Hi! I passed SQE1 and SQE2 in the first quintile.
For SQE1, I felt very overwhelmed with the volume of things we were required to know, but I felt like I generally had a pretty good grasp on the basics, and I was about 75% okay with the more complicated stuff (e.g. tax) which I focused on a little more. I really felt like it could have gone either way when I walked into the exam and I physically shook for about an hour after I opened my results from the adrenaline and stress, despite my great results. Going into the exam, I was maybe 51% confident that I could pass.
I took the January 2024 SQE1 sitting and practiced MCQs from September 2023 onwards. I did a full practice test with BPP in December where I got over 70% in both papers (can't remember exactly what I got), but this was an open book exam, so I didn't feel that confident afterwards especially as they didn't tell us which specific questions we got wrong. I then practiced any MCQs I could get my hands on, but I used these as a basis to guide my revision rather than the only thing I used. I revised the FLK hard, and then did a full mock paper two weeks before the exams (the ReviseSQE mocks). I did another full mock the week before the exam (QLTS). I think I was getting around 57% on these, so it didn't fill me with confidence, but I was achieving the pass mark they had set. Again, I used these more as a way to guide my revision than as my sole revision technique.
Honestly, I think I could have prepared better, but I think everyone feels that way. I think I outperformed where I thought my abilities were as I was expecting either a marginal fail or a marginal pass, certainly not the first quintile. That said, I worked very hard from September to put myself in the best possible place to pass, and I think I was good at recognising where my weak spots were and focusing on those.
I hope that helps.
