2026 bar exam takers mostly women

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — More than half of the 2026 Bar exam takers are women, consistent with the trend in recent years. As of Sunday morning, Sept. 6, the Supreme Court had logged a total of 11,900 examinees, 56 percent or more than 6,000 of whom are women, according to Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, this year’s Bar exam chairperson. Gaerlan also noted that the majority of Bar exam takers appear to be women, based on his inspection of two local testing centers (LTCs) in Metro Manila. Article continues after this advertisement READ: 2 PWDs among 2026 Bar examinees Gaerlan said in a press conference, partly in Filipino, that he was surprised and inspired to see so many women taking the Bar exam. “While in our time, you could still count women [examinees], but now women make up more than 50 percent,” he also said. Bar head Cheska Pazziuagan even noted that aspiring women lawyers were taking the exam despite their parental duties. “If I may share, among the most interesting or the numerous requests that we received this year are moms who would wish to bring breast pumps inside the LTC,” Pazziuagan said. Article continues after this advertisement “So, this also shows that we have so many examinees who just gave birth, who are moms, who are wives, and despite those family circumstances and other struggles in life, they still showed up and went to take the Bar,” she continued. The second and third days of the Bar exams will be held across 15 LTCs nationwide on Sept. 9 and 13. Article continues after this advertisement READ: First day of 2026 Bar exams underway Gaerlan said Bar exam results could be released in January. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. “Everybody must … enjoy the holiday. I am referring to the Christmas holiday. We will release the result after the holiday season,” the justice said. /mcm