BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS

Subjects & Schedules

The Bar Exam is divided into eight Bar Subjects spread over four Sundays. While the
relative total weights of each of the four Sundays are equal, the eight Bar Subjects are not
however of equal weight.

First Sunday:
A.M.: Political Law & International Law - 15%
P.M.: Labor Law & Social Legislation - 10%
Total - 25%
Second Sunday:
A.M.: Civil Law - 15%
P.M.: Taxation - 10%
Total - 25%
Third Sunday:
A.M.: Mercantile Law - 15%
P.M.: Criminal Law - 10%
Total - 25%
Fourth Sunday:
A.M.: Remedial Law - 20%
P.M.: Legal Ethics & Practical Exercises - 5%
Total - 25%

All morning subjects have higher weights compared to the afternoon subjects.
Remedial Law is the heaviest at twenty percent (20%) and so it contributes significantly to
whether you make it or not. Remedial Law can literally pull you up or down heavily. On the
other hand, Legal Ethics & Practical Exercises carries the lightest weight (5%). However,
this does not mean that you can take Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises for granted
because even if your General Weighted Average is enough to land you in the Top 10, but if
you get a Grade of lower than 50 in Legal Ethics, you still won’t see you name in
newspapers or in the Supreme Court website when the results are released.

Type of Questions

Bar Exam questions come in different types and forms. Most of the questions are
essay problems and those that require theoretical discussions. However, notwithstanding
the supposed policy against asking questions that require pure memorization, we still see a
lot of objective-type questions, like definitions, distinctions, and enumerations. Objective-
type questions should therefore be taken as part of Bar Exam realities, i.e., things that we
cannot control and we just have to find a really good way of dealing with them, which, by
the way, is one of the purposes of this book.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS

Time for Answering

You have four (4) hours for morning subjects, that is, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, but only
three (3) hours for afternoon subjects, i.e., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is understandable
because afternoon subjects carry a lesser weight compared to their morning counterparts.
However, there appears to be no considerable difference in the length of the questionnaires
for the morning and afternoon subjects. This means that you have to think, analyze,
formulate, and write faster in the afternoon.

Things We Cannot Control

There are things that you can control and things that you cannot in the Bar Exam. The
first technique therefore is to learn how to take advantage of things you can control and
minimize, if not totally prevent the adverse effects of things that you cannot control. For
example, there is too much material to be covered in each subject and you do not know
where the questions will come from. This is not within your control. But if we can only
guess or anticipate where the questions will come from, it will make preparation a lot
easier. This is done by looking back while looking forward.

Looking Back While Looking Forward

There is no better way to understand the nature of Bar Exam questions than by studying
and examining past Bar Exams. You should closely study and analyze questions of the last
ten (10) years at the least. Look for patterns, trends and repetitions. A good percentage of
questions is repeated or recycled oftentimes with only slight modifications. These repeated
questions or topics are favorites of Bar examiners, and since they are recycled, you have no
excuse if you cannot answer them convincingly.

But looking back is only half the secret, the other half is anticipation. No question in the Bar
Exam should be a surprise, or worse, a shocker. Every question must be anticipated. Every
issue must have a ready solution.

Why People Flunk the Bar?

It is said that one should have the three L’s to become a lawyer – Logic, Language and
Law. The first two L’s are supposed to be in one’s arsenal even before entering law school,
while the third L is learned in law school. Most of the reasons for flunking the Bar Exams
are related to these three L’s. People who flunk have problems in one, in two or in all the
three L’s.

Logic problems come out in terms of misappreciation of the facts and the issues, poor
analysis, faulty reasoning, unjustified conclusions, and the like. Language problems come in
the form of grammatical errors, poorly structured sentences, misspelled words, and poor
written communication skills. Law problems come in the form of ignorance of the law or
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
legal principles implicated by the questions, poor understanding of the law, obsolete legal
knowledge, and not knowing how to apply the law to the facts of the problem.

Other reasons are illegible handwriting, inadequate preparations, health problems,

and sometimes even emotional problems.

Preparation is the Key

Preparation is the key to success to success in the Bar Exam. But this is not just any kind of
preparation. You must have a game plan and you should stick to it as if your entire life
depends on it. The following are proven preparation tactics:

Analyze your strong and weak subjects.

Before you begin your intensive Bar Preparation and Review, you should know your
strong and weak subjects. Evaluate your performance on each of the eight Bar subjects.
Your transcript of law school records can give you a more or less objective evaluation of
your performance. Examine your transcript of records and compute your grade average on
each of the eight Bar subjects. This will give you an idea on what your strong and weak
subjects are as evaluated and perceived by your law school professors. Consider this data
when you allocate your review time on the Bar subjects.

Consider the Weight of Each Bar Subject.

Consider also the weight of each Bar subject as well as your own perceptions on
their levels of difficulty in allocating your review time. More review time should be
allocated to morning subjects, especially to Remedial Law, but make some adjustments on
subjects that you perceive to be more difficult than the others.

Check your armory.

Conduct an inventory of your books and materials. Be sure you have all subjects and
topics covered.

Study to Beat the Exam

Bar Review and preparation isn’t law school anymore where you just sit down in
long hours of lectures and wait for your turn to recite provisions of law and cases. You no
longer study to survive the horrifying graded recitations. The Bar Exams is not only about
what you have remembered or what you can recite. It tests more than mere memory and
understanding. It tests your ability to analyze legal problems and to apply relevant laws
and jurisprudence.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
Bar Exam Preparation is not just about studying to know the law and jurisprudence. It is
not only about filling up your mind with legal knowledge. It is more about preparing your
machine to use and apply all these legal knowledge that you have acquired.

Study Smartly, Not Just Hard

Bar review and preparation isn’t really about studying hard and burning your
machine too much. Note that there are only around fifteen to twenty numbers or problems
in each subject. Hence, as a general rule, Bar Examiners will only choose topics which are
important or relevant. Questions that are out of this world should not really pose much of a
problem. They are rare and they are just icings on the cake.

Classify Legal Provisions

Since the Bar Examiners can only ask so much, therefore, the actual amount of legal
knowledge that you need in each subject is pretty much limited. The secret here is to
classify provisions of law into different categories. Examples of categories are the
following:

 Class “A” – very important provisions that should be mastered and memorized.
Place in this category those provisions that have already been asked in the Bar at
least five times. You will know this by studying past Bar Exam questions.
Controversial provisions that have not yet been asked should also be placed in this
category;
 Class “B” – important provisions that should be mastered. Provisions that have
already been asked repeatedly in Bar Exam should be included here;
 Class “C” – relevant provisions that are the usual subjects of legal controversies and
cases but which have not yet been the subject of a Bar question or which have not
been the subject of a Bar question in the last five or ten years. Just study and
understand these provisions;
 Class “D” – Not so important or relevant provisions. This includes provisions that
are not expected to be in the arsenal of new legal practitioners. They have not yet
been the subject of a Bar Exam in the last century. More likely, they will never be
asked in the next century or even in the next millennium of Bar Exams. However,
you should still read them as part of your preparation, but if you lack time, they may
be sacrificed in favor of those in Categories “A”, “B” and “C”. Don’t worry, I’m sure
you have covered them in law school.

Practice, Practice, Practice

 The problem with many Bar takers is that they think they can hurdle the Bar Exam
by simply attending Bar Reviews, listening to lecturers, and reading their materials.
Well, that is a good way to prepare if the Bar Exam were only an exam on reading
comprehension and listening. But the Bar Exam is more than that – it is an essay
exam! Even objective-type questions, like those asking for definitions, distinctions,
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
or enumerations are all to be answered in essay form. Hence, there is only one
effective way to prepare, that is, practice writing essays, good essays.
 The technique, therefore, is to acquire legal knowledge by listening to good review
lectures and by studying your materials and then spend time to practice applying
that legal knowledge by writing good essays.

Take Practice Test Under Exam Conditions

 Law school exams usually take only about one to two hours. But have you already
tested yourself using a full-length Bar Exam questionnaire in a full stretch of four
hours or two Bar subjects for a total of seven hours in a single day? If not, then you
are in for a big shock mentally and physically in the first Sunday of the Bar Exams.
To avoid this shock, the secret is to take Mock Bar Exams that simulate actual exam
conditions. You reserve days for Mock Bar Exams. Simulate time allocations, ringing
of the bell, completing the name card, inserting it inside the envelop stapled in the
notebook, sealing the envelope, actual answering, reviewing your answers, etc. See
if you your mind can stay active for the whole day, that is, from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. See
if your writing hand and fingers can survive seven hours of punishment. See if you
can manage answering without having to answer the call of nature. Evaluate your
mental and physical readiness for this kind of exam.

Stick to Your Own Materials

 Choose only one principal book per subject and be sure it is one of the books you
have used in that subject while you were in law school. It must have your markings,
highlightings, underlinings, and your notes and other jottings on the subject. But it
doesn’t mean that it will be your only book on the subject. You still have to quickly
browse other books and materials and look for concepts, matters, or discussions
that are not in your principal book you have chosen. Once you found anything of
that sort, make marginal notes in your principal book. The tactic here is that during
the pre-month (August), your principal book should already contain all you need in
that subject.

To Memorize or Not, That is the Question

 Attempting to memorize all the law available will make the exam frustrating and
difficult. Besides, you won’t have the time to actively and consciously memorize
everything. Moreover, it is not really necessary for you to cite legal provisions,
excerpts from cases or their titles verbatimly. In fact, restating a legal provision of
concept in your own words will have more impact on the examiner because it
exhibits profound understanding of legal provisions and concepts. But I am not
saying that you should not memorize anything. As discussed above, you should limit
memorization only to those provisions which you have classified as Class “A”. As to
the others, you will be surprised that you may somehow remember them, even
verbatimly to some extent, by simply studying and trying to understand them.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
Oftentimes, it is also through repetition, that is, by reading, reviewing, and re-
reviewing that you will subconsciously commit legal provisions concepts to
memory.

Stick to Codal Provisions

 Never take codal provisions for granted. Bar Materials should always be studied in
this order: (a) Codal Provisions; (b) Commentaries; and (c) Cases. These are the
three C’s in the study of law.
 Codal provisions contain the text of the law per se. If you have only read the
commentaries or the cases, but not the codes, how can you then write “the Law
provides that…” with confidence? You don’t know the law or what it provides if you
have not read the code. I am therefore surprised to meet many Bar Examinees who
got the courage to take the Bar Exam without having read the text of the
Constitution, the Labor Code, Civil Code, the Family Code, the Revised Penal Code,
and the relevant provisions of the Code of Commerce, the Tax Code, Tariff and
Customs Code, Court of Tax Appeals Act, and other key provisions. Well, you may
fool some Bar Examiners some of the time, but you cannot fool all Bar Examiners all
the time. Worse, you may just be simply fooling yourselves.

Prepare Physically & Emotionally

 The Bar Exam is not just about mental preparation. You might have prepared your
mind for it pretty well but if your body bugs down, then all your preparation will
come to naught. Keep a healthy lifestyle throughout the review period and the Bar
Exam month. Get enough sleep. Eat nourishing meals. Exercise to keep your body
and mind sharp.
 You should also keep away from all kinds of emotional problems. Most of these
problems may be avoided if only the persons close to you understand what you are
going through in preparing for and in taking the Bar Exams. One tactic here is to
write love letters to your spouse, fiancée, fiancé, parents, kids, relatives, friends, and
your enemies (?) and explain to them what you will be undergoing, its importance to
you and to them, that you can no longer spend the same number of hours with them
as before, that they should spare you from text messaging, chain emails, and errands
that could be done by other persons. Ask for their understanding and support,
morally and financially if you need to or beg for it if you have to.

Avoid radical changes in your personal relationships

 Avoid radical changes in your personal relationships during the review period and
the Bar Exam month. If you still have no boy friend or girl friend, then avoid the
temptation of wooing one during this period. You cannot afford heartaches during
this period. Do not marry. Do not break up or cool off with your boy friend or girl
friend. Do not separate with your spouse. If they want to, beg if you must but things
like these just have to be postponed after you shall have finished taking the exam.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
 If your mind starts to wander and you begin to lose focus on your preparations
because of anxiety, worry, grief, and other personal and family problems that you
could not have avoided like losing a loved one or critical illness in the family, always
try to reclaim your mind and channel your energy to your preparations. God forbids,
but if you lose a loved one during this period, then let him or her serve as your
inspiration. Take the Bar Exam for him or her. To see you fail in the Bar Exam is the
last thing your loved one wants to see if he or she were still alive. Worse, you lost
focus in your preparation and review because of him or her.

Countdown

 Have you already counted how many days you still have before the first Sunday of
the Bar Exam? If not, then try to count the days remaining and keep a countdown in
a conspicuous area in the place where you will be staying during the review period. I
suggest you use a chalk and an eraser and keep a countdown on your bedroom door.
Every time you get up in the morning, deduct one day from this countdown and it
will give you a sense of urgency in your preparation, as well as a sense of guilt every
time a day passes and you have not really studied anything.

Things to Bring

 Notice of Admission
 Identification Card
 Sign Pens
 Tissue Paper
 Emergency Medicines
 Books & Notes
 Lunch & Snacks

The Ten Commandments

in Answering Bar Exam Questions
by Atty. Ralph A. Sarmiento

1. Thou shall not abandon your common sense.

2. Thou shall leave your personal biases at home.

3. Thou shall answer only what is being asked.

4. Thou shall not invent facts.

5. Thou shall write legibly and clearly.

6. Thou shall not write unduly long answers.

 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS

7. Thou shall not brag about your legal knowledge.

8. Thou shall not criticize the problem.

9. Thou shall always state the legal basis of your answer.

10. Thou shall not make an unjustified conclusion.

PRELIMINARIES

This should be the jumping board to psyche up for the momentous task ahead. Even this
preliminary would need careful planning. But more than the efficiency factor, its better to
be effective, therefore, always plan your trip around the pragmatic horizon.

1. Brief. - Bring only things you really truly honestly need for the pre-week. Never
overload. Prepare for a to-each-his-own scenario in the airport or port. You should
never assume that someone would be there to meet and help you carry your
luggage. Also, it’s good to trim down your materials to the most basic ones. You
won’t have time to go over annotated books during the bar month. Go for codals
instead and maybe reviewers and answers to bar questions. Also, outlines and
notes will do. In this way, you will be constrained to limit yourself to these materials
and avoid spreading yourself out too thin.
2. Family Home. – Be it airline or vessel reservations and lodging places, be sure to
confirm your billeting. Make sure the landlady or the manager of the condo or dorm
personally confirms your reservation. Don’t be hesitant to ask about amenities and
furnishings. The last thing you will need during the entire bar month is an
uncomfortable lodging place.
3. Grace Period. – Schedule your departure for Manila around a practical and
comfortable time. Calculate the number of days you will need to process your
permit and visit the Bar Confidant’s Office among other things. Also, allow yourself
reasonable time/days for settling into your new place. You will need at least a week
to allow the place to “grow on you” so that you will not shock your system and risk
having to adjust yourself within the bar month. Pre-week reviews may help.
4. Bill of Particulars. – Be sure everything is complete for the processing of your bar
permits. Ask around and confirm the completion of the requirements before leaving
for Manila. Inquire at the Bar Confidant’s Office from time to time.
5. Adjust your body clock. – Months before the Bar, make sure you train yourself to
wake up at 5 am and stay wide awake and alert till 5 pm. This will simulate the
examination schedule. Also train yourself to eat a fast but full lunch. This will
require a very good technique. Lastly, as a very popular reviewer would suggest,
“run the marathon”. Practice answering Bar questions using the exact same sign
pen you will use during the bar within the exact bar examination time. That is 8am-
12pm and 2pm-5pm. This will train your hands to write continuously for 4 hours.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
6. Support Pendente Lite. – Take your vitamins, eat healthy, and drink lots of
water. Never forget physical activities, you need that to keep your brain running
smoothly too. If you have to try some new supplements, do so months before the
bar so that you can monitor your body’s response.

Of course, you should have imbibed the 4L’s (law, logic, language, legible handwriting) in
your system by now.

THE FIRST SATURDAY

This day should not be taken lightly for it is as nerve-racking as the first Sunday itself,
especially for first time bar takers. The “fear of the unknown” will occupy position number
one. Be weary of possible apparitions courtesy of early childhood traumas and
fixations. You can never tell…

1. Do lots of calming exercises. Panic attacks and anxieties will be in overload on this
day. Be sure to catch yourself and not waste your energy on useless worries. Pray a
lot.
2. If possible, visit DLSU and find your assigned building. Familiarize yourself with the
place and go through the anticipated routine. This will at least ease your nerves at
some level. “Knowing thy enemy is winning half the battle”
3. Limit your review to codals. Pace yourself and do not overdo it. You are already
expected to be finished with deep studying during the past 5 days or so. This is the
time to relax a bit.
4. Attend the Bar Ops mass. – You will need God’s blessing as well as a break from
studying. Fresh air outside the four walls of your condo or dorm will do you a lot of
good. It will clear your head. Also, this is the time to break away from the
monotony of legal provisions and indulge your weary brain in some good old
“tsismis” of what’s and who’s.
5. Savor the fellowship and the moral support given to you by your well wishers. They
will be overflowing during the first Sunday but you will sorely miss the action after
they abruptly become invisible during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. So get a load of them
while they are still there.
6. Call or talk to someone who inspires you.
7. TRY to get enough rest. (or sleep if you’re one of those who can)

THE FIRST SUNDAY

THE first Sunday is the height of the pendulum. In the rollercoaster play of emotions that
bar takers would surely experience this whole month, the first Sunday will be the peak.

1. Ab Initio. - You should have set your alarm clocks the night before to make sure you
don’t over sleep. Literally jump out of bed and do some physical movements and
stretching. Read tips if you have, to rouse your sleepy brain. Just read, don’t study
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
them. More importantly, welcome the day like a meeting with an old lost dear
friend. The Bar is not something to conquer. Befriend it.
2. Pace yourself. Give enough time and provide for personal necessities. Re check
things to bring and make sure you don’t forget your permit and pens. Survival kit is
essential. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (it’s advisable to make and keep a
list according to your individual needs)
3. Damages. - Instead of “tagip-TIPS”, rely on your personal preparation. Yes, you
cynics! YOU CAN PASS THE BAR WITHOUT THOSE TIPS. Need testimonials? You
won’t need to look very far.
4. Subpoena. - Call someone who inspires you.
5. Summons. - Call your family.
6. Nuisance. - Dress for success and enjoy the La Salle cheering squad awaiting you
along Taft Ave. Don’t skip the “parade”. Your “Bar experience” would not be
complete without it.

THE MOMENT

The make or break nature of this examination is not debatable but the good news is, we
have the opportunity to make it lean more on the “make” side. Of course, it is expected that
you have done your share of studying and preparation. This is the moment of truth.

1. Remember your 4L’s.

2. Be conscious of the time but don’t let it get the better of you.
3. Calculate the minutes you would want to spend on a question to make sure you
finish on time.
4. Remember the techniques in formulating your answer. The pyramid or the
inverted pyramid will be very helpful.
5. Call to mind that the MOST minutes an examiner would spend on your booklet is
10. MAKE SURE HE GETS WHAT YOU MEAN IN TEN MINUTES. I’M TALKING
ABOUT ALL 20 QUESTIONS. TEN MINUTES.
6. PRAY.
7. Think of someone who inspires you.

DURING THE PRE-WEEK

This is still crucial and you can’t let your guard down just yet. The days in between will
need genius planning and technique because you can’t waste a single day and lose it to an
ill-prepared schedule. Remember, every minute counts. Smart studying is the key.

1. Destierro. - However, Mondays should be reserved for recreation and insanity. Off
limits to books and review materials. Go out. You have the best excuse to have the
audacity to indulge your most sinful desires and go zany. Just make sure you stay
within the limits. Go malling, eat out or do something insane as a release. Just make
sure you don’t tarnish La Salle’s immaculate reputation by doing something
foolhardy. “Use sound discretion; after all, we are all of legal age.”
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
2. Motion to Dismiss. - Do things that are not related to the bar. In a word, Un-law it!
3. ASSIGNMENT OF ERRORS: Berate yourself if you feel that you want to give in to
your penchant for discussing answers. NEVER DISCUSS ANSWERS OR TALK ABOUT
THE PAST EXAM. Consider it fait accompli, moot and academic. You’ve done your
part. Get over it. It will help ease your nerves, as in “nerbiyos”.
4. Contract of Adhesion. - Tuesday onwards, back to serious business. Study, Study,
Study but pace yourself. Prioritize subjects but rest when your body calls for it.
Smart studying is the key. Don’t just study everything randomly. Chose more
important topics to dwell on and disregard likely insignificant ones. Trust your
instincts. “See the forest and not the trees” as one of our professors would say.
5. Postponement. - And if you lose the passion, pause for a while and think of the
reason why you are here in the first place.
6. Subpoena. - Call someone who inspires you.

GETTING PERSONAL

For those who will have roommates, getting through the bar month in good spirits is one
mean feat. The pressure is there and it can get into everyone at one point or another. Here
are a few tips:

1. Respect each other’s space.

2. Always remember that you are all going through the same thing. You are a motley
crew stashed away in one bedlam.
3. Don’t over react.
4. When you find yourself in tense situations, think happy thoughts.
5. Practice the art of compromise.
6. On money issues: Lay cards on the table. Don’t hesitate to discuss and keep a list of
expenses.
7. Accommodate quirks and idiosyncrasies.
8. Do at least one good thing for a roommate a day.
9. Be sensitive to the needs of others.
10. Be considerate.
11. Have some bonding time with roommates. Anticipate differences in opinions and
attitudes. Upbringings and family backgrounds are enlightening. Different strokes
for different folks.
12. Don’t take things too seriously.
13. Be honest with your feelings but be open to suggestions.
14. Enjoy the experience.
15. Remember: The Bar will only be a month. You still have a lifetime of friendship to
share together.

Getting Through the Rest of the Week

By the third week, you will feel the gradual but very pronounced loss of excitement,
enthusiasm and energy. The enemy at this point? Giving in to self-pity and defeat because
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
of the toll the bar brings physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. But hold on,
dear Bar taker, just the fact that you have come to this point only tells you one thing. You
are here because you deserve it. You’ve earned it. Now is the worst time to give up. Here’s
a little inspiration: “…you can never tell how close you are; it may be near when it seems
afar; so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit; its when things go rough that you must
not quit.” Sustain your buoyancy. Keep floating.

HAPPY ENDING

Nothing beats preparation and passion but after all is said and done, you will walk out of La
Salle’s gate soaked in beer feeling proud of yourself. You’ve gotten through the bar in one
piece. It will be hard but you have to admit, it will also have its moments. Physically and
emotionally, it will be a growing experience and not many people have the opportunity to
claim that. That will constitute your BRAGGING RIGHTS.

Enjoy! Treat yourself. You deserve it. But before you go paint the town red, don’t forget to
pay your courtesy calls. Give out your thank you cards. Gratitude is never an outmoded
virtue.

THE FORMULA

“WORK AS IF NO PRAYER WOULD HELP, AND PRAY AS IF NO WORK WOULD HELP.”

PREPARATION + PASSION and INSPIRATION + PRAYER AND NEVER FORGET TO ENJOY

THE WHOLE BAR EXPERIENCE!

THE GREAT FORMULA

IN PASSING THE BAR EXAMINATIONS
Contributed by:
Atty. Glenn M. Mortel
(espogi4@yahoo.com)

"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 re-reviewed, 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.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
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 that 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 schedules which 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 is command of
written English.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
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 you two
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
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
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 are
responsive to the questions. Never beat around the bush. Go right straight ahead
with your answer. Avoid citations if and when you are not absolutely 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.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
HARD WORK!
An Interview with Dean Jovito Salonga
Contributed by:
Atty. Glenn M. Mortel
(espogi4@yahoo.com)

HARD WORK! - This, in a nutshell, is Dean Jovito Salonga's formula of passing the bar
examination.

Dean Salonga stressed the need for the candidate to determine for himself a definite goal -
an objective, to which he must train his guns from his first year in college up to the time he
finally tackles the bar examination, if he expects to achieve success.

The youngest of law deans ever to assume such distinctive office in this country, said
that passing the bar is a hard job and, therefore, it requires thorough preparation.

He discussed at length the various factors which, in his experience, had helped him
tremendously in preparing for the bar examinations.

The first factor: DETERMINATION.

The bar candidate, he explained, must have the spirit and the will to emerge triumphant in
the great task of attaining his definite objective.

The young educator recalled that when he took up the study of the law from his freshman
year at the state university, he had always nurtured in himself the secret
ambition of topping the bar examination if and when he takes it. Of course, he admitted,
he never deviated from his objective.

At the same time he confided that while he had this great ambition within himself, he never
breathed it to any soul, much less to the girl of his dreams at the time.

A smile crept over his face, a smile that outshone his youthful countenance. You see, he
explained, there were possibilities of failure. No one can really tell whether he can pass the
examination, much less be certain that he will top it.

Imagine the embarrassment to which I might have exposed myself if I really told the whole
world then of my great ambition and never made it? he said.

Remember, the possibilities are equally great for success as well as failure. Nevertheless, it
is always good to dream of great ambitions. And particularly so when you realize any of
them eventually.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
The second factor: Hard work of preparation.

The main bulk of Dean Salonga's preparations centered on the writing of review notes on
all bar subjects since he was a freshman law student.

This great task, he recalled, contributed very greatly to his attaining an impressive
foundation of knowledge in all bar subjects. Preparation such as this one provides the
student self-confidence to face the examination without fear.

The third factor: Extensive reading of every and all conceivable printed matter is they
cultural, philosophical or otherwise.

The idea here, the dean explained, is to attain not only broad cultural background
knowledge but also a better facility and ability for self-expression. Another advantage of
extensive reading is discipline. Discipline, he said, such as enables one to absorb what one
reads.

The fourth factor: Fifteen minutes of daily morning meditation. With prayers, if you will.

Dean Salonga always had this morning meditation. This enabled him to go over mentally
the various points covered in the review he made the previous day. More than this, it gave
him an opportunity to make the brain rest after a long and tedious dreary reading.

The last factor: Group discussion.

Dean Salonga said group discussions, particularly over matters under review, gives the
candidate an idea exactly where his weak point lies. In this case, he will have an
opportunity to take remedial measures to save the situation.

Moreover, he added, group discussion will afford the candidate a better understanding of
the law which he may have before then, merely but passing knowledge.

Dean Salonga does not believe in requiring students to memorize the law word for word as
is being required by majority of professors in the different colleges.

We must do everything to liberate ourselves from the shackles of memory work, and more
definite emphasis on the understanding of the law from its philosophical and economic
standpoints, and above all, knowledge and ability to apply them in our lives.

And what does he think about the so-called textbooks sold profitably in the market and
used intensively in the law colleges?

Dean Salonga shook his head. Many of them in his opinions are no textbooks at all by any
given standards, never fit to be used in the law colleges.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
The dean maintains the view that many of these so-called "textbooks" are written by what
he calls properly as scissors and clipping authors who do nothing but copy and quote
materials after materials here and there from numerous works written by authors no
better than they.

They piece all these clippings together and publish them later to pass the same as
"textbooks". Any high school graduate with ability for research, capacity to cut clippings
can do just as well in the preparation of similar "textbooks".

As a parting word to the bar candidate, Dean Salonga has this to say:

"Never forget that preparation is the thing that he must have to fight his battle, the bar
examination."

NEVER QUIT!
An Interview with Dean Vicente Abad Santos
Contributed by:
Atty. Glenn M. Mortel
(espogi4@yahoo.com)

No matter how disappointed you may be with your answers to questions on the first day of
the bar examination, you should never make the unpardonable mistake of quitting.

This valuable piece of advice from former Dean Vicente Abad Santos of the College of Law,
University of the Philippines, is addressed to all bar candidates, present or future.

The UP law dean, the youngest to occupy this distinguished position in the state university,
cited the cases of some UP law graduates who quit after the first day of the examination
because they thought their answers were no good.

Only the examiners can determine this, he pointed out.

Preparations should not begin after graduation but on the first day the candidate enters
his freshman year in the law school.

What did he do after graduation day?

Dean Abad Santos immediately went on a two-week vacation from his codes and
textbooks. The idea here, he explained, is to relax both mind and body in preparation for
the review during the months prior to the actual examination day. This, according to him,
will enable the candidate to conserve as much energy for the grind that is to follow so that
on the first day of the examination, he will not be exhausted and confused.

He recommends no hard and fast rules on schedules with respect to the review of the eight
subjects given in the bar examination.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
First, the UP law dean suggests, the candidate should go on leave from work if he belongs
to the working gentry.

The review should be made easy the first three months after graduation, one subject after
another, he said. This review will be intensified only during the month prior to the
examination.

Dean Abad Santos has no objection if the candidate should go to a movie the afternoon
prior to the actual examination day. He also suggests that the candidate should sleep
early so that when he wakes up the following day, he feels fresh and ready for the battle.

After any given examination, the candidate should never worry about his answers any
longer, the UP law dean said. After all, there is nothing he could do about changing them.
Rather, he should worry about the next examination.

Another advice Dean Abad Santos wants to pass on to bar candidates is that they
should never leave any question unanswered.

If they are at a loss as to what specific legal provisions or doctrine to use in answering
problems, the only alternative left for them is to use their own common sense.

CONFIDENCE!
An Interview with Dean Ricardo Lacson
Contributed by:
Atty. Glenn M. Mortel
(espogi4@yahoo.com)

With the best of spirits, the bar candidate should enter the examination room
confident that he will not only pass it, but pass it he would with flying colors.

Thus declared former Dean Ricardo Lacson of the Philippine Law School.

As a matter of fact, the candidate should have had this confidence from the first moment he
entered his freshman class in the law school.

Dean Lacson passed the bar the following year Manuel Roxas topped the examination in
1913.

He discussed the different factors that, in his opinion based on his experience, have helped
him in preparing for the examination.

The first factor: SERIOUS PREPARATION.

Dean Lacson stressed the importance of beginning bar preparation from the
candidate's first day in the freshman year.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
The trouble with students, they never take seriously their preparations while still in the
law school. Many of them only begin to study law for the first time during pre-bar review
classes after their graduation.

Cognizant of the very little time he has in his hands, the candidate now adopts measures
that will enable him to stay late in the nights during the four or five months of preparation.

What happens?

The candidate has to resort to the taking of all conceivable medicine to make him stay
awake practically all nights, Dean Lacson said. Added to this, he also takes plenty of coffee.
Little does he realize the fact that these measures are very injurious to his health.

And they think by staying awake all nights they can cover grounds which, even in
classroom work, they can never expect to cover, Dean Lacson pointed out. The result is that
next morning when they wake up, their minds are all tired, less able to absorb what they
read the night before.

Another factor that the candidate should consider as an important equipment to enable
him to pass the bar examination is command of language.

In my time, Dean Lacson said, my reading of the law, the decisions of the court, has helped
me a great deal in acquiring a better command of language, an indispensable factor in
writing impressive answers.

Relative to the manner of answering bar questions, the PLS dean has this to say:

The candidate must read the questions very carefully before attempting to write down his
answers. He has to make sure he understands what the questions really call for.

The next step is to find out how many questions are asked. Having determined this, he
must apportion the time available in his hands proportionately to the number of
questions.

The dean turned his attention to the biggest mistake that the candidates always commit in
answering questions.

The examinees spend too much time on those questions they know so well and the net
result is that they finally realize they have very little time left for the other problems.

Why do most students have faulty preparation in school?

Faulty method of instructions. Dean Lacson explained that most professors teach only as
a sideline and therefore find little time to prepare. They ought to spend as much time or
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
even more, in improving their teaching methods that the students could benefit much from
them.

Sometimes, Dean Lacson complained, the professors don't even know how to conduct their
respective classes. Consequently, this contributes to the sad state of affairs relative to the
training of students. Some of these professors do not even show their students that they
know at least something about their subject matter.

In this way, he said, the students never learn anymore than what their professors know
about their respective subject matters.

The remedy?

We expect to get good professors, of course, the dean said, those who really have
the ability to impart legal knowledge. We are always willing to receive suggestions from
others how to improve our method of instructions.

REVIEW MATERIALS
An Interview with Dean Teodorico Martin
Contributed by:
Atty. Glenn M. Mortel
(espogi4@yahoo.com)

Judicious selection of materials for review purposes is a matter of extreme necessity to

the bar candidate, according to former Dean Teodorico C. Martin of the College of Law, San
Sebastian College.

In justification of this statement, Dean Martin cited his review efforts for the 1936 bar
examination where he copped the 7th spot among the first 10 top places that year.

I am citing my own efforts as a warning to the future bar candidates so that they will not
commit the same mistakes I made in my time, he said.

Immediately after graduation, Dean Martin recalled not without regretful remembrance, he
secured all the available notes and books used during his undergraduate days and started
his review preparation in earnest.

After three months of intensive reading and study trying vainly to grasp all those matters
contained in his piles of notes and books, he came upon the realization that
he never completed reviewing a single subject.

Imagine my consternation when I realized that I had only one month more to review and
there were eight bar subjects to tackle! He recalled with vivid clarity.
 BAR EXAM TIPS AND SECRETS
He took a stock of the situation and immediately prepared a schedule that would enable
him to complete his preparations for one month!

So he had to force himself to review two subjects in the short span of four days, a
procedure that consequently reduced his mental efficiency.

The bar candidate, Dean Martin said, should use only standard textbooks for review and
avoid reading notes all full of unnecessary details and useless explanations that can only
produce mental confusion in his already confused mind.

Despite his defective review efforts, what enabled Dean Martin to obtain very high rating?

Good background knowledge acquired during four years of college training, particularly
in the eight bar subjects given in the examination, he explained.

Other suggestions for the bar candidates that Dean Martin recommends include efforts
directed toward having a balance diet, proper apportioning of time available when
actually answering bar questions, boarding with three or four candidates in a dormitory
or a secluded house and providing themselves with review notebooks.

Having a balance diet during this rigorous period of preparation is a matter which
candidates always overlook, he said. This time they should have nourishing food, to
enable them to build up body energies that are fast getting worn out from terrific use.

Proper apportionment of time when answering questions will enable the candidate to
tackle all by not making the mistake of using too much time on a few at the expense of
others.

Living in a house with three or four other candidates has undeniable advantages, according
to Dean Martin. Here, they are afforded with the maximum quiet those augers well for
concentrated study and review.

It is impossible to review at home, particularly when there are children, he pointed out. The
demands of family living, family chores and problems unduly disrupt concentration.

Moreover, living with other companions, the bar candidate will be able to discuss
and exchange notes with them on matters that need clarification, he said.

Dean Martin’s last recommendation is the need for the candidate to provide himself
with review notebooks for all bar subjects where he could jot down important provisions
of law under each and leading decisions of the Supreme Court interpreting these legal
provisions.