Aspiring lawyers in California must pass the tough California State Bar Exam to get their license. This exam is key for law school graduates and those wanting a legal career. It makes sure they know enough to give good legal advice and services. Practice with the free California State Bar practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Passing score | 1390 out of 2000[1] | The State Bar of California · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release (February 2027) | April 30, 2027[2] | The State Bar of California · Oct 30, 2026 |
| Next exam date (February 2027) | February 23–24, 2027[3] | The State Bar of California · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Next exam date (July 2027) | July 27–28, 2027[4] | The State Bar of California · Oct 25, 2026 |
Interactive California State Bar Exam resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to The State Bar of California, “an applicant must have a total scale score (after one reading) of at least 1390 out of 2000 possible points”[1]
The content areas below are copied from the official CAS Bar content outline published by The State Bar of California. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Business Associations[5] | CAS Bar Business Associations Practise how agency, partnerships and corporations differ, especially who is liable and who has authority to bind the business. |
| Civil Procedure[5] | CAS Bar Civil Procedure Practise discovery duties, pleading rules and the consequences of missing a response. |
| Community Property[5] | CAS Bar Community Property Practise classifying assets as community or separate and tracing how that classification changes over time. |
| Constitutional Law[5] | CAS Bar Constitutional Law Practise picking the right level of scrutiny and spotting the threshold issues of standing and state action. |
| Contracts[5] | CAS Bar Contracts and Commercial Law Practise formation, modification, defenses and remedies, and know when common law and the UCC rules diverge. |
| Criminal Law and Procedure[5] | CAS Bar Criminal Law Practise elements of offenses and defenses, then move to the criminal procedure set for search, seizure and confession issues. |
| Evidence[5] | CAS Bar Evidence Practise hearsay and its exceptions, relevance limits and privilege, naming the rule before choosing an answer. |
| Professional Responsibility[5] | CAS Bar CAS Professional Responsibility an... Practise confidentiality, conflicts and client funds, where small factual differences change the answer. |
| Real Property[5] | CAS Bar Property Law Practise ownership interests, conveyances, easements and recording rules. |
| Remedies[5] | CAS Bar Remedies Practise when damages, injunctions and restitution are available and what limits each one. |
| Torts[5] | CAS Bar Torts and Negligence Practise negligence elements, causation and the defenses that reduce or bar recovery. |
| Trusts[5] | CAS Bar Wills Trusts and Estates Practise creation and validity of trusts, trustee duties and how they interact with wills. |
Prepare for the CAS Bar - California State Bar Exam 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: How does the Public Records Act affect administrative agencies?
Answer: A. It requires agencies to provide access to public records upon request with limited exemptions
Explanation:
The correct answer is that the Public Records Act requires agencies to provide access to public records on request, with limited exemptions. The statute starts from a presumption of openness and then carves out defined categories, such as privacy and law enforcement material.
The option saying agencies have complete discretion is wrong because the duty to disclose is the default, not a favor. The option limiting requests to media outlets is wrong because the right of access is not restricted to a type of requester. The option limiting the Act to financial records is wrong because it covers records generally, not one subject.
Rule to remember: public records are open unless a specific exemption applies, and the agency should be able to point to that exemption.
Question: A contract modification under common law requires:
Answer: B. Consideration for the modification to be enforceable
Explanation:
The correct answer is that a common law contract modification needs consideration to be enforceable. Each side must give something new, because a promise to do what you already owe is not a bargained-for exchange.
The option requiring a writing whenever the original was written is wrong because the form of the first agreement does not by itself set the form of the change. The option saying mutual assent is enough with no added consideration describes a looser rule than common law applies. The option requiring approval by both parties' attorneys is wrong because nothing in the doctrine depends on lawyers signing off.
Rule to remember: at common law, a modification needs new consideration, while the UCC relaxes that for sales of goods and asks for good faith instead.
Question: Under California civil procedure, a party who fails to respond to properly served interrogatories may face which of the following consequences?
Answer: B. Waiver of objections and a court order compelling responses
Explanation:
The correct answer is waiver of objections and a court order compelling responses. A party that does not answer properly served interrogatories on time gives up its objections, and the other side can ask the court to compel answers.
Automatic default judgment is wrong because silence on discovery does not end the case by itself. Immediate dismissal is wrong for the same reason: the court moves through compulsion first, and harsher outcomes are reserved for continued defiance. The option saying sanctions only follow a motion and a finding of bad faith is wrong because it adds a bad faith requirement that the rule does not impose.
Rule to remember: missing a discovery response costs you your objections and invites a motion to compel, with more serious consequences if you keep ignoring the order.
Start with the official material. Read the State Bar's pages on the exam, grading and the content areas, and note the target of 1390 out of 2000. Then use the table above to see which of the listed areas you already handle well and which you do not.
Work one subject at a time. Take a practice set for that subject with no notes, then read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, because a correct guess teaches nothing. Write the governing rule for each miss in a single line in your own words. Review that list before you start your next set.
Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to find gaps in your knowledge, not to predict your score.
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is a big part of the CAS. It's a test with many questions that cover a lot of legal topics. The NCBE gives this exam, and it checks if you know the basics of law and how to apply them. Doing well on this part is very important for passing the exam.
Separately from the CAS itself, California also requires the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) — a distinct, NCBE-administered ethics exam. It is not one of the CAS test sections, but you must pass it (usually before or shortly after the bar exam) to be admitted to the California State Bar.
Knowing what the CAS is all about helps future lawyers prepare better. They can use this knowledge to improve their chances of doing well on these important exams.
The California State Bar Exam, known as the CAS test, checks if someone knows the law, can think critically, and is ready for the job. It has two main parts: the essay questions and the performance test.
The essay part tests how well candidates can tackle tough legal issues and write about them clearly. They need to show they know the law, think deeply, and write well. These essays cover many legal topics, making candidates use their knowledge in real situations.
The California Performance Test (PT) looks at how well candidates can use legal knowledge and solve problems quickly. Candidates get a client file and must write legal documents like briefs or contracts fast. This test sees if they can sort out information, find the right legal rules, and come up with logical solutions.
| Exam Component | Description | Skills Assessed |
|---|---|---|
| California Bar Examination Essays | Written responses to complex legal issues | Legal analysis, critical thinking, persuasive writing |
| California Performance Test | Drafting legal documents within a time constraint | Problem-solving, legal research, document drafting |
Knowing about the CAS test helps future lawyers plan their study and practice better. This can improve their chances of passing the California State Bar Exam.
Law school graduates face a big challenge with the California Bar Exam (CAS). To pass, they need a solid plan. Using the right resources and strategies helps build the knowledge and confidence needed for success.
Creating a good study plan is crucial. This means making a timeline, focusing on key legal subjects, and setting aside time for practice. Many find a California bar review course helpful. It offers guidance, materials, and feedback.
It's important to focus on legal ethics and the rules for becoming a lawyer in California. Knowing the ethical and professional duties helps test-takers do well on the exam. It shows they're committed to the legal profession's high standards.
With a thorough approach to bar exam preparation, law school graduates can succeed on the CAS. They can start their career as licensed attorneys in California. Using test preparation resources and improving their skills leads to a rewarding legal career.
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Try these questions from our free California State Bar Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A lawyer is representing a client in a civil litigation matter. The client instructs the lawyer to file a complaint with allegations that the lawyer knows are false. What should the lawyer do?
Answer: B. Refuse to file the complaint and explain to the client that the allegations must be truthful.
Lawyers have an ethical duty of candor to the tribunal and must not present false statements of fact or law to the court. Filing a complaint with known false allegations violates rules of professional conduct, such as California Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3. The lawyer must refuse to engage in such conduct and explain the ethical obligations to the client, potentially withdrawing if the client insists on the false allegations.
During settlement negotiations, an attorney tells opposing counsel that their client carries $500,000 in liability insurance coverage when the attorney knows the actual policy limit is $100,000. This conduct violates:
Answer: C. The prohibition on knowingly making false statements of material fact to a third person
ABA Model Rule 4.1(a) and California RPC 4.1 prohibit knowingly making a false statement of material fact to a third party, including opposing counsel during negotiations.
During a motion hearing, an attorney cites a case as supporting authority but knows it was expressly overruled by the same appellate court two months earlier. This primarily violates:
Answer: A. Candor toward the tribunal by making a false statement of law to the court
Citing overruled authority as valid precedent constitutes a false statement of law to the court, violating the duty of candor under California RPC 3.3(a)(1).
What remedies are available for challenging an agency decision in California?
Answer: A. Administrative mandamus (writ of mandate) to compel or set aside agency actions
The primary remedy is a petition for writ of mandate under Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1085 or 1094.5, allowing courts to review and set aside agency actions that are arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.
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