⚠️ State Bar of California Launches Independent Investigation into February 2025 Bar Exam Issues

The State Bar of California has announced an independent investigation into the problems encountered during the February 2025 California Bar Exam. This decision follows widespread complaints from test-takers who experienced significant technical and procedural issues during the exam.

Board Directs Independent Investigation

During a March 5 meeting, the State Bar Board of Trustees heard approximately two hours of public comments detailing serious problems faced by candidates. In response, the Board directed the general counsel to retain an independent investigator to conduct a privileged inquiry into the issues surrounding the exam. The investigation aims to determine the root causes of the reported disruptions and ensure accountability in the administration of future bar exams.

Steps Taken to Address the Issues

The Board has initiated several measures to evaluate the impact of the February exam problems:

• A survey of all test-takers was distributed on March 4 to collect firsthand feedback.

• A random sampling of test-takers written submissions is being analyzed to assess completeness and quality of responses.

• A comparative performance analysis of multiple-choice responses between the February 2025 exam and past February exams is being conducted.

Examining Past Issues: The November 2024 Session

Critics have pointed to issues reported during the November 2024 session, which introduced a new multiple-choice question format and testing platform. The Board reviewed data from two surveys conducted after that session:

• Out of 3,741 participants, 238 test-takers (6%) were unable to complete the session due to technical problems.

• Despite some reported difficulties, the surveys indicated generally positive experiences, with over 80% of participants satisfied with the exam vendor, 88% satisfied with proctors, and 72% somewhat or very satisfied with the computer-based exam.

• However, open-ended feedback revealed key issues that foreshadowed the February exam problems:

Looking Forward

The State Bar’s investigation seeks to clarify the extent of these issues and implement necessary improvements for future exams. With additional scrutiny on both the February and prior November testing sessions, the Board aims to restore confidence in the California Bar Exam and ensure a fair testing process for all candidates.

The findings of the independent investigation will likely influence decisions regarding the July 2025 exam, potentially leading to policy and procedural changes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Remediation Efforts and Supreme Court Involvement

The State Bar is currently awaiting detailed data from Meazure Learning, the exam administration vendor, to fully assess the impact of technical failures and human support issues on test-taker performance. Additionally, the California Supreme Court has requested an expedited report detailing the problems encountered by applicants, stating, "This information is crucial in informing how the Court will provide appropriate remedies for affected applicants who deserved and expected better."

During the Board meeting, many test-takers and law school deans proposed various remediation measures, including:

• Expanded retakes

• Scoring adjustments

• Lowering the passing score (cut score)

• Extending free retakes for future exams

• Offering provisional licensure

• Granting diploma privilege or passing all test takers

As an immediate step, the State Bar has provided retake opportunities to approximately 85 test-takers whose access to the exam platform was so restricted that their exams could not be scored. These retakes are scheduled for March 18–19. The Committee of Bar Examiners is also exploring psychometric solutions, such as scoring adjustments, which could apply to candidates who completed at least four of the six written sections or three-fourths of the multiple-choice questions.

Trustee Mark Toney urged the State Bar to allocate additional resources to expedite grading so that psychometric adjustments could be considered sooner. The Committee of Bar Examiners will discuss this proposal at its March 14 meeting.

Some broader proposed changes, such as lowering the cut score or implementing provisional licensure, would require Supreme Court approval. On March 4, the Court directed the State Bar to proceed with administering the July 2025 bar exam in the traditional in-person format. This decision aligns with recommendations from State Bar staff, who highlighted logistical challenges in securing new vendors and exam sites on short notice.

The Committee of Bar Examiners will provide an update on these plans at its March 14 meeting. The Board or its Contracts Committee will later review and approve contracts for facilities and other services necessary for the July exam.