hours can face delays of six months or more.