Laptops for the California Bar Examination

The February 2026 California Bar Examination will be administered in person. The written sessions include five essays and one Performance Test. Hard copy question books and scratch paper will be distributed to all applicants before each written session begins. Unless an applicant is approved to handwrite the exam, applicants enter their responses to the essay and Performance Test questions on their laptop using ExamSoft’s Examplify software. A laptop is not required for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) sessions.

Any attempt to disable or tamper with Examplify’s security features is prohibited. If it is discovered that tampering has been attempted, this information will be reported to the Committee of Bar Examiners for whatever action it may deem appropriate, which could include disqualification for admission to practice law in California.

Laptops must meet Examplify’s minimum system requirements and applicants must take all the steps outlined below. Applicants requiring special equipment due to medical reasons must request a testing accommodation for consideration by the State Bar.

Before the exam

To prepare your laptop before the exam:

  1. Make sure your laptop meets the minimum system requirements for running Examplify.
  2. Beginning January 27, 2026, after you are issued a State Bar Admittance Ticket, you will receive an email from ExamSoft with instructions on how to download and install Examplify and register a laptop to be used on exam day.
  3. Complete the mandatory mock exam and upload the mock exam answer file. The deadline to complete this step is February 20, 2026.
  4. Failure to upload the mock exam answer file will mean you cannot use your laptop for the exam and will be required to handwrite your responses.

Laptop system requirements

Detailed minimum system requirements specific to laptops running Windows and Mac operating systems can be found on ExamSoft’s website. For optimal computer performance, the State Bar recommends using a laptop that exceeds the minimum requirements for memory and hard drive space.

Desktop computers are not allowed for security reasons. ExamSoft currently does not support tablets with detachable keyboards, such as iPads. The maximum size allowed for a laptop computer screen is 17.3 inches.

Registering your laptop

Examplify is a secure word-processing application that restricts access to non-exam files during the exam. It is designed to be familiar to users of Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Beginning January 27, 2026, ExamSoft will email applicants approved to take the bar exam with instructions on how to download and install Examplify and how to register a laptop to be used on exam day. The email will include instructions for the following:

  • Downloading and installing the latest version of Examplify.
  • Registering your laptop as a first-time or returning user.
  • Downloading the exam files for both the mock exam and the bar exam.
  • Completing the mock exam and uploading the mock exam answer file.

By following ExamSoft’s instructions, each applicant will download one mock exam file and two exam files for exam day (those who test over five or more days may have additional exam files that need to be downloaded). The exam files are used to record your answers to the mock exam or essay and Performance Test questions during the bar exam. After completing the mock exam and the bar exam, you must upload the corresponding files containing your answers.

This process must be completed each time you register to take the bar examination, regardless of any previous Examplify registrations you may have completed for the California Bar Examination or any other examination. If you have previously used SofTest or Examplify, you must completely uninstall any prior version used before downloading and installing the version of Examplify used for the February 2026 bar exam.

Do not copy the Examplify software from one computer to another. For example, do not download the software to a desktop computer and try to manually move it to your laptop. If you move the software and exam files to another computer, an error message displays when you attempt to begin the exam. If this error message appears, you will be unable to use your laptop to take the exam, and you will be required to handwrite your answers.

If you have an email spam blocker, please add barsupport@examsoft.com, support@examsoft.com, and noreply@examsoft.com to your contact or safe list so that you can receive critical emails from ExamSoft before, during, and after the exam. For further help to ensure you receive critical emails, please see the Safelisting Tips webpage.

Completing the mock exam

All applicants using a laptop must complete the mock exam and upload the mock exam answer file by February 20, 2026.

The mock exam is not a practice bar exam. It is designed to verify that your laptop works with Examplify; familiarize you with opening, using, and uploading answer files; and, by typing a paragraph in each window, familiarize you with how to use the formatting functionality (e.g., copy and paste, font size, bullet points) and confirm your keyboard is working within the system.

The password to access the mock exam is included in an email sent to you directly from ExamSoft. Applicants must complete the mock exam at least once, but they may take it up to five times to become familiar with the platform. To retake it, click “Refresh Exam List,” download the exam file again, and enter the password to begin.

Internet connectivity is required for downloading and uploading the mock exam answer file. No internet connectivity is required while taking the mock exam.

Learn more about the mock exam on Examplify’s website.

Completing laptop registration

After uploading your mock exam answer file, you will receive an email confirmation. This completes the mock exam process and registers your laptop as one that is approved to use on exam day. Until an applicant receives the email confirmation, they have not completed the mock exam process, and their laptop is not registered and approved for use on the exam. Failure to complete and upload the mock exam answer file will result in being required to handwrite your responses.

Once you have completed the laptop registration process, do not make any significant changes to the configuration of your laptop, such as updating your operating system, between the time you register your laptop and exam day.

You may check your registration status and view your download/upload history online. Log in to Examplify, click “Exam History” to review your record, and confirm that you have downloaded the exam and mock exam files and have uploaded the mock exam answer file. You should have two exam files remaining for the essay and Performance Test questions.

The deadline to complete the mock exam and registration is February 20, 2026. Early completion is strongly recommended to allow time for troubleshooting or for ExamSoft to assist in resolving any problems that may occur prior to the exam.

Laptop computer problems after registration

If your laptop becomes inoperable after completing the mock exam and registering your laptop, you may request to register a new laptop and re-download the exam-day files using the “Re-Download Examplify” link. Read more about the re-download process.

Applicants cannot download the exam-day files on more than one laptop; backup laptops are not permitted.

Review ExamSoft’s Bar Applicant FAQs or visit the ExamSoft Support Page for more information on the use of the software or how to resolve technical issues during the installation or mock exam process. Most issues can be resolved using ExamSoft’s support guides and troubleshooting tips.

Should an applicant continue to have technical problems, they should call ExamSoft Client Support at 1-888-816-3065. Technical support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Exam day information

Applicants must be seated by 8:20 a.m. each morning. Announcements begin at 8:30 a.m., and the exam begins immediately after instructions. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before 8:20 a.m. to check in, locate your assigned seat, set up your laptop, and prepare for the exam.

If your laptop computer is not ready when the exam begins, you should request a handwriting packet and submit handwritten responses. Proctors and staff cannot assist with troubleshooting computer device issues. No extra time will be provided to ensure that a laptop computer is ready for use before the exam begins.

You must pay careful attention to and follow all instructions provided prior to and during the exam. Use great care when typing, deleting, and using other Examplify functions that may significantly change a document. No extra time or other administrative relief will be granted if your response is deleted or otherwise altered, or if you experience any other word-processing problems.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop power cord to plug into the electrical outlets provided at the test centers. Power cords will not be provided by the State Bar.

Although an electrical outlet will be available to you, be sure to have a fully charged battery in case there is an electrical problem. You will not be allowed to tape power cords into the electrical outlet, nor will you be allowed to plug any item aside from your computer into the electrical outlet. CDs, DVDs, USBs, and other information storage media are prohibited in the examination room. If such items are found in the exam room, including in an applicant’s laptop computer, they will be confiscated and will not be returned. Possession of unauthorized items may also result in the applicant being issued a notice of conduct violation, often referred to as a Chapter 6 Notice, and possible sanctions.

In the event of a laptop or software malfunction, or if a power failure or interruption occurs, applicants should request a handwriting packet and submit handwritten responses. No extra time will be provided for setup or switching to a handwriting packet. Technical assistance will not be available.

You are not permitted to bring additional laptop computers, typewriters, word processors, or other devices into the test center to use as backups, unless specifically granted as a testing accommodation.

Uploading answer files

The answer files contain your responses to the essays and the PT. For most applicants, there will be two answer files. Those who test over five or more days may have additional answer files that need to be uploaded.

Upload the answer files as soon as possible after the exam and no later than the deadline: Thursday, February 26, at noon (Pacific Standard Time). Applicants granted extended time as a testing accommodation must upload their answer files by noon the day after their final exam session. Internet connectivity is required for uploading the exam answer files.

Applicants who fail to upload their answer files by the deadline will receive a deduction of 10 scaled points from their written scaled score. Applicants who fail to upload their answer files within two weeks of the published deadline will be given a grade of zero for each answer that is not uploaded. No waivers or exceptions will be granted for missed deadlines.

Applicants must not edit or modify their answer files between the time the exam ends and when they upload their answer files. Doing so may result in the applicant being issued a Chapter 6 Notice and possible sanctions.

Applicants should verify the successful upload of their answer files by launching Examplify to see that they have uploaded all answer files. Read more about uploading your answer files on the ExamSoft webpage.

Do not delete or uninstall Examplify or any Examplify Program Directory Files or Folders until results for the exam have been released. If you rented a laptop to use during the exam, you should not return it to the rental company until the exam results have been released.

As a courtesy, emails will be sent by ExamSoft indicating if your answer files have not been uploaded. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your files are uploaded by the deadline. If there is a problem with the uploading of your answers, you may be required to contact ExamSoft for assistance in retrieving the file remotely so that efforts can be made to retrieve the encrypted backup copy of the exam answer(s) from your laptop’s hard drive.

Troubleshooting after the exam

During an exam, Examplify imposes certain security settings. After the exam, if Examplify could not automatically restore the original settings on your Windows device, you might notice issues such as missing buttons, missing splash screens, or replaced wallpaper. In this situation, you can run Examsoft’s EsWinsr program to restore the settings to their initial state.