Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) — The Supreme Court has relaxed one of its policies for the upcoming Bar examinations, as it now allows test takers to keep law-related files in their laptops for last-minute review.
In a bulletin issued Monday, Associate Justice and Bar Exams Chairperson Marvic Leonen said examinees may use their laptops to access reviewers once done with the health and security check, or during lunch break.
They will be permitted to do so until “30 minutes before the first bell (7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) rings.”
Previously, the high court said Bar takers may only use their laptops to open the exam software Examplify while in the premises of the testing centers.
Leonen reminded that reviewers should be saved in local folders in the laptops, as internet use would still be prohibited except to download the exam file and to submit answers. Attempting to connect to the internet for unauthorized purposes, he said, “shall be considered cheating.”
“Any form of cheating will not be tolerated,” the bulletin read. “Anyone who will be caught violating these rules will be automatically disqualified from the 2020/21 Bar Examinations and future Bar examinations. No second chances will be given for any breach of the Honor Code.”
This year’s digitalized Bar exams — a first in the country’s history — will cover both the 2020 and 2021 exams, which were moved a number of times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of Typhoon Odette. The coverage and duration have also been reduced, with the exams scheduled for Feb. 4 and 6.
#Bar2020_21 UPDATE: Read Bar Bulletin No. 35, S. 2022 REVISING THE RULES ON THE USE OF LAPTOPS DURING THE 2020/21 BAR EXAMINATIONS PROPER https://t.co/cmTnPvTb4O #BestBarEver2020_21 pic.twitter.com/x9pSahpywA
— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) January 24, 2022
