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FYLSX/BABY BAR UPDATE

I attended the Committee of Bar Examiner’s (CBE) State Bar meeting in Los Angeles AUGUST 16 - where they discussed changes coming to the FYLSX and General Bar Exam (GBX).

Most significantly, the CBE adopted a new - lower - score for those taking the FYLSX: ‘69.’

Commencing with the just-completed June ‘24 test, this means that 69% of those questions deemed to be ‘reliable’ - will lead to a passing score.  For the June test, the CBE noted that 10 questions - out of the 100 given - would not be counted; ‘meaning only the remaining 90 would be scored.  Applying the new passing standard - this equates to getting 62 correct out of 90.  If an applicant gets any correct - from the 10 ‘unreliable’ questions - the CBE’s noted these would not be counted toward the necessary passing standard.

Further, the CBE’s resolved they would revisit this passing standard after 4 years - in order to determine if lowering the passing standard (for June ‘24 applicants) increased or decreased the ‘predictive reliability’ of these Baby Bar test takers passing the GBX by at least the targeted rate of 50%.

GBX/GENERAL BAR UPDATE

One of the final CBE agenda items was dedicated to updating information re the ‘Vendor for February 2025 Exam.’

This information was largely summary - with the following input: That KAPLAN (vendor) would be administering the GBX in time for the February ‘25 administration - and thereafter for a 5-year period.  That the State Bar/Kaplan relationship had been finalized.  That Kaplan would be creating the test questions for the multiple choice and written sections of the GBX - with oversight by the State Bar.  That additional information would be forthcoming - presumably test question examples, etc. - for the benefit of law students, law schools, etc.

TAKEAWAYS

The previously noted takeaways remain - with this latest updated information.  Notably, KAPLAN will not be offering Bar review in California - given its new relationship with the State Bar.  And, that the multiple choice, essay, and performance exam questions will probably reflect the same or similar standards as recent FYLSX or GBX questions.  The course content for both exams is unchanged - though it could be modified in 2 years - with appropriate ‘notice’ to law schools and law students.