What’s Inside the MPT Library? A Breakdown of 107 Past Exams

In bar prep discussions, the Multistate Performance Test often gets overshadowed by its flashier cousins—the essays and multiple-choice. But the MPT is a quiet beast, demanding not memorization but mastery of lawyering skills using materials you’ve never seen before. And that brings us to one of the most misunderstood parts of the MPT: the Library.

During a recent class session, I mentioned that nearly every MPT Library falls into one of three general categories.

All Cases—Some MPTs give you nothing but judicial opinions. These tasks test your ability to synthesize and apply precedent, often mirroring the real-world work of a junior associate or judicial clerk.
All Statutes, Rules, Regulations, etc.—These MPTs rely entirely on statutory materials, codes, rules, acts, administrative regulations, etc. The focus here is on statutory interpretation—how well you can read, apply, and even parse legislative language.
Combination of Cases and Statutes, Rules, Regulations, etc.—In class, I explained that this is by far the most common format. You’ll be asked to interpret and apply both types of authority, just like you would in actual practice. Frequently, the cases provide clarification for statutory or administrative texts, rules, regulations, codes, acts, and similar documents.

During class, a student asked a great follow-up question that sent me down a rabbit hole. The student wanted to know many MPTs fell within the three categories.

For the rest of the afternoon, I reviewed 107 of the 115 MPTs released since 2000 and categorized the contents of each Library section. (I’m missing 8 test packets). Here’s what I discovered.

After reviewing those 107 MPTs, here’s how they broke down:

23 MPTs included only cases
4 MPTs included only statutes, rules, regulations, etc.
79 MPTs included a combination of both

So, if you’re prepping for the MPT, expect to juggle both cases and statutes most of the time.

But wait! There's more ...

23 + 4 + 79 equals 106, not 107. So what about the missing MPT?

Well, the Library in that MPT consisted solely of Jury Instructions. No cases, statutes, or rules, just Jury Instructions (albeit with commentary).

Upon closer examination of these past exams, I discovered that 18 MPTs included "other" types of legal authority—materials that don't fit neatly into the case/statute framework but are still relevant on the test. These "nontraditional" sources include:

ABA Formal and State Bar Ethics Opinions
Legislative Reports and Draft Bills
Dictionary Definitions
Constitutional Provisions (both state and federal)
Law Review Articles
Treatises like Walker on Discovery, Walker’s Treatise on Domestic Relations, and others

These show up most often in ethics-based or policy-oriented tasks, where students are expected to use professional guidance or persuasive authority to craft their answer.

When it comes to the MPT, the Library isn’t just a stack of cases or a list of statutes. It’s a curated collection of legal authority designed to test how you think, analyze, and write like a lawyer. Most of the time, you’ll see a mix of cases and statutes. But don’t be surprised if you’re handed a treatise excerpt, a professional ethics opinion, or even a legislative committee report.

The rule of thumb? Treat every source in the Library as authoritative and analyze it on its own terms. If it’s in the packet, it’s fair game—and you’re expected to use it.