Read our Top 22 tips to help you pass the UP Law Aptitude Exam (UP LAE).
To help you with your LAE Prep, we have Online LAE Review Courses and LAE Reviewer. These are applicable to the entrance tests of UP and other law schools.
Our Online LAE Review Courses include a copy of the LAE Reviewer, several Online Mock LAEs, sample questions, and exercises as well as effective test-taking strategies, techniques, and shortcuts for answering the common types of LAE questions.
Our LAE Reviewer has 2 Mock LAEs, study guides, sample questions, and exercises. Students who order the reviewer directly from us will also have access to 2 Online Mock LAEs.
The first step to become a lawyer is to make it to law school. Aim for one of the top law schools in the country for the best legal education. If you plan to go to the UP College of Law, you will need more than good luck to pass the dreaded UP Law Aptitude Examination. The other law schools usually have their own entrance tests as well.
The UP College of Law is known for producing high-caliber lawyers. At the entrance of Malcolm Hall, you will find this quotation from US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.:
The business of a law school is not sufficiently described when you merely say that it is to teach law or to make lawyers. It is to teach law in the grand manner, and to make great lawyers.
Becoming a UP Law student and, hopefully, a great lawyer someday is not an impossible dream, but it requires hard work. So start your LAE prep now. As Benjamin Franklin once said:
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
Check out our tips below on how to pass the UP Law Aptitude Exam.
How to Pass the UP Law Aptitude Exam: Before the Test
1 Take note of the format and application requirements for the exam.
The LAE is an aptitude test that measures an applicant’s skills in English, Logic, Mathematics, Abstract Reasoning, and General Knowledge. All the questions have multiple choices.
The exam was administered in a pencil-and-paper format before the pandemic and in an online format during the pandemic.
For the previous application process, the LAE was online, and it was conducted in March 2023.
Gather your documents early, and register for the exam as soon as possible. Learn about the application requirements here.
2 Familiarize yourself with the exam software.
If the exam is going to be online, it is critical that you familiarize yourself with the software that will be used to administer the LAE. Learn how to navigate from one page to another, flag a question for review later, and use the online tools, such as the timer, notepad, or calculator, that may be available to you. If possible, practice using these online tools before the exam.
3 Know the coverage of the exam.
The LAE is easier than most college entrance tests. There are no law-related subjects. Trigonometry, Calculus, and the Sciences are usually excluded.
The coverage of the test includes:
- Communication Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Critical Thinking
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
The actual exam typically has the following sections:
- Language Proficiency
- Verbal Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Abstract Reasoning
- Numerical Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- General Knowledge
4 Take a diagnostic test.
Evaluate your skills by taking a diagnostic test. Identify your weak and strong areas and determine which topics to focus on during your review. Our LAE Reviewer has two Mock LAEs with answer sheets and answer keys. Students who purchase our reviewer will also have access to two Online Mock LAEs.
5 Review.
Because the LAE is an aptitude test, most topics are basic and should be familiar to you. All you have to do is refresh your memory. Pay extra attention to your weak spots during your review. Our online review courses can help you prepare for the LAE while in the comforts of home.
6 Learn the common types of questions.
While the test questions change every year, the fundamental concepts in English, Logic, Mathematics, Abstract Reasoning, and General Knowledge do not. However, given the wide range of topics, it is hard to figure out which particular lessons to include in your study. Thus, it is important to be familiar with the various types of questions that may appear in the LAE.
7 Do not memorize.
Some applicants make the mistake of memorizing the answers in review books, but this is the wrong approach because the questions are only intended for practice. Since the LAE is in multiple-choice format, the memorization required is minimal. The answer choices are in the test booklet, so just read and build your stock knowledge.
8 Study with a group.
If you have classmates or friends who will take the LAE, form a study group and try to meet as often as possible. Having a support group will motivate you to work harder.
9 Attend a refresher course.
If you have the time and the budget, enroll in a refresher course to find out what to study and how to study for the LAE. A good review program will highlight current exam trends, simplify difficult concepts, and provide effective strategies and techniques to answer the common types of LAE questions.
10 Take a posttest.
After your review, take another practice test to measure how much you have improved. If you are still struggling with some of the questions, you need to study more. You do not need to get a perfect score to pass the LAE, but you have to aim for the highest possible score because you will be competing with the other applicants.
11 Do not cram.
Cramming is often associated with stress and poor retention. Study at least a few weeks before the LAE to give you enough time to prepare. Being ready will help boost your confidence.
How to Pass the UP Law Aptitude Exam: On the Day of the Test
12 Dress comfortably.
Choose a decent and relaxed outfit. Bring a jacket in case the examination room gets cold.
13 Have a good breakfast.
Forget about your diet. Drink your favorite beverage and eat your favorite comfort food for breakfast to get you in a good mood and prepare you for the challenging day ahead.
14 Bring all your test requirements. (For a paper-and-pencil exam)
There is nothing worse than being sent home and prohibited from taking the test due to incomplete requirements. The day before the exam, put the following items inside your bag:
- two lead pencils (No. 1 Mongol)
- admission ticket
- identification card (school ID with photo, employee’s ID with photo, driver’s license, passport, or photo with certification from school or employer)
15 Bring water and snacks.
If allowed, bring a clear bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated and munch on some biscuits, chocolates, or candies to give you a quick energy boost while taking the test.
16 Clear your mind.
Before taking the test, clear your mind and calm your nerves. Being too anxious can negatively affect your performance.
17 Choose the best answer.
When confronted with several possible answers, always choose the best one. There are no partial points for possible answers.
Example:
I admire Ray for being a pragmatic and — person; at a very young age, he was able to save enough money for his retirement.
(A) vigorous
(B) miserly
(C) frugal
(D) wretched
The possible answers are miserly and frugal. While both words refer to somebody who saves money, the better answer is frugal because it has a positive connotation that fits the positive tone of the sentence.
18 Use the process of elimination.
If you are unsure of the correct answer, eliminate all the wrong choices you can spot. This will leave you with the possible answers and increase your chance of getting it right.
Example:
What is the medial depression between a person’s nose and upper lip?
(A) philtrum
(B) iris
(C) dimple
(D) cleft chin
Since you are familiar with iris, dimple, and cleft chin, you can easily cross off these choices and pick philtrum as your answer. Of course, this is a bit of an exaggeration to illustrate how the process of elimination works. You will be lucky to eliminate one or two choices in the actual exam.
19 Do not waste time on very difficult questions.
The LAE is not only a test of knowledge but also of speed. Your goal is to answer each question as fast as possible. Make sure to keep track of the time while taking the test. If allowed, wear a watch or use a timer. Do not to rely solely on the proctor to update you on the number of minutes you have left.
Try to answer as many easy questions as quickly as you can. If you encounter a difficult question that takes more than two minutes to answer, that is your cue to move on.
20 Do not leave any questions blank.
If you do not know the answer to a question, then take a guess. Unlike other college admission tests, the LAE does not use the right-minus-wrong scoring method, so there are no penalties for incorrect answers.
How to Pass the UP Law Aptitude Exam: After the Test
21 Consider other law schools.
It is good to have a backup plan, so apply to several law schools. If you get accepted to all, choose the one on top of your list.
22 Try again.
The LAE results are usually released a few months after the test. If you do not pass and wish to give it another shot, then prepare for the next application process. You may only take the LAE three times, so do not take the test doing exactly what you did the last time. Learn from your mistakes and make the necessary adjustments.
Notes
Stock photos from 123rf.com
Emphasis supplied for Justice Holmes’s quotation