Arkansas Bar Exam: NextGen Status & What You'll Take Instead
- Exam today
- Administers the legacy UBE today
- First NextGen administration
- Not announced
- NextGen passing score
- TBA
- NCBE recommends 610–620
- Legacy UBE cut score
- 270
- until the switch (400-point scale)
- MPRE
- Required
Arkansas specifics: Not adopted; court-ordered study, recommendations due Dec 2026; legacy UBE sunsets Feb 2028.
Arkansas administers the legacy UBE (cut score 270) and has not announced a NextGen adoption date. The legacy UBE's final administration is February 2028, so a decision is coming — jurisdictions that stay silent effectively choose by that deadline.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Arkansas listing and its 2026 Comprehensive Guide (Charts 7 and 17), checked on September 20, 2026. Registration windows, fees, and character & fitness requirements are set by the Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Arkansas deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Arkansas listing and its 2026 Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, checked on September 20, 2026. Boards change these without notice, so treat the board’s own site as the final word.
Application deadlines
- February 2027 exam (legacy UBE)
- First filing deadline Nov. 15; no late filing period listed.
- July 2026 exam (for reference)
- First filing deadline April 1. July 2027 deadlines usually follow the same pattern; the board publishes them.
Fees
- First-time takers
- $1,000
- Attorneys
- $1,000
- Repeaters
- $1,000
- Laptop
- $0
As listed in NCBE’s 2026 Comprehensive Guide (Chart 7). Where more than one amount appears, the tier depends on filing date or applicant category. NCBE also charges a separate $149 technology fee for the NextGen UBE, paid through the NCBE account.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: No.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: Yes (minimum 270).
- Maximum score age: 36 months.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: not listed by NCBE.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners. One Capitol Mall, Suite 3D-101 Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: (501) 374-1855 Fax: (501) 374-1853
Preparing for the NextGen format
The NextGen exam tests 8 foundational subjects through three item types — standalone MCQs (including 6-option select-two), integrated question sets, and performance tasks. BARGO covers all three with exam-format practice, honest availability per subject, and a free diagnostic to find your baseline.
Arkansas FAQs
Quick answers
When does Arkansas first offer the NextGen bar exam?
Arkansas has not announced a NextGen adoption date. Not adopted; court-ordered study, recommendations due Dec 2026; legacy UBE sunsets Feb 2028
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Arkansas?
Not announced yet. NCBE recommends jurisdictions set passing between 610 and 620 on the 500–750 scale, so treat 615 as a planning midpoint until Arkansas publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Arkansas?
Yes — Arkansas requires the MPRE.
When is the application deadline for the February 2027 bar exam in Arkansas?
Nov. 15, per NCBE's listing for Arkansas. The February 2027 sitting in Arkansas is the legacy UBE. Confirm the exact date and cut-off time with the Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners before relying on it.
How much does the Arkansas bar exam cost?
NCBE's 2026 Comprehensive Guide lists $1,000 for first-time takers, $1,000 for attorneys and $1,000 for repeaters, plus $0 to use a laptop. Where more than one amount is listed, the tier depends on filing date or applicant category. Fees change, so the board's own schedule is authoritative.
Does Arkansas accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
No. Arkansas does not currently accept transferred NextGen UBE scores.
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