Nearly three-quarters of first-time test takers passed California’s October bar exam, a rate that jumped to the highest level in 12 years after the test was moved online and the minimum passing score reduced.
A total of 74% of first-time takers passed the exam, up from 64% in the July 2019 test, which was held in-person. The overall passage rate for a total of more than 9,300 test takers also rose, up to 60.7% from 50% last year, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
The two-day exam had several firsts in the state—the first remote online exam, a ...