Independent Investigation Ordered for Bar Exam Issues
The State Bar Board of Trustees took action after hearing two hours of public concerns about problems during the February 2025 California Bar Exam. They have decided to hire an independent investigator to look into the challenges faced by test takers.
“We hear you,” said Board Chair Brandon Stallings, addressing test takers’ frustrations. He emphasized the Board’s commitment to understanding the issues fully before deciding on how to address them.
Nearly 90 individuals shared their experiences, detailing a range of issues, whether they took the exam online or at physical locations. While some recognized the potential benefits of online testing, many called for immediate measures to fix the problems encountered during this new format.
About 4,100 test takers used the Meazure Learning platform for the exam. Preliminary data shows a discrepancy between the completion rates—around 98% for both written and multiple-choice sections—and the difficulties reported by many test takers. The Board is working to assess how these challenges affected the quality of test submissions. Steps taken so far include:
- Monitoring completion rates
- Collecting detailed feedback from test takers
- Assessing the technical performance of the platform
Reflecting on past sessions, the Board heard that in November, 6% of participants faced technical issues that prevented them from finishing. Though many survey responses were positive—over 80% satisfied with the vendor and 72% with the computer-based format—there were still significant complaints about user experiences, technical reliability, and proctoring issues.
The State Bar is awaiting detailed data from Meazure Learning to understand fully how technical and support issues influenced test performance. The California Supreme Court has also requested a thorough report to help determine any next steps for the affected applicants.
Test takers suggested many potential solutions, including allowing more retakes, adjusting scores, or even offering provisional licenses. So far, around 85 test takers with severe access issues will have the chance for limited retakes on March 18–19. The Committee of Bar Examiners is considering other adjustments, which would occur after initial grading.
Trustee Mark Toney pushed for quicker grading processes, which could help implement necessary adjustments sooner. Changes that would require Supreme Court approval include lowering the passing score or passing all test takers.
Recently, the Court directed the State Bar to plan for the July 2025 exam to be held in person. This aligns with staff recommendations, though the timeline for securing venues and vendors is tight. Updates on these plans will be presented in upcoming Committee meetings.
The State Bar aims to address these issues thoroughly to ensure a smoother experience for future test takers.
