The shape of the day
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Doors open. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrive by this time. Screening and identification checks take a while. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Be seated. |
| 10:00 a.m. | The examination begins. 160 questions, one sitting, no scheduled break. |
| 11:00 a.m. | Earliest you may leave, and the last moment anyone can be admitted. |
| 2:00 p.m. | No leaving in the final 30 minutes. |
| 2:30 p.m. | The examination ends. Allow at least an hour for exit procedures. |
Arriving after the first hour has elapsed counts as failing to attend. Once you leave the room you cannot come back.
What you may bring
- Printed study materials, your own notes, textbooks and dictionaries, bound or loose
- Binders, binder rings or cerlox bindings
- One disposable bag with no internal pockets
- One sweater, blazer, cardigan or sweatshirt
- Non-alcoholic drinks in a transparent resealable plastic container
- Plastic or wooden cutlery
- One clear resealable storage bag, no larger than 26.8 by 27.3 cm, for identification, wrapped food, medication, hygiene products, tissues, a wallet holding only money, keys, an eyeglass case and cloth, and unused notepaper
What is prohibited
- Every electronic device: phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, cameras, recorders, USB keys
- Earphones, earbuds and headsets, and MP3 players or radios
- Watches and stopwatches of any kind, including analogue ones
- Electronic health trackers and electronic jewellery
- Your own calculator, and your own pens, pencils or highlighters
- Digital copies of the study materials. They cannot be accessed in the room, and the Law Society does not print them for you
The Law Society supplies what you write with: a booklet, a Scantron answer sheet, two pencils, a highlighter, an eraser and a calculator at every seat. Only the Scantron sheet is marked, so an answer circled in the booklet and never transferred is simply lost, and no extra time is given to fix that.
Identification
Bring government-issued photo identification from the Law Society’s accepted list, and your candidate number. Health cards and photocopies are not accepted. Screening on the way in, and again on the way out, is thorough enough that it is worth being early rather than exactly on time.
A note on artificial intelligence
The Law Society prohibits candidates from putting any part of its study materials into an AI tool, in any format and for any purpose, including summarising, paraphrasing or making notes. That rule binds you, not your study aids, but it is worth knowing before you paste a chapter into a chatbot the week before the exam.
Rehearsing the day, not just the law
The clock is the part people underestimate: 160 questions in 270 minutes is about 100 seconds each, including the time to look anything up. A full-length rehearsal tells you whether your index is usable under pressure, which is something no amount of reading will reveal. Ontario Bar Academy’s practice exams run on the same 4.5-hour clock, one question at a time, and mark you by subject at the end.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Ontario bar exam open book?
- Yes, but only on paper. You may bring the Law Society's study materials, your own notes, textbooks and dictionaries, printed and in any binding. No electronic device of any kind is allowed in the examination room, so you must print whatever you intend to use.
- What can I bring to the Ontario bar exam?
- Printed materials, binders, one disposable bag, one sweater or blazer, a clear drink container, plastic or wooden cutlery, and one clear resealable storage bag no larger than 26.8 by 27.3 cm holding identification, wrapped food, medication, hygiene products, tissues, keys and a wallet containing only money.
- Can I wear a watch to the Ontario bar exam?
- No. Watches and stopwatches of any kind are prohibited. There is a clock in the room and the proctors announce the time.
- Do I need to bring a pen or a calculator?
- No, and you must not. The Law Society puts an examination booklet, a Scantron answer sheet, two pencils, a highlighter, an eraser and a calculator at each seat. Only the pencils it supplies may be used on the Scantron sheet.
- Is there a break during the exam?
- No scheduled break. The four and a half hours include any time you spend away from your seat, and a proctor escorts you to the restroom.
- Can I take my materials home afterwards?
- No. All paper you bring in is left behind for destruction. Metal binder rings may be removed and returned to you.
Based on the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules and Protocol for Licensing Examinations, revised October 2026, and checked on October 20, 2026. Rules change: read the current Rules and Protocol on lso.ca before your sitting. Ontario Bar Academy is independent. It is not reviewed, regulated, accredited or endorsed by the Law Society of Ontario.