A total of 8,241 out of 11,402 examinees or 72.28 percent passed the 2020-2021Bar examinations, the first-ever digitalized and regionalized test for aspiring lawyers that was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supreme Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, chairperson of this year’s exams, made the announcement during a press briefing at the SC compound in Manila.

Of the 11,790 who were admitted to take the exam, Leonen said that 11,402 completed the test. Only 3.29 percent were unable to complete the exam that were given on February 4 and 6, 2022.

The 2020/21 Bar exams were conducted physically in 31 local testing sites in 22 local government units across the country.

Of the 8,241 that passed, 761 earned the recognition for exemplary performance, having obtained grades ranging from 85 percent to 90 percent. This represents 9.23 percent of those who passed.

Also, 14 Bar takers earned the recognition for excellent performance, having obtained grades higher than 90 percent. This was 0.17 percent of all those who passed the exam.

The SC did not released the traditional Top 10 Bar topnotchers but recognized the performance of law schools by ranking them into four (4) groups.

Group 1 includes schools with more than 100 Bar takers; Group 2 are law schools with 51 to 100 Bar takers; Group 3 covers law schools with 11 to 50 Bar takers; and Group 4 are law schools with 10 or fewer Bar takers.

Six (6) of 27 law schools in Group 4 had a passing grade of 100 percent among their first-time takers. These schools in alphabetical order are: Abra Valley Colleges, Batangas State University, Rizal Memorial Colleges, Tabaco College, University of Makati, and Western Leyte College.

In Group 4, there were six (6) exemplary passers two (2) from University of Makati and one (1) from the University of Bohol.

For Group 3, seven (7) of 61 law schools had a passing rate of 100 percent for first-time takers. In alphabetical order, these schools are: Ateneo de Naga University, Bulacan State University, Jose Maria College, Mariano Marcos State University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Siliman University, and University of Asia and the Pacific.

For Group 2, 22 law schools were ranked according to the percentage of passers among their first-time takers.

The top 5 law schools in this group and their passing rates are as follows: First, St. Louis University – 98. 667 percent; Second, University of Cebu – 97.4026 percent; Third, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan – 96.9388 percent; Fourth, Ateneo de Davao University – 96. 4912 percent; Fifth, Lyceum of the Philippines University – 94.3396 percent.

For Group 1, 15 law schools have been ranked according to the percentage of their passers among first-time takers. The Top 5 law schools in this group and their respective passing rates are as follows: First, Ateneo de Manila University – 99.6429 percent; Second, University of the Philippines – 98.8406 percent; Third, San Beda College – 98.1061 percent; Fourth, University of San Carlos, 98.0000 percent; Fifth, University of Santo Tomas – Manila – 93.0556 percent.