SC changes format of bar exams

MANILA, Philippines – Take note, bar takers next year: the 2013 bar exams will consist of 80 percent essay and 20 percent multiple-type questions.

This is a shift from the type of exams this year, which had mostly multiple choice questions (60 percent), followed by essay questions (40 percent).

Tina Layusa from the Office of the Bar Confidant told Rappler that the change was proposed by Justice Arturo Brion, who heads the SC committee on bar examinations. “The essay part will test the capacity of the bar takers to express themselves and to analyze questions,” she said.

The SC has approved the changes. 

In 2011, the SC committee on bar examinations, headed by Justice Roberto Abad, introduced multiple-type questions in the bar exams to better measure the ability of the students to recall and review laws, doctrines and principles. 

That year, 31.95% or 1, 913 out of 5,987 examinees passed the test, higher than 2010’s 20.26% and the second highest passing rate since 2000. 

In 2013, though, the bulk of the exam will have essay questions. The essay part (80 percent) will be divided into 8 divisions of 10 questions each. The multiple-type questions (20 percent) will be derived from 4 or 5 main fact situations.

The examiners will give weight to the students’ proper understanding and appreciation of the facts, appreciation of applicable laws and resolution of the issues through application of the law. 

The bar exams next year will be conducted in 4 Sundays of October at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila.

Below is the schedule: 

October 6: 8 a.m. – 12 noon – Political Law; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.  – Labor Law 

October 13: 8 a.m. – 12 noon – Civil Law; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.  – Taxation 

October 20: 8 a.m. – 12 noon – Commercial Law; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.  – Criminal Law 

October 27: 8 a.m. – 12 noon – Remedial Law; 2 p.m.  – 6 p.m  – Legal Ethics – Rappler.com