This is based on my previous posts in the past BAR Exams. As expected, hundreds waited in front of UST. They watched the BAR examinees gallantly making their way out from the BAR site like Gladiators who triumphantly slayed one of the four dragons. The first Sunday was over. Three more left to hurdle. To the BAR examinees – for now forget the examinations in Political and Labor Law. There’s no point in discussing it now. Relax. Your body, especially your mind need to rest. You may wake up late the morning after the BAR if you want to. After that short but well-deserved rest, focus all your plans, your effort, your mind on the next two subjects for the Second Sunday.
Remember your observations and experiences in the First Sunday. Retain those which you think are effective and in a way help you while avoid your perceived mistakes. Learn from your mistakes and initiate actions to correct them. Here are some additional tips for the bar examinees who are chill enough to open their FB accounts:
1. Don’t submit your test booklet too early. There’s no prize for early finishers. Budget and utilize all the time allocated for you to: (a) compose good answers; (b) review your answers; and (c) write legibly. I observed that many bar examinees were going out already by 5:30 P.M. This means that they have submitted their test booklet at around 5:15. Why not utilize the remaining 45 minutes?
2. Finishing is the key. Many fail the Bar exam because they don’t finish the exam. They spend so much time on an early question that they can’t finish the later ones. Or they work on all of the questions at once, but without finishing some or all of them. Either way, these Bar candidates are writing too slowly, and it costs them their ticket to a law license. Focus on one question at a time. Don’t bother or think of another question while answering one. DO NOT browse all the questions at once. Read one question at a time. Reading more than one question at a time will make your brain to process too many problems. This may also cause you to panic when you found out that you don’t know the succeeding questions.
3. Force yourself to answer the present question. Do not skip a single question. This is my personal style and it works for me. Of course you will answer every question within the time allotment. The reason why I am not skipping a question is because of the obvious fact that if I have a little or no idea about that question, skipping it will not help. If I will go back to it later, it will be the same, I have still little or no idea about the question. Seldom you can find a clue or idea in the succeeding questions. So the better option is to give your best shot. Make an intelligent guess. If you already answered this question, you will no longer think of it. You can focus on the next question. And for sure you will not inadvertently leave any question unanswered. You will not have any blank page and you will not be short of space.
4. Budget your time according to the number of questions and length of problems. Check the point percentage allocation for each question. This will be your guide on how much time you will spend for a question. Of course, you will devote more minutes to questions with a big or higher percentage (i.e. 5%; 10%) than questions with a minimum point percentage (i.e. 1%; 2%).
5. Set a time schedule. It’s easy to waste time by getting carried away by a single question or by getting stuck on a question that’s giving you trouble. Make a general allocation for each question and adjust the time depending on their percentage weight. Monitor your pace so that you stay calm and will be able to answer all questions on the exam.
6. If the question is lengthy, read first what is required at the bottom of the question. By doing this, you will be able to determine what facts do you need and what facts are immaterial. This will save you time from re-reading the question. You can also start formulating your answer in mind while reading the question, thus, it will be easier and faster for you to write your answers since you are already guided by your earlier analysis. It will also minimize errors and erasures.
7. Be reminded that one of your tasks while preparing for the Bar exam is to become an expert fact pattern reader. So what do you do if you aren’t very good at reading facts? You need to experiment with different ways to get better at reading facts. Practice answering past Bar questions as many as you can. Analyze the suggested answers and take note how the answers used the facts in the problem. Remember, you won’t get all the possible points if you don’t understand what the Bar examiners are asking you. You must become an expert fact reader in order to write a complete exam answer.
8. Before answering, formulate in your mind what will be placed in your first, second and third paragraphs. Mentally apply your outline. The first paragraph normally contains a one-sentence direct to the point answer to the question. The second paragraph commonly contains legal basis (provision of law in point, jurisprudence, co-relation of the jurisprudence/provision with the facts of the case and application). Third paragraph normally contains the conclusion. When you are already decided of your answer, write it according to your thoughts. In this approach, you will not only be avoiding unnecessary revisions and erasures, you will also maintain the cleanliness of your booklet. Bear in mind that, a dirty booklet is irritating to the eyes of the person checking the same.
9. Use logic or common sense when you do not know the answer. Ask the question, “What is the best solution or resolution for this case?” or “If I were the examiner how do I want the question answered?” Do not just guess, make a smart guess. Your best guide is to think what is most just and equitable since these are the purpose any law seeks to achieve.
10. If you really have no idea on how to answer a really difficult question, or a borderline case, or you do not know what the answer is, the use of inverted pyramid of answering question may be helpful. This may be done by inverting the usual answer format. Initially, present your knowledge of the law and/or jurisprudence, and then make your smart guess. With this, you may be able to show or convince the examiner that you know something about the issue but you were merely incorrect in your conclusion, you may get a credit for your answer.
11. Number your answer accordingly. Don’t make the Examiner search for your answers. Make your answer look professional. Don’t use textspeak and don’t abbreviate. Answers which look professional, are well organized and which use paragraphs and indenting where appropriate make the Examiner’s job easier.
12. An answer to one question in one problem requires a separate page. Answers to sub-questions may be presented continuously in a page separated by space/s. It is suggested, however, that even answers to sub-questions be presented on separate page, unless your answer is very short, so that in case you want to change any or in case you have missed a sub-question, you can still insert your answer in the remaining spaces of the page.
13. Practice, practice, practice. Practice is vital to your success in the Bar exam. You must get used answering Bar essay questions. The only way to know if you can (or if you know the law) is to practice. Answering Bar questions regularly will help you learn the law as well as become a better tester. There are many sample bar exam essay questions and answers available on the internet.
14. The key to success in any endeavor is preparation. Familiarity with the structure of the essay questions and how you respond to them will go a long way in alleviating your anxiety on test day. You job is to practice the approach we’ve just outlined so that it becomes so automatic by exam day that you move from one step to the other without missing a beat.
The task ahead of us is not as great as the Power behind us. May the Force be with you!!!