New Scoring Adjustments Propel Over 200 California Bar Exam Candidates from Fail to Pass Status

New Scoring Adjustments Propel Over 200 California Bar Exam Candidates from Fail to Pass Status

In a significant turnaround for bar exam candidates, more than 200 individuals who took California’s February bar exam will see their scores shifted from fail to pass following new scoring adjustments approved by a committee of the California Bar.

This recent grading change directly impacted 230 test takers. It forms part of the State Bar of California’s ongoing efforts to address the fallout from the controversial February examination, which faced numerous technical and logistical challenges, leading to several lawsuits, including actions initiated by candidates and the state Bar against the administering company.

Impact of Scoring Adjustments on Pass Rates

With the implementation of these changes, the overall pass rate for the February exam has increased from 56% to 63%. This rate nearly doubles the state’s historical average of 35%, indicating a significant improvement in pass outcomes.

Details on the Scoring Changes

Those candidates who narrowly missed passing will receive a second review of their written answers. Under the new policy, they will be awarded the higher score from the two evaluations for each question, in contrast to the previous method that averaged the first and second-read scores.

The revised scores are set to be communicated to the affected candidates this week. The Bar indicated that these adjustments do not require any further approval from the state Supreme Court, according to a report by Bloomberg Law, which streamlines the process for students receiving their new scores.

Implications for Upcoming Exam Candidates

The California Bar further announced that candidates planning to sit for the July exam will be automatically withdrawn if it is determined that they passed during the February session.

This adjustment represents the latest in a series of measures taken by Bar officials aimed at assisting thousands of applicants whose prospective legal careers were jeopardized due to the exam’s inadequacies.

Previous Attempts to Address the Issues

Following a review from the state Supreme Court, the Bar has previously established a lower passing score and introduced