Tuguegarao City native James Paolo C. Pattugalan placed fourth in the September 2026 Psychometricians Licensure Examination. Despite facing limited resources, no review center, and a heavy Monday-to-Saturday law school schedule, the 23-year-old Cagayan State University-Carig Campus Magna Cum Laude graduate overcame self-doubt to achieve his top-10 goal.
Long before securing his spot at the top of the September 2026 Psychometricians Licensure Examination, James Paolo C. Pattugalan built an academic foundation rooted in psychology at Cagayan State University-Carig Campus, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Raised by his father and grandmother in Tuguegarao City after his mother left when he was in kindergarten, Pattugalan grew up in a household where affection was rarely expressed. That early emotional distance shaped his curiosity about human relationships and inspired his path into psychology.
When the examination results finally arrived, the reality of the achievement hit him immediately. According to Guru Press, Pattugalan woke up to his relatives shouting his name and sharing the news.
I already expected I’d pass the exam. I already knew it the moment I finished answering and walked out of the examination room. To top the exam even. But no amount of certainty or confidence will really prepare you for the release of the results itself, where the gravity of what’s at stake will finally dawn on you.
James Paolo C. Pattugalan, 2026 PMLE Top 4 placer
Balancing Law Classes and Independent Study
Pattugalan did not follow a conventional review schedule. He originally hoped to enroll in a review center but found the fees too expensive. Compounding the financial barrier was a demanding academic calendar. As a law student, his classes ran from Monday to Saturday every week, complemented by numerous remedial classes on top of his regular coursework.
With precious little time to spare and restricted financial resources, he had to carve out independent study habits that fit his circumstances. Rather than chasing an idealized schedule, he focused on managing two simultaneous academic burdens while keeping his sight fixed on the licensure examination.
Confronting Imposter Syndrome and the Reality of Hard Work
Aiming specifically for a spot in the top 10, Pattugalan admitted that seeing his name at number 4 dismantled years of persistent self-doubt. Despite graduating Magna Cum Laude, he frequently battled imposter syndrome, questioning whether his milestones stemmed from genuine ability or mere luck.
The board examination results offered a tangible counterweight to those internal anxieties. As Guru Press reported, Pattugalan reflected on the reality behind his success.
I didn’t have to stop feeling like an imposter to keep moving, I just had to stop letting that feeling speak louder than the work I’d already done.
James Paolo C. Pattugalan, 2026 PMLE Top 4 placer
Advice for Future Examinees Preparing for Licensure Tests
Drawing from his own grueling preparation period, Pattugalan now offers pointed guidance to other students approaching their board exams. He stresses that waiting for a moment of complete readiness is a trap that only increases the psychological burden.
- Do not wait for a perfect schedule, because the day you finally feel prepared enough may never arrive.
- Find study habits and structures that make reviewing feel less burdensome based on your actual circumstances.
- Trust your effort, maintain your hard work, and hold tight to your faith that you can pass and even top the exam.
For Pattugalan, the journey through sleepless nights and overlapping law coursework proved that real effort outweighs the paralyzing illusion of unreadiness.
