NCBE has released the national mean MBE score for the in-person July exam. The mean score was 146.1, five points higher than the mean for July 2019. Great news for July 2020 test-takers! They all worked hard and many will pass. But... https://www.ncbex.org/news/july-2020-mbe-mean-score-increases/

2/ We also have to think about the larger picture. Why did the mean increase so much? A partial answer seems to lie in which jurisdictions participated in July. Another seems to rest on fewer repeat takers. NCBE discusses these points. But...

3/ I suspect a major explanation relates to the way in which the bar exam disadvantages takers with fewer resources.During COVID, even more resources were needed to prepare for this exam, travel to the places where it was administered, and take the exam. And at the same time ...

4/ Many exam takers who traditionally lack resources struggled with even fewer resources--or were struggling to care for family members. A significant number of those exam-takers may have opted out of the exam. So . . .

5/ Although it's good news that the MBE mean went up (and I celebrate for those takers), we have to know more about who was left out. Who didn't take the exam because of COVID and other burdens? How does our profession welcome those hard-working grads?