MANILA, Philippines – The Bar Exam Results 2026, including the complete list of passers and topnotchers for over 12,000 aspiring lawyers, are expected to be released by the Supreme Court (SC) after the special en banc session in January 2027, 3-4 months after the grueling exams.
The 2026 Philippine Bar Examinations are being held on September 6, 9, and 13, 2026, at 15 local testing centers nationwide, under the leadership of Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, Chairperson of the 2026 Bar Examinations Committee.
Bar Exam Results 2026 Summary
- Bar Passers: A-G | H-O | P-Z
- Topnotchers: 2026 Bar Exam Results
- Top Schools: 2026 Bar Exam Results
- Guide: 2026 bar passers online clearance procedure, oathtaking
2026 Bar Exam List of Passers
SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES
List of Successful Examinees in the September 2026 Bar Exams
Held on September 6, 9 & 13, 2026
Release Date: January 2027
➜ Follow us on Facebook and X or join our Exam Results Broadcast Channel for real-time updates.
2026 Bar Exam Announcements
Before the official release of the list of passers, topnotchers, and top law schools, reliable sources—particularly the Supreme Court and bar exam personnel—share updates on the special en banc sessions leading to the announcement of results.
The Summit Express will also deliver real-time updates on this page and through our social media channels once the results are announced.
Release of the 2026 Bar Exam Results
The Supreme Court is eyeing January 2027 for the release of the 2026 Bar Examination results, giving examinees and their families time to enjoy the Christmas holidays.
During a press conference, 2026 Bar Examinations Chairperson Samuel Gaerlan said the results will be released after the holiday season.
“Everybody must have to enjoy the holiday. So I’m referring to Christmas holiday. So we will release the results after the holiday season. So it will be in January,” Gaerlan said.
The list of successful examinees is expected to be displayed on LED walls at the Supreme Court courtyard along Padre Faura Street, Manila.
The results will also be published on the Supreme Court’s official website and its official Facebook and X accounts.
Testing Centers
The digital and regionalized bar exams were held simultaneously in 15 testing centers nationwide, with seven centers in the National Capital Region (NCR), three in Luzon, three in the Visayas, and two in Mindanao.
National Capital Region
- New Era University – Quezon City
- University of Santo Tomas – Manila
- San Beda University – Manila
- Ateneo de Manila University (School of Law) – Makati City
- Manila Adventist College – Pasay City
- University of the Philippines (Bonifacio Global City) – Taguig City
- San Beda College Alabang – Muntinlupa City
Luzon
- Saint Louis University – Baguio City
- Cagayan State University – Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
- University of Nueva Caceres – Naga City, Camarines Sur
Visayas
- Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation – Tacloban City
- University of San Jose-Recoletos – Cebu City
- Central Philippine University – Iloilo City
Mindanao
- Ateneo de Davao University (Senior High School) – Davao City
- Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology – Iligan City, Lanao del Norte
The Supreme Court once again used a computer-based examination program that allows examinees to securely take a test using their own devices. Aspiring lawyers took the 2026 Bar Examinations in-person, in their venue of choice, supervised by proctors, and monitored through closed-circuit television cameras.
2026 Bar Statistics
The Supreme Court reported that 12,029 of the 13,441 admitted applicants took the first day of the 2026 Bar Examinations.
Of the 12,029 examinees, 6,773 are female and 5,256 are male. The youngest examinee is 24 years old, while the oldest is 84. The batch also includes 304 persons with disabilities and 285 senior citizens.
Here is the turnout of examinees in the 3-day grueling exams:
- Day 1: 12,029
- Day 2: TBA
- Day 3: TBA
Topnotchers and Top Schools
For the 2026 Bar Examinations, the Supreme Court is expected to release the list of topnotchers and top-performing law schools, following the format used in previous Bar Examinations.
For context, the Supreme Court took a different approach in the 2020/21 Bar Examinations, when it did not release a list of topnotchers. Instead, the Court recognized examinees who achieved an “exemplary performance” in the licensure test.
Coverage of Exam and Questionnaires
This year’s Bar Examinations tackled six core subjects (see link of for the given questions):
Day 1: September 6, 2026 (Sunday)
- Morning (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Political and Public International Law (15%)
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Commercial Law and Taxation Laws (20%)
Day 2: September 9, 2026 (Wednesday)
- Morning (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds (20%)
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%)
Day 3: September 13, 2026 (Sunday)
- Morning (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Criminal Law (10%)
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises (25%)
According to SC, these core subjects were determined and approved by the Court En Banc upon thoughtful review of previous syllabi and due consideration of the latest developments in legal practice.
Bar Exam Passing Grade
Bar examinees must obtain a general average of at least 75% to pass the Bar Examinations. The total weighted score is based on the relative weight of each Bar subject and the examinee’s raw score as a percentage of the maximum possible score.
Under the rules, an examinee is deemed to have passed if he/she obtains a general average of 75%. However, the Supreme Court en banc has the discretion to adjust the passing percentage, as it has done in previous Bar Examinations.
For the 2025 Philippine Bar Examinations, the passing grade was set at 75%.
In the 2024 and 2019 Bar Examinations, the Supreme Court lowered the passing percentage from 75% to 74%.
Historically, the Court has made further adjustments when warranted. The passing grade was lowered to 70% in 2012, and to 73% in both the 2013 and 2014 Bar Examinations.
Previous Bar Exams
The 2025 Bar Examinations recorded a 48.98% passing rate, with 5,594 of 11,420 examinees passed the exam. Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez of the University of the Philippines emerged as the topnotcher with a score of 92.7000%.
In 2024, the Bar Examinations posted a 37.84% passing rate, with 3,962 of 10,490 examinees passing. Kyle Christian Tutor of the University of the Philippines topped the exams with 85.7700%.
The 2023 Bar Examinations had a 36.77% passing rate, with 3,812 of 10,387 examinees passing. Ephraim Porciuncula Bie of the University of Santo Tomas led the batch with a score of 89.2625%.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Bar Examinations recorded a 43.47% passing rate, with 3,992 of 9,183 examinees passing. University of the Philippines College of Law graduate Czar Mathew Gerard Torres topped the exams with 88.8083%.
Check out the Comparative Results for the Bar Examinations in the past 25 years (statistics courtesy of OBC):
| Year | No. of Examinees | No. of Passers | Passing Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11,420 | 5,594 | 48.98% |
| 2024 | 10,490 | 3,962 | 37.84% |
| 2023 | 10,387 | 3,812 | 36.77% |
| 2022 | 9,183 | 3,992 | 43.47% |
| 2020-2021 | 11,402 | 8,241 | 72.28% |
| 2019 | 7,685 | 2,103 | 27.36% |
| 2018 | 8,158 | 1,800 | 22.07% |
| 2017 | 6,748 | 1,724 | 25.55% |
| 2016 | 6344 | 3747 | 59.06% |
| 2015 | 6,605 | 1,731 | 26.21% |
| 2014 | 5,984 | 1,126 | 18.82% |
| 2013 | 5,292 | 1,174 | 22.18% |
| 2012 | 5,343 | 949 | 17.76% |
| 2011 | 5,987 | 1,913 | 31.95% |
| 2010 | 4,847 | 982 | 20.26% |
| 2009 | 5,903 | 1,451 | 24.58% |
| 2008 | 6,364 | 1,310 | 20.58% |
| 2007 | 5,626 | 1,289 | 22.91% |
| 2006 | 6,187 | 1,893 | 30.60% |
| 2005 | 5,607 | 1,526 | 27.22% |
| 2004 | 5,249 | 1,659 | 31.61% |
| 2003 | 5,349 | 1,108 | 20.71% |
| 2002 | 4,659 | 917 | 19.68% |
| 2001 | 3,849 | 1,266 | 32.89% |
| 2000 | 4,698 | 979 | 20.84% |
Philippine Bar Exam Overview
The Philippine Bar Examinations are considered one of the country’s most prestigious and challenging professional licensure examinations for aspiring lawyers. Unlike other professional licensure exams, the Bar is not administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) but is exclusively supervised by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court conducts the Bar Examinations pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which grants the Court the power to promulgate rules on the admission to the practice of law.
The Bar is considered challenging due to its broad coverage of legal subjects and the volume of material examinees are expected to master. In recent years, the passing rate has generally ranged from around 20% to 50%.
Before the results are officially released, the Supreme Court holds a special en banc session for the “decoding of Bar Examination results.” During this process, the Court orders the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) to open the sealed envelopes containing the names of examinees who passed the examinations.
How to Contact the Supreme Court
For concerns and clarifications regarding the Bar Examinations, examinees may contact the Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) through the following channels:
- Officer-in-Charge: Atty. Betting R. Melchor
- Bar Records Division: +63 2 8526-8122; +63 2 8552-9691
- Bar Complaints Division: +63 2 8525-7929
- Bar Examinations & Bar Relations Division: +63 2 8552-9690
- Email: baroffice.sc@judiciary.gov.ph; efile_bar.sc@judiciary.gov.ph
Bar Exam Updates
Be updated on the official results and updates on the 2026 Bar Exams. We advise takers to bookmark this page, closely monitor our social media channels or visit the official website of SC for more information.
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Disclaimer
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For official examination schedules, results, announcements, and other notices, please refer to the SC's official website and verified communication channels.
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