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SQE Journeys / Tips (July 2026 Exam)

During the Barbri prep course, the interactive law clinics take us through the official sample MCQ sets from the SRA, but only using two out of the four that are currently available on the SRA's website (the "original" sets). This week, I'm continuing with the two remaining "pre tested" sets.

One extra tip for this: answer the questions like a real exam, and then don't add up your score until the next day, or perhaps later in the week. That helps you live with the uncertainty of not knowing if you passed. After the real SQE 1, we don't get our results for a while, so it is probably useful to train ourselves to relax when the questions are all submitted and there's nothing else to do but wait.

Screenshot 2026-05-18 at 17.52.21.png
 
The booking email arrived, so I've just paid for my exam. Everything seemed to go smoothly, and I'll be at the Croydon test centre.

The bad news is that I'll be sitting FLK 2 on my birthday - unfortunate timing!
 
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The booking email arrived, so I've just paid for my exam. Everything seemed to go smoothly, and I'll be at the Croydon test centre.

The bad news is that I'll se sitting FLK 2 on my birthday - unfortunate timing!

Aw, sorry to hear this. I was worried mine would also fall on my birthday.

If you don't mind sharing, when are your exams?
 
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During the Barbri prep course, the interactive law clinics take us through the official sample MCQ sets from the SRA, but only using two out of the four that are currently available on the SRA's website (the "original" sets). This week, I'm continuing with the two remaining "pre tested" sets.

One extra tip for this: answer the questions like a real exam, and then don't add up your score until the next day, or perhaps later in the week. That helps you live with the uncertainty of not knowing if you passed. After the real SQE 1, we don't get our results for a while, so it is probably useful to train ourselves to relax when the questions are all submitted and there's nothing else to do but wait.

View attachment 8275
Getting used to the feeling of being uncomfortable is vital. You are unlikely to be able to predict how you did after the actual test - if someone had told me I'd come top in the country or failed diabolically, I'd have believed either scenario. So definitely try to practise without immediately looking up the answers. Keep going!

I'd also highly recommend leaving all the tax calculations to the end. If you have that as a clear policy, it's a real relief. You put C or your chosen favoured answer and have a special area on your scratch pad where you list the numbers of tax questions, to return to at the end. There is no point in getting stuck and wasting time so just bang in an answer, move on and revisit. If you aren't sure that's a good policy for you, try it and see, and you will have your approach in place for the exam itself.
 
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My practice exam results, as of this week...

Barbri A1 (FLK1) - 77%
Barbri A2 (FLK2) - 72%
SRA Pre-Tested FLK1 - 70%
SRA Pre-Tested FLK2 - 63%
Barbri Exam Sim Part 1 (FLK1) - 72%
Barbri Exam Sim Part 2 (FLK1) - 80%

More evidence that the Barbri questions are easier than the average, it seems. But solid scores, overall.

Up next...

Barbri Exam Sim Part 3 (FLK2)
Barbri Exam Sim Part 4 (FLK2)
Revise SQE FLK 1 Practice Book
Revise SQE FLK 2 Practice Book
 
Unfortunately not - I'm in Limehouse!

I was hoping to reschedule FLK2 as it's at 8:15am, but it doesn't look like there are any more spaces left.
You may find that Limehouse is actually quite chilled?

My FLK1 was in a huge centre in Chiswick where the administration was very formal. We - ie around 40 people - all started together at maybe 10 or 10.30, just like a GCSE, after airport-style security. I couldn't even wear earrings.

For FLK2, I was allocated to Docklands - which is miles from my home in West London. The exam was scheduled for maybe 8.30 or 9am - not quite 8.15 but it would have meant a disruptively early start and some public transport stress. I stayed in a hotel but it really wasn't necessary. In the event, it wouldn't have mattered ifI'd been an hour late; the whole thing was far less coordinated as the centre is just a lot smaller. I was briefly frisked and then waved in, to start in my own time alongside around a dozen or so others, each on our own timeframe.

So if you can get a later start time then do; but if it's a smaller centre, it may not be that crucial. Maybe you can find out?
 
You may find that Limehouse is actually quite chilled?

My FLK1 was in a huge centre in Chiswick where the administration was very formal. We - ie around 40 people - all started together at maybe 10 or 10.30, just like a GCSE, after airport-style security. I couldn't even wear earrings.

For FLK2, I was allocated to Docklands - which is miles from my home in West London. The exam was scheduled for maybe 8.30 or 9am - not quite 8.15 but it would have meant a disruptively early start and some public transport stress. I stayed in a hotel but it really wasn't necessary. In the event, it wouldn't have mattered ifI'd been an hour late; the whole thing was far less coordinated as the centre is just a lot smaller. I was briefly frisked and then waved in, to start in my own time alongside around a dozen or so others, each on our own timeframe.

So if you can get a later start time then do; but if it's a smaller centre, it may not be that crucial. Maybe you can find out?
This is helpful! I'll stick to Limehouse I think. It's not too far from where I am and will be nice to get it done early.
 
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Not SQE related, but more exciting practical experience...

In one of my several (probably too many) roles, I work as Secretary to the board of a national academic association with over 800 members. This week I have been organising an executive committee election; this involved drafting communications, liaising with candidates and reviewing constitutional provisions. I've also been having 1-on-1 meetings with consultants to discuss the possibility of incorporating. I wanted to get an idea of how impactful the Companies House filing requirements can actually be; either way, it is probably not smart to think about incorporating a company with SQE 1 only a few weeks away! Might come back to that in August.

Not sure if any of this will be directly applicable to the exams, but probably great material for TC interviews!
 
Sometimes flashcards can be this simple. Just a question of drilling terminology.

I was tripped up by a recent question about tax - selected the wrong answer just because I was sure that "trading income" would be included in any calculation for corporation tax. But income and profits are different things. They might mean the same in ordinary language use, but not in financial terms.

Lesson learned!

Screenshot 2026-05-30 at 12.06.52.png
 
Hi All,

I'm starting the SQE in September and, hearing all the horror stories, I really want to get a head start with revising the academic legal knowledge (i.e. what the SQE doesn't teach you/ expects you to already know).

I was wondering if anyone had a clear syllabus/ criteria which covers every topic we're expected to already know in detail within:

The Legal System
Contract
Tort
Land
Equity and Trusts
Criminal
Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law

and/or if they would be willing to share their notes/ hints/ tips/ sources on revising these areas.

Thank you so much in advance!
 
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Hi All,

I'm starting the SQE in September and, hearing all the horror stories, I really want to get a head start with revising the academic legal knowledge (i.e. what the SQE doesn't teach you/ expects you to already know).

I was wondering if anyone had a clear syllabus/ criteria which covers every topic we're expected to already know in detail within:

The Legal System
Contract
Tort
Land
Equity and Trusts
Criminal
Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law

and/or if they would be willing to share their notes/ hints/ tips/ sources on revising these areas.

Thank you so much in advance!

Here's what you need to know for each module.

I haven't used these myself, but you might find these notes helpful (found on Reddit).
 
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