Citing the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, the Supreme Court en banc has decided to move the 2020/2021 Bar Examinations from November 2021 to January 16 to February 6, 2022.

“After considering the COVID-19 situation nationally and in all the testing sites, as well as receiving advice from various experts, the Supreme Court, after recommendation by the Bar Chairperson, with an abundance of caution and to assure the highest level of safety for all the bar applicants and personnel, decided to reset the Bar Examinations from November 2021 to January 16, 23, 30 and February 6, 2022,” Bar Chairman Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said in a bulletin released Tuesday, September 28.

The application period will not be reopened, said the Supreme Court.

All activities, including selection of the applicants and downloading the secure exam delivery program, will continue.

“Treat this as an opportunity. Keep your momentum. Remember that you study not only to pass the Bar, but also so that you will best serve others,” said Leonen.

The Bar Exams were supposed to be held in different local sites nationwide on all four Sundays of November: November 7, 14, 21 and 28.

It would be the biggest batch to take the Bar Exams because it was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the law students who graduated in 2020 and 2021 can apply to take the Bar for this year’s exams, which has been moved to January 2022.

Aside from the historic testing sites, another unprecedented move was to do away with the traditional spectacle of a Top 10. Instead, the Bar takers will be graded on a tiered system, where examinees who got a grade of at least 85% will be under “exemplary performance” in a public list.

The rationale was that the two batches studied under two different circumstances. But the rule is pro hac vice, or for this Bar Examinations only.

As of last update, the Supreme Court was pushing to vaccinate all Bar takers and personnel.

Malaca˜˜ñang said on Tuesday that the general population would get vaccinated starting October. – Rappler.com