Information about The First-Year Law Students' Exam
The June 2026 First-Year Law Students’ Exam (FYLSX) will take place on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that measure the content areas of Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts.
There will be two exam sessions throughout the day; applicants may choose to schedule and take the exam in either the morning or afternoon session. There is one set break in each session. For both the morning and afternoon sessions, the exam will be administered with the following schedule:
- Multiple-Choice Questions 1-50 (90 minutes)
- Break (20 minutes)
- Multiple-Choice Questions 51-100 (90 minutes)
The State Bar is contracting with Prometric to be the exam delivery vendor for the FYLSX. In-person test takers will test at a Prometric test center using a computer provided by the test center. Handwriters will test in person and will be provided printed question books and will write their responses on paper. Test takers who are approved to take the exam remotely will use Prometric’s ProProctor™ software on their personal laptop computer for online testing and proctoring.
Applicants testing in a test center will be provided with physical scratch paper to take notes. Scratch paper will be destroyed at the test center and any contents on the scratch paper will not be graded. Applicants testing remotely will not be allowed any physical scratch paper during the exam. Applicants testing remotely will use the "virtual scratchpad" in Prometric’s ProProctor™ platform.
Beginning May 26, applicants who are approved to sit for the exam will be contacted by email with instructions on how to schedule their exam. Applicants must schedule their exam by no later than June 14.
Applicants taking the exam remotely must schedule and complete a practice exam by June 14 using the same computer they will use on exam day. The practice exam is meant to ensure that an applicant’s computer is compatible with the exam software and provides applicants the opportunity to become familiar with using the software. Applicants who do not complete the practice exam by the deadline will not be allowed to take the exam remotely and will be required to test in person.
For more information on what to expect on test day, click here.
For more important Exam Deadlines and Dates, visit the State Bar's webpage.
Online Exam—Live, Remote Proctoring
Prometric provides a secure testing remote assessment platform, ProProctor™. Prometric will supply an interface that permits applicants to schedule an appointment, confirm computer compatibility, and launch the exam at the appointed time. Once the applicant has scheduled the exam appointment with Prometric, the applicant will need to download and install the ProProctor™ application on their laptop computer. Applicants will then be able to complete a system readiness check to ensure that the applicant’s laptop computer is ready to run the application on exam day.
Prometric provides a secure testing remote assessment platform, ProProctor™. Prometric will supply an interface that permits applicants to schedule an appointment, confirm computer compatibility, and launch the exam at the appointed time. Once the applicant has scheduled the exam appointment with Prometric, the applicant will need to download and install ProProctor™ application on their laptop computer. Applicants will then be able to complete a system readiness check to ensure that their laptop computer is ready to run the application on exam day.
Prior to the exam, the following process will be enacted:
- Applicants must personally install and certify the required exam software on their laptops.
- Applicants must ensure their device passes the Prometric readiness check, including having a functional internal webcam and microphone.
- Applicants must schedule and complete a practice exam by the deadline specified by the State Bar. Applicants who do not complete the practice exam by the deadline will not be allowed to sit for the exam.
- At the start of the exam session, Prometric’s ProProctor software will perform a final system check to confirm that no changes to the device could affect the exam experience. Applicants will be asked to take a photo of themselves using on-screen guides.
Before starting the exam: ensure you are connected to internet and your laptop is plugged into the power and your battery is fully charged in case of power failure; ensure there is no one else in the room; remove all textbooks, notes, or other materials from your workspace; turn off your cell phone, music, and TV; and, use the bathroom before your test, as you will not be able to leave the view of the webcam during the exam, except for during the scheduled break time.
During the check-in and security scan process prior to the exam, the following process will be enacted:
- Applicants must take a photo of their valid, government-issued photo ID as directed on-screen.
- A Prometric staff member, via video chat, will guide applicants through the security process.
- Applicants will need to lift and move their internal webcam or laptop to provide a 360-degree view of the testing space, including the desk or table, chair, floors, bookshelves, wall hangings, and any electronic devices.
- The testing space must be indoors (walled), well-lit, and free from background noise.
- Applicants must comply with any additional security checks as requested, including showing their sleeves, pockets (by turning pockets inside out), glasses, and behind their ears.
- If an applicant’s internet connection disconnects or malfunctions during the check-in process, Prometric will provide instructions on how to reconnect and resume the exam. Refunds will not be issued for applicants unable to complete check-in or enter the exam due to a security or technical issue.
During the exam, the following process will be enacted:
- Applicants must use a computer with a functional, always-on internal webcam and microphone that remains unobstructed during the exam.
- Applicants must sit at a desk or table (use of a bed, couch, or recliner is prohibited).
- Applicants must remain in camera view at all times unless they have notified and been acknowledged by a proctor. A security scan will be required before resuming the exam after any approved break.
- Applicants are prohibited from accessing any personal items, electronic devices, or unauthorized materials during breaks or at any point during the exam.
- No physical scratch paper is permitted unless approved. Applicants must only the virtual scratch paper provided in the Prometric software.
- The workspace must be clean and uncluttered.
- No other persons or pets can be present in the room at any time.
- Refunds will not be issued for applicants who experience connectivity issues due to internet problems. Refunds will also not be issued for applicants who are removed from the remote exam due to violation of any of the exam requirements.
To avoid a possible violation, be sure to follow these best practices: ensure that you have privacy for the entire exam and do not interact with other people or receive any outside assistance; remain focused on the exam, without looking at prohibited items such as phone, textbooks, or notes; do not read exam questions out loud; do not use your mobile phone or any electronic device at any time; do not get up from your computer for any reason until your exam is complete, except for during the scheduled break time; and, do not use any Bluetooth items.
Your proctor will monitor you live throughout the testing process using your computer’s webcam and microphone. Prometric’s trained staff provides real-time test-taker support and protects the integrity of the testing event with the support of automated tools built into the software.
To confirm that your computer and network will allow testing through ProProctor™, click here.
To review the ProProctor User Guide to see more detailed information regarding system and environmental requirements, click here.
Permitted Items: Remote Exam
All applicants taking the exam remotely must bring a valid government-issued photo identification with them to the exam room.
Please refer to the list of permitted items in the State Bar's Admittance Ticket Bulletin. Only those items will be allowed in the exam room without prior approval. All items are subject to inspection. Items that have been approved through the testing accommodations request process will also be permitted.
Applicants taking the exam remotely must not have pens, pencils, highlighters, or notetaking material in the exam room.
Schedule Your Exam
Applicants must complete the State Bar of California’s First-Year Law Students’ Examination application and be approved to sit for the exam prior to scheduling an appointment. Applicants who are approved to sit for the exam will receive an email from the State Bar confirming so or they can log into the Applicant Portal to view the status of their application.
Beginning May 26, applicants approved to sit for the exam will receive an email from the State Bar of California with instructions on how to schedule their exam appointment with Prometric.
Applicants must schedule their exam appointment no later than June 14. Applicants who do not schedule their exam appointment by this deadline will not be allowed to sit for the exam.
Cancellation or Rescheduling an Exam
All exam schedule changes must be made directly with Prometric online or by phone. A voice mail message is not an acceptable form of requesting an appointment be rescheduled or cancelled. Rescheduling is only permitted within the same exam administration.
A $30 fee is required to cancel or reschedule your appointment 30 or more calendar days prior to the exam appointment date. Applicants who cancel in this period can make a new exam appointment for the same administration.
A $60 fee is required to cancel or reschedule your exam appointment between 29 and 5 calendar days prior to the exam appointment date. Applicants who cancel in this period can make a new exam appointment for the same administration.
Within 5 days of the appointment date, appointments cannot be rescheduled.