Guide

The Ontario bar exam in 2026-2027: dates, format and how to prepare

To be licensed as a lawyer in Ontario you must pass two self-study, open-book, multiple-choice examinations set by the Law Society of Ontario: the Barrister licensing examination and the Solicitor licensing examination. This guide summarizes the published facts for the 2026-2027 licensing year and explains how Ontario Bar Academy’s practice questions fit into a preparation plan.

Exam dates and registration deadlines

The 2026-2027 study materials were released on April 13, 2026. Remaining sittings in this cycle and the first sittings of 2027-2028 are below. Dates come from the Law Society and are subject to change; confirm them on lso.ca before registering.

Exams are written in person in Toronto and Ottawa, with additional locations for the summer sittings. Results are released about eight weeks after each sitting.

Format

Each exam is 4 hours 30 minutes long with 160 multiple-choice items, each offering four options with one best answer. There are no “all of the above” options. Items come in two styles: independent questions, and case-based sets where one scenario feeds several questions. The exam is broken into sections by area of law, but the passing mark is a single overall score.

What is tested

The Law Society publishes entry-level competencies for each exam. The Barrister competencies cover ethics and professional responsibility, knowledge of the law (civil litigation, criminal procedure, family law and public law), the barrister-client relationship, issue analysis, alternative dispute resolution, the litigation process and practice management. The Solicitor competencies cover ethics, knowledge of the law (real estate, business law, and wills, trusts and estates), the solicitor-client relationship, fulfilling the retainer and practice management.

How to prepare

• Read the official study materials systematically and build a tabbed index; open-book exams reward organisation, not memory.
• Practise under time. 160 questions in 270 minutes is about 100 seconds per question, including the time to look things up.
• Learn to read a scenario for the one fact that decides the answer: a date, a dollar figure, a relationship between the parties.
• Review every practice question you get wrong against the primary source, not just the explanation.
• Sit at least one full-length rehearsal per exam before the real date so that the pace and the fatigue are familiar.

Ontario Bar Academy’s practice exams are built for that last step: 160 original questions per form, a real 4.5-hour clock, one question at a time, instant grading by subject, and explanations that cite the statute, rule or case. Start with the free 15-question samples.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Ontario bar exam?

Each licensing examination is four hours and thirty minutes and contains 160 multiple-choice items, divided into sections by area of law. Exams run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Is the Ontario bar exam open-book?

Yes. Candidates may bring printed materials that comply with the Law Society's Rules and Protocol, including the official study materials and their own notes. No electronic devices are permitted in the testing area.

How is the exam scored?

Pass or fail against a passing mark set by the Law Society's advisory group. There is no penalty for wrong answers and no bell curve. Candidates who fail receive a performance profile by category.

How many attempts are allowed?

Three attempts at each licensing examination within the licensing term.

What are the two exams?

The Barrister examination covers civil litigation, criminal procedure, family law, public law, ethics and practice management. The Solicitor examination covers real estate, business law, wills, trusts and estate administration, ethics and practice management. Both can be written in the same licensing year and in either order.

Source for exam facts: Law Society of Ontario, Guide to licensing examinations and Examination dates and deadlines, as published in September 2026. Ontario Bar Academy is independent and is not affiliated with, approved or endorsed by the Law Society of Ontario.