Title
Bar Examinations Passing Marks Act
Law
Republic Act No. 972
Decision Date
Jun 21, 1953
Republic Act No. 972 establishes the passing marks for bar examinations from 1946 to 1955, allowing candidates who meet specific general average scores to be admitted to the Philippine Bar, with a minimum grade requirement of 50% in any subject.

Legal basis and governing rule displaced

  • Section 1 applies notwithstanding Section 14, Rule No. 127 of the Rules of Court.
  • Section 1 establishes an exception that allows certain bar candidates to be admitted to the Philippine Bar even if Rule No. 127 would otherwise govern passing requirements.
  • Section 2 creates an additional rule affecting how subject grades are counted in later examinations.

Covered time periods and who benefits

  • Section 1 covers bar candidates who obtained a general average in bar examinations after July 4, 1946 up to and including the August 1951 bar examinations.
  • Section 1 applies specific general-average passing thresholds by exam year from the 1946–1951 period through the 1955 bar examinations.
  • Section 1 allows eligible candidates to take and subscribe the corresponding oath of office as members of the Philippine Bar.
  • Section 2 applies to bar candidates who obtained a grade of 75% in any subject after July 4, 1946.

Passing standards by examination year

  • Section 1 requires, for bar examinations after July 4, 1946 up to and including the August 19, 1951 bar examinations, a general average of 70%.
  • Section 1 requires 71% for the 1952 bar examinations.
  • Section 1 requires 72% for the 1953 bar examinations.
  • Section 1 requires 73% for the 1954 bar examinations.
  • Section 1 requires 74% for the 1955 bar examinations.

Minimum subject-grade condition

  • Section 1 allows taking and subscribing the oath only if no candidate obtained a grade below 50% in any subject.
  • Section 1 ties eligibility to both a qualifying general average and the 50% minimum-per-subject condition.

Rounding rule for fractions

  • Section 1 provides that for its purpose, an exact one-half or more of a fraction is considered as one.
  • Section 1 directs that such rounded fraction treatment is included as part of the next whole number.

Subject pass treatment for later averaging

  • Section 2 deems a candidate to have passed a subject (or subjects) if the candidate obtained a grade of 75% in any subject in any bar examination after July 4, 1946.
  • Section 2 requires that such 75% subject grade or grades are included in computing the candidate’s passing general average for any subsequent examinations the candidate may take.

Effect on computation and compliance outcome

  • Section 1 establishes that meeting the stated thresholds and minimum-per-subject condition permits oath-taking as a Philippine Bar member.
  • Section 2 establishes that achieving 75% in any subject after July 4, 1946 locks in that subject pass for purposes of later general average computation.
  • Section 3 states the statute takes effect upon approval.

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