MBE Test Day Policies

What to Bring and What Not to Bring

Allowed Items

Each jurisdiction will provide specific information regarding materials, including appropriate identification, that examinees are allowed to bring with them to the test center.

Prohibited Items

Examinees are not allowed to bring the following to a test room:

Any electronic devices, including but not limited to
- cell or mobile phones
- digital watches or timers
- fitness trackers
- media players
- headphones
- language translators
- picture-taking devices
- e-cigarettes
firearms or other weapons
written materials (including books and notes)
scratch paper or paper of any kind
mechanical pencils, mechanical erasers, pens, or highlighters
rulers
briefcases, handbags, or backpacks of any kind
non-electronic watches or timers of any kind
earplugs or earmuffs of any kind
hats and/or hoods (except religious apparel) worn on the head
food or beverages (unless pre-authorized by the testing jurisdiction)

Examinees found in possession of prohibited items may be dismissed from the test, and their scores may be cancelled, as determined by the testing jurisdiction.

Notice to Examinees: Prohibited Behaviors

NCBE holds the copyright to the MBE and its content, and exam content may be considered for reuse in future exams or in copyrighted educational materials. Both disclosure of exam content and cheating on a test are prohibited, as such practices undermine the integrity and fairness of the examination process.

The following conduct is prohibited and may result in immediate dismissal from the test center and/or cancellation of the examinee’s score:

bringing unauthorized electronic devices (whether turned on or off) or unauthorized materials into the testing room
taking test materials out of the testing room
causing a disruption or disturbance
copying answers from another examinee or sharing answers with another examinee
continuing to work after a supervisor has instructed examinees to stop writing

Examinees may not retain any test materials. All test materials must be returned intact to the test supervisor after testing. The following conduct is prohibited at all times, including after the examination:

sharing the substance or details of any test question, including the question’s fact pattern, option choices, or answer, in whole or in part, with anyone via electronic (including email, blogs, and online social and professional networking sites), telephonic, written, oral, or other means
reproducing, paraphrasing, summarizing, or describing to any other person any test content from memory
forwarding, re-posting, hosting, or otherwise advancing, on the Internet or by other means, the distribution of exam content that others have disclosed

NOTE: Jurisdictions may prohibit additional items and behavior, and examinees must follow the rules and policies of the jurisdiction in which they test.

Unauthorized disclosure of exam content or engaging in prohibited conduct before, during, or after the examination could result in some or all of the following penalties:

civil liability
criminal penalties
cancellation of the examinee’s test scores
denial of the examinee’s application to sit for future exams
denial of the examinee’s bar application on character and fitness grounds
disciplinary action by a bar authority if the examinee is already admitted to practice law

Policy Notices

On exam day, candidates will be required to affirm that they have read, understand, and agree to the following:

NCBE COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND PENALTIES. I will not copy or otherwise reproduce any MBE questions or answers by any means or disclose any MBE questions or answers to any unauthorized individual or entity before, during, or after the examination, whether orally, in writing, electronically, or otherwise. I acknowledge that the MBE is owned by NCBE and protected by US copyright laws, and that any unauthorized disclosure of its contents—in whole or in part—could result in civil liability, criminal penalties, cancellation of my test scores, denial of my bar application on character and fitness grounds, and/or other consequences, including disciplinary action if I have been admitted to practice law.

NCBE DATA USE. MBE testing information and data, including personally identifiable information, may be shared by your testing jurisdiction with NCBE for scoring, research, exam security, and statistical and other purposes. Such information and data are held by NCBE in accordance with the NCBE Privacy Policy, which also applies to information found in or provided by way of NCBE Accounts. NCBE may contact you via email after the test administration to ask you to participate in a voluntary survey regarding your testing experience.

NCBE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Each jurisdiction is responsible for handling test registration, test administration, requests for testing accommodations, and the reporting of scores for its bar examination. In the unlikely event that an error or mistake occurs or a claim arises relating to any of these activities, you agree that any remedy will be determined and provided under the exclusive authority and discretion of your jurisdiction. NCBE is not responsible for any such errors, mistakes, or claims.