The State Bar of California reported Friday that 48.3% of 7,942 test takers passed the July General Bar Exam, down from 54.8% the previous year. The pass rate marked the lowest July result in five years and the first time since 2018 that a majority of summer test takers failed.
First-time takers passed at 64.7%, a five-percentage-point decline from 69.7% in July of the prior year. Repeat test takers passed at 14.1%. Those attempting the exam for the fourth time or more passed at 7.7%.
Pass rates also fell in other high-volume jurisdictions beyond California, according to Reuters.