Once a two-day in-person test, the bar exam was taken remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, the state bar decided to move to a \u201chybrid model,\u201d offering students a choice to take the exam either in person or remotely. The bar hoped the move would save millions of dollars.<\/p>\n
In the past, the California bar used questions from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. But that organization does not allow its questions to be used remotely. So the bar hired a handful of vendors to write and review questions for the new test. According to the audit, the state bar dragged its feet on the search process. When it finally signed a deal with Kaplan, the enormous education services company only had six months to write the questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state bar\u2019s contract with Kaplan also did not specify the topics needed for the February 2025 bar exam,\u201d the auditor wrote in the report. \u201cThus, the questions Kaplan eventually developed did not cover certain important legal topics required for the exam.\u201d<\/p>\n
That meant the bar had to hire another vendor, ACS Ventures, which used artificial intelligence to write its questions. The state bar\u2019s executive leadership was kept in the dark about the use of AI before the test.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the biggest issue was with a third vendor, Meazure Learning, which the bar hired to remotely administer the exam.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the state bar took some steps to assess Meazure Learning\u2019s remote platform and test centers, it did not verify that Meazure Learning corrected the problems it identified in its assessment,\u201d the auditor wrote. \u201cIt did not ensure that Meazure Learning addressed the causes of freezes, crashes, and error messages that test takers faced during a pretest in November 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n
In May 2025, the state sued<\/a> Meazure over breach of contract, fraudulent concealment and negligent misrepresentation.<\/p>\n