By Bar Examinations Results released, highest number of passers recorded
The results of the 2020/2021 Bar Examination, dubbed as the “Best Bar Ever” by Associate Justice and 2020/2021 Bar Chairperson Marvic Leonen, have just been released. The results have been astounding and considered as the highest passing rate since 1954.
2020/2021 Bar Examinations Passing Rate
There were 11,790 Bar candidates that were admitted to take the Bar Exams however, 381 were not able to take the Bar exams. While there were 7 who did not complete taking the Bar exams. This leaves 11,402 candidates who were able to finish the 2020/2021 Bar exams. Out of the total of 11,402 who completed the Bar exams 8,241 passed constituting a 72.28% passing rate. Considered to be a record high passing rate next only to the 1954 Bar where the passing rate was 72.28%.
The Top Law Schools in the Country
There were a lot of top performing Law Schools in the 2020/2021 Bar examinations that the Supreme court had to create 4 categories. These categories are as follows:
- Category 1 – Law Schools with more than 1oo candidates
- Category 2 – Law Schools with 51-100 candidates
- Category 3 – Law Schools with 11-50 candidates
- Category 4 – Law Schools with 10 or fewer candidates
For categories 3 and 4 for top-performing law schools with first-time candidates, the law schools were not ranked since all of those that made the list got a 100% passing rate.
Top Performing Schools First-Time Candidates
Law Schools with more than 100 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateneo De Manila University | 280 | 279 | 99.6429% |
| 2 | University of the Philippines - Diliman | 345 | 341 | 98.8406% |
| 3 | San Beda University | 264 | 259 | 98.1061% |
| 4 | University of San Carlos | 200 | 196 | 98.0000% |
| 5 | University of Santo Tomas - Manila | 216 | 201 | 93.0556% |
Law Schools with 51-100 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Louis University | 75 | 74 | 98.6667% |
| 2 | University of Cebu | 77 | 75 | 97.4026% |
| 3 | Xavier University - Ateneo De Cagayan | 98 | 95 | 96.9388% |
| 4 | Ateneo De Davao University | 57 | 55 | 96.4912% |
| 5 | Lyceum of the Philippines University | 53 | 50 | 94.3396% |
Law Schools with 11-50 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateneo De Naga University | 25 | 25 | 100% |
| 1 | Bulacan State University | 20 | 20 | 100% |
| 1 | Jose Maria College | 26 | 26 | 100% |
| 1 | Mariano Marcos State University | 11 | 11 | 100% |
| 1 | Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila | 31 | 31 | 100% |
| 1 | Silliman University | 29 | 29 | 100% |
| 1 | University of Asia and the Pacific | 17 | 17 | 100% |
Law Schools with 10 or fewer Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abra Valley Colleges | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 1 | Batangas State University | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 1 | Rizal Memorial Colleges | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 1 | Tabaco College | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 1 | University of Makati | 7 | 7 | 100% |
| 1 | Western Leyte College | 9 | 9 | 100% |
Top Performing Law Schools All Candidates (including retakers)
Law Schools with more than 100 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateneo De Manila University | 347 | 345 | 99.4236% |
| 2 | University of the Philippines - Diliman | 379 | 372 | 98.1530% |
| 3 | San Beda University | 316 | 308 | 97.4684% |
| 4 | University of San Carlos | 243 | 233 | 95.8848% |
| 5 | Xavier University - Ateneo De Cagayan | 127 | 119 | 93.7008% |
Law Schools with 51-100 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cebu | 99 | 93 | 93.9394% |
| 2 | Ateneo De Davao University | 65 | 61 | 93.8462% |
| 3 | De La Salle Lipa | 53 | 49 | 92.4528% |
| 4 | Polytechnic University of the Philippines | 72 | 64 | 88.6889% |
| 5 | Lyceum of the Philippines University | 97 | 85 | 87.6289% |
Law Schools with 11-50 Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateneo de Naga University | 26 | 26 | 100% |
| 1 | Jose Maria College | 26 | 26 | 100% |
| 1 | University of Asia and the Pacific | 17 | 17 | 100% |
| 1 | Mariano Marcos State University | 12 | 12 | 100% |
| 2 | Angeles University Foundation | 41 | 40 | 97.5610% |
Law Schools with 10 or fewer Candidates
| Rank | School | Takers | Passers | Percentage of Passers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abra Valley Colleges | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 1 | Liceo Del Verbo Divino (Formerly Divine Word University of Tacloban) | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 1 | Luna Goco Colleges | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 1 | Oratañez University | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 1 | Rizal Memorial Colleges | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 1 | University of Makati | 9 | 9 | 100% |
The Most innovative Bar Exam
Aside from being dubbed as the “Best Bar Ever”, the 2020/2021 Bar Examination is also known as the most innovative Bar Examination. The pandemic presented so many challenges in holding the Bar examinations. This is why the Bar Examination team headed by its Chairperson, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, had to introduce several innovations, most of which moved away from the traditions of the Bar examinations. The innovations presented were the following:
- Regional Examination Location – for the first time, the Bar Examinations were held in regional locations. Central location of the Bar Exams was removed, to ensure that health protocols will be properly observed during the taking of the exams.
- Digital – for the first time, laptops were allowed in taking the exams, gone are the traditional hand-writing of essays. The software used for the exams had several security protocols to ensure the integrity of the exam results.
- Reduction of Exam Coverage – instead of covering the 8 major subjects of law and the exam spanning 4 Sundays, the coverage was reduced only to the following: 18 questions on Procedure and Professional Ethics, 18 questions on Law Pertaining to the State and Its Relationship with Its Citizens, 18 questions on Law Pertaining to Private Personal and Commercial Relations, and 15 questions on Criminal Law.
During the announcement of the Bar Passers, 2020/2021 Bar Examination Chairperson, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, addressed the Bar Passers by saying:
“Do not be concerned about those who say that yours was the easiest Bar Examinations, clearly, these naysayers only envy your courage, your resilience, and your grit…”
List of 2020/2021 Bar Examination Passers
