With the 2025 Bar Examinations set to begin on Sunday, examinees wrap up their last-minute preparations for this long-awaited day. Manila Standard sought some tips from those who previously took the exams and eventually made it to the list of top passers.
Lawyer Andrew Gil Ambray, who placed 12th in the digitalized 2024 Bar exams, recalled what he did a day before the examination day.
“Once I got settled at my hotel, I had a light dinner and read a few last-minute tips for the first day’s exam. I quickly browsed through my codals just to refresh some key concepts I felt were important. Before sleeping, I made sure all my bar essentials were ready. I tried to wind down by eight or nine in the evening so I could get enough rest,” Ambray said.
He shared that it is important to maintain confidence not only in himself but most especially in God: “Whenever anxiety crept in, I turned to God in prayer and asked for peace of mind. I also took a few quiet moments to visualize myself after the exams—happy, relieved, and grateful that this journey would soon be over.”
The lawyer added that if he were to take the exams again, he would allot more time to rest a day before instead of continuously studying, which made it difficult for him to sleep.
The batch valedictorian said that the right mindset is important, sharing that it has always been his dream to top the Bar exams.
“I was determined to study the best I could to aim for the top. However, during the bar review and even the bar examinations itself, reality hit me. That is when I knew that topping the bar is not just about pure academic excellence and determination; it’s a mix of luck, prayer, and sacrifices,” Ambray said.
For his part, lawyer Benigno Par Jr., who ranked 4th in the 1998 Bar examinations, seconded that aside from mental, physical, and psychological preparations of examinees, spiritual preparation is also a must.
Among the churches he visited are the National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus in Manila, as well as the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.
“You have to ask for guidance, you have to pray, and go to church… Your mindset the day before will depend on your preparation. If you have really prepared, followed your schedule, and covered all the readings, then you do not have any problem in having second thoughts entering the room,” Par said.
He added that examinees should not entertain any stressors a day before the exams and just focus on leisure reading of notes to have enough energy for the following day. Reading the news is likewise appropriate, as some questions may be based on current events.
The lawyer also advised examinees to exercise to help them rest a night before, stressing the importance of sleeping on time.
Like Ambray, Par said that the aim should be high, but it is more important to work hard for it. I
Instead of worrying, he encouraged examinees to be excited, explaining that it is their time to show the examiners that they are worthy to become a lawyer.
While he took the traditional pen-and-paper method of examinations, Par believes that the preparations required are substantially the same with the common goal of becoming lawyers.
