2026 California GBX Testing Update

In July 2026, the California Supreme Court adopted the NextGen/UBE format for the California General Bar Exam (GBX). This new format will commence with the July 2028 GBX administration.

This means there are three remaining California Bar Exams as it has traditionally been administered: February 2027, July 2027, and February 2028.

For those now eligible to take the California GBX – or for those who will become eligible before July 2028 – I recommend that you prioritize your preparation enabling you to pass the traditional GBX format. I have observed many changes to the California bar exam during the many years I have worked with applicants – but the new format presents a host of test-taking ambiguities that create potentially substantial uncertainty. These include: unknown pass rate concerns – and that will likely differ from state to state. Further, preparation concerns – including the extent to which subject matter needs to be memorized, and writing concerns given the standard necessary for the NextGen/UBE performance test and other essay writing requirements. There are currently very few NextGen/UBE practical test-taking examples that may present preparation challenges for applicants especially wanting to get a head start for the July 2028 exam or even for applicants in other current NextGen/UBE jurisdictions. Other potential issues may involve the technical administration of the test and proctoring.

Therefore, for California applicants eligible to take the traditional test, my suggestion is to benefit from the extended time that you may have remaining – and the MBE and writing skills that you are more familiar with – in creating a preparation strategy that will maximize your ability to pass one of the three remaining tests that you are undoubtedly more practically and culturally familiar in experiencing. I am presently working with California applicants, for example, preparing o