This page is for candidates preparing for Bar training assessments set under the Bar Standards Board, including the litigation papers and professional ethics. It collects free BPTC practice sets by subject, worked questions with full explanations, a study plan and the exam facts the BSB publishes, so you can see what to practise and where to check details.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Civil Litigation (paper 1)) | 50 MCQs, closed book[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Civil Litigation (paper 2)) | 40 MCQs including rolling case scenarios, open book (White Book)[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Criminal Litigation) | 75 MCQs, closed book[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | 12 short answer questions, open book (BSB Handbook)[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit (Civil Litigation (paper 1)) | 2 hours[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit (Criminal Litigation) | 3 hours[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | 3 hours[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Civil & Criminal Litigation) | Reported as 60% (criterion-referenced, determined per sitting)[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | At least 8 satisfactory answers out of 12; 3+ unacceptable sub-parts = fail[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake fee (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | £832 per resit after second attempt[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | Three sittings per year; passing is mandatory before pupillage can be signed off[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery (Civil & Criminal Litigation) | Administered by Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs) on the same day and time[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery (Professional Ethics platform) | Surpass Assessment Platform[3] | surpass.com · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | Online: in a test centre or remotely proctored[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release (Civil & Criminal Litigation) | To AETOs by end of January 2027 (Winter 2026 sitting)[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | Available on MyBar by end of day Thursday 25 March 2027 (January 2027 sitting)[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Next exam date (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | 12 January 2027 at 10am[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | 8 December 2026[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration opens (Professional Ethics (pupillage)) | 24 November 2026[2] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window (Civil & Criminal Litigation) | 10–17 December 2026 (Winter 2026 sitting)[1] | Bar Standards Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Bar Standards Board, “Civil Litigation (paper 1) 2 hours 50 Multiple Choice questions (MCQs) Electronically – by the BSB”[1]
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is the official body. Its centralised assessments in Civil and Criminal Litigation are administered by Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs), and every student is expected to sit on the same day and at the same time. Civil Litigation paper 1 is 50 multiple choice questions in 2 hours, closed book. Paper 2 is 40 multiple choice questions with rolling case scenarios, open book (the White Book). Criminal Litigation is 75 multiple choice questions in 3 hours, closed book.
Results are reported as 60%, but the pass standard is criterion-referenced and may differ between sittings. The Winter 2026 sitting runs from 10 to 17 December 2026, and results go to AETOs by the end of January 2027. Your AETO tells you the date they are released to you.
Professional Ethics, taken during pupillage, is different. It is an open book exam (BSB Handbook) of 12 short answer questions in 3 hours, delivered online through the Surpass platform, either in a test centre or remotely proctored. Competent candidates are expected to give at least 8 satisfactory answers out of 12. Booking runs from 24 November to 8 December 2026 for the sitting on 12 January 2027 at 10am. There are 3 sittings each year, and passing is required before pupillage can be signed off. Resits after the second attempt cost £832. Always confirm details with the BSB.
Prepare for the BPTC - Bar Professional Training Course exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: In magistrates' court advocacy, what is the correct order of a summary trial?
Answer: B. Prosecution opening, prosecution evidence, defence evidence, closing speeches
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. A summary trial in the magistrates' court begins with the prosecution opening, because the prosecution carries the burden of proof and must set out its case before any evidence is called. Prosecution evidence follows, then defence evidence, then closing speeches.
Option A is wrong because the defence does not open the trial. Option C is wrong because the opening comes before the evidence, and a verdict cannot arrive before closing speeches. Option D is wrong because the defence cannot call evidence before the prosecution has presented its case, and it leaves out the opening altogether.
The rule to remember: the party who must prove the case goes first at every stage, and the court decides only after hearing both sides' submissions. Practise saying the sequence aloud until it is automatic.
Question: What is the legal test for relevance of evidence?
Answer: B. The evidence makes a fact in issue more or less probable than it would be without the evidence
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. Evidence is relevant if it makes a fact in issue more or less probable than it would be without that evidence. The test is about probability, not proof.
Option A is wrong because relevant evidence does not have to prove a fact directly; a single piece of circumstantial evidence can be relevant without settling anything alone. Option C is wrong because corroboration is a separate requirement that applies only in limited situations and is not part of the relevance test. Option D is wrong because relevance has nothing to do with the form of the evidence; oral testimony, real evidence and documents can all be relevant.
The rule to remember: relevance is a low threshold about logical connection to a fact in issue. Admissibility is a separate question, so ask about relevance before asking about exclusionary rules.
Question: What is the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) and why is it important in advocacy?
Answer: B. It requires a party to put their case to an opponent's witness during cross-examination if they intend to contradict that witness's evidence
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. The rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) requires a party who intends to contradict a witness's evidence, or to suggest the witness is lying or mistaken, to put that case to the witness in cross-examination. This is a matter of fairness: the witness must have a chance to respond.
Option A is wrong because the rule does not let a barrister refuse to cross-examine; it creates a duty to put your case when you plan to challenge the evidence. Option C is wrong because leading questions are generally permitted in cross-examination and restricted in examination-in-chief, which is a different principle. Option D is wrong because the rule says nothing about closing speeches.
The rule to remember: if you will argue it later, put it to the witness now. Failing to do so can lead to adverse comment or limit what you can argue.
Start with the BSB's own material, since it sets the format you will sit. Write down, for each assessment, whether it is closed book or open book, how many questions it has and how long you get. Your practice should match that pattern.
Then use the subject sets on this page to find weak spots. Work through Evidence, Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation in short sessions, and read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right. Keep a short list of rules you missed and revisit it often.
For the open book papers, practise finding your way around the White Book or the BSB Handbook quickly. Knowing where a rule sits matters more than memorising its wording. For the closed book papers, rely on recall and say the rules aloud.
For Professional Ethics, answer in writing and check each answer against the Handbook, because the exam uses short answer questions rather than multiple choice. Use the advocacy and skills sets to rehearse structure, such as the order of a trial and putting your case to a witness.
In the final days, sit a timed set in one go, review your errors, and check your sitting date, booking deadline and results timing on the official site. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions.
No. The questions on this site are written by us, with AI tools, to practise the same topics. They are not taken from real BSB papers. Use them to find gaps in your knowledge, and rely on the Bar Standards Board for the official format and rules.
The pass marks are reported to AETOs as 60%. The BSB states that the pass standard is criterion-referenced and may differ between sittings, so the underlying standard can move. Check the Bar Qualification Manual for the current wording.
It is an open book exam of 12 short answer questions in 3 hours, using the BSB Handbook. It is delivered online, either in a test centre or remotely proctored. Competent candidates are expected to give at least 8 satisfactory answers out of 12.
The Winter 2026 litigation sitting runs from 10 to 17 December 2026. Professional Ethics is on 12 January 2027 at 10am, with booking from 24 November to 8 December 2026. Confirm all dates with the BSB and your AETO.
You can resit. There are 3 sittings each year, and you must pass before your pupillage can be signed off. The fee for resits after the second attempt is £832. Check the BSB page for the current terms.
It depends on the paper. Civil Litigation paper 1 and Criminal Litigation are closed book. Civil Litigation paper 2 is open book with the White Book. Professional Ethics is open book with the BSB Handbook. Confirm the rules for your sitting with your AETO.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.