Preparing for the Bar Exams is no easy task. It is often said that preparing for the Bar Exam should start when you first entered law school. This is easier said than done, but a good practice (as a start) would be to put in the hours, sacrifice a little (or a lot if it cannot be helped). There are no hard and fast rules in Bar Preparation.

The following are culled from my own experience:

BASICS. Don't fuss over those weird questions. 75% of the time, Bar Questions will have been asked in previous examinations. A survey of past exams will help. When in doubt, never forget the Civil Code provisions on Human Relations. Memorize it by heart. In Criminal Law, always remember these two words, PRO REO. I'm sure you are familiar with the basics, and the requisite legal doctrines and provisions.


When you answer a question, more often than not, you will remember what has been discussed in class when you were still a law student than as a reviewee at a pre-bar review class.

Buy TRUSTED memory aids and reviewers from secure sources. Never trust at first blush all those "notes" that are being sold near photcopying stations. Some of them might be "koryente" notes. You'll know some of them are filled with errors if you are already familiar with the law.

SACRIFICE. Give up a little of your creature comforts. Put in the time and the effort. Instead of socializing with friends, your time is better spent reading your materials.

CODALS CODALS CODALS. Reviewees often forget this. Some claim that they've read those 1000page plus reviewers but can barely cite a codal provision. Back to basics guys. You will never go wrong with codals.

Don't believe those talks that so-and-so Bar Chairman is lenient/strict. IT doesn't mean squat. Let's face it, the Bar Exam is hard. Be confident but don't be over confident.

SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS. Don't delude yourself you can read a reviewer with 1000plus pages in a week. You will only get mental diarrhea. Simplify. Go for codals and memory aids.

After an exam Sunday, don't discuss your answers with your friends. The issue is now moot and academic. There is no point in arguing over something that is already over.

I guess that's it for now. But remember, CODALS CODALS CODALS.

Try gauging yourself by reading the Table of Contents of the Codal books, if you can explain the topics in your own words, you're in good shape. If you forget what a topic is, go back to the text book and refresh yourself. Rely on the books you've read in the past. You are already familiar with such a book, there's no point in getting a new book and acquainting yourself with it in a short span of time.

Wow thanks for the tips. I am sure these will be a lot of help to everyone visiting the site, especially those who will take the bar exams like me.

Another review tip is the "Mirroring" Scheme.

There are 8 subjects, we start first with Legal Ethics, Remedial Law, etc etc... Mirror.
Say for example you plan to have 3 readings prior to the Bar Exam, most barristers would start reviewing after graduation, sometime in March.
You count the number of days from March up to the last day of August. Divide it by 3, and you get 3 cycles for your readings.

On Cycle 1 (first reading). Divide it into the 8 subjects using the Mirroring Scheme. You may allocate more time for the Morning Subjects and lesser time for the Afternoon Subjects. Just mix and match.
Do the same for Cycles 2 & 3.
By the time you finish all Three Cycles at the end of August. You start with the Preweek.

Now, if you used the Mirroring Scheme, by the time you end up with your Third Cycle, you have already finished with Political Law - just in time for the First Sunday.

PREWEEK.
There are 3 ways to go about with the Preweek.
1. Self Review - Codals/Memory Aides
2. Last Minute Lectures (e.g. Albano, etc)

Bar Exam Survival Kit.
exam permit, identification card, Pens, ruler, tissue/toilet paper, painkiller (just in case), snacks, water, etc. make a list, check it before you go to sleep. The 3 Ls (Law, Language, Logic)

Make arrangements for your Sunday Meals either with your Bar Ops/Fraternity/Family members during the Preweek.

Sunday breakfast is important, a light meal will do. By lunch time, you may not have the appetite to eat your meal, this happened to me, but you should eat nonetheless. Your blood sugar levels will drop if you do not have your lunch, making you drowsy... always bring with you an energy bar/chocolate bar. The glucose will help your brain think. Neurons need sugar. Bring a chocolate bar. If allergic, bring something sweet.

Saturday should be reserved for relaxation. There's no point in staying up in the wee hours of Sunday, you'd end up with a headache during the exam, or worse, you'll be suffering from some form of mental block due to anxiety.

Saturday should be a day to relax, go see a movie, get a massage, have dinner with your friends. But mind you, watch what you eat, you don't want to have LBM on Sunday. You also don't want to have a hang-over.

Get enough rest and sleep on Saturday. Meet up with friends - no wild parties.

BLUE NOTES, RED NOTES, ETC ETC
Always read these notes with caution. Read them but don't make your last minute preparations dependent on it. You might get "koryente".

Sir,


How about this upcoming 2011 bar exams, i might be a candidate to take this bar...hehehhe, i got worried with my tax review...im quite doubtful of what i had...i have been relying on reading the codal since, dimaampao and co-utian are concise but only if you got a bit good background on commerce subjects during undergrad...while vitug seems too thick for me..sorry...hehehhe...is it alright if i took most of my time only with the NIRC although in technical sense, i really understand few of it...in fact, the mcq's of my prof is really incomprehensible for me when she ask an actual problem and i have to choose among the choices...huhuhu...i got dq result on our mid terms (but im not the lowest...almost all in our class failed only 2 or 3 within the passing 75% rate...)

i also tried elimination process..thing is...i eliminated first the right answer....oMG..hope an mcq reviewer would be available...hehheh

Hi there!

Ah, the annual problem subject: Taxation.

You know what, I think you've got it the other way around. Tax should be studied by subject and not through codals. Studying the NIRC article by article will give you a bad headache. If you've noticed, the provisions of the tax code are all over the place. The general rule is found in one chapter but the exceptions are found in another chapter.

I find Sababan (rest in peace) to be a good choice for reviewees who do not have commerce backgrounds, take it from me, I have a psychology background. One caveat though, in reading such a book, one must open one's Codal book in order to understand the discussion behind it. Some Tax books are too technical. And if you read the NIRC cover to cover, there is a strong possibility you will get a bad migraine.

Actually, there is no workaround for Tax, it's close to impossible to read and understand if you follow the tax code by article. Only by isolating a topic by subject will you understand it.

-continuation-

Take for example the Topic on Tax Remedies. I swear the codal provisions were drafted by a drug addict accountant! The provisions are all over the place. And damn him for his more than liberal use of the word "provided".

A word of advice, study it by topic and not rely on the codal. Tax is the exemption to the codal rule. Besides, the Bar Exam on TAx also includes Revenue Regulations which you will not be able to read off the NIRC.

As to the problem on MCQ, I really don't know what the mechanics are, it sounds really new to me. I was able to check the Supreme Court website and there does appear to be some guidelines about the MCQ's. In my own opinion, MCQs are harder. Not like ETQ, you can always qualify your answer. The problem with MCQ, the examiner must be adept in item analysis, I have some background on testing during my erstwhile incarnation as a psychometrician at a universtiy testing center.

Be that as it may, I was informed that a few months before the Bar - during review proper- the Bar Confidant will be visiting schools for a short symposium on MCQ questions.