The LSO gives you the materials; everything else — practice exams, indexes, courses, coaching — comes from a cottage industry of prep providers. Choosing between them is genuinely hard, because their marketing all sounds the same and the differences that matter are structural. This is our independent comparison of the providers Ontario candidates actually use. (Disclosure: BarExamOntario.com is reader-supported; some providers may compensate us for referrals. Our assessments are editorial and based on the criteria below.)
How we evaluate
- Updated annually against the current licensing year’s materials — non-negotiable.
- Answer explanations that teach — showing you why each option is right or wrong, not just marking a letter.
- Realistic length and timing — full exam-length simulations, not just untimed question banks.
- Useful performance data — score by subject, pacing, and timing information you can act on.
- Recent candidate feedback from the most recent sittings, not testimonials from 2019.
PassTheBar.ca — practice exams with timing analytics
The newest platform on this list, and the only one built primarily around practice data. PassTheBar.ca offers timed, exam-length simulations written by a team of volunteer lawyers, updated for the current 2026–2027 cycle and pitched on the harder side of what candidates report from recent sittings. Its distinguishing feature is the post-exam feedback: score by subject, an explanation for every question, and the time you spent on each individual question, plus a comparison against other candidates’ scores. Subject-specific drill sets (Professional Responsibility, Real Estate, Civil Procedure and more) let you target weak spots, and a study scheduler plus a 400+ flashcard library are bundled with any purchase. A free sample test lets you check the difficulty before paying. The trade-off: no courses, coaching, or index — it is a practice tool, not a teaching one.
Emond Exam Prep — the full suite
The longest-established name in Ontario bar prep, from the legal publisher behind many of the study texts candidates already know. Emond offers practice exams, annual indices, review courses, flashcards, and tutoring for both exams, plus a free preparation manual that is genuinely worth downloading whoever you buy from. Best for candidates who want one provider for everything. Its practice exams are the standout — realistic length, question style, and materials-cited explanations.
LexPD — indexes, courses, and coaching
LexPD concentrates on the navigation side of the exam: detailed annual indices, prep courses, and one-on-one coaching. It comes up constantly in candidate communities as the recommendation for people who want structure imposed on their prep. The coaching option is the differentiator — particularly valuable if you have failed a previous attempt and want a diagnosis of what went wrong rather than another generic course.
Ontario Law Exam (OLE) — lean and practice-focused
OLE focuses on the two things that move scores most: practice exams and indices, with materials-navigation guidance alongside. A leaner offering, often at leaner prices. Best for self-directed candidates who are confident in their reading plan and mainly need realistic timed practice.
Simplilaw — the audio and interactive option
A different philosophy: visual, audio, and interactive study tools rather than another stack of PDFs. If your study time happens on a commute, a treadmill, or a school run, an audio-first tool fits the fragments of a working candidate’s day. Best used as a complement — the exam itself is still a paper lookup race, and no amount of audio replaces timed practice exams.
Don’t forget the unglamorous one: printing
Roughly 1,600 pages of materials need to become a rule-compliant, tabbed, bound paper set before exam day. Specialist bar-prep printing services handle binding and tabbing to spec every licensing year; ordinary print shops can do it too. Whichever you use, order two to three weeks before your sitting — the final fortnight is peak season, and a late printing disaster is the most avoidable catastrophe in the whole process.
Our short answer
| If you are… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Set on study method; want timed practice with feedback data | PassTheBar.ca |
| A first-time candidate who wants everything in one place | Emond Exam Prep |
| Someone who wants structure, or rewriting after a fail | LexPD (course or coaching) |
| Self-directed and mostly need timed practice | Ontario Law Exam |
| Studying around a job or a commute | Simplilaw as a supplement, plus one provider’s practice exams |