Ultimate Guide to Iowa State Bar Exam
Your complete guide to Iowa bar exam prep.
Pass Rates · Bar Review Courses · Format · Essay Topics · Schedule · Dates · Location · Application Fees & Deadlines · What to Bring · Scores & Grading · Results · Reciprocity · Law Schools · Groups · Other Resources
*Updated January 2024
Iowa State Bar Exam | Basic Information
The Iowa State Bar Association was formed in 1874, and is the oldest bar association in America. It is a voluntary association open to all licensed attorneys and current law students.
Iowa is one of 40+ jurisdiction that have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Iowa first administered the UBE in February 2016.
July 2023 (176 takers)
February 2023 (49 takers)
February 2022 (73 takers)
July 2021 (203 takers)
| Crushendo | Barbri | Themis | Kaplan | AmeriBar | BarMax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Cost | $970 | $1,999-4,199 | $2,695 | $2,199-3,999 | $1,299-2,599 | $1,895 |
| Facebook Rating | 5.0 | Disabled | 4.8 | Disabled | Disabled | 4.3 |
| Google Rating | 5.0 | N/A | 2.8 | 3.2 | N/A | N/A |
| MBE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| MEE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| MPT |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| NCBE Questions | 1,750+ | 100+ | 1,350+ | 1,200+ | 1,400+ | 1,700+ |
| Audio Flashcards |  | |||||
| 250+ Mnemonics |  | |||||
| Access Period | Lifetime | 8-10 weeks | 4 months | 4 months | Up to 3 years | Lifetime |
| Financing |  |  | 3 payments | $250 registration |  |  |
| Founded | 2017 | 1974 | 2008 | 1938 | 1999 | 2010 |
| Phone | (385) 482-1776 | (888) 322-7274 | (888) 843-6476 | (626) 390-7170 | (877) 942-2763 | (800) 529-2651 |
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Last updated: 1/7/23
*Cost ignores promotions and live tutoring.
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Crushendo’s written and audio outlines utilize 250+ proprietary mnemonics to help you memorize everything you need to know to pass the bar exam on your first try.
Crushendo’s complete bar prep course, the UBE Suite, costs $970 and includes 1,750+ official practice questions from the NCBE.
Crushendo offers lifetime access for all of its bar exam prep products.
Adam Balinski founded Crushendo Bar Review in 2017 (read the founding story here).
The Harcourt publishing company founded Barbri in 1974 when it acquired two bar review programs. Since its founding, Barbri has been owned by large firms including Thomson Reuters and Leeds Equity Partners.
Barbri products have been used by more than a million law school students. In the last 20 years Barbri has settled multiple antitrust lawsuits.
Barbri’s traditional bar prep programs cost $1,999-4,199 and some include 100+ official NCBE questions from past bar exams.
Barbri offers access to its traditional, full-time bar prep course for 8-10 weeks, but early access can be purchased.
Themis Bar Review is based in Chicago and was founded in 2008.
Themis’s bar prep program costs $2,695 and includes 1,350+ NCBE questions.
Themis offers access to its online products for four months.
Stanley Kaplan founded Kaplan, Inc. in 1938.
Kaplan jumped into the bar review space in 2006 when it acquired PMBR, a company that provides test prep for the MBE. In 2008 Kaplan expanded its bar review offerings.
Kaplan’s bar prep programs cost $2,199-3,999 and include 1,200+ NCBE questions.
Kaplan offers access to its online products for four months.
Alexander Nakis founded AmeriBar in 1999. It’s headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.
AmeriBar’s bar exam prep programs cost $1,299-2,599 and include 1,400+ NCBE questions.
AmeriBar offers access to its online products for up to three years.
Michael Ghaffary and Mehran Ebadolahi founded BarMax in 2010.
BarMax’s bar prep course costs $1,895 and includes 1,700+ NCBE questions.
BarMax offers lifetime access to its online products.
What’s the format of the UBE?
The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Iowa (in February, and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The UBE has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).
MBE
The MBE is a six-hour test and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that test your understanding across seven subjects. Your MBE score comprises 50% of your overall UBE score.
Crushendo offers affordable, comprehensive written and audio outlines for MBE subjects (in addition to MEE and MPRE subjects).
Watch Crushendo’s free MBE tips video.
MEE
The MEE consists of six 30-minute legal essays. The MEE makes up 30% of your score.
Essay topics may include the following: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Property, Secured Transactions, Torts, Trusts, Unincorporated Business Entities, Wills and Estates, etc.
Crushendo offers the most recent MEE questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendo’s free MEE tips video.
MPT
The MPT consists of two 90-minute tasks where you analyze and apply laws to specific scenarios. The MPT makes up 20% of your score. Crushendo offers the most recent MPT questions and includes the point sheets that the graders used. Watch Crushendo’s free MPT tips video.
What’s the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination?
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests your understanding of established standards of conduct for lawyers. The MPRE is administered three times each year (in March, August, and November). The test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and is two hours long. Check out this MPRE Tips video!
Upcoming Bar Exam Schedule, Dates, Location
Are you interested in taking the Iowa State bar exam? Here’s some basic information on applying to take the Iowa bar exam.
The Iowa Bar application fee for most takers is $50 if you are a law student. There is a $100 late fee for applying after the late deadline. There is a $200 late fee for applying after the second late deadline. For those not in law school, the fee is $550. For those who have been previously admitted in the bar, the fee is $800.
*Visit the Iowa State Bar Admission Office’s website for more information.
Law students must apply for the bar exam by January 15th of the student’s second year of law school to have the $50 fee. If the student applies by July 1 before the February examination or by December 1 preceding the July exam. If the student files by November 1 immediately preceding the February examination or April 1 preceding the July examination, then the fee is $250.
In addition to passing the Iowa bar exam with a score of at least 266, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in Iowa, including:
- Score 80 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Graduation from ABA approved law school
- Fingerprint card
Iowa State Bar Admissions Office
Physical address:
1111 E Court Ave
Des Moines, IA 50319
Email: Bar.Admissions@iowacourts.gov
What to bring
- Your current driver’s license.
- Your Bar Examination Identification & Certification Card that has your photo, NCBE number, and examinee number.
Important notes
- You need to have these items with you for each of the four testing sessions.
- Pens and pencils are provided to examinees.
- Laptop testers should not bring their laptop in a case or bag.
Prohibited items
- Any item that can connect to the internet
- Any item that can record audio or video
- Backpacks
- Books
- Briefcases
- Calculators
- Cameras
- Notes
- Phones
- Food or drink
- Purses
- Radios
- Rulers
- Scratch papers
- Study materials
View lists of those who passed the Iowa State bar exam, posted on the Iowa State Bar Association’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my Iowa bar exam results released?
Iowa bar exam results are usually posted six to nine weeks after the exam date. February bar exam results are normally posted in April. July bar exam results are normally posted in September.
Can I see my Iowa bar exam score?
If you passed the Iowa bar exam, you won’t be able to see your score.
Can I appeal to have my Iowa bar exam re-graded?
Yes, if there are extraordinary circumstances.
Applicants seeking admission to the Iowa State Bar, without taking the bar exam, must comply with Reciprocity Requirements.
If you are a part of a bar in any of the states, territories, or jurisdictions in the United States, you are able to have reciprocity with the state of Iowa if approved by the Board. In order to be eligible for admittance to the Iowa State Bar, without taking the bar examination, you must have:
- A Certificate of Good Standing form last state
- Proof of active legal standing in at least five of the last seven years
- Must not have failed the Iowa bar within the last five years, or have failed any bar exam five or more times
Here’s a list of law schools in Iowa.
Drake University Law School
- Founded: 1865
- Located: Des Moines, IA
- Enrollment: about 300
- Tuition Cost: $42,400 View tuition cost
- Bar Passage Rate: 83%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: drake.edu/law
University of Iowa College of Law
- Founded: 1865
- Located: Iowa City, IA
- Enrollment: about 450
- Tuition Cost: $45,796 View tuition breakdown
- Bar Passage Rate: 87%
- ABA Accredited: Yes
- Website: law.uiowa.edu
Here are some Facebook groups you may find helpful before, and after, passing the bar exam:
- National Lawyer’s Guild – Iowa Chapter (53 members)
- Young Lawyer’s Division of the Iowa State Bar Association (468 members)
- American Constitution Society – Iowa Lawyer Chapter (50 members)
- Girl Attorney – IA (19 members)
Drake University School of Law
- Drake Law Delts (350 members)
- Drake Law Federalist Society: Active Members (12 members)
- Drake Agricultural Law Association (23 members)
- Drake Law Catholics (16 members)
- Drake Agricultural and Environmental Law Association (4 members)
- Drake Law American Constitution Society (4 members)
- Drake Law School Alumni (503 members)
- Drake Law JD/MBA Students
- Drake Law School Class of 2023 (19 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2022 (185 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2021 (173 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2020 (174 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2019 (179 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2018 (171 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2017 (158 members)
- Drake Law School Class of 2016 (174 members)
University of Iowa School of Law
- Iowa Law School Korean Alumni (15 members)
- University of Iowa College of Law Black Law Student Association (BLSA) (22 members)
- University of Iowa College of Law Friends (29 members)
- Masters of Laws (L. L. M) University of Iowa College of Law (26 members)
- International Law Society – University of Iowa (17 members)
- LLSA Alumni – University of Iowa College of Law (23 members)
- Iowa Law Democrats (94 members)
- International Law Student Association (University of Iowa) (95 members)
- Iowa Law: Class of 2022 (149 members)
- Iowa Law: Class of 2021 (140 members
- Iowa Law: Class of 2020 (162 members)
More helpful resources and study materials to help you pass the Iowa State Bar Exam: