Beyond the statistics, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan shared inspiring stories from this year’s batch of Bar examinees, several of whom overcame significant challenges to take the examinations.

Gaerlan said three examinees who faced genuine difficulties with the digital format were allowed to take the Bar examinations by hand.

One was a 64-year-old examinee managing a chronic dry-eye condition. Another, 49, was undergoing therapy for a shoulder injury and had lost a laptop shortly before the examinations.

The third, aged 69, had limited exposure to computers throughout their life.

Four other examinees were allowed to take the examinations with an encoder’s assistance.

One had lost their sight to a rare form of meningitis, while another had lost both arms.

The group also included a 75-year-old examinee who struggled with computer literacy and another who had a hand condition that made typing at the speed required by the digital format impossible.

“We also have a person deprived of liberty. We did not require him to take the Bar exams within the walls of his detention. We allowed him to go to the local testing center. Still, of course, with the implementation of our security protocols in coordination with the Office of the Judiciary Marshals,” Gaerlan said.

The youngest examinee is 24 years old, while the oldest is 84.

Day 1 equals 12-K bets

Meanwhile, a total of 12,029 candidates took the Day 1 tests of the 2026 Bar Examinations on 6 September 2026, marking the highest first-day turnout to date.

It was also the first time that the Bar exams were being conducted under a codified framework pursuant to the 2025 Amendments to Rule 138 of the Rules of Court governing admission to the Bar.

Justice Gaerlan, chairperson of the 2026 Bar Examinations, announced during a press conference at the St. Benedict Hall of San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City that 14,291 hopefuls had initially applied to take this year’s qualifying exams for Philippine lawyers.

A total of 13,441 were officially admitted to take the Bar exams, the highest number of applicants and examinees in previous years.

Based on the data from the Bar Chairperson’s Office, of the 12,029 examinees, 6,773 are women, 285 are senior citizens, and 304 are persons with disabilities.