How to Top the Bar Exam

BY
ATTY. FRED
JULY 5, 2007POSTED IN: BAR EXAMS

Make an honest assessment of all subjects. For subjects that youre good at, you could put them last so that youll
have some leeway should you exceed your limit in other subjects. Allocate more time for the subjects that is the least
familiar to you. This is crucial in drafting your study schedule.
Choose the review classes you want to attend. Ask around who are the better lecturers. Some simply repeat what
they wrote in their books or would waste your time with jokes. If you add up the time spent in going to the lecture
venue, the time you wait for the lecturer to arrive, the jokes, the useless talks, youd realize that you could cover more
topics when reading alone.
Dont compare your pace with others. Unless youre ahead that the rest of the reviewees, comparing your pace
with that of others will only add up to the intense pressure. This is the reason why I never studied in the student
lounge. Gauge your progress with your study schedule.
Pay attention to your handwriting. Your answer, even if correct, will get you nowhere if the examiner cant read it. I
suggest spending some time every day every day to write the alphabet as if youre back in Grade 1 (a a a a a, b b
b b b b). Youll realize, however, that youll most likely revert to your usual handwriting as soon as you get to question
No. 2 in Political Law. At least try.
Focus on understanding the law, more than memorizing it. There are enumeration-type questions, true, but these
questions are integrated in a problem. You cant give an enumeration unless you understand the problem given.
Youre not required to cite a specific provision or case.
Read recent jurisprudence. If theres a bar ops supporting your group, ask for digests. While you dont have to
attend all review/lectures, as stated in No. 2 above, get the materials because updates on jurisprudence are usually
included in these materials.
Relax and pray. Preparing for the bar examination is pressure-packed. Its not known as the most difficult exam, at
least under the Philippine sun, for nothing. From time to time, go to the beach or watch a movie. Maybe youve heard
of the law on diminishing returns (it wont be asked in the bar exams; it simply means that after a certan point, your
brain will absorb less even if you push harder). If you feel guilty when going out, bring a codal. By the way, if you
dont believe in a God, you could meditate.
Go through the Answers of the previous bar exams. Theres a book published by the UP Law Center. If you dont
have the time to get it or read it, at least be familiar with the style in answering bar questions. You cant just write
everything you know and hope that the examiner will find the answer or the patience to go over everything you wrote.
The 3-part answer worked for me. Start with: Yes (or no), the accused is correct (or wrong) in arguing that his arrest
is unlawful (theres no such thing as it depends). Second, give a short discussion on the instances of warrantless
arrests. Third, explain shortly why the facts dont fall under any of the instances (or why it falls under one). Assuming
that your conclusion is wrong, at least the examiner will see that you know the law. Maybe youll get a point for the
second part.
Know what to expect on the day of the exams. Read about that here.

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Bar Exam Tips & Secrets

Atty. Glenn M. Mortel

"There is nothing that can help a bar examinee most than a constant and intensive study of the
provisions of the various codes and the interpretation and application thereof by the Supreme
Court in its decisions. By study is meant, that the provisions must be correctly understood and
the thought or words thereof put to memory. After a chapter, for example, has been studied, the
next one should be studied next, and after this, a review of all that has already been studied rereviewed, to keep the subject matter and the provisions fresh in mind." - Alejo Labrador
1. Actual preparation for the bar examination starts from the first day a law student
attended class during the first year in the law school.
2. The blooming secret in passing the bar examination is this: Present good answers that
will make the examiners take notice. Good answers anchored upon logical reasoning,
written in readable English and more importantly, justified by appropriate legal authority.
3. If the candidates are at a loss as to what specific legal provisions or case doctrines to
use in answering problems, the only alternative left for them is to use their own common
sense.
4. The key to passing the bar examinations is contained in one word: ARTICULATION.
Articulation is expressive of the following basic fundamentals: good language,
impressive presentation, logical reasoning and substantial background knowledge of law
and procedure.
5. The examinee who has a fairly good command of English, assuming that he is prepared
in all other matters, stands definitely with a much better chance of passing.
6. The responsive character of a given answer would depend to a great extent, on
command of good language, logical reasoning and impressive presentation. This
objective of preparing impressive and responsive answers can only be achieved
by constant practice.
7. Get this straight right now. Passing the bar examination has been, still is, and will always
be a difficult proposition!
8. No one can really help you pass the bar examination but yourself.
9. The greatest blooming secret of passing the bar examination is and will always
be: PREPARATION! Not just any kind of preparation, but proper, sound and systematic
preparation.

10. Systematic review can only be done by the use of what we call scheduleswhich the
candidate must follow vigorously to the letter if he expects to attain the best results.
11. There will be times when you become sleepy while reviewing but never for one moment,
tell yourself: Man, this review can wait! Do not be stupid. Always remind yourself that
time is of the essence and is decidedly running too short for you.
12. Force yourself to read, understand and absorb what law you reviewed. Otherwise, all
your efforts will go to waste.
13. Love and review cannot mix in the business of preparing for the bar examination.
14. Early to bed, early to rise, that is the way to make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
15. A morning shower is a must.
16. Never stay up late to the wee hours of morning, cramming law into your head. This
would not do you any good. Remember, you have to conserve as much energy as you
possibly can.
17. Remember, keeping your health in good running condition is just as important as
reviewing and passing the bar examination.
18. Good handwriting is decidedly a great factor in passing the bar examination.
19. To beat time, never write kilometric answers.
20. By far the most important tool that the bar candidate could equip himself with which to
tackle the examination that is inherently personal to him iscommand of written
English.
21. You have to write simple, grammatically correct English if you want to hurdle the
examination.
22. Presentation of answers that are not only good but logical, full of substance and
supported by law and other authorities, are gems to the examiner, whether he has a
good or black heart.
23. Make your motto now: Stick to codal provisions! Compliment this with doctrines laid
down in recent decisions of the Supreme Court.
24. Impressive answers showing the candidates reasoning faculty is what the examiners
want to read in your examination notebooks.
25. Ability to retain your understanding of the substance of the law through efforts of study
is more desirable quality to possess than mere ability to memorize legal provisions.
26. Memorizing a particular provision of law word for word but without understanding it and
its various implications is a lot of wasted effort.
27. Never fail to read the newspapers when you are preparing for the bar examination.
Read newspapers from 20 to 30 minutes every day.
28. You can never expect to pass the bar examination without preparation.

29. Predicting probable questions based on important principles or provisions of law is the
safer method of speculating what the examiners are likely to ask in their examinations.
30. Never depend on tips for your passing. But never brush these tips aside as nothing but
trash. They may likely cause your downfall. Never, however, bank too much on them.
31. Cheating is one sure way to endanger your future career as a prospective member of
the legal profession. Never commit such atrocious act like cheating in the bar
examination. It never pays. Depend on your own capabilities. Fight
your battle royale on a high plane!
32. Fountain or sign pens are really the most important equipment in bar examination.
Never start for the examination without bringing along with youtwo or more fountain or
sign pens.
33. Like the weather, examiners are absolutely a bunch of unpredictable fellows, capable of
asking unpredictable questions.
34. Do not try to memorize 50 definitions or distinctions in any given time. Two or three will
do.
35. The real secret in remembering the matters contained in an enumeration is the use
of keywords. Make your keywords on enumerations you consider important.
36. Never leave a blank in an enumeration! However, if you use the letters a, b, c, etc. for
numbers in the enumeration, so much the better. Ten to one, the examiner may not
count his fingers. Make the first four in the enumeration definitely good.
37. The bar candidate should do well to be always on guard against catchy
questions capable of being answered in a number of ways, e.g. What is a complaint?
The perfect answer should include both definitions in criminal and civil procedure.
38. Never be content to answer questions with a mere yes or no. You must, at all times, give
justification why your answer is a yes or no. Unless, of course, the examiner qualifies his
question with instruction enclosed in parenthesis like: (Answer with a yes or no only).
39. Always determine the real facts (examiners have the bad habit of including irrelevant
facts to confuse you) and the issue or issues in controversy. Which side you take,
always justify your side with reasons based on law, rule, equity and justice. Whatever
your answer may be, provided it is written in legible language, the examiner will never
deny you the corresponding credit you deserve.
40. Always remember, make efforts to frame your answers so that they areresponsive to
the questions. Never beat around the bush. Go right straight ahead with your answer.
Avoid citations if and when you are notabsolutely sure about them. The shorter the
answers are, the more direct, the better. Avoid display of flowery expressions which
are complicated by legal verbosity. All you need are sensible, direct and reasonable
answers that are responsive to the questions.
41. Legal knowledge is not enough to solve a particular legal issue. What is important
is ability to apply this knowledge to the solution of legal controversies.

42. The most convenient method of tackling problem questions is to present immediately
the conclusion of a given answer. Practice, practice, constant practice will help the bar
candidate write good answers that examiners will give favorable credit.
43. The technique of writing down answers responsive to questions is a matter that the
candidate must learn as a matter of imperative necessity.
44. Brevity and directness when done properly could make an answer both effective and
impressive. However, when overdone to a point where the ideas sought to be conveyed
becomes vague and difficult to understand, they become a liability.
45. Never forget that every candidate is a potential bar topnotcher.
46. So, if you are a candidate just preparing for the bar examination, whose chances of
passing are quite problematical, just limit your ambition for the present to just working
hard to obtain a 75 percent in the great battle of your life.
47. Take comfort in this: That even those who become lawyers by "just luck", are making
good in the practice of law. Nothing can really put a determined man down.
48. In your preparation for the greatest battle of your life, call upon Him who is the source of
all knowledge, wisdom and understanding. In deep humility, bended knees and
tears, He will make all things beautiful in His time.Victory belongs to the most
persevering!
Note:
All excerpts, except the last (No. 48), were taken by Atty. GLENN M. MORTEL from the
book "SECRETS ON HOW TO PASS THE BAR EXAMINATION" by Dean Wenceslao G. Laureta,
1990 edition.