Baby Bar

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions testing contracts, criminal law, and torts. The State Bar page does not break the questions down by subject, so plan to cover all three. Use the exam scope and grading information plus past exam questions and selected answers to focus your preparation.

Not every law student does. You must take it if you complete your first year in a J.D. program at a State Bar–unaccredited registered law school, through the Law Office Study Program, or without two years of college work at a California-accredited or ABA-accredited law school. Second-year students at ABA- or California-accredited schools with the specified undergraduate units are generally exempt.

It is administered in June and October. Two exam sessions are available each day, so applicants can choose a morning or afternoon session. There is one set break in each session. Check the current dates and deadlines page and your Applicant Portal for the filing window and site details.

Log in to the Applicant Portal, open Applications, then View Application Forms, and select the First-Year Law Students' Exam Examination Application. Complete every section, submit the declaration, and pay the applicable fees. Registering as an applicant is not the same as applying to sit, so complete both steps separately.

Results for the June and October administrations are generally released in August and December, respectively. The State Bar says it will contact applicants by email with release date and time details as the release date approaches. Use the exam results webpage for the official announcement.

A testing accommodation request is separate from your FYLSX application. Submit the request in the Applicant Portal by the filing deadline. The State Bar encourages applicants with disabilities to file well in advance; waiting until near the final deadline can prevent exhausting administrative remedies, such as review of a denial.

The source page does not publish a difficulty rating or pass rate; it links to exam statistics. Difficulty depends on your coverage of contracts, criminal law, and torts and on practicing multiple-choice questions. Use the scope and grading document and past questions rather than guessing at a pass rate.

The source page does not state retake limits or waiting periods. It notes that credit for law study after passing is governed by the Business and Professions Code and Rule 4.31 of the Admissions Rules, and it lists a pending June 2026 update to exam rules and policies. Verify current retake rules before relying on them.

A common mistake is treating the exam as a single-subject test or deferring one of contracts, criminal law, or torts until late. Another is reading outlines without practicing multiple-choice questions. Rotate all three subjects, check the scope and grading information, and use past exam questions and selected answers to identify weak areas early.

An applicant who withdraws may be eligible for a refund under the Refund of Fees policy. Not receiving your preferred testing site does not qualify you for a refund. The page does not state a refund amount or deadline, so review the current refund policy before withdrawing.