The baby bar exam, officially the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX), is a California exam taken after the first year of study by students at unaccredited, correspondence or distance-learning law schools and in the Law Office Study Program. You must pass it to get credit for further law study toward the California Bar Exam.
Practice Contracts, Torts and Criminal Law on our free baby bar practice test.
Key takeaways
- 100 multiple-choice questions (75 scored) in 3 hours. Essays are no longer part of it.
- Tests Contracts, Criminal Law and Torts.
- A passing score of 560 on an 800-point scale.
- The October 2025 pass rate was only about 12%. The next exam is October 27, 2026.
USA Baby Bar Exam: Quick Facts
- Administered by
- State Bar of California
- Questions
- 100 MCQ (75 scored)
- Time
- 3 hours
- Passing
- 560 / 800
- Fee
- About $925
- Next exam
- October 27, 2026
Who Must Take the Baby Bar?
- Students at unaccredited registered in-person law schools
- Correspondence and distance-learning law students
- Law Office Study Program (law reader) participants
- Students at accredited schools who didn’t meet general education requirements
Kim Kardashian famously passed the baby bar in 2021 on her fourth attempt while in the Law Office Study Program. For her later bar journey, see our bar exam guide.
More on Who Must Take the Baby Bar →Baby Bar Pass Rate
The baby bar has one of the lowest pass rates of any U.S. legal exam, often 10–25%. The October 2025 overall pass rate was about 12.2%. Many students fail on their first attempt, so leave time for timed MBE-style practice.
More on Baby Bar Pass Rate →Free practice test
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Choose your test length, practice with instant feedback or take it exam-style, and get your score with an explanation for every answer.
Go to the USA Baby Bar Exam practice test →USA Baby Bar Exam FAQs
What is on the baby bar exam?
Contracts, Criminal Law and Torts, tested with 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours.
Full answer →How hard is the baby bar?
Very hard. Recent pass rates have ranged from about 10% to 25%.
Full answer →Did Kim Kardashian pass the baby bar?
Yes. She passed in December 2021, on her fourth attempt.
Full answer →Official sources
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information and is not legal advice. Bar admission rules vary by jurisdiction. Always confirm dates, fees and requirements with your state’s bar admission authority. Read our editorial policy.