State Bar submits report on bar exam passing score to the California Supreme Court Thursday, September 14, 2017 Categories: News Releases The State Bar submitted a final report and analysis of the California Bar Exam passing score yesterday to the California Supreme Court. The first-ever such report in California is also one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the country. "The magnitude and importance of California's recent effort, and the accelerated timeframe in which it has been completed, are noteworthy," State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson said. "While the study provides the Court with a quantitative framework within which to make an informed policy decision, it also revealed a number of areas warranting additional research and analysis." The Final Report on the 2017 California Bar Exam Standard Setting Study was submitted in response to the Supreme Court's request in February for a "thorough and expedited study." It offers three options for consideration by the Supreme Court, which holds the ultimate authority to set the passing score for the exam. They are: An interim cut score of 1390 An interim cut score of 1414 No change in the current score of 1440 The report outlines three key issues related to the Court's policy decision – public protection, access to justice and diversity – and notes that further research is needed in addition to a content validity study already underway. The report notes that there is no clear measure or definition for public protection in the context of a licensing exam. More data are also needed on whether licensing more attorneys overall, or more ethnic and racial minority and female attorneys specifically, will result in increased access to legal services for those most in need. "An exploration of the relationship between access to justice, diversity, and public protection would be timely and important," Wilson said. Under a new California Rule of Court, the State Bar will implement a review of the California Bar Exam every seven years. Additional background information: Final Report on the 2017 California Bar Exam Standard Setting Study Cover letter to Final Report on the 2017 California Bar Exam Standard Setting Study Evaluating the cut score for the California Bar Exam Standard Setting Study Fact sheet on the bar exam studies Previous Article Next Article