Top Bar Exam Preparation Courses in the Year 2025

In the world of bar exam preparation, there are numerous options available to help aspiring lawyers pass the challenging test. We've compiled a list of popular bar prep courses, each with its unique features and focus areas.

Themis

Themis offers an eight-week course leading up to the exam, with practice exams at the beginning of week four and week eight. The course is known for its concise video lectures, available across all platforms, and a mobile app. However, some users find the interface dull, making it hard to stay engaged. Themis also offers more than 4,000 MBE practice questions, including all NCBE-released questions.

The full Themis Bar Review Course costs $2,895, with various discounts available. It's a one-size-fits-all course, leaving little room for personalization. Themis is transparent in providing straightforward pass rates for all jurisdictions it covers, but test-takers need to complete 75% or more of the work to achieve above-average pass rates.

SmartBarPrep

SmartBarPrep is a cheap, organized, and efficient course designed for last-minute studiers. It offers 650 flash cards and a dashboard with an outline and "Smart Sheets." The app interface is simple and focused on topics that have appeared on previous exams, but it does not offer any tutoring or expert assistance, leaving test-takers open to surprises if the exam deviates from previous tests.

SmartBarPrep pricing ranges from $124 to $449 for different course options. It's important to note that it does not offer any actual previous MBE questions, unless the Pro package is purchased, and even then they only offer 800, which is less than Kaplan.

Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan is the best overall bar prep course with a high pass rate among first-time test takers, high-quality instructors, realistic practice tests, personalized prep packages and timetables, unlimited essay grading, thousands of MBE practice questions, pass guarantees, and a wide range of resources. However, the pricing conditions were less flexible compared to other courses likely because of their structured pricing policies that did not offer the same level of discounts or adjustments.

BarMax

BarMax excels at prep for the California bar. It offers 50 hours of lectures, an analytics screen to track progress, tons of flash cards, and 1,950 real MBE questions, all on the app. BarMax students from ABA-accredited law schools taking the California Bar for the first time had a pass rate 11% higher than the average.

Helix Bar Review

Helix Bar Review is the youngest company on the list and the only nonprofit. It has a lot of interesting ideas and is gearing up for the release of the NextGen Bar Exam. Helix throws test-takers into the fire immediately with a practice test made up of 100 NCBE questions to identify strengths and weaknesses. It also offers in-depth webinars that address blind spots and a "game center" to make studying more enjoyable.

BarPrepHero

BarPrepHero is a cost-effective option, offering 1,300 practice questions directly from the NBCE plus another 600 questions, all with detailed answers. Its 15-minute targeted quizzes assess understanding and give a quick confidence boost. However, it does not offer any tutoring or expert assistance.

Quimbee

Quimbee is designed for those who may be studying in between other responsibilities. It offers two different timelines for each course: a part-time, six-month program, or a full-time 10-week program. Quimbee's performance-tracking dashboard is among the best. It's a great motivator, and identifying weak points allows for more efficient studying.

Crushendo

Crushendo is the best value bar prep course with affordable prices, numerous course options to choose from, highly customizable tutoring options, pass or money-back guarantee for UBE Suite, downloadable audio and video flash cards, and interesting memorization techniques.

AmeriBar

AmeriBar is the best bar prep course for repeat examinees with a wealth of resources, solid mobile app, program designed specifically for "at risk examinees", live daily online workshops, "Class 'til you Pass" guarantee, and unique discounts.

Each of these bar prep courses offers unique benefits and drawbacks, so it's essential to consider your individual needs and preferences when choosing the right course for you.