Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ba
r
bl
es
rs.
s. S
So
become lawyers.
Some of you may have dreams of
r
first
hurdle
Ba
to
tthe
he
2011
Philippine
Bar
es
an
have
ave
you
Ba
bl
examinations.
xamin
es
an
My task is to discu
discuss what a Multiple
Choice Type of
e C
Choi
Ba
bl
Examination is
is commonly called
s or what
w
alled as MCQs.
in
tthe
2011
es
changes
pine
ine
Philippine
o
bl
major
three
an
Bar
an
eals with
w
Examinations. In Bar Matter 2265, which deals
the
1
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Ba
r
Examinations is arranged
by topics and sub-topics,
arran
rran
es
bl
other words
ords the coverage of the bar exams is
an
Ba
specifically
outlined indicating
ecifical
cifical
ating the subject areas
bl
Ba
es
bl
es
an
date of decisions
rendered.
ions
ons rre
Ba
Second,
the use
nd the Supreme Court mandated
m
es
an
o
bl
CQs
Qs s
sh
easure
asure the
Matter 2265, the MCQs
shall specifically measure
(a)
an
2
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(b)
Ba
r
Ba
bl
es
ze
e legal
leg
ability to analyze
problems, apply the
pri
oblem
blem and
correct law or principle
to such problems,
Ba
an
bl
es
bl
es
an
solut
provide soluti
solutions to them.
Ba
es
an
ec
ct, 20
re
e for
for
Court, for each bar subject,
20% of the MCQs are
an
o
bl
all;
ll; 40%
4
nding
ding and
knowledge and recall;
for understanding
he use
us of essay-type
The third major change is the
questions to measure your lawyering skills.
3
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Ba
r
es
applications; and
nd
Essay-Type
questions
that
will
bl
Second,
cond
es
bl
an
Ba
measure
asure your lawyering skills.
ills.
an
Ba
Sundays of the
to
he
e Bar Examinations are
re devoted
dev
bl
es
es
an
Ba
o
bl
an
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Ba
r
e selected.
s
the best answer is to be
It is composed of two
bl
es
Ba
Let me ill
illustrate the parts
s of an MCQ by this
bl
es
an
example:
ple:
le:
Ba
against
which
which
wh
of
the
es
an
jurisdiction
jurisd
urisd
exclusive
prohibition
and
nd
an
A. Commission on Elections
o
bl
es
Ba
certiorari,
rari,
ari,
mandamus?
of
an
writs
of
bl
ng
g Co
etition
tition for issuance
following
Commissions in petitions
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Ba
r
1.
exclusive
jurisdiction
risdict
against
which
of
the
i,,
certiorari,
of
writs
prohibition
and
Ba
of
bl
es
g Com
following
Commissions in petitions for issuance
es
an
manda
mand
mandamus?
Ba
bl
s the stem.
is
es
an
ation
tion from
f
rre
rect
ct o
The enumeration
where the correct
or the best
es
an
Ba
these are:
bl
ected
cted is called the options.
ons
ns.. In
I this example,
answer is selected
o
bl
sion
ion o
A. Commission
on Elections
an
on
n
B. Civil Service Commission
i
io
C. National Labor Relations
Commission
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Ba
r
es
bl
an
Ba
ative
tive o
interrogative
or question form and yo
you, as the examinee,
bl
es
are to c
choose the best orr the correct answer to the
Ba
question
from the options
es
ptions given. It does not mean,
es
an
bl
he interrogative
in
presented in the
form. The st
stem can also be
es
an
Ba
o
bl
an
7
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mandamus,
has
original
and
exclusive
A. Commission on Elections
Ba
r
B. Civil Service
vice Commission
bl
es
C. National
ationa
tion Labor Relations Commission
bl
es
an
Ba
D.Securities
and Exchange
D.S
D.
S
xchang Commission
an
Ba
an incomplete statement
choose the
ement
ment and you have to cho
bl
es
You
u might
migh
mig
o
bl
es
an
Ba
an
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Ba
r
bl
es
In the 2011
11
1 Bar Examinations, I understand that the
Ba
es
an
bl
articu
ng as you answer that item, you
particular
item, for as long
an
Ba
five
ive p
nce o
still have a twenty-five
percent (25%) chance
of getting
bl
es
T
er, ne
Thus, as a reminder,
never leave an
er.
the right answer.
Ba
ed
d The score you will get when you simply
item unanswered.
es
an
nd
d when
wh
w the
tth
he
guessed the correct answer and
you really know
o
bl
he
e same.
sa
thin is
correct answer will be the
The importantt thing
an
on,
n, you
yo will note that
Based on the foregoing discussion,
the essential feature that differentiates MCQs from the
essay type questions resides in the form of the response.
9
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checking
or
shading)
the
one
of
the
several
Ba
r
es
appropriate. Thus
s y
you
ou are free to choose the particular
bl
an
Ba
This
may not be the
T
he case in
Ba
either
correct or wrong.
h
he
ng.
bl
es
examinee
aminee
minee in a Multiple Choice
hoice
hoi
ce Type of examination is
es
an
bl
some points to yo
your answer although
your answer may
gh yo
es
an
Ba
orrect
rrect a
not exactly be considered the correct
answer.
o
bl
ruction
uctio of
Let me now discuss the s
steps in the construction
construction
of
e
Multiple
Cho
Choice
type
of
The
an
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bl
es
the examination.
Ba
r
Ba
As I have
mentioned, the
ave earlier
ea
he Supreme Court has
es
an
prepared
ed
d a syllabus for each of the bar examination
bl
subject.
Specifications,
the syllabus itself
ubject.
bject. In the Table of Spec
Specif
if
an
Ba
bl
es
cognitive skills to b
those which the
be measured are thos
Ba
es
an
Supreme Court
has specifically enumerated,
rt h
ha
merate that is:
o
bl
nd
2. Understanding ; and
an
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You
may
ask:
What
use
will
the
Table
of
Ba
r
of Specifications so that
hat
at you
yo are sure that all the subject
bl
es
areas included in
n th
the bar examinations were covered by
Ba
w.. Mo
a
your review.
Moreover, you will hav
have
a better view of
es
an
Ba
bl
easuri
gnitive
nitive skill.
measuring
a particular cognitive
es
an
parti
d the
der
tth subject
To give you a part
particular example, under
bl
ral
al Principles,
Prin
e logical
logi
logic to expect a
area of General
it would be
an
Ba
ognitive
gnitiv skill in knowledge
ge
question here measuring your cognitive
o
bl
es
g ra
rath
th
uestio
estio
and recall or understanding
rather
than on a question
an
oluti
measuring analysis and solution.
MCQ
Are there rules in the construction off MCQs?
Just like any type of examination question, there are
basic rules in the construction of MCQs in order that the
12
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Ba
r
bl
es
Ba
The first
is that the stem
rst
st rul
rule in constructing MCQs
MC
es
an
Ba
bl
present
resent
esent a definite problem.
m..
bl
es
an
Ba
(3) The
Th Supreme Court,
urt, in petitions for
and
es
ori
original
xclusi
exclusive
o
bl
has
mandamus,
an
an
____.
___.
jurisdiction against the _____________.
ns
A. Commission on Elections
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Ba
r
es
r
Ba
es
Supreme
Supr
Court
bl
(4) The
es
and
exclusive
clusive
usive
jurisdiction
original
or
ori
bl
an
Ba
____________.
__.
_
A.
has
an
item:
bl
Now, compare
ompar
mpar that with the following illustrative
es
an
Ba
o
bl
ns
s for issuance of writs
rits of
o
in petitions
original
and
urren
concurrent
B.
an
certiorari, p
prohibition and manda
mandamus;
jurisdiction
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C.
original
and
concurrent
jurisdiction
Ba
r
Trial
Courts
against
the
Ba
al an
uris
original
and concurrent juris
jurisdiction
Ba
D.
bl
es
ohibit
ohi
certiorari, prohibition
and mandamus;
es
Securities
and
Exchange
the
bl
an
ith
th th
the Regional Trial Co
C
our
with
Courts
against
es
an
Ba
ce
Commission in petit
petitions for issuance
o
bl
cert
on
n an
of writs off certiorari,
prohibition
and
an
s
mandamus.
ay tha
In this illustrative item, can we say
that the stem is
meaningful by itself such that it presents
a definite
pr
problem?
15
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Ba
r
bl
es
Ba
s con
illustrative item. Here, the item is
constructed in such a
es
an
hat
at the
th stem is not meaningful
anin
n ngf by itself or does not
way that
bl
resen
esen a definite problem
em b
present
because any set of options
an
Ba
bl
es
ons
ns be
the examinee, have to read the options
before you can
Ba
es
an
C
o
bl
k
hat the examiner really
determine the kind
of answer that
nii
e to you
y
Now, what is the significance
of this rule
as
an
the examinee?
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look for from among the given options. This will prevent
you from being confused by the distracters or prevent you
from answering the question by just guessing the correct
Ba
r
or best answer.
It cannot be avoided,
however, that there are
avoid
avoide
bl
es
Ba
correct answer
the stem.
swer
wer is after reading th
es
an
situation,
there is no other choice
but to go through the
on, th
ho
o
oice
bl
process
answers, rather than
rocess
ocess of eliminating the
he wrong
wr
The problem
with the
lem w
an
Ba
bl
es
process of elimination
have the luxury
nation is that you may not
ot ha
Ba
es
an
o
bl
morning
of
the
first
Sunday
day
the
of
the
bar
in
an
ern
examinations, i.e., Political and International
Law, and
Labor and Social Legislation. In fact, you will also have to
17
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Ba
r
on that day.
The second rule
requires that the stem should be
e req
bl
es
Ba
outcomes require
equir it. The following
g is an example of an
bl
Ba
es
an
es
against
the
he
es
o
bl
an
A. Commission on Elections
_____________.
and
Ba
jurisdiction
on
n
original
have
ave
ve
bl
not
exclusive
does
an
mandamus,
mus,
an
B. Commission on Audit
itt
C. Court of Appeals
18
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Ba
r
n idea
id
should already have an
of the answer from among
es
bl
es
an
Ba
answ
options which can be the correctt answer.
bl
Let
Le us look again att our example of an MCQ where
Ba
es
an
n the negative
n
the stem is stated in
form:
bl
rt,
t, in petitions for
(6) The Supreme Court,
Ba
es
originall
have
o
bl
not
d
di
jurisdiction
nst
st
against
an
and
the
exclusive
does
mandamus,
an
rtiorar
tiorar prohibition and
nd
issuance of writs of certiorari,
an
_____________.
n
A. Commission on Elections
B. Commission on Audit
19
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C.
Court of Appeals
D.
Ba
r
es
s
does
have
original
and
Ba
mandamus,
and
prohibition
bl
es
tions
ons for issuance of writs of certiorari,
Court, in petitions
es
an
sive
ve jurisdiction
jju
he
em.
m. Provided we do not
exclusive
over them.
bl
hange
ange options (A), (B)
B)) and (C), whatever option is
change
es
an
Ba
bl
es
an
Ba
gative
ative word NOT in the
he
simply failed to notice the negative
o
bl
swerr the
t
ctly not
no
n
stem, thus you failed to answer
question correctly
th
h correct answer, but because
be
because you do not know the
an
prop
you did not read the question or the stem prope
properly. When
e exam
exa
this happens, the very purpose of the
examination is thus
not achieved. In situations, therefore, when the stem is
stated in the negative form, the examiner should have
20
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Ba
r
bl
es
be free of irrelevant
evant
vant materials. This is best illustrated by
bl
es
iction
ction of the Supreme Court
(7) The jurisdiction
nal, exclusive,
e
urren
rren and
could be original,
concurrent
Ba
an
Ba
ng item
the following
item:
es
the
lowin
owin
following
of
Ba
ve
exclusive
es
and
ion
on
Commission on Election
A.
an
Commissions?
wh
which
the
o
bl
againstt
jurisdiction
origina
rigin
original
has
an
Court
ma
mandamus,
Supreme
d
and
p
prohibition,
ari,
ri,
certiorari,
bl
an
n pet
pe
nce o
nce
appellate. In
petitions for issuance
of writs of
B.
21
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C.
D.
Ba
r
es
could be original, ex
exclusive,
concurrent and appellate is
e
xclu
bl
practically irrelevant
relevan
elevan because the rest of the stem already
an
Ba
presents
problem. What happens
when there
s a definite
de
h
bl
es
Ba
would
irrelevant
ul be wasting a lot
ot of ttime reading these
se
e irr
es
an
be
distracted
d
these
ese
es
by
not
Ba
should
you
an
examinee,
bl
o
bl
an
22
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Ba
r
es
referred to/ as a __
______________ party.
indispensable
indi
ind
proper
D.
real
r
r
bl
C.
Ba
compulsory
an
Ba
an
B.
es
bl
A.
bl
es
otice
tice tthat in this example,
e, opt
You will notice
option (A) is not
Ba
grammatically co
consistent with the stem
stem. In all instances,
es
an
matica
ma
tic
h th
tthe
he
where the option is not grammatically
consistent with
o
bl
the c
ecause
cause of
stem, that option is not the
correct answer. Because
an
o in situations
s
this rule, you of course know now what to do
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Ba
r
octri
ctri
(9) The doctrine
which dictates that the
es
bl
may not
modified or vacated by any
ott be opened,
o
an
Ba
es
an
bl
es
Principle
Princip of Judicial Hierarchy
erarc
erarch
B.
Ba
A. Doctrine
ine
ne of Judicial Stability
y
bl
____________.
___
Ba
C. Rule
ull on Equity Jurisdiction
sdictio
o
bl
es
an
D. Doctrine of Primary
mary Jurisdiction
an
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Ba
r
es
The difficulty
y level
lle
evel
vel of an MCQ would depend on how
bl
an
Ba
bl
es
answer
even if you do not know it, then that is an easy
swer
wer e
bl
es
an
Ba
MCQ.
CQ I think the examiner
xamine will have a difficult
fficu time
Ba
Examiners,
s however, will capitalize
pitalize on the following
es
an
o
bl
tandi
llaw:
knowledge, recall, understanding,
and analysis off the la
mmon errors.
Use the students most common
(b)
g words
w
Use important-sounding
(significant,
an
(a)
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(c)
(d)
Use
textbook
language
or
other
Ba
r
Use
Us incorrect answers
er that are likely to
ers
Ba
(e)
e))
es
an
bl
grammatically
consistent
consis
consi
the
o
bl
es
an
Ba
stem.
(g)
with
and
es
Use
distracters that are pa
parallel
in form
se
e dis
ra
ral
(f)
Ba
bl
carelessness
ss
s
an
26
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Ba
r
es
bl
an
Ba
other options
ptions
tions because the examiner
miner would tend to add
bl
es
more
make it the best answer.
re
e words
wor to it in an effortt to m
an
Ba
Ba
of times but in
n a random order..
bl
es
es
an
o
bl
an
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Ba
r
es
an
o
bl
es
an
Ba
bl
es
an
Ba
bl
es
an
Ba
bl
Good luck,
and welcome to the profession!
ck,
k, an
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