THE Supreme Court (SC) has proposed reforms in the 2011 Bar examinations by incorporating more multiple-choice-type of tests on codal provisions for barristers, Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez announced Tuesday.
Marquez said the proposal was made by Associate Justice Roberto Abad, who will be the chairman of the 2011 Bar committee, in consultation with deans from various law schools.
“This is material because it will cover the present fourth year law students. The multiple choice will focus on Codal provisions. It is very difficult for an examiner in an essay type exam to determine if an examinee knows the Codal provision,” he said.
Although bar exams are generally essay-type, Marquez said that over the years, the examiners have thrown in a few multiple choice questions.
“This is a departure from the traditional bar exams. In multiple choice, there are no ifs and buts – it’s either you know it (answer) or you don’t,” he said.
He said this type of exam aims to test the stock knowledge of aspiring lawyers from their first year in law school. The proposal was made early to prepare the law schools with this type of exam.
While the proposal has yet to be given a thumbs up by the Court, Marquez said there is a strong indication that this will be approved.
However, he said the Court still has to decide on the passing average on a case to case basis.
Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales is the chairman of the 2010 Bar exams, which will as usual be held on the four Sundays of September. The Office of the Bar Confidant has yet to make public the number of law graduates who will take this year’s bar exams. (JCV/Sunnex)