What to Bring to the Georgia Bar Exam (July 2026)

If you're figuring out what to bring to the Georgia bar exam, start with the calendar. The July 2026 Georgia Bar Examination runs two days, Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. Day 1 is two MPT tasks in the morning and four Georgia essays in the afternoon, all on your laptop. Day 2 is the 200-question MBE, done on paper. Each day counts for half your score, so packing right for both matters. Here's the clean, current checklist.

The Official Georgia List: What You Must Bring

Georgia does not mail or issue a printable admission ticket. Instead, timely-registered applicants see a homepage confirmation that says "successfully registered for the July 2026 Bar Examination," and logistical info posts to your homepage during the week of July 6. So there's no ticket to print, but there are items you absolutely must have in hand.

Bring your official government photo ID, and make sure the name matches your application exactly. You'll place it on your table every session. For Tuesday, bring your registered laptop and its power cord (plus an extension cord if the cord is under six feet), along with black pens. For Wednesday's MBE, bring non-mechanical #2 pencils. The board does not supply pens or pencils, so this is on you.

What Does Georgia Provide on Exam Day?

You don't have to bring everything. The board hands out a fair amount once you're seated. On Tuesday afternoon, you get scratch paper along with the essay questions. The board also provides foam ear plugs, and you may not bring your own. There are digital clocks in the room showing the official time, and electrical connections at each table so you're not stuck relying on battery.

Each laptop seat has an Examplify instruction sheet with the session passwords waiting for you. For Wednesday, an electric pencil sharpener sits in the lobby for use during the lunch break. Seating is pre-assigned with a name card at your seat, and row-number charts are posted in the lobby, so you're not hunting for a spot.

What Can You Bring Into the Exam Room?

Georgia keeps a specific "allowed items" list, and the details matter. Highlighters are permitted Tuesday only (they're banned Wednesday). A manual, non-battery pencil sharpener is allowed Wednesday only.

You may bring water in a transparent or translucent (not opaque) bottle that's unlabeled, with no additives or coloration. Peel the label off before you arrive. You can carry a transparent bag for your laptop and power cord, and a separate transparent bag of personal items: a credit or debit card, parking claim ticket, keys, personal or feminine hygiene items, and medications. Cough drops are fine, but they must be unwrapped. Prescription eyeglasses are allowed and inspected, though smart glasses like Meta are prohibited. A KN-95 or N-95 mask is allowed. A wired (not wireless) mouse and mouse pad are allowed on Tuesday, though not recommended.

One money note: leave the cash at home. On-site vendors (Chick-fil-A, Dunkin', Papa John's) and the $15 parking are credit or debit only.

What to Leave at Home

The prohibited list is long, and violations can cost you. No backpacks or bags of any kind other than the transparent laptop and personal bags. No watches, clocks, or fitness trackers of any kind (NCBE bans all watches). No removable media like USB drives or memory cards, and no electronic devices other than your registered laptop and wired mouse. That means no cell phones, calculators, cameras, earbuds, or external keyboards.

Also leave behind: your own headphones or ear plugs (use the board's foam ones), non-transparent laptop skins, mechanical pencils, any paper or written materials, white-out or correcting tape, hats or head coverings (except religious apparel), perfumes or colognes, flip-flops or backless shoes, umbrellas (leave them in the lobby), and anything with profanity on it. Weapons are banned anywhere on the property.

Prohibited items go in black bins outside the exam room and should be visible or inside a transparent bag. Do not toss a non-transparent backpack in the bins, because the office assumes no liability for lost or damaged items. A prohibited device found on you can be confiscated indefinitely and sent to NCBE.

Laptop and Software

Georgia uses ExamSoft's Examplify for the Tuesday MPT and essay sessions only. Wednesday's MBE is paper, so no laptops that day. A few requirements are worth flagging. You must install the current version of Examplify, since a prior-cycle install will not work and has to be reinstalled. The mock exam upload is a required laptop-registration step, and skipping it can force you to handwrite.

Your laptop must meet or exceed Examplify's minimum system requirements. Examplify supports Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and newer Surface devices on Windows 10 or 11, but iPads and other tablets are not supported. External keyboards, USB keys, and other storage devices are not allowed, and all removable media must be off the laptop before you enter the room. Laptop registration closed at 4 p.m. on July 1, and the last day to switch laptops or reinstall Examplify is Monday, July 27. For the full technical checklist, read the official Georgia Board of Bar Examiners rules. For a jurisdiction-neutral packing list, see the general exam day checklist.

What Should You Wear to the Georgia Bar Exam?

Casual and comfortable is the whole guidance, with one strong tip: dress in layers. Some test takers find the room cool, and you can't control the thermostat. Hooded sweatshirts are allowed, but you may not wear the hood up over your head. Hats and head coverings on your head are prohibited except religious apparel.

Skip perfumes, colognes, and any fragrance, since it's an allergy concern for the room. Wear quiet, soft-soled shoes because you may walk to the restroom, and flip-flops and backless shoes are out. Don't wear jewelry or accessories you wouldn't normally wear daily, since coats, jackets, and accessories are subject to inspection. And again, no watches of any kind.

Key Deadlines and Report Times

All times are Eastern. Tuesday morning (MPT), laptop applicants are admitted at 8:00 a.m., laptop instructions start at 8:15 a.m., and testing runs 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with no admission after 10:00 a.m. A laptop applicant arriving after 8:15 a.m. may not get in until 8:55 a.m. and could be forced to handwrite. Tuesday afternoon (essays), readmission is 1:40 p.m., testing is 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., no admission after 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday morning (MBE), admission begins 9:00 a.m., testing 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., no admission after 10:00 a.m. Wednesday afternoon, readmission 1:40 p.m., testing 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., no admission after 2:30 p.m. For answer uploads, the official rules say to upload no later than 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. Upload right after you finish to be safe.

One content note worth knowing: the Georgia Supreme Court removed UCC Article 9 (Secured Transactions) from tested subjects this cycle, so adjust your final essay review accordingly. Timed practice on the four Georgia essays is worth more than one more read-through, and a tool like BarScore can score those practice essays fast so you know where you actually stand.

Speaking of that final week, the smartest thing you can pack isn't in your bag, it's your timing and your writing. If you want fast feedback on practice Georgia essays before test day, BarScore scores your essay and returns detailed feedback in seconds, and you can start with a free trial. It works with any prep course's essays and any U.S. jurisdiction, so pack right, arrive early, and let your practice essays do the talking.