State Guide
Georgia Bar Exam: Essay Tips and How to Prepare
Georgia administers its own bar exam with Georgia-specific essays, MPT questions, and the MBE. The passing score is 270 out of 400. Approximately 1,700 candidates sit for the Georgia bar each year across two administrations.
Overview
The Georgia bar exam is administered by the Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Georgia does not use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). Instead, candidates take a two-day exam consisting of Georgia-specific essays and MPT questions on day one, and the MBE on day two. The passing score is 270 out of 400.
Day one includes two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions in the morning and four 45-minute Georgia essay questions in the afternoon. Day two is the 200-question MBE. The MBE accounts for 50% of the total score, with essays accounting for 28.6% and MPTs for 21.4%. Candidates must score at least 115 on the MBE before their written components are graded.
Results for the July exam are typically released in late September or early October. February results usually come out in mid-to-late April. Georgia plans to transition to the NextGen bar exam in July 2028.
What Makes the Essay Portion Different in Georgia
Georgia essays test Georgia-specific law, not the national MEE subjects. The four 45-minute essays are drafted by the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners and cover a range of state-specific topics: Business Organizations, Family Law, Federal Practice and Procedure, Georgia Practice and Procedure, Non-Monetary Remedies, Professional Ethics, Trusts, Wills and Estates, and the Uniform Commercial Code (Articles 2, 3, and 9), in addition to the MBE subjects.
Because the essays test Georgia law, candidates preparing for the Georgia bar need to study state-specific rules alongside the general multistate subjects. Knowing the federal rule is not enough when the essay asks about Georgia civil procedure or Georgia evidence rules.
Georgia's bar exam score is not portable to other states, and Georgia does not accept transferred UBE scores or MBE scores from other jurisdictions. Candidates who want to practice in multiple states will need to take each state's exam separately. Georgia does offer admission on motion for experienced attorneys who meet specific eligibility requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for the Georgia bar exam?
Georgia requires a combined score of 270 out of 400 to pass. The score combines a scaled MBE score (50%), essay scores (28.6%), and MPT scores (21.4%). Candidates must achieve a minimum MBE scaled score of 115 before their essays and MPTs are graded. A combined score of 265-269 triggers automatic regrading of essays and MPTs.
When do Georgia bar exam results come out?
For the July exam, Georgia results are typically released in late September or early October. The Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Georgia posts results online and notifies candidates directly. February exam results usually come out in mid-to-late April.
How should I prepare for Georgia bar exam essays?
Study Georgia-specific law alongside the MBE subjects. Georgia essays test state-specific topics including Georgia Practice and Procedure, Business Organizations, Family Law, Trusts, Wills and Estates, Professional Ethics, and the UCC. Practice writing complete IRAC essays under 45-minute timed conditions. Rubric-graded practice essays give you rapid feedback on rule accuracy and issue coverage.