TOPNOTCHERS: 2023 Philippine Bar Examination (Top 20 Passers)

RESULTS ARE OUT! 🎉

The 2023 Philippine Bar Exam results, including the official list of passers, topnotchers and performance of law schools are now available!

Congratulations, Attorneys! 🎉

Summary of Results:

Main Page: List of Passers: 2023 Philippine Bar Examination Results
Alphabetical List: A-G Passers | H-O Passers | P-Z Passers
Topnotchers: 2023 Philippine Bar Examination (Top 20 Passers)
Performance of Law Schools: 2023 Philippine Bar Examination

Topnotchers (Top 20 Passers)
PHILIPPINE BAR EXAM 2023
Held on September 17, 20 & 24, 2023
Released on December 5, 2023

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The Philippine Bar Exam

The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional licensure examination for aspiring lawyers in the Philippines. The exam is exclusively administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines through the Supreme Court Bar Examination Committee.

Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Supreme Court of the Philippines is given the sole authority to promulgate the rules concerning the admission to the practice of law. This means that the bar exam is the only licensure exam for professionals that is not regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

This year’s exam marks the historic 121st bar examination in the Philippines.

Bar Exam Coverage

The Supreme Court said this year’s bar exam were divided into six core subjects, determined and approved by the SC’s en banc:

Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises – 25%
Commercial and Taxation Laws – 20%
Civil Law – 20%
Political and Public International Law – 15 %
Labor Law and Social Legislation – 10%
Criminal Law – 10%

2023 Bar Exams Turnout

A total of 10,791 aspiring lawyers are expected to take the exams, 5,821 are first-timers, and 4,970 re-takers. Below is the number of examinees in the 2023 Digitized and Localized Bar Examinations held across 14 local testing centers in the country:

1st Day (September 17, 2023): 10,400 (96.38%)
2nd Day (September 20, 2023): 10,391 (96.29%)
3rd Day (September 24, 2023): 10,387 (96.26%)

Philippine Bar Exams Statistics & Passing Rate

Exam Date	No. of Examinees	No. of Passers	Passing Rate
2022	9,183	3,992	43.47%
2020-2021	11,402	8,241	72.28%
2019	7,685	2,103	27.36%
2018	8,158	1,800	22.07%
2017	6,748	1,724	25.55%
2016	6344	3747	59.06%
2015	6,605	1,731	26.21%
2014	5,984	1,126	18.82%
2013	5,292	1,174	22.18%
2012	5,343	949	17.76%
2011	5,987	1,913	31.95%
2010	4,847	982	20.26%

Oath-Taking Ceremonies

December 2022, 2023

Testing Centers

Metro Manila:

- San Beda University – Manila
- University of Santo Tomas
- San Beda College – Alabang
- University of the Philippines Diliman
- Manila Adventist College
- University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City

Luzon:

- Saint Louis University
- Cagayan State University
- University of Nueva Caceres

Visayas:

- University of San Jose – Recoletos
- University of San Carlos
- Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation

Mindanao:

- Ateneo de Davao University
- Xavier University

Why is the Philippine Bar Exam so difficult?

There are a number of reasons why the Philippine Bar Exam is so difficult. One reason is that the exam covers a wide range of legal topics. Examinees are expected to have a deep understanding of both substantive law and procedural law.

Another reason for the difficulty of the Bar Exam is the high passing percentage required. For the past several years, the passing percentage has been around 20%. This means that only one in five examinees passes the exam.

Finally, the Bar Exam is also challenging because of the time pressure. Examinees have eight hours to complete each day of the exam. This means that they must be able to think quickly and write clearly under pressure.

What are the tips for passing the Philippine Bar Exam?

There are a number of tips that can help aspiring lawyers pass the Bar Exam. Here are a few:

Start preparing early. The Bar Exam is a comprehensive exam, so it is important to start studying early. Give yourself at least six months to prepare.
Create a study plan. A study plan will help you stay organized and on track. Make sure to include time for reviewing all of the subjects in the exam.
Find a study buddy or join a study group. Studying with others can help you stay motivated and accountable. You can also quiz each other and discuss difficult concepts.
Practice taking Bar Exam questions. There are many resources available online and in libraries that offer practice Bar Exam questions. Practicing answering questions will help you get used to the format of the exam and the types of questions that are asked.
Take breaks. It is important to take breaks while studying for the Bar Exam. Get up and move around every hour or so. You should also take a day off from studying every week.

Conclusion

The Philippine Bar Exam is a challenging but rewarding experience. Those who pass the exam are admitted to the Philippine Bar and become lawyers. Lawyers play an important role in society, upholding the law and protecting the rights of others.

Supreme Court Contact Information

Mailing Address:
SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES
Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila
Philippines 1000
Website: sc.judiciary.gov.ph

Public Information Office (PIO)

G/F New Supreme Court Building, Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila 1000
pio.sc@judiciary.gov.ph
+63 928 500-9872
+63 2 8522-5094
+63 2 8522-5090

Exam Updates

To keep updated on the official results and other updates regarding the conduct of the 2023 Philippine Bar Examination, we advise our visitors to bookmark this page, visit Supreme Court’s official website and follow us on our social media pages:

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