October 2025 First-Year Law Students' Exam

October 2025 First-Year Law Students' Exam

Exam overview

The October 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam (FYLSX) will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The October 2025 exam will be administered primarily in person at Prometric test centers. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that measure the content areas of Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. Starting with the October 2024 exam administration, 25 of the 100 questions on the exam are new multiple-choice items pretested for operational use. Please visit the First-Year Law Students' Exam Scope and Grading page for more information.

Virtual scratch paper will be available on the Prometric platform for applicants taking the exam on a computer at the in-person testing center or on their own laptop remotely. Because the exam is limited to multiple-choice questions, and to ensure equity between remote and in-person takers, physical scratch paper will not be provided or permitted.

Testing center locations

Alameda Mission Viejo
Anaheim Rancho Cucamonga
Bakersfield San Diego
Camarillo San Francisco
Culver City San Jose
Diamond Bar Santa Rosa
Fresno Stockton

Out-of-state applicants and other candidates may request remote testing if there are no test sites near their residence. Such applicants can request remote testing when submitting their application. These requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants testing remotely are required to meet the minimum system requirements of the Prometric remote software and take a mandatory practice exam.

Allowed items: In-person testing at a Prometric test center

All applicants taking the exam in-person at a Prometric test center must bring a valid government-issued photo identification with them to the test center. Only the following items are allowed in the exam room without prior approval. All items are subject to inspection.

Back support Chapstick or lip balm (no label or writing)
Diabetes-related equipment (no food or drinks) Eyeglasses (no cases or sunglasses)
Eye drops (≤ 0.5 oz, no label or writing) Foam earplugs (must not be connected)
Hearing aids Highlighters (must not be used on answers)
Inhalers Locker key (provided by Prometric)
One bottle of water (clear plastic, with lid, no labels or writing) One footrest
Orthopedic cushion or pillow (no cover) Over-the-counter and prescription medications
Pencils (provided by Prometric) Religious headwear
Silent analog watches, nondigital timers, or clocks (4" x 4" or smaller) Splints, braces, crutches, casts, or wheelchairs
TENS units Unwrapped cough drops

Items that have been approved through the testing accommodations request process will also be permitted.

Applicants testing remotely

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 computer. Applicants will then be able to complete a system readiness check to ensure that the applicant’s computer is ready to run the application on exam day.

Minimum equipment requirements and pre-exam requirements:

  1. Applicants must take the exam on a laptop computer with a functional internal webcam and microphone. The camera and microphone must always be on and unobstructed during the exam session.
  2. Applicants must personally install and pretest the required exam software on their laptops.
  3. Applicants must schedule and complete the Prometric practice exam, or they will not be allowed to take the October 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam.
  4. Testing space must be indoors (walled), well-lit, and free from background noise and disruptions.
  5. Testing space and surrounding area must be free of pens, paper, electronic devices, books, cell phones, and any additional monitor (second monitors are not permitted). No content that could potentially provide an unfair advantage during your exam, including that posted on walls or within your immediate area, may be present during your exam.
  6. Testing space must be set up to eliminate distractions and prevent outside viewing. This may mean covering windows and non-frosted glass doors.

Check-in procedures:

  1. An applicant must be alone in the room where they are taking the exam, and no other person may enter the room or communicate in any manner by any means with the applicant during the exam for any purpose.
  2. Applicants must log into the exam in the ProProctor™ application at their scheduled time.
  3. An applicant’s valid government-issued identification will be verified by the ProProctor™ Readiness Agent.
  4. An applicant’s device must pass the Prometric readiness check, including demonstrating that the laptop has a functional webcam and microphone.
  5. The applicant will be required to complete a 360-degree scan of the testing environment including the desk area, under the desk area, the corners of the room, the walls, the chair, bookshelves, and a search of items on the applicant’s person and in their pockets. Applicants will have to lift their laptop and move it around, to complete the scan. This will be the applicant’s last opportunity to put away all personal items. We recommend having a large bedsheet or linen available in the event the Readiness Agent asks the applicant to cover any areas.
  6. If an applicant’s internet connection disconnects or malfunctions for any reason during the log-on periods for the exam session, the applicant will be able to follow Prometric guidelines for restarting and getting back into the exam session.

Refunds will not be issued for applicants who experience connectivity issues due to internet service issues.

Permitted items: Remote exam

All applicants taking the exam remotely must bring a valid government-issued photo identification with them to the exam room. Only the following items are allowed in the exam room without prior approval. All items are subject to inspection.

Back support Chapstick or lip balm (no label or writing)
Diabetes-related equipment (no food or drinks) Eyeglasses (no cases or sunglasses)
Eye drops (≤ 0.5 oz, no label or writing) Foam earplugs (must not be connected)
Hearing aids Inhalers
One bottle of water (clear plastic, with lid, no labels or writing) One footrest
Orthopedic cushion or pillow (no cover) Over-the-counter and prescription medications
Religious headwear Separate keyboard and mouse (wired or wireless) 
Splints, braces, crutches, casts, or wheelchairs TENS units
Unwrapped cough drops

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.

Application filings  

For those who did not sit for the June 2025 exam.

July 1 Exam application open
August 1 Timely filing deadline
August 2–29 $26.00 late filing fee
August 30–September 15

Final window to apply; $205 final late filing fee



For immediate repeaters who sat for the June 2025 exam.

August 8 (after 6:00 p.m.)` Exam application opens for immediate repeaters
September 2 Timely filing deadline
September 3–15

Final window to apply; $26.00 final late filing fee

Exam withdrawals

Requests to withdraw from the June 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam must be received by the State Bar’s Office of Admissions on or before the dates listed below in order to qualify for a refund. See the Withdrawal Refund Policy.

For those who did not sit for the June 2025 exam.

August 2–31 Deadline to withdraw with 60% refund
September 1–15 Deadline to withdraw with 60% refund
September 16–October 14

Final deadline to withdraw from exam with 0% refund

For immediate repeaters who sat for the June 2025 exam.

September 3–October 2

Deadline to withdraw with 60% refund

October 3–7 Deadline to withdraw with 30% refund
October 8–14 Final deadline to withdraw from exam with 0% refund


Exam preparation

September 30

First date exam Admittance Tickets become available

Applicants can begin scheduling the practice exam via Prometric's website

Applicants can begin scheduling the First-Year Law Students' Exam session via Prometric's website

October 19 Final date for in-person test takers to schedule their exam and secure a seat at a Prometric test center

If your remote testing request was approved, this is the last day to schedule and complete the practice exam

Other deadlines

September 15

Testing accommodations request final filing deadline*

Deadline to request to test remotely

October 1 Testing accommodations final appeal filing deadline*
October 14 Final deadline for law schools to submit proof of applicant eligibility to sit for the exam of for applicants who are required to submit a transcript or other required documentation to do so

Proof of law study (first-time applicants for the exam)

Test center change request deadline 
October 17 Emergency testing accommodations request final filing deadline*

*Applicants must submit their requests through the Applicant Portal. Requests must be complete, with all questions answered, and any supporting documentation included. Requests in ‘verified’ or ‘drafted’ status are not considered complete.

Release of results

Results from the June 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam are scheduled to be released on August 8, 2025. Results from the October 2025 First-Year Law Students’ Exam are scheduled to be released on December 12, 2025. Results are released in the Applicant Portal at 6:00 p.m. on the specified date. 

Exam result letters for applicants who completed the First-Year Law Students' Exam will be available on the Applicant Portal for four weeks following the release of results.

Additional information and resources

Related links