I'm not sure if I have enough to say about this topic. First, the bar exam that I took last year was the last of its kind essay-type bar examination. Starting this year (2011), there will be major changes on the Philippine Bar Examination: multiple choice questions, the examination schedule is moved from September to November, among others. For a complete list of changes, please read the Supreme Court issuance Bar Matter 2265: Reforms on the Philippine Bar Examinations.
Below is a list of my daily routine during my six-month review. It might not work for you but it definitely worked for me. I formulated a "daily routine" to create a cycle that I could follow everyday. Having a routine means that I'd be subjected to less stress. Reviewing is grueling and stressful so it is best that you find ways to at least minimize stress and not add up to the already stressful environment.
Wake up at 5:00. Ok, I actually get up at 5:30 even though my alarm sets off at 5:00 A. M. I give myself extra time to think about what I'm going to do when I get up. The thirty-minute allowance allows me to plan my day and it also gives me extra sleeping time. My "plan" does not involve what books to read or what books to study. I follow my review schedule and as much as possible, I do not deviate from the topics of my review classes.
Exercise. My exercise of choice is yoga for two reasons: I need it for my scoliosis and it helps me relax. Yoga relaxes me and it enhances my concentration. It is my exercise of choice specially on mornings when I feel too lazy to tie my shoe laces. It is also best in the morning when my energy level is still at its lowest. But even before I ventured on yoga, I was actually satisfied with jogging and a few stretches. You don't actually need a runnig map to do this. I sometimes jog on my dormitory's terrace and make full use of its the 15-meter stretch. Sometimes, when I'm brave enough to go out of the dormitory, I jog-walk-stroll to Malacanan Palace.
Eat a healthy breakfast. Your pre-bar review is definitely NOT the time for you to go on a diet. You should eat well-balanced meals. It is fortunate that I don't have to worry on what to eat for breakfast because my dormitory serves three full meals everyday (except Sundays and holidays). All I have to do is get ready for breakfast between 6:00 to 7:30 in the morning. In between my waking hour and 8:00 A. M., I am done with my exercise, breakfast, light laundry, shower, and had my daily dose of entertainment news. Breakfast and after-breakfast is also the best time for socializing, but not too much of it.
Read and read until you cannot read anymore. "Read and read until you cannot read anymore," was my professor's line during my undergraduate days. Those under Atty. Fabrero would recognize that line. I used to laugh at how masochistic it sounds but when I enrolled in law school, I realized that if you want to be a lawyer, you could survive by following that advice. During law school, I did not have the luxury of reading everything because I had an 8 to 5 job. But I compensated by reading on the jeepney (although I strongly don't recommend it!) on my way to work and from work on my way to school.
In my review, I brought with me all the books that I used during my 4 years of law school, even the transcriptions. I'm not saying that I was able to read again all of these books during my review but I have made some significant references. Aside from my old books, I also used the review materials given us by the review center. Honestly, the review materials wouldn't be of much help if you did not study during your student days. I only photocopied and bought those that I could finish reading. During the review, a lot of review materials would appear from different sources: Ateneo, UP, San Beda, Baste, and a lot more. Sometimes, I really do feel the need to get a copy of all these review materials, thinking "What if the bar questions would come from these materials?" But, seriously, you need to restrain yourself from giving yourself much stress. Aside from the added expenses that you will incur in excessive review materials, you will only get frustrated if you're not able to read them. I had to remind myself several times that if I had the codal provisions, plus the correct understanding of these provisions and their interpretations, I won't go wrong.
Read and read until you cannot read anymore. My reading time is actually flexible as it is also my review class schedule. If there is no class for a certain day, I spend my time inside my room to read. Good lighting and proper ventilation is a must. You can also select the environment which suits you best. Some people prefer to study in the library where resources are close at hand and there's air conditioning. As for me, I easily get distracted with walking and standing people and I don't think the actual examination environment would be full of motion so I chose to stay in my room to study. If I have a class on that day, then my "reading" time would then be changed to "listening" time. A reviewer once said that "You will know who among the reviewees come from the province: they are those who write everything that the lecturer says." Well, everybody laughed, including me, and it is somehow true. But it did not really intimidate me. If the lecturer says something that's new to my ears and write-worthy, then I would scribble it down my notebook.
My review class schedules could last until 6:00 P. M. or until 9:30 P.M. When there's still time after my class, I take time to read or review my notes. My reading time is heaviest between 8:00 A. M. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 P. M. to 5:00 P. M. I made sure that my brain is active during these times because this is the schedule of the actual bar examination.
During my time, as the examination is essay-type, I also took the time to practice my handwriting. I had two Parker fountain pens and practiced using them about three months before the examination. It was the first time that I used such kind of pen so I had an adjustment period. On all future examinations, three Sundays would involve shading and the last Sunday for memorandum writing. Be sure your penmanship is legible. Do not ignore your teacher's comments on your handwriting. If you're still a student and reading this now, take note of what your teacher is telling you as early as now. If you teacher says that you must improve your handwriting, then practice as early as now. Believe me, it takes time to change it so aside from reading your books, practice writing legibly.
Rest and take a break. You deserve to rest too. My resting time is from 12:00 noon to 2:00 P. M. You might think that it is a waste of time to rest. However, it is also a vital part of your review. It is an important factor in maintaining the health of your brain cells! Resting gives your brain the time to assimilate what you have read. During my lunch break, of course I eat my lunch. I sometimes do my chores but my day is never complete until I have taken my nap. This helps me a lot because by the time I wake up at 2:00 P. M., I feel energized and renewed. I am ready to go to the battle once again.
Sleep at 10:00. While everybody thinks that I sleep too early, I don't care. I sleep at 10:00 P. M. If you're doing this habit, you won't have a hard time sleeping the night before your examination. If your body clock says that you sleep at 10:00 P. M., then you will. A lot of people say that they were not able to sleep the night before their exams, and that's true, the pressure will sink in. I may not have topped for sleeping too early but I passed the bar. Hehe! But seriously, not getting enough sleep is risky and could pose a threat to health.
Preparation. Aside from studying, you also need to be prepared physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. Do not neglect your body. Most of us who come from the province would be separated from our families and loved ones so you better be prepared for that, too. You should also learn to manage your finances, I have nothing much to say about this because I consider myself to have failed in this aspect. Haha! But most of all, don't forget that there is a Higher Being who would grant your heart's desire when you deserve it.
