1. Have a study plan.

Five or six months before the Bar Exams, do a study plan. Set dates that are not too
strict nor too loose. Have your study materials, pens, highlighters, Manila papers,
and markers ready.
 
2. Study the basics.
You will never go wrong by studying the basics. No matter how complicated the
question, the basics are always there to help you out.
 
3. As a rule, do not read new textbooks.
Stick to the textbooks and reviewers that you have already read in law school.
 
4. Discriminate teachers in review school.
You do not have to attend the review class every day. Decide for yourself whether it is
better to study alone or go to class. Assess if how weak you are with the subject, the
qualification of the professor teaching the class and the contents of the class itself.
 
5. Stick to case digests.
Throw the debate whether to read cases in full or go with case digests. In review, you
simply do not have the time to read the cases in its full text. Go with digests.
 
6. Practice answering previous Bar questions.
Like any exam, questions in the Bar Examinations sometimes get repeated. Read the
previous Bar Exams. Compare and contrast what kind of questions always come up.
You may use this set of books called “Pareto Notes” that already does this for you.
 
7. Have a study buddy.
It is ill-advised to form study groups as each of you might have different schedules and
study habits. It is, however, recommended to have a study buddy that you can bounce
questions or throw Bar tips with.
 
8. Study every day but take a lot of breaks.
It is recommended to study every day – Saturdays, Sundays and holidays included. Do
not, however, burnout. Take many breaks throughout the day. Manage your time so you
can still watch Netflix, browse Facebook, or have dinner with a friend.
 
9. Do a second reading.
Schedule the second reading of your study materials to really reinforce the materials in
your mind.
 
10. Take advantage of your school’s Bar Operations.

They are there to help you out. Ask if they have notes available. Do not forget to thank
them for their volunteer work.
THE GREAT FORMULA IN PASSING THE BAR EXAMINATIONS

“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.

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 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.

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. 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.

32. Like the weather, examiners are absolutely a bunch of unpredictable fellows,
capable of asking unpredictable questions.

33. Do not try to memorize 50 definitions or distinctions in any given time. Two or three
will do.

34. The real secret in remembering the matters contained in an enumeration is the use
of keywords.

35. 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 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!
5 Tips in Answering Bar Questions
1. KISS METHOD.
Keep It Short and Simple

2. 4 Paragraph Rule

The 4-Paragraph Rule provides a systematic way of answering bar exam questions.

First paragraph should say your categorical answer, whether it is a yes or a no, or the
answer to an objective type question. Yes, A is liable. Your first paragraph could be as
short and simple as this.

Second paragraph should provide your legal basis, whether it is an applicable law or
jurisprudence. The National Internal Revenue Code provides that a resident citizen is
liable to pay income tax for income derived from sources outside the Philippines. Your
legal basis could be written in a one-liner paragraph like this. You need not cite the
exact chapter or section of the Code nor the title of the case for jurisprudence.

Third paragraph should be the synthesis. It is where you should apply the law to the
given facts of the case or question. Examiners test not only your knowledge of the law
but also your ability to apply the law in various scenarios. Here, A is a Filipino, residing
in Manila, and earning rental income for his house and lot in the US. The third
paragraph is usually the longest among the four paragraphs as it interlocks the given
set of facts with the applicable law. But it can also be a one-sentence paragraph
depending on the question at hand.

Fourth paragraph is “hence-paragraph”. It is where you conclude your answer.

Usually, it is a repetition of the categorical answer but with few more details to end it
strong. Hence, A, as a resident citizen, is liable for income tax. Your fourth paragraph
should conclude and summarize your response to the bar exam question.

Again, the 4-paragraph rule does not equate to length of the answer. In the examples
given above, you would notice that every paragraph is composed of only one sentence
each.

     Yes, A is liable.
     The National Internal Revenue Code provides that a resident citizen is liable to pay
income tax for income derived from sources outside the Philippines.
     Here, A is a Filipino, residing in Manila, and earning rental income for his house and
lot in the US.
     Hence, A, as a resident citizen, is liable for income tax.
By following this rule, you are helping the examiner check your booklet easier and
faster. Since you have a systematic way of answering the questions, the examiner
would know where to look for the answers or key words he or she is looking for.

3. Stick to One Rule

The Stick-to-One Rule means that you should pick a side and take a stand in your answer. A
lawyer should know how to argue based on the provisions of the law and case holdings. Hence,
your bar answer should demonstrate such ability and prove to the examiner that you are worthy
to become a member of the profession. Never answer MAYBE. If you are unsure of your answer
or you think the case could go either way, make a choice still and argue for it. For gray areas or
for questions with different possible answers, examiners usually check how bar candidates make
a case.

Answer categorically. If it is a yes, mean it. Stick to it. Make the examiner believe that your side
is the right side.

Whether it be in a relationship or in the bar exams, abide by the Stick-to-Rule to be successful.

4. Watch your Grammar

Another thing that would help the bar examiners check your booklets with ease and with a light
heart is your good grammar. Lawyers are expected to have a good command of the English
language, both in oral and written communications. As such, bar candidates must work on their
grammar and composition

5. Write Legibly

After years of struggle in law school and bar review, you sure would not want to mess it all up
with just a bad penmanship. It is equally important to have a legible penmanship.

The bar exams do not require a specific type of penmanship. You may write in cursive or in
block letters, as long as you do not use all caps in your sentences.

As early as now, know which type of penmanship suits you best. Do you write more legibly in
cursive or in print/block letters? Consider also your speed as you are only given four hours to
answer around 20 questions per bar subject.
A bar examinee’s answer should be a total “package”. Meaning, it contains
all the necessary ingredients. This is when the 4Ls come in: law, language,
logic, and layout. His answer should be legible and neat without the
irritating erasures observing the proper margin and space between
paragraphs with correct composition, grammar and spelling coupled of
course  of the knowledge of the law principles and its application to the
given set of facts responsive to the issue or question at hand.

The examiner will be looking and expecting for the following from your
answer:
1. Proper understanding and appreciation of the facts, particularly of the
components or details that can be material in resolving the given problem;
2. Appreciation of the applicable laws that may come into play;
3. Recognition of the issues posed;
4. Resolution of the issues through the analysis and application of the law to
the given facts; and
5. Presentation and articulation of answer.

In essence, your answer should clearly indicate:

1. the relevant facts;
2. the applicable law;
3. your analysis; and
4. your conclusion.

To expound it further, a Bar examinee’s answer should clearly demonstrate:

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM

Your answer should demonstrate your ability to identify correctly the

problem(s) and issue(s) of law presented in the question. Your answer should
demonstrate your ability to articulate and classify the problem presented, that is,
to state it in a lawyer-like fashion and to place it in its proper category or
categories of doctrine.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW

Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of legal principles and your
ability to repeat them accurately on the examination as they relate to the
problem presented by the question. You should state concisely the principle(s)
and rule(s) governing the issue(s) presented by the question.

APPLICATION AND ANALYSIS

Your answer should reveal your capacity to reason logically by applying the
appropriate rule or principle to the operative facts of the question as a step in
reaching your conclusion. This involves making the correct preliminary
determination as to which facts in the question are legally important and which,
if any, are irrelevant.

The line of reasoning that you adopt should be clear and consistent without gaps
or digressions. This is the most important element in your answer and,
therefore, carries the most weight in the grading process.

CONCLUSION

You should address yourself to the task that the question asks you to perform.
For example, if the question calls for a specific conclusion or result, such
conclusion should clearly appear in your answer and should be stated concisely
and without equivocation.

An answer that consists entirely of mere conclusions unsupported by any

statements or discussion of the rules or reasoning upon which it is based is
entitled to little credit. Clarity and conciseness are important, but make your
answer complete. Do not volunteer irrelevant or immaterial information.

ARTICULATION 

Articulation is expressive of the following basic fundamentals: good language,

impressive presentation, logical reasoning and substantial background
knowledge of law and procedure. Impressive answers showing the candidates
reasoning faculty is what the examiners want to read in your examination
notebooks.

Your answer should demonstrate your ability to analyze the facts presented by
the question, to select the material from the immaterial facts, and to discern the
points upon which the question turns. It should show your knowledge and
understanding of the pertinent principles and theories of law involved and their
qualifications and limitations. It should demonstrate your ability to apply the
law to the given facts, and to reason logically in a lawyer like manner to a sound
conclusion from the given premises.

You must also be aware that the Bar questions are not all “case or situationer
problems”. There are other types of Bar essay questions you ought to know so
you will be able to prepare and answer them properly in case you encounter one.
The usual types of Bar essay question are enumerated below:
1. Enumeration;
2. Distinction;
3. Definition;
4. Reason behind the law/concept/principle; and
5. Case Problem.

CASE PROBLEM           

This type comprises an average of 80 – 90 percent of the questions in every

subject, hence, it is imperative that you are well-versed in answering the same.

Given that you know already the law; that you know how to apply it to the set of
facts; that you write legibly enough; left you with one problem – that is how are
you going to present or articulate it in an impressive manner.

A ready outline or structure of your answer will tremendously help you to

answer faster without missing an important part. By constant practice in
answering this type of question with the outline/structure in your mind, you will
be amazed how it easy for you to start outright and tackle the question and come
up with an impressive answer.
Below is the suggested outline/structure of your answer for a “case/situationer
problem” question:

1st Paragraph –       Positive/Negative/Qualified Answer

2nd Paragraph –       Applicable Law/Jurisprudence

3rd Paragraph –       Correlation of the Law/Jurisprudence with the Facts of the

Case

4th Paragraph –       Conclusion (this may be part of the 3rd Paragraph)

Okay, you already have an outline but isn’t it boring for the examiner to read in
your answers the same words or phrase at the beginning of your paragraphs?
For example you will use these words in every answer: the contention is
untenable; the law provides; therefore. The examiner will spot this and might
not be impressed to you at all which will result to a lesser points.

You will agree that the hardest thing to do is to start. We want that the first
sentences or paragraph we will write will impress the examiner and more often
we cannot find the right words to start. Would it be easier if just like the outline
you have already a pool of words waiting to be used?

Knowing “First Liners” or introductory words will greatly help you to quickly
and smoothly string your thoughts and effectively convey your answers. The
following “first liners” or introductory words can be used interchangeably to
begin every paragraph of your outlined answer.

ANSWERING IN THE POSITIVE

1. The petition is meritorious.
2. The contention has legal basis.
3. The case will prosper.
4. The argument is proper.
5. The provision is perfectly applicable.
6. The action is tenable.
7. The motion should be granted.
8. The Judge is correct.
9. The petition is impressed with merit.
10. Yes. It is a (i.e. patent violation) of the
11. There is merit in the petition.
12. The petitioner’s contention is sustainable.

ANSWERING IN THE NEGATIVE

1. The decision is not in accord with law and jurisprudence.
2. The decision is erroneous.
3. The contention is totally misplaced.
4. The doctrine of….. does not apply in this case.
5. The petition is not meritorious.
6. The evidence presented deserves scant consideration.
7. The contention has no legal basis.
8. The argument is bereft of merit.
9. The petition is devoid of merit.
10. Petitioner’s/Respondent’s/Complainant’s/Plaintiff’s/Defendant’s/Accused
reliance on the (i.e. doctrine of…) is inappropriate.
11. It is a futile gesture on the part of the respondent to invoke the rule on…
12. The theory/argument has no ground to stand upon.
13. The contention has no leg with which to stand on.
14. The position of the petitioner runs counter with the doctrine of…
15. The case will not prosper.
16. The case is not tenable.
17. The act of the accused in… is of no moment.
18. The assertion lacks substance.
19. The (i.e. respondent) cannot rely on (i.e. mere alibis) to aid his cause.
20. The court cannot countenance the (i.e. inconsistent postures of the
petitioner)
21. The testimony that…, cannot be given credence.
22. The evidence presented has no probative value.
23. The allegation is belied by the fact that…
24. To put it otherwise would be to render the law on _____________
useless/futile.
25. The actuations of the accused in (i.e. fleeing and hiding) negates (i.e.
innocence)
26. While it is true that _______________ is a (i.e. constitutional guaranteed
right of a person), it does not, however mean…
27. It is not correct to say that…
28. It is not proper to state that…
29. It is not accurate to conclude outright that…
30. A contrary conclusion would erode the rule that provides in part that…
31. To sustain the contention would be to render the law on ____________.
nugatory.
32. It would be absurd and incongruous to sustain the argument that…
33. It is not enough that…
34. The fact that … is immaterial since…
35. The fact that … is irrelevant since…
36. In itself, mere …… is not sufficient (i.e. to warrant conviction)….
37. The petitioner cannot give any additional meaning to the clear and plain
language of the law.
38. The Supreme Court, in several cases, has struck down the (i.e. defense of
alibi)
39. The attendant circumstances of the case are contrary to the petitioner’s
assertion.
40. The evidence does not support the theory of the petitioners.
41. There is no cogent reason to disturb the ruling of the (i.e. Court of
Appeals)
42. The claim for (i.e. moral damages) must necessarily fail.
ANSWER THAT REQUIRES QUALIFICATION (But if the facts are
complete in itself, do not attempt to add facts or assume anything.)
1. We must distinguish. If… (or As far as the __________ is concerned)
2. It depends. If…(or As far as the __________ is concerned)
3. The question requires a qualified answer. If…
4. I will qualify. If…
5. On the assumption that…
6. My answer must be qualified.

CITING LAW PROVISIONS

1. No less than the (i.e. 1987 Constitution) provides for the…
2. The (i.e. Rules of Court) substantially provides in part that…
3. Under the broad principles of (i.e. due process clause)…
4. Under the all-encompassing doctrine of (i.e. incontestability clause)…
5. Under the law…
6. According to the (i.e. Family Code)…
7. The law is explicit on the matter.
8. The law explicitly expresses in part that…
9. By express provision of law,…
10. By operation of law…
11. As a matter of law…
12. Worth remembering is the rule on _______________ which provides in
part that…
13. Decisive on the matter is the pertinent provision of the (i.e. Law on
Property)

14. The law prescribes certain rules on…

15. By legislative fiat…
QUOTING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
1. The Supreme Court in one case, had the occasion to rule that…
2. In a long-line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, it has always been
(consistently) held that…

3. In a litany of cases decided by the Supreme Court,

4. In a long-string of cases decided by the highest court of the land,
5. According to several cases decided by the Supreme Court,…
6. In a series of cases decided by the Supreme Court,

* Do not use the words series, litany or long-line if there is only one
decision/jurisprudence for that topic.
7. In one case decided by the highest court of the land, it was held that
8. In one case, the Supreme Court ruled that
9. It has been said that…
10. In a recent case, the Supreme Court has laid to rest the issue of whether or
not…
11. It is well settled in this jurisdiction…
12. It is well settled in this country…
13. The Supreme Court has steadfastly adhered to the doctrine which states
that

14. In a case with similar facts, the Supreme Court ruled that…
15. In several notable Supreme Court decisions, the highest court declared
that…
16. The Supreme Court has often stressed that…
17. In the landmark case of _____________, (if the case is so famous) the
Supreme Court laid down the doctrine which substantially provides that…

18. In the leading case of …

19. As enunciated by the Supreme Court in one case,…
20. The court has repeatedly ruled…
21. A case in point is a case already decided by no other than the highest
court of the land, where the Supreme Court held that…
22. There is likewise an array of cases in this jurisdiction where the Supreme
Court has consistently declared that…
23. Deeply rooted is the jurisprudence which provides that…
24. In one case, the Supreme Court was emphatic when it ruled that….

EMPHASIZING CASE DOCTRINES / JURISPRUDENCE

1. It is hornbook doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) that…
2. Immortal is the rule that…
3. Well settled is the rule…
4. Well entrenched is the principle that..
5. Elementary is the rule that..
6. The cardinal rule in (i.e. labor law) is that
7. It is a familiar canon in (i.e. political law) that
8. By well settled public law…
9. Basic is the rule in (i.e. Criminal Law)…
10. It is an elementary principle in…
11. It is a fundamental doctrine in…
12. Well accepted is the rule that…
13. It is axiomatic in (i.e. Civil Law) that
14. Enshrined in the 1987 Constitution is the rule that (i.e. no person shall be
deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law)
15. Consonant with the rule on…
16. It is a recognized doctrine in (i.e. Civil law) that…
17. It is a basic tenet in (i.e. Commercial Law)
18. Consistent with current jurisprudence
19. It is a legal presumption, born of wisdom and experience, that …
20. It is an oft-repeated rule that…
21. The Philippines adhere to the principle of…

REFERRING BACK TO THE CASE (correlating the facts with the

law/jurisprudence)
1. Applying the said law/doctrine in the instant case,
2. From the facts given, noteworthy is the …
3. From the facts of the case, it is readily observable that…
4. In the instant case, it may be observed that…
5. It is crystal clear from the facts presented that (i.e. the crime of treason) is
present (or was committed).
6. In the present case, it is immediately noticeable that the element of
__________ is wanting (or lacking).

7. Under the circumstances, the proper remedy would be…

8. The case obtaining indicates a case of (i.e. B.P. 22)
9. It logically follows…
10. It goes without saying…
11. Even assuming arguendo, for the sake of argument that…
12. The situation in the case at hand…
13. The situation presented evinces a case of…
14. The facts sufficiently indicated …
15. In the given facts, it is immediately apparent that…
16. It is evident that…
17. In the same token…
18. Under the facts stated in the problem,…
19. In the case under consideration,…
20. Worth stressing is the fact that
21. Worth emphasizing is the fact that
22. The facts would reveal that…
23. A careful perusal of the facts of the case would reveal that…
24. A careful scrutiny of the actuations of the accused would reveal that…
25. A careful reading of the (i.e. Deed of Absolute Sale) would reveal that…
26. A cursory examination of the…

CONCLUDING WORDS
1. From the gamut of evidence on hand, it can be gathered/deduced that,…
2. Taken all together,…
3. Finally, …
4. Hence, …
5. Therefore, …
6. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there is really (i.e. a violation
of…)
7. From the foregoing, it is now safe to conclude that….
8. Lastly, …
9. Consequently,…
10. As a necessary consequence…
11. The logical implication is that…
12. At any rate,…
13. In view of the foregoing,…
14. As an inevitable conclusion,…
15. In the light of the circumstances,…
16. Undoubtedly,…
17. Indubitably,…
18. Clearly, the case at hand falls squarely within the purview of…
19. Verily, he/she has committed…
20. For this/these reason/s, it is unavoidable to conclude that…
21. Based on the facts obtaining,…
22. In this light,…
23. This being the case…
24. Clearly therefore, applying the aforecited ruling in the case at hand,…
25. In light of the foregoing, it is beyond cavil (doubt) that,…
26. There is no doubt that…
27. To the unprejudiced mind, the actuations of the three, when analyzed and
taken together, leads to no other conclusion except that (i.e. conspiracy
among them existed)

28. Inescapably, therefore,…

29. All things considered,…
30. It follows therefore that…
31. As a logical result…
32. In sum,..
 33. In view of the fact that…,
34. All told,…
35. Given the prevailing facts…
36. Having stated the foregoing premises,…
37. One final point,…
38. Accordingly,…

ENUMERATION
The real secret in remembering the matters contained in an enumeration is the
use of keywords. Make your keywords on enumerations you consider important.
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.

If you can enumerate all, write it in bulleted or numbered form to highlight the
fact that you know all of them and for more convenient-reading purposes.
1.
2.
3.

If you cannot enumerate all, write it in paragraph form so that it would not
easily be noticeable that you missed something.

1. In capsule form, the following are the elements of the crime of _______
2. In a nutshell, the following are the elements of the crime of _________
3. The following elements are generally considered in the determination of
the presence of (i.e. employer-employee relationship)
4. Among the (i.e. defenses/remedies) available to (i.e. Mr. X) as provided
for by/in the (i.e. Civil Code) are:
(1)…
(2)…
 5. The following are the requisites for…
6. In order that a case for (i.e. B.P. 22) to prosper, the following elements
must be attendant/present:
7. To constitute (i.e. homicide), the following requisites must concur:
8. (i.e. Legal compensation) requires the concurrence of the following
conditions:
9. To establish a person’s culpability under (i.e. estafa), it is indispensable
that…

DISTINCTION
When being asked to distinguish, do not state its definition. If you give its
definition, you are in effect asking the examiner to extract out the differences of
the two [or more] from your definition. Do not also give their similarities. You
are asked to differentiate and contrast, so similarities are not included. The
number of distinctions you will give must also be proportionate on the points
allotted for such. If it is only worth two points, do not give 8 distinctions. The
examiner cannot give you 8 points for that. For a two point distinction question,
perhaps, three would be enough (four is not too much).

1. The (i.e. two) may be distinguished from each other in the following
ways:
a.
b.
2. In the first, it is necessary that there be….., whereas in the second it is
sufficient that there be ….
3. In the former, … while in the latter…
4. The former requires … while the latter…
5. … on the other hand ______________ is…

DEFINITION
1. ________________ is a comprehensive term used to describe _______.
2. _________________, in its generally accepted sense, refers to ….
3. … It is a safeguard and guarantee provided by the 1987 Constitution..
4. … It is a kind of relief granted to a ______________ by the …
5. ________________ is a branch of public law (or private law) which deals
with..
6. It pertains to…
7. It connotes a ….
8. … is a doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) which refers to…
9. … is a principle in (i.e. Criminal Law) which states that…
10. It presupposes…
11. Its principal identifying feature is..
12. It is akin to…
13. The function of which is to…
14. The office of which is to…

REASON BEHIND THE LAW/CONCEPT/PRINCIPLE

1. The purpose of the law is…
2. The law is designed to…
3. It is intended to shield …
4. It is primarily aimed at protecting ____________ from unwarranted ____
5. The rationale behind the law is…
6. The spirit of the law is to the effect that…

ADDITIONAL TIPS ON HOW TO APPROACH BAR ESSAY

QUESTION
1. 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.

2. 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%).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Before answering, formulate on your mind what will be placed on 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.
7. 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.

8. 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, 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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. You may also find the Q&A published by the UP
Law Center helpful.

13. 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.

14. At least twice during your bar prep (ideally four), do a simulated Bar
exam day. Do a mock version of it. The key is to practice under conditions
similar to the actual Bar examinations. This will make you mindful of time
constraints and more comfortable when you approach the real test, the Bar
exam.

15. Finally, PRAY!