Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is administered by ACT on behalf of the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The MPRE is a 60-question, two-hour-and-five-minute, multiple-choice examination administered three times per year at established test centers across the country. There are 50 scored and 10 nonscored pretest questions. Since the pretest questions are indistinguishable from those that are scored, it is important that examinees answer all questions in the examination. These questions are followed by 10 optional Test Center Review items that request the examinee's reactions to the testing conditions and other aspects of the testing process.

The purpose of the MPRE is to measure the examinee's knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer's professional conduct; the MPRE is not a test to determine an individual's personal ethical values. Lawyers serve in many capacities: for example, as judges, advocates, counselors, and in other roles. The law governing the conduct of lawyers in these roles is applied in disciplinary and bar admission procedures, and by courts in dealing with issues of appearance, representation, privilege, disqualification, and contempt or other censure, and in lawsuits seeking to establish liability for malpractice and other civil or criminal wrongs committed by a lawyer while acting in a professional capacity.

The MPRE is based on the law governing the conduct of lawyers, including the disciplinary rules of professional conduct currently articulated in the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) and the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct (CJC), as well as controlling constitutional decisions and generally accepted principles established in leading federal and state cases and in procedural and evidentiary rules.

Test questions covering judicial ethics apply the current CJC. Other questions will deal with discipline of lawyers by state disciplinary authorities; in these questions, the correct answer will be governed by the current MRPC. The remaining questions, outside the disciplinary context, are designed to measure an understanding of the generally accepted rules, principles, and common law regulating the legal profession in the United States; in these questions, the correct answer will be governed by the view reflected in a majority of cases, statutes, or regulations on the subject. To the extent that questions of professional responsibility arise in the context of procedural or evidentiary issues, such as the availability of litigation sanctions or the scope of the attorney-client evidentiary privilege, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence will be assumed to apply, unless otherwise stated.

As a general rule, particular local statutes or rules of court will not be tested on the MPRE. However, a specific question may include the text of a local statute or rule that must be considered when answering that question. Amendments to the MRPC or CJC are reflected in the examination no earlier than one year after the approval of the amendments by the American Bar Association.

Jurisdiction Information

The MPRE is required for admission to the bars of all but four U.S. jurisdictions. A list of jurisdictions currently using the MPRE is available by clicking on Which jurisdictions require the MPRE? Passing scores are established by each jurisdiction. Since the MPRE requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another, examinees are advised to contact the jurisdictions directly for the most current information regarding passing scores, rules, and policies. Contact information for jurisdictions can be found on the Bar Admission Services page.

Taking the Test

Each question contained in the MPRE provides a factual situation along with a specific question and four possible answer choices. The examinee should choose the best answer from the four stated options. The examinee should mark only one answer for each question; multiple answers will be scored as incorrect. Since scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly, the examinee is advised to answer every question. If a question seems too difficult, the examinee is advised to go on to the next one and come back to the skipped question later.

MPRE Study Aids

The MPRE Online Practice Exam 1 is available for purchase at the NCBE Online Store. To access an already purchased Online Practice Exam (OPE), please log in below.

MPRE OPE Login

Older archived actual and simulated MPRE questions are available by accessing the file MPRE Sample Questions VI. Note: these archived questions are not recommended as a study aid. See caveat inside.

MPRE 2012 Test Dates

March 17, 2012*
August 10, 2012
November 3, 2012*

* The March and November test dates fall on Saturday mornings. An applicant whose religious beliefs preclude him or her from taking the examination on a Saturday may apply to take the MPRE on the following day, Sunday. For more information, please see MPRE Test Dates and Application Deadlines.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)

MPRE Study Aids

MPRE Information Booklet

MPRE Registration

MPRE FAQs

MPRE 2012 Test Dates