News update Multiple choice proposed in 2011 Bar exam

A Supreme Court justice wants to incorporate more multiple choice-type of tests in next year’s Bar examinations, court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said on Tuesday.

"The multiple choice will focus on Codal provisions. It is very difficult for an examiner in an essay type exam to determine if an examinee knows the Codal provision," he said.

Marquez said the proposal was made by Associate Justice Roberto Abad, who will be the chairman of the 2011 Bar committee, in consultation with deans from various law schools.

Bar examinations are generally essay-type, but examiners have thrown in a few multiple choice questions over the years, Marquez said.

"This is a departure from the traditional bar exams. In multiple choice, there are no ifs and buts — it's either you know [the answer] or you don't," he said.

The multiple choice exam aims to test the stock knowledge of aspiring lawyers from their first year in law school, Marquez said.

The proposal was made early to prepare the law schools with this type of exam, he added. Marquez said there is a strong indication that Abad's proposal will be approved by the Supreme Court. He also said the court still has to decide on the passing average on a case to case basis. Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales is the chairman of the 2010 Bar exams, which will be held on the four Sundays of September. The Office of the Bar Confidant has yet to make public the number of law graduates who will take this year's bar exam. - KBK