The Supreme Court of California has given the green light to modifications set to be implemented in the state’s bar examination starting in 2025. This move signals a significant shift from the exam’s current format, as it will be offered both remotely and in person from February 2025 forward. The reformed examination will span two days, featuring three main components: five written essays and a performance test on the first day, followed by the multiple-choice section on the second day. The court’s decision comes shortly after it rejected a proposal to substitute one part of the bar exam with a ‘supervised’ practical work system, underscoring the state’s commitment to modernizing its licensure process in a structured manner. More details can be found in the official document.
There are further changes associated with exam scoring. The California Bar Exam will now include questions developed independently by Kaplan, following an agreement intended to refine the assessment’s rigor and relevance. However, this adjustment has not gone without criticism. A group of deans from California law schools has expressed concern over the involvement of Kaplan and potential distractions from students’ legal studies, as they detail in a publicly available letter addressed to the California Supreme Court.
An experimental study involving these new Kaplan questions, slated for November 2024, will allow participants’ scores on the subsequent 2025 exam to be adjusted based on specific criteria. The details on the exact score for adjustment remain undetermined. This approach will help evaluate the effectiveness of the new exam format and content, though adjustments for future phases of rollout remain tentative. These developments can be further explored through the court order related to the scoring adjustment. For a comprehensive source on the matter, visit JURIST.