GRADING INFORMATION FOR JULY 2003

Procedures:  In order to pass the Delaware Bar Examination, applicants must achieve a Total Scale Score of 145.00 or higher.   The procedures for computing Total Scale Scores are described below:

1. Convert MBE raw scores (i.e., the number of questions answered correctly) to  scale scores using the formula provided by NCBE/ACT.  The formula for the July 2003 exam was:

MBE Scale = (0.86  x Raw Score) + 31.93

2. Convert the raw scores on each of the eight essay questions to a score distribution that has a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 7.  The attached table shows the converted value for each reader assigned raw score on each question.  For example, a reader assigned raw score of 40 corresponds to a converted score of 34.94 on Question #1, 41.38 on Question #2, etc.

3. Convert the raw scores on each of the two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) problems to a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 14. The MPT problems are questions #9 and #10 on the attached conversion table.

4. Compute the sum of the ten converted scores from Steps 2 and 3.  Insert this sum into the formula below to obtain the written scale score:

Written Scale Score = (0.25 x Sum of ten converted scores) + 23.33

5. Compute each applicant’s Total Scale Score as follows:

            Total Scale = (.4 x MBE Scale Score) + (.6 x Written Scale Score)

Numerical Example:  Suppose an applicant had an MBE raw score of 120.  According to the MBE scaling formula, this raw score converts to a value of 135.13 as follows:

MBE Scale = (0.86 x 120) + 31.93 = 135.13

The sum of this applicant’s ten converted written scores was 500.  According to the formula for scaling written raw scores, a total written converted score of 500 has a value of 148.33 as follows:

 Written Scale Score = (0.25 x 500) + 23.33 = 148.33

This applicant’s total scale score is therefore  (.4 x 135.13) + (.6 x 148.33) = 143.05