The DC bar exam passing score is 266 on the Uniform Bar Examination’s 400-point scale. That threshold holds for every current administration in the District, and it applies equally to scores you earn sitting in DC and to qualifying scores transferred from another UBE jurisdiction. Starting with the February 2028 administration, the District will switch to the NextGen bar exam, which uses a 500–750 scale and requires a 616 to pass.1DC Bar Admissions. DC Bar Admissions News
What 266 Means on the UBE Scale
D.C. App. Rule 46 sets the number: a combined UBE scaled score of 266 or higher passes.2District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar The UBE reports on a 400-point scale, so 266 lands around the 67th percentile of that scale.3NCBE. UBE Bar Exam Scores
Because scores are statistically scaled, a 266 represents the same level of competence regardless of which administration you sat for. The scaling process adjusts for difficulty differences between test versions, so a harder exam doesn’t penalize you compared with someone who took an easier one.
Among UBE jurisdictions, DC’s 266 sits in the middle. Some jurisdictions require as little as 260; others go as high as 270 or above.
How the 266 Is Built
Your total comes from three components built by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The Multistate Bar Examination supplies half of the score through 200 multiple-choice questions covering contracts, torts, constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, and real property. The other half comes from the Multistate Essay Examination (six 30-minute essays) and the Multistate Performance Test (two practical tasks worked from a provided case file and library).
Raw scores on the essays and performance tasks are scaled and then combined with the MBE on the same 400-point scale.2District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar The result is a single number between 0 and 400. You need it to hit 266.
The NextGen Exam and the 616 Score
The current UBE is being retired. The NCBE begins rolling out the NextGen bar exam in July 2026, and the District of Columbia will administer it starting in February 2028.4NCBE. NextGen Bar Exam NextGen uses a 500–750 scale. DC’s passing score on the new exam is 616.1DC Bar Admissions. DC Bar Admissions News
This affects candidates well before 2028. Some jurisdictions adopt the NextGen exam as early as July 2026, and DC will accept a NextGen score of 616 or higher as a transferred score starting in July 2026.5District of Columbia Court of Appeals. District of Columbia Court of Appeals – General Information If you’re mapping out a bar timeline, confirm which version of the exam your chosen jurisdiction is giving on the date you plan to sit.
Transferring a UBE Score to DC
Already passed the UBE somewhere else? You can apply for DC admission without retaking the exam. The requirements:
- A score of 266 or higher on the current UBE, or 616 or higher on the NextGen exam, 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.2District of Columbia Courts. DCCA Rule 46 – Admission to the Bar
- The NCBE must transmit your score directly to DC through your NCBE account. Self-reported scores and unofficial transcripts don’t satisfy the requirement.6District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Application for Admission by Transferred UBE Score Instructions
If your score is older than five years, you’ll need to sit for the exam again or pursue admission on motion.
The MPRE: A Separate 75
Hitting 266 on the bar exam isn’t the only score that matters. You also need a 75 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, a separate ethics test administered three times a year by the NCBE.7DC Bar Admissions. District of Columbia Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions The MPRE is scored on a 50–150 scale, and most applicants take it during law school. You can sit for it before or after the bar exam, but DC won’t finalize your admission without it.
How Many Times You Can Try
Rule 46(c)(14) caps you at four attempts on any component of the exam.7DC Bar Admissions. District of Columbia Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions That’s a hard limit. After four failed attempts, your options in DC narrow to admission on motion or a different jurisdiction. With the NextGen transition approaching, anyone close to that ceiling should plan carefully around which version of the exam they’ll face on their next sitting.