UP law grad tops 2024 Bar Exam

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines’ College of Law Graduate Kyle Christian Tutor is the topnotcher of the 2024 Bar Examination, obtaining a score of 85.77%

Hailing from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Tutor a class valedictorian, earned his Bachelor’s Degree from University of the Philippines – Manila, before continuing his study at UP College of Law, where he graduated as Cum Laude and the Top 3 of his class. 

His other achievements include winning the Best Paper Award for his work on Administrative Law, serving as a Vice Chair for a volume of Philippine Law Journal, and receiving scholarships under various programs such as the UP Law Scholarship Program and Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity Program. 

Tutor was followed by Maria Christina Santos from Ateneo De Manila University with 85.54%, and Gerald Catayong Roxas of Angeles University Foundation School of Law with 84.355%. 

More than 12,000 people registered to take the exam this year but only around 10,000 took and finished the test. A total of 3,962 examinees passed, making up 37.84% of Bar takers. This was higher than the 36.77% passing rate last 2023, where 3,812 individuals passed the exam. 

According to Associate Justice Mario Lopez, this was due to the unanimous decision of justices to lower the passing grade from 75% to 74%. He said that if it was not lowered, the passing rate would be 30% and not 37.84%. 

On the other hand, Ateneo de Manila University led the Top 5 law schools with more than 100 first-time candidates. The ranks are as follows:

1. Ateneo de Manila University – 93.36%
2. University of the Philippines – 93.09%
3. San Beda University – 91.54%
4. University of Santo Tomas Manila – 88.72%
5. University of San Carlos – 85.45%

On the category of top law schools with 51 to 100 first-time takers, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines took the lead:

1. Polytechnic University of the Philippines – 88.52%
2. University of Cebu – 88.24%
3. De La Salle University Manila – 87.50
4. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – 84.91%
5. Xavier University – Ateneneo de Cagayan 68.75%

The Bar exam— a 3-day examination— took place on September 08, 11, and 15 of 2024.