CA Bar exam-day guide
CA Bar · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID whose name matches your application exactly. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether an expired ID is refused.
Admission/eligibility confirmation from the State Bar
Confirm with the provider whether you need a printed confirmation, a digital permit, or nothing at all beyond your ID, and whether your testing location and session have been finalized.
Laptop with the required exam software installed and a completed practice/mock exam
If you are typing, install the current version of the approved software well before the deadline, run the required mock exam, and confirm your registration/license is active. Confirm deadlines and technical requirements with the provider.
Laptop charger and power cord
Pack the original charger. Do not assume outlets are available at every seat; confirm power availability with the provider.
Handwriting supplies, if you registered to handwrite
Bring the number and type of pens/pencils the provider specifies in its instructions; confirm permitted items in advance.
Approved clear bag with snacks and water
Bring a quiet snack and water in the container type the provider allows. Food and drink rules vary by site, so confirm with the provider.
Non-electronic earplugs or permitted noise protection
Confirm with the provider whether earplugs are allowed, whether they must be foam/non-corded, and whether the site supplies them.
Simple analog watch (no smart features)
Many sites have wall clocks but not all. Confirm whether wristwatches are permitted and whether they must be analog only.
Travel, parking, and lodging plan
Know the exact address, security screening process, and how long entry takes. Plan to arrive well before the reporting time the provider gives you.
A written one-page logistics card
Note reporting time, seat/registration info, site address, parking, and a contact number for the provider, so you are not relying on your phone on exam morning.
Clothing in layers
Room temperature varies and you cannot leave to adjust; dress comfortably and in layers.
Nothing else in the testing room
Leave notes, outlines, phones, smart watches, and study materials behind or stored per site instructions. Confirm the provider's prohibited-items list before you pack.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own condensed outlines, frequency lists, and rule statements for high-yield topics, and do at most light timed practice to keep pacing sharp. Re-confirm your testing location, reporting time, software requirements, and any accommodation approvals with the provider. Run or re-run the laptop mock exam if you have not already.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are waking at the time you will need to wake on exam day, and do a dry run of the commute or at least map it precisely, including parking and security lines.
Pack your bag once, early: ID, charger, permitted supplies, snacks, layers, and confirmation documents. Set out clothing the night before each day so mornings are decision-free.
Charge every device fully and pack chargers. Re-check the reporting time and any site-specific instructions one last time. Do a short review of formats and timing only, not substantive cramming, then stop studying by early evening.
Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, set two alarms plus a backup wake-up call, and aim for a full night's sleep. If you cannot sleep, rest quietly; do not get up to study.
Eat a real breakfast with protein, hydrate moderately, and leave earlier than you think necessary to absorb screening and check-in delays. Bring only what is permitted.
At the site, follow staff instructions for ID check and seating, set up your laptop and power, run any required login or exam-file download before time is called, and use the restroom before the session begins.
Read the timing instructions first and budget minutes per question or task. Write to the clock: if a question or essay is running long, finish it in outline-quality form and move on rather than leaving anything blank.
If equipment fails, stop and raise your hand for a proctor immediately and follow the provider's documented technical-failure procedure. Do not attempt to troubleshoot alone or continue on an unapproved device.
Eat, hydrate, and reset. Avoid comparing answers with other examinees, avoid post-mortems on completed sessions, and avoid last-minute cramming that spikes anxiety; do a two-minute reset of your pacing plan instead.
Rules to check
Bring the government-issued photo ID the provider requires, with a name matching your application. Confirm accepted ID forms and any name-discrepancy procedure with the State Bar before exam day; a mismatch can bar entry.
No electronic devices other than your approved testing laptop may be in the testing room. Phones, smart watches, and wearables must be off and stored exactly as instructed; unauthorized devices can result in disqualification.
All exam content is confidential. Do not discuss, photograph, record, or reproduce questions or task materials at any time, including at breaks and after the exam.
Breaks are only at scheduled times. Leaving the room outside a scheduled break may be treated as the end of your session; confirm the site's policy on restroom and emergency exits with the provider.
If you are typing, use only the approved exam software and follow the provider's instructions for file download, submission, and technical failure. Confirm those procedures and deadlines in advance.
Testing accommodations must be requested and approved before the exam. Confirm your approval in writing with the provider and bring whatever documentation the provider instructs.
Scoring and the passing standard are set by the State Bar and may change between administrations. Confirm the current passing score and scoring methodology with the State Bar rather than relying on older figures.
Prohibited items, food and drink rules, and allowed noise protection vary by testing site. Confirm the current list of permitted and prohibited items with the provider before you pack.