Republic of the Philippines
Supreme Court Manila
BAR BULLETIN NO. 35, S. 2022 REVISING THE RULES ON THE USE OF LAPTOPS DURING THE 2020/21 BAR EXAMINATIONS PROPER Previously, Bar Bulletin No. 18, s. 2021 had advised examinees to organize and offload their law-related files into external devices before taking the Bar Examinations. Bar Bulletin No. 30, s. 2021 had also prohibited examinees from using their laptops other than to use Examplify during the test proper. Examinees are now allowed to keep reviewers in their laptops, which should always be saved in their local folders and not downloadable from their clouds. Once done with the security and health check, examinees may open their laptops to access their files for any last-minute studying. Examinees may also review their own files during lunch breaks. For local testing centers with assigned lunch areas, examinees may bring their laptops there; for those that allow eating inside the testing rooms, examinees may use their laptops inside to review. Each examinee is responsible for the safekeeping of their laptops. The Supreme Court shall not be liable should they spill anything on their laptops or do any damage that might render the laptops unusable for the succeeding exams. Examinees shall also not be allowed to avail of the back-up computers should such a situation arise. In any event, examinees must close all reviewers and other law-related files 30 minutes before the first bell (7:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m.) rings. The policy against talking to other examinees still stands. Examinees are prohibited from sharing their computer screens or computer files. During the entire examinations and within the premises of the Bar Examinations, no examinee should be less than 2 meters from any other human being. Silence and physical distancing will be strictly enforced.
Those who will violate this rule may face disciplinary action. Examinees are also well advised not to attempt any form of cheating even with the relaxed policy. As those who have completed the Sample Exams already know, Examplify is a secure delivery program, designed to prohibit examinees from exiting the application once the test proper has begun. Trying to access files during the test proper is a futile effort and a violation of the Honor Code. Moreover, unless authorized, examinees are still prohibited from connecting to the internet at all times. It will only ever be accessed inside the testing room, at the proctors’ signal, for downloading questionnaires and uploading answer files. Attempting to connect to the internet while inside the premises of the local testing center, other than to download the examination file and to submit the answer file, shall be considered cheating. It follows that examinees are absolutely prohibited from using their laptops for social media once they enter the premises. To reiterate previous bar bulletins, they are also prohibited from bringing iPads, tablets, or other gadgets that will be confiscated by security in any case. Examinees should not abuse this policy. Any form of cheating will not be tolerated. 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. Every legal concept congeals honor. You are the hope of a society where corruption still exists. Build character while we all go through crises and challenges.
well.
It is not only lawyering that requires integrity, living humanely requires it as
Serve our people with honor and excellence. See you soon. For your information, guidance, and strict compliance. January 24, 2022.
MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN Associate Justice and 2020/21 Bar Examinations Chairperson