The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in the Philippines: A Decade of Performance and Trends

N. Banos (2022)

The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), overseen by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), holds immense significance within the educational sphere. But before we dive into the excitement surrounding this year's LET, let's take a moment to look back at its performance over the past decade. This article delves into the success rates of aspiring teachers who achieved licensure through the LET in the last ten years. Through this analysis, gain valuable insights into how the teaching profession has evolved in the Philippines. Uncover trends and statistics from LET exams, providing a glimpse into the journey aspiring educators take to become licensed and highlighting the profound impact this examination holds. Join us on this exploration of the LET's crucial role in shaping the education landscape.

The Passing Rate

The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) has an average passing rate of approximately 30 percent over the past decade. This means that, on average, only about one in three aspiring teachers who take the LET pass the exam. This statistic suggests that the exam is a challenging test that only a select few aspiring teachers are able to pass.
LET exam passing rate

When comparing the passing rates, it is evident that the average passing rate in the secondary category is higher than that in the elementary category. This observation indicates that a greater percentage of examinees in the secondary level have successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) compared to their counterparts in the elementary level.
Secondary vs Elementary

In the Elementary, the average passing rate for the Second Exam over the past ten years is 28.78%. This suggests that, on average, less than one-third of the elementary teacher examinees pass the Second Exam.
In the Secondary, the average passing rate for the Second Exam is 36.84%. This indicates a higher passing rate compared to the Elementary category, with approximately over one-third of the secondary teacher examinees passing the Second Exam.
For the First Exam in the Elementary, the average passing rate is 24.02%. This indicates a lower passing rate compared to the Second Exam in the same category, with less than one-fourth of the elementary teacher examinees passing the First Exam.
In the Secondary category, the average passing rate for the First Exam is 28.46%. This shows a slightly higher passing rate compared to the Elementary category's First Exam, with less than one-third of the secondary teacher examinees passing the First Exam.

The takers

The number of licensed teachers in the Philippines has increased by approximately 800,000 since 2009.
LET exam passing rate

April vs September Passing Rates

When comparing the April and September exams of the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), it is evident that the September exams consistently have a higher passing rate. This suggests that more examinees are successful in the September exams, leading to a greater number of passers compared to the April exams. The September exams seem to have a higher level of performance overall.
LET exam passing rate

The Summary of Passing Rates

Year	Second Exam (September)		First Exam (March/April)
	Elementary	Secondary	Elementary	Secondary
2009	18.67	28.15	27.86	24.67
2010	19.58	25.86	15.44	23.32
2011	22.68	31.45	15.81	26.28
2012	49.29	43.50	42.46	24.85
2013	31.18	39.75	27.78	39.61
2014	35.74	34.40	28.98	28.41
2015	31.36	41.75	27.42	31.63
2016	30.18	33.78	28.38	35.43
2017	26.33	46.37	10.39	25.46
2018	20.29	48.03	23.62	29.91
2019	31.34	39.68	27.28	25.95