MANILA, Philippines — Emerging at the very top of the 2025 Bar Examinations, Jhenroniel Rhey Sanchez of the University of the Philippines Diliman delivered an outstanding performance, earning the highest score of 92.70% and leading 5,594 passers out of 11,425 examinees nationwide. His achievement not only cements his place in Bar history but also offers invaluable lessons for future members of the legal profession.

In an exclusive interview with TopNewsAsia Editor-in-Chief Grace Bondad Nicolas, Sanchez shared the principles and practices that guided him through the grueling months of Bar preparation. Rather than shortcuts or rigid formulas, his advice reflects realism, discipline, and compassion, both for the law and for oneself.

Below are the Top 10 Bar Exam Preparation Tips from the 2025 Bar Topnotcher himself:

1. Know the Commitment You Are Entering

Sanchez stressed the importance of fully understanding the magnitude of Bar preparation. It demands an outsized portion of one’s time, focus, and mental energy. Accepting this reality early on helps align expectations and strengthens commitment.

2. Create a Study Plan and Respect Time as a Resource

Having a clear study plan allows examinees to anticipate what subjects they will tackle over the months. Time during Bar review is limited and precious, making thoughtful allocation essential. He also cautioned against using too many materials, which may only lead to confusion.

3. Accept That No Plan Is Perfect

While planning is crucial, Sanchez reminded aspiring lawyers that no schedule is followed perfectly. What matters is having a framework that can be adjusted as needed, rather than studying without direction.

4. Schedule Breaks and Rest Without Guilt

Rest is not a luxury but a necessity. Sanchez encouraged examinees to take regular breaks and even end a study day early when exhausted. Continuing while fatigued can be counterproductive.

5. Attend Bar Review Lectures Whenever Possible

For those enrolled in review programs, attending lectures is highly beneficial. Information heard and explained aloud often stays longer than material simply read from books.

6. Identify Weak Areas and Address Them Head-On

Self-awareness is key. Sanchez advised recognizing which areas of the law one struggles with and devoting extra effort to improving them, rather than staying within one’s comfort zone.

7. Do Not Go Through the Bar Alone

Bar preparation is demanding, but it need not be isolating. Study partners or groups help clarify understanding by exchanging ideas. Sanchez also encouraged asking mentors, reviewers, and professors questions, and leaning on friends and family for emotional support.

8. Master the ALAC Answer Format

Familiarity with the ALAC (Answer, Law, Application, Conclusion) format through mock exams and past Bar questions is a major advantage. It saves time during the exam and allows examinees to focus on substance rather than structure.

9. Focus on What You Can Control

Rather than obsessing over passing or failing, Sanchez advised concentrating on preparation and performance. After the exam, the results rest with the examiners—beyond the taker’s control.

10. Remember That Failure Is Not the End

Perhaps his most reassuring advice: failing the Bar is not a dead end. There is no shame in trying again, and no one is ever completely prepared. Giving one’s best effort may lead to unexpected and positive results.

Jhenroniel Rhey Sanchez’s journey to becoming the 2025 Bar Topnotcher is a testament to discipline balanced with humanity. His insights, shared through TopNewsAsia, now serve as a guiding light for future Bar examinees, proof that excellence is achieved not only through hard work, but also through wisdom, balance, and resilience.