The USPTO registration exam, start to finishReviewed 9 November 2026
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The exam

Patent bar exam format and scoring

Answer in brief

100 multiple-choice questions, two sections of three hours, 70% of the 90 scored questions to pass. Ten unmarked beta questions are not scored. The only reference allowed is a digital copy of the MPEP.

Format

Questions100 multiple choice (90 scored, 10 unscored and unmarked)
TimeTwo three-hour sections
Pass mark70% of scored questions (63 of 90)
ReferenceDigital MPEP only
Score reportUnofficial result at the end of the test

Pacing

Six hours for 100 questions is 3.6 minutes each. Flag long questions, answer the quick ones first, and leave time to return. Practice in an MPEP viewer like the one at the test center so lookups do not eat the clock.

Questions & answers

How many questions do you need to get right on the patent bar?
70% of the 90 scored questions, which is 63.
How long is the patent bar exam?
Two three-hour sections, six hours of testing in total.

Sources for this entry

  1. What Is the Patent Bar? FindLaw
    Exam format: 100 questions, 10 unscored, two three-hour sections, 70% of scored questions to pass.
  2. USPTO — Registration examination USPTO
    The USPTO's page on the registration examination (the patent bar).
  3. Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) USPTO
    The examination manual the patent bar is tested on; open book during the exam.

Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.

Continue this reading path

Patent bar practice examPatent bar pass rateApplying for and scheduling the patent bar

How the related websites connect

This is one of a coordinated collection of Wysebridge references. The related sites answer neighboring questions and share the same publisher entity, Wysebridge. They are not independent endorsements.

  • Best Patent Bar Review — Choosing a patent bar review course, compared on pass rate, price and method.
  • Patent Attorney Salary — What patent attorneys earn, by setting and career stage, with sources.
  • Patent Agent Salary — What patent agents earn without a law degree, and how pay grows.
  • MPEP.net — The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, explained chapter by chapter.

Explore related references · Wysebridge's official website ↗

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Patent Bar Exams. “Patent bar exam format and scoring.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://patentbarexams.com/patent-bar-exam-format-and-scoring/