Legal Logic

Topic: The SC should adopt the pass-or-fail system in the bar exam
Stand: Affirmative

Argument #1

The SC should adopt the pass-or-fail system in the bar exams as it would undoubtedly relieve
the Bar examinees on the pressures of having to be among those listed in the top or to at least
have a presentable above average grade percentage in the exam -because who wants to see a
grade of “just barely passed”

Supporting Arguments for #1

The Philippine Bar Exam is not one simple examination. It is regarded as “one of the most
difficult licensure exams in the country (Philippines)” as stated in the article of CNN. Surely, just
the mere thought of taking the Bar would rattle any student no matter how prepared he/she is
(mentally and physically). How much more once the examinee comes face-to-face with the
dreaded and long-prepared for bar questions.

A relevant thesis entitled “Evaluation of Examination Stress and Its Effects on Cognitive
Function Among First Year Medical Students” is very much relevant for use in the argument. It
came to the conclusion that examinees (regardless whether or not one is a med student or a bar
examinee) do in fact face stress both before and while taking the examination. As such, the
result of the study was that of stress effectively hampering the cognitive functions of the
examinees.

In addition, an article in Stanford News provided that the pressure of achieving good grades
causes stress among the students/examinees. Surely, an examinee would do his/her best and
always keep in mind the grade percentage while taking the exam.

So, we find it only fitting that the SC implement the pass-or-fail system in the bar exams as it
would help alleviate the pressure of 1. Consciously thinking of the topnotchers or grade
percentage in the exam 2. Taking one of the hardest licensure exams. The Bar exam is hard
and daunting as it is already, the least we can do is to lessen the stress of the Bar takers.

(https://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/february23/cheat-022305.html)
(https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/05/04/bar-exams-2017.html)
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4190705/)
Argument #2

Outline:
1.
To avoid pressure on Bar examinees, because if there is a ranking there is a psychological
pressure of the examinees that they need to be in the top list.

2.
Also to have a fair perspective for lawyers because it does not mean that if a lawyer is a
topnotcher he is more inclined than a lawyer who does not belong to the top list.
-To ensure that all bar passers are equally treated
- yung mga law firms walang preference kung sino ihihire nila. And para yung
focus hindi lang sa top 10
-Filipinos have a crab mentality that if there is a ranking they don’t want that
the other person will be on top of them so they will do things which can
prejudice their fellow barristas, instead of helping each other they will do work
on their own.