Philippine Law School Admission Test

Aside from entrance exams and interviews depending on your coveted law school, PhiLSAT is another prerequisite to be satisfied for your much desired ATTY.

What is PhiLSAT?

The Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT) is a standardized battery of aptitude tests designed to measure one's academic potential to pursue the study of law. Pursuant to the power of the Legal Education Board (LEB) to prescribe the minimum standards for law admission under Section 7(e) of Republic Act No. 7662, entitled the “Legal Education Reform Act of 1993,” the LEB, under LEB Memorandum Order No. 7 Series of 2016, required the PhiLSAT as a prerequisite for admission to the basic law courses leading to either a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree beginning school year 2017 - 2018. The Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM) has been accredited to manage the affairs and activities related to the operation of the PhiLSAT. With CEM’s experience as an educational testing agency, it was commissioned to develop the PhiLSAT, ensure the reliability and validity of the test, and uphold the confidentiality of results and integrity of its administration. 

Who are qualified to take PhiLSAT?

Anyone who is:

1. Graduate of a 4-year bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from duly recognized higher education institutions in the Philippines
2. Graduating student of a 4-year bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from duly recognized higher education institutions in the Philippines at the end of the school year when the PhiLSAT is administered
3. Graduate from foreign higher education institutions with degrees equivalent to a 4-year bachelor’s degree as certified by the Commission on Higher Education 

A qualified examinee may take the PhiLSAT for as many times as he/she wants, without any limit (LEBMO No. 7, Qualified examinees).

Honor graduates granted professional civil service eligibility pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 907 who are enrolling within two (2) years from their college graduation are exempted from taking and passing the PhiLSAT for purposes of admission to the basic law course (LEBMO No. 7, Exemption).  Application for exemption shall be filed directly with the LEB.

HOW CAN I REGISTER?

Application is done online. You can visit their website at https://www.cem-inc.org.ph/philsat/.

Overview of PhiLSAT

What is the Passing Rate?

The passing rate is 55% so basically, you can only commit a maximum of 90 mistakes (out of 200) or else you'll have to defend why you should be admitted. Anyway, your admission would still be upon the discretion of the College of Law Dean.

Since the Philippine Law School Admission Test was first administered last April 16, 2017, the LEB lowered the passing rate to 45%. A total of 6, 575 out of 8,074 (81.43%) passed the first ever PhiLSAT.

T I P S

Since all PhiLSAT takers agreed not to disclose the test contents upon completion of the online application, all I can provide are tips and my personal experience. (Allow me to express my exhilaration for being included in the first batch :D. *salute to April 16, 2017 PhiLSAT takers and passers!)

PRACTICE TIMED TESTS - As perceived on the table provided, each subtest has its own allotted time. Since you are attempting to enter law school, it is safe to presume that you have the intellectual capability and you can answer most questions accurately. But are you fast enough? That is actually the struggle of most PhiLSAT takers especially when the latter part of Test B commenced.

Let's do some math. With Tests A and C, you are merely given 48 seconds to answer an item. Test A would not be much of a problem. Actually, what I did during the exam was I finished Test A as fast as possible so I could render the excess time to answering Test B which equates a minute to an item. Though there are time allotted per subtest, you can proceed to the next test if you're already done and you can always go back to unanswered items IF AND ONLY IF you miraculously have enough time left. I believe the logical part of said test would be a walk in the park for you, since I think you are dedicated enough to equip yourself with the necessary information to help you ace such looming test. However, as I keep on emphasizing, you have to be fast enough especially when it comes to answering analytical reasoning questions. I suggest you diagram every condition given so you could easily point out which is and which is not. Try practicing with LSAT analytical reasoning questions found on the internet. It would help a lot. But again, practice under time pressure as if you were actually taking the test.

In Test C, a passage is provided and questions ranging from 4 to 7 questions regarding such follows. Let me just reiterate; you only have 48 SECONDS to answer an item. 

I guess this is why some failed the exam- due to the lack of time. What you can do is PRACTICE SPEED READING. You can do this by reading a passage starting from the third word and ending with the third to the last word of the line. For example.

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference." 

-excerpt from Robert Frost's THE ROAD NOT TAKEN.

Start with the word "telling" and end with the word "with." This might be difficult at first, but you will improve gradually and it will be of great help as you enter law school. You could also use your finger or any pointing tool as this would help maintain your focus. This is an advice relayed by my (UP lawyer) boss, whom I cannot cite, and I haven't thanked enough for providing me SAT and Entrance Exam reviewers. Practice this as well and you'll have more chance of passing.

Try to answer reading comprehension questions timing yourself with 48sec per item. For example, 2 passages=10 questions, times 48sec. 480secs = 8mins. These include the time to finish the entire passage and answering related questions. You will also need to WIDEN YOUR VOCABULARY as this would contribute to better comprehension.

Just when you thought your agony is already through, then smirks Test D.

As my fellow PhiLSAT taker kidded, "Quantitative Reasoning brings you closer to God." especially when you just finished Test C, and the Proctor announces *20 mins left!* Aw, that's really heartbreaking. I think Test B and C are designed to rattle takers and Test D is to dismantle hearts. The technique is to finish Test A as fast as possible. The latter part of test B is very time consuming. Anyway, for Quantitative reasoning, you could also visit this website < https://www.indiabix.com/ >

During the test...

WEAR AN ANALOG WATCH. Test takers are allowed though not required to bring an analog watch. But I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU WEAR ONE! This would help you decide whether you can start panicking or just keep on chilling. Kidding aside, this would help you monitor your pace.



After the test..
FORGET ABOUT IT. You did your best. I know you did. So pray, thank God it's through. Meditate. Meet your friends. Go out and have fun. After such a grueling exam, you deserve to indulge yourself in any way you want. Do not dwell on the past. PhiLSAT is already through. Move on. All you can do is wait for the result. Do not be anxious, though this is normal, but not all the time. Though I must admit, Melissa's Family Tree is still haunting me and whoever the second heaviest among the four babies will just remain a mystery.

Anyway, I just want to share this. Not mine. Credits to the one who posted this on Twitter. :)

Dear PhiLSAT Examinee,

Ask yourself a simple question,
"Am I willing to go through more of this?"

If yes, welcome to law school.

Good Luck!

SHING! :)