The NextGen bar exam is rolling out starting July 2026, and if you’re feeling anxious about integrated question sets (IQS), you’re not alone. These new question types combine multiple-choice, short answer, and other formats into a single 24-minute problem set—and they’re unlike anything you’ve seen in law school.
We recently walked through a sample IQS question to show you exactly what to expect and how to handle these challenging new problems. You can listen to the full walkthrough here, but here’s what you need to know.
What Makes IQS Questions Different?
Integrated question sets aren’t just harder versions of traditional bar questions. They test you in completely new ways that demand different skills.
First, you’re dealing with a shared fact pattern that applies to multiple questions. You’ll read through a client interview, review statutory language, and then answer a mix of question types—all while the clock is ticking. Unlike traditional essay questions where you write one answer and move on, IQS problems require you to hold a lot of information in working memory while switching between different task types.
Second, you’ll be scrolling constantly. The facts are here, the statute is there, and the questions are somewhere else entirely. You can’t spread everything out on a desk or flip between pages in a blue book. Everything happens on a screen, and you need to remember what you read two pages ago while answering the current question.
Hunt for Legally Significant Facts
When you’re working through an IQS, your first job is identifying which facts actually matter. In our sample question, the fact that “Marcus ate the grapes, not Peter” isn’t just background color—it’s the entire legal problem. The security guard detained the wrong person, and he knew it.
These details are planted in the fact pattern for a reason. If the question tells you someone was held in a “windowless storage room with a door locked from the outside,” that’s not atmospheric writing. That’s a fact you’ll need when analyzing whether the detention was conducted in a reasonable manner.
Pay attention to what people say and when they say it. When the security guard states “Right, it was your buddy here” before detaining Peter anyway, that’s your smoking gun. The store detained someone they knew didn’t commit the shoplifting—that’s going to be a problem for their legal defense.
Read the Call of the Question Carefully
IQS questions are incredibly specific about what they’re asking. You might see a question about “reasonable manner” of detention, not “reasonable cause” for detention. Those sound similar, but they’re asking about completely different legal elements.
In our walkthrough, one question asked which factors would be “most relevant to determining whether the detention was conducted in a reasonable manner.” The key phrase is “conducted in a reasonable manner”—not whether they had the right guy, not whether they should have called the police, but specifically about how they conducted the detention itself.
If you start analyzing whether they had reasonable cause to detain him, you’re answering a different question. The graders won’t give you credit for analyzing something they didn’t ask about, even if your analysis is brilliant.
You’ll Need Both Legal Knowledge and Practical Judgment
Some IQS questions test pure legal knowledge—you either know the rule or you don’t. But other questions test practical lawyering skills like spotting missing facts or identifying what needs investigation.
One of our sample questions asked test-takers to “identify three specific factual issues that would need to be investigated to determine whether the detention was conducted in a reasonable manner.” This isn’t asking you to define “reasonable manner” or recite a legal standard. It’s asking what additional facts you’d need to know.
Maybe you’d want to know more about the physical conditions of the storage room. Was it dark? Did it smell? How big was it? Or maybe you’d investigate the use of force—were there bruises on Peter’s arm? Did anyone witness the security guard grabbing him?
The question isn’t looking for one “right” answer. It’s testing whether you can think like a lawyer who needs more information before advising a client.
Your Working Memory Will Be Challenged
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: you’re going to forget things while working through an IQS. You’ll answer question three and suddenly can’t remember whether the detention lasted an hour or thirty minutes. You’ll need to scroll back up to check if the security guard actually worked for the store or was just “some intimidating guy in a security uniform.”
This is by design. IQS questions test your ability to manage information overload under time pressure. You have roughly 24 minutes for an entire problem set, which means you need to make smart decisions about when to double-check facts versus when to trust your memory.
Practice holding key details in your head. When you read the fact pattern, make mental notes about the big picture: Who did what? What’s the main legal problem? Which facts seem unusual or legally significant? You won’t remember every detail, but you should remember enough to answer questions without re-reading the entire fact pattern for each one.
Different Question Types Require Different Strategies
Our sample IQS included traditional multiple-choice questions, six-option “pick two” questions, and short-answer questions. Each type demands a different approach.
For multiple-choice questions with one correct answer, use your standard MBE strategies. Identify legally significant facts, have an answer in mind before looking at the options, and eliminate clearly wrong choices.
For “pick two” questions with six options, the difficulty level jumps significantly. Multiple answers could be plausibly correct, and you’re looking for the most relevant or most significant factors. These questions often hinge on careful reading of what’s actually being asked.
For short-answer questions, you’re not writing a full IRAC analysis. Keep your responses focused and concise. If the question asks for three factual issues that need investigation, give three factual issues—not legal arguments or policy considerations.
The Statute Isn’t Always Your Friend
In our sample problem, we provided a shoplifting statute that defined reasonable cause, reasonable manner, and reasonable time for detention. Sounds helpful, right? Except the statute didn’t actually define what “reasonable manner” means in practice.
This is frustrating but realistic. Real statutes often use vague language like “reasonable” without spelling out exactly what that means. You’ll need to apply your general legal knowledge and common sense to figure out what the statute requires.
Don’t waste time looking for answers that aren’t in the statute. If the law doesn’t define something precisely, acknowledge the ambiguity and make your best argument based on the facts and your understanding of related legal concepts.
Start Practicing Now
The only way to get comfortable with IQS questions is to practice them. Work through the official NCBE sample questions multiple times. Time yourself strictly—24 minutes goes by faster than you think. And remember: you’re not alone! The IQS is new for everyone.
Pay attention to your process. Are you scrolling back to re-read things constantly? Are you getting tripped up by the call of the question? Do you struggle to remember key facts? Each of these problems can be addressed with deliberate practice.
And here’s the most important thing: don’t panic when these questions feel hard. They’re supposed to feel hard. They’re supposed to be different from what you’ve practiced in law school. That’s why practicing them beforehand is so crucial.
The NextGen bar exam is coming whether you’re ready or not. The students who will succeed are the ones who start preparing now—not by memorizing more law, but by practicing the specific skills these questions demand.
Want to listen to our walkthrough? You can find it here: Podcast Episode 330: NextGen UBE: Let’s Walk Through an Integrated Question Set (IQS) Together
Ready to pass the bar exam? Get the support and accountability you need with personalized one-on-one bar exam tutoring or one of our economical courses and workshops. We’re here to help!
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