When Does Delaware Switch to the NextGen Bar Exam?
- Exam today
- Administers its own bar exam today
- First NextGen administration
- February 2028
- February 22–23, 2028
- NextGen passing score
- TBA
- NCBE recommends 610–620
- MPRE
- Required
Delaware specifics: Own exam now; keeps half-day DE essays; 5-month clerkship required.
Delaware administers its own bar exam today rather than the UBE, and adopts the NextGen bar exam with the February 2028 administration (February 22–23, 2028).
That date decides which exam you study for. Candidates sitting in Delaware before February 2028 take the current exam; from February 2028 onward, the NextGen format applies. If your timeline could cross the switch — say a first attempt on the old exam and a retake after — factor in that the two formats reward different preparation.
Delaware has not announced its NextGen passing score yet. NCBE recommends setting it between 610 and 620 on the 500–750 scale — a sensible planning target in the meantime.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Delaware 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 Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Delaware deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Delaware 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
NCBE does not list filing deadlines for Delaware; the Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court publishes them on its own site.
February 2027 Bar Exam application final deadline: December 1, 2026. July 2027 Bar Exam application final deadline: May 4, 2027. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees: law school graduate early registration $700 or regular registration $900; attorney early registration $800 or regular $1,000. Admission requires a score of at least 143 on the written Delaware Bar Examination, an MPRE score of at least 85, and a 12-week Delaware clerkship. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees
NCBE’s UBE fee chart does not cover Delaware; the Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court publishes its fee schedule. NCBE separately charges a $149 technology fee for the NextGen UBE.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: TBA from TBA, minimum TBA.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: No.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. The Delaware essay portion of the bar exam will include four essays and will be administered in half a day.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court. 405 N. King Street, Ste. 500 Wilmington, DE 19801 Phone: (302) 651-3935 Email: Patricia.Schwartz@delaware.gov
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.
Delaware FAQs
Quick answers
When does Delaware first offer the NextGen bar exam?
February 2028 — the administration runs February 22–23, 2028. Registration windows are set by the Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Delaware?
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 Delaware publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Delaware?
Yes — Delaware requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in Delaware before February 2028?
Delaware's current bar exam. Own exam now; keeps half-day DE essays; 5-month clerkship required.
Does Delaware accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Not announced yet. Check NCBE's decisions page or the board for updates.
What is the Delaware-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
The Delaware essay portion of the bar exam will include four essays and will be administered in half a day.
Also first offering NextGen in February 2028
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