Applicants using laptop computers must be seated no later than 8:20 a.m. All applicants must be seated no later than 8:30 a.m. You should plan to arrive at least twenty minutes early to locate your assigned section or room. The afternoon sessions generally begin at 1:30 p.m.;

The examination is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday at approximately 5:30 p.m. and on Wednesday at approximately 5:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, applicants will have three hours during the morning session to answer three essay questions; during the afternoon session, applicants will have three hours and 30 minutes to answer two essay questions and one PT. 

Each essay question is designed to be answered in one hour and the PT is designed to be completed in 90 minutes. The MBE will be administered on Wednesday.

If an applicant is absent for any portion of the examination, the applicant will be considered as having not taken the examination; the applicant’s written answers will not be graded; and, if the applicant intends to take a future administration of the examination, he/she will be subject to the same application filing deadlines applicable to first-time applicants rather than the deadlines applicable to immediate repeaters.

Applicants cannot wear hats, caps, hoods or any other type of headwear during the examination.

Only the following items are allowed in the examination room without prior approval (all items are subject to inspection): the admittance ticket with no writing on it; non-digital pens; non-mechanical pencils; silent analog watches, non-digital timers and clocks measuring 4" x 4" or smaller; rulers; paper clips; pen-style highlighters (must not be used on answers); inhalers; eyeglasses (no cases or sunglasses); foam ear plugs (must not be connected to any mechanism or device); feminine hygiene items; prescription medication; diabetes-related equipment (does not include food or drinks); eye drops in single-use vials; government-issued ID; cash (must not have writing on it), credit/debit cards that might be needed for the lunch break; keys; and disability-related items that have been approved through the testing accommodation petition process. You may also bring: a back support; an orthopedic cushion; a standard-size pillow without a case; one bookstand; one foot rest; splints and braces; crutches; wheelchairs; casts; hearing aids; TENS units; and, the following laptop accessories: separate keyboard, mouse (wired or wireless), laptop riser/stand no higher than 4”, and a solid color mouse pad with no writing on it.

During the MBE sessions, the items listed above are allowed in the examination room, except for pens, rulers, paper clips, highlighters, back supports, orthopedic cushions, pillows, bookstands or foot rests, and any laptop and laptop accessories.

Applicants who will be handwriting their examination answers, or who are required to handwrite in the event of a laptop/software malfunction, must bring their own standard blue or black ink ballpoint pens. Applicants must also bring their own pencils (several sharpened pencils are recommended) for the MBE portion of the examination. Mechanical pencils are not permitted. Pencil sharpeners and separate erasers will not be allowed into the examination room.

In addition to other items you must not bring into the examination room, please note that applicants cannot bring wallets, lip balm, tissues, cough drops/throat lozenges, gum, candy, or other food or drinks into the examination room. Water and tissues will be available nearby.

The temperature of the test center may fluctuate due to the weather or the test center’s cooling/heating equipment; applicants should be prepared for either warm or cold temperatures.

After you have been notified your admittance ticket is available for printing, you are eligible to have your laptop computer certified for use during the examination. The required security software (Examplify) must be downloaded onto your computer and the certification process must be completed by Friday, February 21, 2020.

If you are using a laptop computer to take the examination, it is your responsibility to timely upload your exam files containing your answers to the five (5) essay questions and one (1) performance test (1 exam file for each written session for a total of 2 exam files). If you fail to do so by the published deadline, a deduction of ten (10) scaled points will be taken from your total written scaled score. If you fail to upload your answer files within two (2) weeks of the published deadline, you will be given a grade of zero (0) for each answer that is not received by the State Bar’s Office of Admissions by the published deadline.

Your admittance ticket contains your applicant number, your file number, and your NCBE number. Do not write anything on the ticket. You will be required to show your ticket to the proctor when you enter the test center (please detach and bring just the bottom portion of the admittance ticket). You must keep it in your possession throughout the examination.

You should bring any small permitted personal items, e.g., prescription medication, foam ear plugs, pens, etc., into the examination area in a small, clear plastic bag.

Signs will be posted showing seating assignments by applicant numbers, which number can be found on your admittance ticket. You must occupy the same seating space throughout the examination.

Upon arrival at your seat, you will find an identification badge that will be your identification credential during administration of the examination and which you may be required to show at any time. The badge must be fastened so it can be easily seen by the proctors. You will be told to relocate the badge if it is not placed appropriately. The badge must be left at your seat during the lunch break.

At some time during administration of the examination, you may be required to provide your fingerprints. If you refuse to provide the required fingerprints, a Chapter 6 Notice will be issued to you.

At the beginning of each written (essays and PT) session of the examination, you will be instructed to write your applicant number, name, and signature in the upper right hand section of each of your answer book covers. Do not write notes, outlines, answers, time schedules or make any marks on the inside or outside of your answer book covers. The answer book covers are used for administrative purposes only.

You are not allowed to make notes from memory prior to the start of the examination session. If you are using your laptop computer, you may not access any notes or other documents on your computer after you have entered the secure examining area. Scratch paper will be distributed for each written session of the examination. Scratch paper is not permitted during the MBE portion of the examination. You must not make notes or write anything on your admittance ticket. If writing is found on your admittance ticket, the ticket will be confiscated and you will be issued a Chapter 6 Notice.

If you need additional scratch paper or lined paper to write your answers during the examination, raise your hand and a proctor will provide you with what you need. Nothing written on scratch paper will be graded.

If you are handwriting, you should do so as legibly as possible. A ballpoint pen, with standard blue or black ink, must be used to write your answers. Answers to the essay and PT questions written in pencil are not acceptable.

Examination questions and used scratch paper may not be taken out of the examination room. After completing each session of the examination, all examination questions and used scratch paper must be placed in the envelope designated for that purpose.

If you handwrite your examination answers or any part thereof, it is your responsibility to turn in your written examination answers to the proctors. If you have an answer that is partially handwritten because you were unable to complete your answer using your laptop, you must ensure that you complete and submit the form provided by the proctor, which will alert the Grading Department that you have an answer partially handwritten and partially uploaded. You cannot leave the test center with any examination materials, including your answers.

You will not be permitted to use the restroom or leave your seat during the last several minutes of the examination session (5 to 15 minutes depending on the session). After time is called, you will not be permitted to use the restroom or leave your seat until all materials are collected and inventoried. If you fail to remain seated after being advised to do so or while the examination materials are being collected and inventoried, you will receive a Chapter 6 Notice.