MORE than 4,700 students from schools across Metro Manila trooped to UST last April 16 for the first nationwide law school aptitude test.
The University was designated as a testing site for the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT) by the Legal Education Board (LEB) last March 1.
LEB Chairman Emerson Aquende said UST was chosen by the board as one of PhiLSAT’s testing sites because of its convenient location and adequate facilities.
“UST has enough facilities available and secondly, the campus of UST is strategically located,” Aquende said in a chance interview with the Varsitarian.
UST was also selected because of the familiarity of LEB’s test partner, Center for Educational Measurement (CEM), with the testing location.
“[O]ur testing provider also conducts the National Medical Admission Test in UST so they are familiar with the location,” he said.
A total of 8,806 examinees registered from all over the country, LEB Attorney for Policy and Enforcement Marian Chavez said in a Facebook post last April 4.
The Albertus Magnus, Roque Ruaño and Alfredo M. Velayo-College of Accountancy buildings were designated as testing venues.
Security Chief Joseph Badinas said he deployed “minimal” security personnel.
About 300 CEM staff assisted in the national aptitude test, Testing Coordinator Cherry Gil Sotto said.
Aquende said testing areas in Cebu and Legazpi encountered problems due to weather conditions.
“[It was] because of the tropical depression. What we have done is, I gave instructions to the testing site coordinators to be flexible, to be lenient and to allow even those who are late to still take the exam,” he said.
Some examinees brought prohibited items inside the testing venues.
“[S]ome students brought bags, phones, food and all other things that are prohibited, expecting that there will be a depositary area. But we were very clear in our instruction that there should be none of these things,” he said.
Other testing sites were the University of the Cordilleras (Baguio), Aquinas University (Legazpi), University of San Agustin (Iloilo), University of San Jose-Recoletos (Davao), Jose Maria College and Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro), University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos (Bacolod), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Zamboanga), and Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation (Tacloban).
The results will be released online on May 7.
