The LEBMO No. 7 series of 2016 released by the Legal Education Board (LEB) establishing a unified standardized test for aspiring law school called Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT) is a welcome development in the legal education in the Philippines.
My previous post regarding the implementation of PhiLSAT is clearly a product of my overthinking because apparently it doesn't matter if a potential law student has taken an entrance exam last December or January.
When I had the time to ask the admissions office of San Beda Alabang to clarify, the admin officer told me that all potential law students who would like to enroll to San Beda still needs to take the school's entrance exam on top of the PhiLSAT and those students who have already passed San Beda's entrance exam still needs to take PhiLSAT because they won't be allowed to enroll in law school if they don't. I guess the school recognizes that its income will reasonably decrease if they will stop giving entrance exams *wink* *wink*
In short, a potential law student needs to pass 2 exams in order to study in San Beda Alabang School of Law. One is PhiLSAT and one is the San Beda's entrance exam for School of Law.
Somehow, it becomes clear to me the statement of the LEB Chairman Aquende that PhiLSAT is implemented because some law schools implement "open admission" policy. Open admission policy means the school does not give an entrance exam.
In my previous post, I said before that PhiLSAT is at par with the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) given to aspiring medical students. However, I was wrong.
From my understanding, the score of the potential medical student in NMAT will determine in what Medical School he/she be allowed to enroll. For instance, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery requires its students to have an NMAT score of at least 85% percentile while San Beda College Mendiola College of Medicine requires its student to have an NMAT score of at least 40% percentile.
Furthermore, NMAT does not have a passing score, it just shows you the number of students who got lower score than you. To illustrate, if you got a score of 75% percentile, it means that that 75% of NMAT takers scored lower than you while 25% of NMAT takers scored higher than you.
On the other hand, PhiLSAT has a passing score requirement. A student is not allowed to enroll to any law school if he fails to obtain a score of at least 55%. I thought in my previous post that passing PhiLSAT means that law schools will no longer hold their own entrance exams and I also thought that those who have already taken and passed the entrance exams of some law schools last December and January will not be affected by the LEB's Memo because of its date of implementation.
To summarize and as far San Beda is concern, a potential law student who wants to enroll in San Beda, the students needs to pass 2 exams, one for PhiLSAT and one for the entrance exam.
On the other hand, if a potential law student wants to enroll, for example in University "X" which does not have any entrance exam, he/she only needs to pass the PhiLSAT.
Basically, LEB just wants to mandate an entrance exam for all law schools in the country.
My previous post regarding the implementation of PhiLSAT is clearly a product of my overthinking because apparently it doesn't matter if a potential law student has taken an entrance exam last December or January.
When I had the time to ask the admissions office of San Beda Alabang to clarify, the admin officer told me that all potential law students who would like to enroll to San Beda still needs to take the school's entrance exam on top of the PhiLSAT and those students who have already passed San Beda's entrance exam still needs to take PhiLSAT because they won't be allowed to enroll in law school if they don't. I guess the school recognizes that its income will reasonably decrease if they will stop giving entrance exams *wink* *wink*
In short, a potential law student needs to pass 2 exams in order to study in San Beda Alabang School of Law. One is PhiLSAT and one is the San Beda's entrance exam for School of Law.
Somehow, it becomes clear to me the statement of the LEB Chairman Aquende that PhiLSAT is implemented because some law schools implement "open admission" policy. Open admission policy means the school does not give an entrance exam.
In my previous post, I said before that PhiLSAT is at par with the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) given to aspiring medical students. However, I was wrong.
From my understanding, the score of the potential medical student in NMAT will determine in what Medical School he/she be allowed to enroll. For instance, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery requires its students to have an NMAT score of at least 85% percentile while San Beda College Mendiola College of Medicine requires its student to have an NMAT score of at least 40% percentile.
Furthermore, NMAT does not have a passing score, it just shows you the number of students who got lower score than you. To illustrate, if you got a score of 75% percentile, it means that that 75% of NMAT takers scored lower than you while 25% of NMAT takers scored higher than you.
On the other hand, PhiLSAT has a passing score requirement. A student is not allowed to enroll to any law school if he fails to obtain a score of at least 55%. I thought in my previous post that passing PhiLSAT means that law schools will no longer hold their own entrance exams and I also thought that those who have already taken and passed the entrance exams of some law schools last December and January will not be affected by the LEB's Memo because of its date of implementation.
To summarize and as far San Beda is concern, a potential law student who wants to enroll in San Beda, the students needs to pass 2 exams, one for PhiLSAT and one for the entrance exam.
On the other hand, if a potential law student wants to enroll, for example in University "X" which does not have any entrance exam, he/she only needs to pass the PhiLSAT.
Basically, LEB just wants to mandate an entrance exam for all law schools in the country.
thanks for the info:) will be waiting for your update
ReplyDeleteHi Andres!
DeleteAs far as San Beda is concerned, the student needs to pass 2 exams, PhiLSAT and entrance exam to enroll next academic year.
Check other schools if they implement the same policy but I think they implement the same because entrance exams are a steady revenue stream for schools hehe.
The intention is good, but why they need to centralize the examination with very high admission fee?? They could have delegated this matter to the respective law schools for the implementation of entrance exam like what most law schools are doing now. At least the admission will be utilized by the school where the student will take the exam for the improvement of facilities conducive for learning.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteAs LEB chairman Aquende said in all of his interviews, the objective is to prevent the "open admission" policy practice of other law schools.
I agree with you regarding the admission fee. Php 1,000 is quite high.
I think PhiLSAT is one of LEB's way in removing some law schools who are just accepting students for revenue but are consistently been under-performing in the BAR exams.
Hello po! Meron po ba kayo LAE reviewer na pwede hiramin? hehe! Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHi RM!
DeleteSorry I don't have any LAE reviewer. Best of luck if you are taking UPLAE this year. Be sure to wake up early and eat before taking the exam! hehe.
wanted to ask if you have a reviewer for LSAT?
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteI don't have any LSAT reviewer because it is fairly new. I suggest you look for UPLAE reviewer if you can
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI'll be taking up this year's philsat. Im really nervous, bukod pa po doon, pre med course ako, licensed medical technologist nadin po. I was planning to submit documents for me to be exempted for the philsat because i am prc licensed and graduated with honor, but i think di ko na po macomply papers and mga kailngan kasi nakalagay po ay 1 month processing (yung sa LEB po ipapasa) kaya i decided na itake ko. Nalang po exam.. currently iam reading and studying civil service exam reviewers just to have a clue.
Do you think po, if i fall below 55%, nasa discretion na po ba yun ng school if they will give me a chance to enroll? Its stressing me out :(
Thank you! Your blog is a big help to us! Continue inspiring others!
Hi!
DeleteTo answer your question, I think the schools will consider even those who did not score 55% because it is just the first time that the exam is implemented.
The degree of difficulty of the exam is still a mystery at this point.
Anyway, based from you credentials, it will be hard for you not to pass the exams. You are an honor student who is also a licensed Med Tech. That puts you in an early advantage. Don't worry, you will pass the exams. Trust me.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for the encouragment! I am just not that good when it comes to aptitude exams most especially those that are related to math subjects. Hoping to be like you soon! :) i will surely visit your blog time to time :)
DeleteGod bless you!
"This coming school year (2017-2018) will be the pilot year for the exam, so law schools will still be allowed to enroll students in Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor programs who do not meet the passing score of 55 percent, the LEB said."
DeleteSchools still allows you to enroll even if you don't pass the Philsat Exam.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/03/17/philsat-entrance-exam-for-aspiring-law-students-starts-this-year
i have a question po. What if po nag attend ka ng CS Examination just this march of 2017 and then mag attend ka naman ng Philsat this coming april. and lets say the result of CS came out and you passed. But u ddn't màke it sa philsat like you didn't reach the passing rate. So, ano po mangyayari?
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteIf ever you did not pass. Do not lose hope because there are some schools who will still
help you despite failing the phiLSAT. One school is FEU. Dean Mel Sta. Maria in an FB post said that they will still accept students who did not pass the PhiLSAT.
I am not sure in other universities. I have not heard any updates from San Beda, Ateneo and UP regarding that.
Hi Scarlet Heart,
DeletePhiLSAT and CS exam are not related to each other. The one being mentioned in the LEB Memo is the CS Eligibility granted to Honor graduates under PD 907. But this eligibility is not automatically granted unlike those under RA 1080 or Board Examinations. Honor graduates need to secure Certificate of Eligibility from the CSC and submit it to the LEB in order for them to be exempted. But this exemption shall only be valid if the honor graduate applies for PhiLSAT exemption two years after graduation. Beyond that, they will be required to take PhiLSAT. for this coming school year, the 55% passing grade for PhiLSAT is not mandatory. Law Schools are allowed to accept students with lower scores. But a prospective student needs to TAKE PhiLSAT. If not, they will not be admitted or if the school admit them, the school will be fined by the LEB. This is according to the LEB Memo. PhiLSAT is an additional exam to the entrance exam of some law schools like UPLAE. I hope this helps. Thanks.
Hi! I came across your blog and thought of asking if you think the implementation of PHILSAT is violative of any law/unconstitutional in some aspects? Can you cite some arguments? This'd be one of the topics on our upcoming debate, so napaisip nga rin ako if it is somehow unconstitutional. Hoping to hear your arguments. :)
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteFor me, PhiLSAT is constitutional because the Legal Education Board has the express power and function to prescribe minimum standards for law school admission. Check R.A 7662.
If I would argue for its unconstitutionality, I will argue that it violates Art. XIV, sec. 5 paragraph 3 of the consitution regarding Fair, Reasonable and Equitable Admission requirements.
You can argue that it is not reasonable because law schools who have no entrance exam are still academically competitive compared to other law schools who have entrance exam. The exam fee is unreasonable because it is costly and it is not equitable because there are limited testing centers and its implementation was done in short term. The Memo was signed last year, December and just made known last February.
As far as I am concerned, it is constitutional and a welcome development in the study of law.
Thank you Sir! I just really need to look for some "holes" since I have to assail its constitutionality
DeleteHi sir! May I ask what if board exam passer ka at civil service eligible ka na rin. Are you not considered exempted in taking the exam? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi, based on the LEB memo, board exam passers and civil service eligible are not exempted.
DeleteOnly those Honor students who were given exemption from Civil Service exams after 2 years from graduation are exempted.
I have a question guys. I am a student taking up AB-Political Science and will be graduating in 2018 so basically my standing right now is 4th year and a graduating student. Am i eligible to take the exam this upcoming April 16, 2017? or should i wait for my turn next year?
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteYou should wait for next year because aside from April 3 is the deadline for the PhiLSAT registration, I think you should be eligible to go to law school in the school year 2017-2018 if you would take the April 16,2017 exam.
Just focus on your task at hand. Law school will be waiting for you next year.
Hi,
DeleteCalled LEB the other day and asked if they will have another exam this year. They said they will probably have another this september. Not really sure if this is 100% confirmed.
Hi Christian,
DeleteThanks for the info. But it might not push through because LEB recently released a memo that allows students who failed to take the PhiLSAT to enroll in a law school provided that they sumit an undertaking promising that they will take the PhiLSAT next year.
Hi! I just wanted to clarify something; I'm currently enrolled in San Beda College of Law Manila (freshmen), but I'm afraid my QPI won't be enough for me to stay there. I plan on transferring to another law school. Am I still required to take the PHILSAT regardless if I started law school in AY 2016-2017? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Miguel!
DeleteIf you would transfer to another law school, you would not yet to take PhiLSAT not unless you would like to restart and go back to first year (retake the subjects you already passed)
Good luck to us in the Finals!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have a question. What if I had not take the PhilSat exam but aleady took entrance exams on law schools. Will I be able to take the course?
Hi,
DeleteI think PhiLSAT is an essential prerequisite before one is accepted to enroll in law school
in A.Y 2017-2018.
This is regardless whether you took and passed entrance exams in various law schools.
The school may take you but they will
be penalized by the LEB and pay Php 10,000.00
Hope that you were able to take the PhiLSAT.
Hi!
DeleteGood news! According to the latest Memo released by LEB, you will now be able to enroll without taking the PhiLSAT, but you have to take PhiLSAT next year.
I will make a post about it later on.
Hi Allan! Good day! I have a question, is it possible for you to know whether UST is planning to accept prospective law students even without passing PhilSat? And is it really final that San Beda (both Manila and Alabang) won't be accepting freshies without passing PhilSat?
ReplyDeleteI just took the exam today. I hate to sound negative but I'm a bit skeptic about my PhilSat result. I really had a hard time taking it comfortably due to its being a speed test.
Your updates are very much helpful. We highly appreciate it. Kudos!
It's not that difficult but time pressure is real.I also took the test in Baguio City.
DeleteHi!
DeleteJust visit the UST Law FB page or FB page/website of your preferred law school from time to time to check about the updates.
As far as I know, only the Dean of FEU Law posted that they will still accept students who failed PhiLSAT.
But I will try to make a post about it soon.
Hi Franco!
DeleteI heard that the examinee has only an average of 54 seconds to answer each question.
Good luck! I hope you made it.
Hi tanong ko lang po... ilang beses ba magkakaroon ng Philsat Exam sa isang taon? At aside from the april exam, kelan kaya ang susunod? May idea po ba kau? Maraming salamat po in advance.... :)
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteFrom what I know, it is an annual exam. If you failed to take the PhiLSAT this year, you can still enroll because the LEB recently released a memo about that. You just need to submit an undertaking to promise to take the PhiLSAT next year.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have a question regarding po sa exemption. I graduated with honors last March 2015 and am a bit confused whether I'm still eligible because as what the "Guidelines for Availing ..... " says "The exemption is valid only for a period of two academic years after graduation from college".
I saw some conversations with the same concern on the LEB Fb page and some said yes, others no. Please enlighten me! Huhu.
Thank you so much!
Hi Jo!
DeleteI think you are still eligible for the exemption because you graduated during the A.Y 2014-2015
so 1 year after your graduation is A.Y 2015-2016 and 2 years will be A.Y 2016-2017.
Hopefully I am right.
Just to be sure, try calling the LEB office.
Thanks, Sir Allan!
DeleteI tried to call the LEB but it seems they're always busy. They didn't answer all my calls. Huhu. Anyways, I'll process my papers as soon as I go to manila.
Thanks again! :)
Thanks a lot to this Blog... it helps a lot, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rhan,
DeleteThank you for reading my blog.
Upon registration in PHILSAT it says Registartion Disabled, is there a designated date to register? Thank you for the answer :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carl,
DeleteThe reason is probably because the registration ended last April 3.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you Sir! :D, based on answers below my post, I can enroll now and just take the exam later on?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Sir, I did not take the PhilSat because of certain reasons, but could I pass a justifiable reason for not taking the exam? ( a petition or any other way).. If so, where should I submit it? Please reply sir. I really need your help. Thank you sir.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteBased from the latest memo released by LEB. They will allow students who haven't taken the PhiLSAT to enroll in law schools as long as they execute an undertaking that they will take the PhiLSAT next year, 2018.
Hello po..Ano po ung mga coverage to take the exam ng Philsat?Salamat po
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThis is the link to a sample PhiLSAT questionnaire
https://www.facebook.com/BarExamCoachOnline/posts/900134060134442
Hi poh! san poh kayo nkabili ng mga books na mura? or yung second hand pang law?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteUnfortunately, second hand law books are very hard to find. My advice to you is fully utilize the library of your law school and photocopy the needed chapters and cases
Paano poh makapass sa PhilSat may reviewer ba kelangan?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThis is the link to a sample PhiLSAT questionnaire
https://www.facebook.com/BarExamCoachOnline/posts/900134060134442
Hello! Any tips on what could probably the coverage of the exam?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThis is the link to a sample PhiLSAT questionnaire
https://www.facebook.com/BarExamCoachOnline/posts/900134060134442
Hi! What if I am going to take the philsat this year 2017 but will enroll in 2018, Does this mean I can still enroll even without passing the philsat?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI didn't quite get your question.
Taking is different from passing PhiLSAT.
If for example you failed, maybe there are still some law schools which will accept you despite the failing mark.
Hi sir..question po.lifetime na po ba yun pagkakaroon ng COE or meron din po cyang expiration?thank you
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThe COE can only be claimed within 2 years from graduation. Otherwise, you will be required to the take PhiLSAT.
Hi! Just wanna ask if where can i get any review materials for this upcoming philsat.is it available in the bookstores? Tnx.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI haven't seen a reviewer for PhiLSAT at any bookstore as of this moment.
In the meantime, try downloading and answering this practice booklet
found at this link:
https://www.cem-inc.org.ph/philsat/files/upload/FINAL_PRACTICE_BOOKLET_V4.pdf
Good luck!
I'm really bothered about this. The usual entrance exam for Law School is around Feb to March, but the Philsat is around April and one month for the results. So, if I'd take the Philsat next year, I can only apply to law schools a year after next year? Please answer my question. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteYou can take the entrance exam first before the PhiLSAT.
Incoming first year law students will only be allowed to enroll if they both passed the entrance exam and PhiLSAT.
It doesn't mean that you should pass the PhiLSAT first before taking the entrance exam.
As long as you both pass the exams before enrollment period, you are good to go.
Hi! Okay lang po ba itanong kung magkano po range ng tuition fee ng San Beda Law Alabang?
ReplyDeleteHi Denisse,
DeleteTuition fee costs Php 1,810 per unit in San Beda Alabang.
The normal load is around 18-20 units and the miscellaneous fee usually costs around Php 7-9k
so give or take, the tuition fee is around Php 40,000.00 to 45,000.00 per sem.
Hi just wanted to ask po, which one should go first Philsat or entrance exam from the school you are applying for. Gusto ko sana itake muna yung PUPCLEE before Philsat. SO just incase hindi pumasa (wag naman sana) hindi na ko gagastos pa for Philsat exam. Will that be fine?
ReplyDeleteI am planning to enroll kasi for second semester. If April ang schedule ng philsat di hindi ako makakapag enroll this year second sem without taking philsat next year?
DeleteHi Angel,
DeleteYou cannot enroll to any law school without taking PhiLSAT.
The Legal Education Board (LEB) recently released a Memo reiterating that a law school cannot accept a student who didn't pass or haven't taken the PhiLSAT even if you have passed the law school entrance exam.
Hi! Can I just ask your thought on how big the impact would be of your Philsat score on your admission results? Because I'm really worried that I might screw up just because my Philsat score was in the line of 7. Thank you.
ReplyDelete