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Sunday, February 5, 2017

PRIMER ON THE PhiLSAT

The Legal Education Board (LEB) recently released a memo stating that starting Academic Year 2017-2018, all students who wants to study should take the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT) and obtain a score of at least 55%.

The objective of this new measure is to improve the quality of legal education in the country. 

The PhiLSAT will cover the following topics:
  • Communications and Language Proficiency:
    • This subtest measures the ability to recognize grammar and usage errors and determine the appropriateness of words and phrases in given sentences. This subtest consists of three question types—sentence completion, identifying sentence error, and improving sentences.
  • Critical Thinking Skills:
    • This subtest measures the ability to analyze and evaluate reasoning in written materials and to draw conclusions about given propositions. This subtest consists of two question types—logical reasoning and analytical reasoning.
  • Verbal Reasoning:
    • This subtest measures the ability to understand written materials and make conclusions based on their content. This subtest consists of reading passages followed by questions about the passage.
  • Quantitative reasoning:
    • This subtest measures the ability to apply basic mathematical skills to the analysis and interpretation of real-world numerical information to draw conclusions. This subtest consists of three question types—pattern recognition, data interpretation, and data sufficiency.
However, law schools have the discretion of giving additional or supplemental exam in addition to the PhiLSAT such as essay exams or a panel interview. In addition, law schools are also given the discretion to impose a higher passing score before admitting a student.

Students who garnered a score lower than 55% can still be admitted, provided, that the Dean of the Law school will give the a written justification to the LEB for each student stating  the reasons for admitting him/her and the general weighted average obtained of the applicant in his/her bachelors degree.

If the written justification could not be done, the student can still retake PhiLSAT as the memo states that a qualified examinee may take the PhiLSAT as many times as he/she wants, without any limit.

The qualification for the PhilSAT examinees are the same as regards the admission policies of law schools which have entrance exams. The only difference is that Honor students who were given Professional Civil Service eligibility two years from their graduation date, are exempted from taking PhiLSAT,  they just need to submit their Certificate of Eligibility to the LEB. For the format of the  exemption form, just click the link. For the certification form from your school, just click the link

PhiLSATS shall be administered at least once a year starting this April 16, 2017.

Testing centers shall be located in the following:
  • Metro Manila - Univesity of Santo Tomas
  • Baguio City - University of the Cordilleras
  • Legaspi City - Aquinas University
  • Cebu City - University of San Jose-Recoletos
  • Iloilo City - University of SanAgustin
  • Davao City - Jose Maria College
  • Cagayan De Oro City - Xavier University
Additional testing dates and testing centers shall be fixed by the LEB as necessary.

The testing fee is now finalized and it Php 1,000.00 which can be paid online or via on-line counters at the any Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) branches.
All Law Schools are expected to comply with the memorandum released by the LEB. Administrative sanctions, as much as Php 10,000 per infraction. shall be given to the Law Schools if they violate the provisions of the memo.

To view the complete instructions for PhiLSAT, just click this link.

For PhiLSAT practice items, just click this link

13 comments:

  1. Hi. How about those Honor students who took and passed the CSC exam a year prior to their graduation? Are they exempted?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Noriebell,

      Yeah I think so, as long as it is within 2 yrs from graduation, you are still eligible.

      For the exemption form, go to
      https://www.facebook.com/legal.education.board/photos/a.1056672564427798.1073741830.1051475484947506/1283655731729479/?type=3&theater

      Delete
  2. Hi, My name is Valerie. I am very fond of reading this blog. I even bookmarked it for my future use. Becoming a lawyer is a long dream of mine since I was high School. I'm glad to know that you have made a review regarding PHILSat.
    I have a plan to take Philsat exam on April 2017. By the way I'm located in Davao City. What is the process of filing for the examination?

    Thanks,
    jesellehoneyvalerierabanes@gmail.com



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeselle,

      The LEB has recently launched its website where potential law students are required to register for PhiLSAT.

      Please go to https://www.cem-inc.org.ph/philsat/

      Thank you for reading my blog. Good luck!

      Delete
  3. Hi. Thanks for this primer. Kindly suggest some readings to prepare for the exam. I'd greatly appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      I suggest you wait for MCQ or other review centers to release a reviewer for PhiLSAT anytime soon. They are usually found at the National Bookstore.

      Delete
  4. Hi!
    I was exempted to take the PhiLSAT. I already applied for the CoE together with the documents needed for the application at the Legal Edu 1st week of May. I received a letter from a University that i passed their Law Entrance Exam and given 1 week to confirm otherwise my slot will be forfeited. I went back to the Legal Edu office but was told that application processed after a month. Instead they told me to ask the University to consider since my CoE is still on process. I went back to that University and they told me to email their School Admission. After two days i got a phone reply that if i dont have the CoE until the last day of confirmation given to me my slot will be forfeited. Is there a way wherein the Legal Edu can help me on this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi!

      I am sorry but the only way that you could expedite the process is if you know someone from the LEB. I think they will be swamped with work due to the number of students who would like to study law next year.

      What I can say is write a letter both to the Dean of the Law School and the school registrar to ask that you could be accommodated stating the circumstances you have stated here which was the reason why it is difficult for you to comply with their condition to submit the COE.

      I am sorry if his is kind of late reply.

      Good luck. Hope the school reconsidered.

      Delete
  5. Hi!
    Thanks to you I finally found the Exemption Form from one of your comments above. I would just like to ask as to who would I mail it to through? Or are they accepting the forms with a lesser known public email?

    Thanks!
    _steph

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      per perusal of the LEB memo and their website, exemption form should be filed directly with the LEB office. I am not sure if they will accept that either thru post mail or e-mail.

      Please call them just to be sure

      Delete
  6. Hello,
    I am working as a private employee for five years now and I'm planning to study Law. I live in Surigao City and I saw an announcement in a law school here stating the entrance exam was last May 20, 2017 and the registration fee is 500.00. Was that considered as an official entrance exam in the law school? Furthermore, does law schools offers subjects for the second half of the year if you with to study?

    Thank you very much. Hoping for your response.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joanna,

      Based from what you shared, I think that was the official entrance exam of the school but take note that you still have to take the PhiLSAT (if you have taken last April 16, 2017, good for you)

      A lot of Law schools accept enrollees even if they start in the second sem. You just have to ask the deans office or the registrar of your desired law school.

      Good luck Joanna.

      Delete