Maryland NextGen Bar Exam: Dates, Passing Score & Requirements
- Exam today
- Administers the NextGen bar exam now
- First NextGen administration
- July 2026
- February 23–24, 2027
- NextGen passing score
- 616
- on the 500–750 scale
- Legacy UBE cut score
- 266
- until the switch (400-point scale)
- MPRE
- Required
Maryland specifics: First wave; MD-law outlines + confirmatory quiz.
Maryland is one of the 10 first-wave jurisdictions that adopted the NextGen bar exam for its debut on July 28–29, 2026. If you are testing in Maryland, the NextGen format — three 3-hour sessions mixing multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks — is already your exam.
The announced passing score is 616 on the 500–750 scale — NCBE's recommended range is 610–620, so Maryland sits in the middle of that band.
The next administration in Maryland runs February 23–24, 2027.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Maryland 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 Maryland State Board of Law Examiners — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Maryland deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Maryland 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 (NextGen UBE)
- First filing deadline Dec. 1; no late filing period listed.
- July 2026 exam (for reference)
- First filing deadline May 1. July 2027 deadlines usually follow the same pattern; the board publishes them.
Fees
- First-time takers
- $750
- Attorneys
- $750
- Repeaters
- $400
- Laptop
- $130
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.
Repeat test takers are required to pay a $100 update fee to retake the examination if their Character Questionnaire has been pending for 3 or more years since the most recent formal update.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: Yes from July 2026, minimum 616.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: Yes (minimum 266); the legacy UBE runs in Maryland through February 2026.
- Maximum score age: 3 years.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. Prior to bar admission, all applicants must complete the Maryland Law Component, which consists of online outlines of significant distinctions of Maryland substantive law and procedure followed by an online confirmatory quiz.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
Maryland State Board of Law Examiners. Judiciary A-POD, 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: (410) 260-3640
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.
Maryland FAQs
Quick answers
When does Maryland first offer the NextGen bar exam?
July 2026 — the administration runs February 23–24, 2027. Registration windows are set by the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Maryland?
616 on the 500–750 scale.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Maryland?
Yes — Maryland requires the MPRE.
When is the application deadline for the February 2027 bar exam in Maryland?
Dec. 1, per NCBE's listing for Maryland. The February 2027 sitting in Maryland is the NextGen UBE. Confirm the exact date and cut-off time with the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners before relying on it.
How much does the Maryland bar exam cost?
NCBE's 2026 Comprehensive Guide lists $750 for first-time takers, $750 for attorneys and $400 for repeaters, plus $130 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 Maryland accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2026, at a minimum transferred score of 616. Scores must be no older than 3 years.
What is the Maryland-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
Prior to bar admission, all applicants must complete the Maryland Law Component, which consists of online outlines of significant distinctions of Maryland substantive law and procedure followed by an online confirmatory quiz.
Also first offering NextGen in July 2026
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