Legislation9/8/2026

Proposal to Lower the Passing Score on the Israel Bar Association Exam to 55

Justice Minister Yariv Levin decided to publish for public comment rules lowering the passing score on the Israel Bar Association qualification exam held in June from 60 to 55. If the process is completed, dozens more candidates could pass the exam.

Key facts

•Decision to publish for public comment: September 7, 2026
•Source publication date: September 8, 2026
•Proposed threshold: 55 instead of 60 points
•Number of examinees: 2,919
•Passed the exam: 1,243 people
•Overall pass rate: approximately 42%

What Is Proposed

The initiative concerns the qualification exam that was already held in June. At this stage, the change has not received final approval: the draft rules must be published for public comment. The source does not specify a date for completing the process.

Exam Results

A total of 2,919 people took the exam, of whom 1,243 received a passing score. The overall pass rate was approximately 42%, and among first-time examinees it was 60.86%. According to the source's estimate, lowering the threshold by five points would add dozens more candidates to the number who passed.

A Similar Decision Was Made Before

In December 2024, Levin signed rules lowering the passing score for the relevant exam session from 60 to 56. At that time, fewer than one-third of all participants passed the exam, while the pass rate among first-time examinees was 49%. The current proposal also provides for a change in the result for a specific exam session.

Comparison With Previous Results

The results of the exam held in June were lower than those of the summer 2025 exam session. At that time, 77.8% of first-time examinees passed the exam, while the overall pass rate was 59.4%.

What this means for you

For candidates who scored between 55 and 59 points on the exam held in June, approval of the rules could result in recognition that they passed the exam. However, at the time of publication, the lowering of the threshold had not yet been completed and remained dependent on the continuation of the process.

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