Hi all! 
I recently sat both SQE1 and SQE2 and thought it might be helpful to share my experience of the process, focusing on SQE1, including what worked well for me and what I wish I had known from the outset.
For some context, I graduated from a non-Russell Group university in 2025 with a law degree and I am a future trainee at Reed Smith.
In terms of the SQE itself:
Whilst my perspective will be quite unique to my own experience and resources that I used, hopefully some of this is useful to future SQE students!
My Overall Experience of SQE1
Going into SQE1, I think I initially was quite nervous and apprehensive based on the information that you read online. I do not think I fully appreciated how vast the volume of content would be, even when I had already studied many of the subjects at an undergraduate level. I would definitely agree with the sentiment that the exams are a marathon rather than a sprint, and it is important to maintain consistency across the entire preparation time, rather than trying to cram it all in the end.
In many ways, I personally found the challenge of SQE1 was less about learning lots of difficult legal concepts, and more about retaining the knowledge for so many practice areas and balancing them all at once. It definitely felt incredibly overwhelming at first (particularly when your textbooks arrive and you get a real sense of the volume of content to go over!), but once I started making my way through the content and could see my process with practice tests and questions, it felt a lot more manageable.
At university, I had done multiple-choice exams in some of my subjects, so it wasn’t an entirely new concept for me. However, the style of SQE1 multiple-choice questions were unlike anything I had encountered before (i.e. “single best answer questions”), so I think it is really important to make sure that you take the time to learn how to best address the questions themselves, not just learning the underlying legal knowledge. Initially, I really struggled with addressing what the question was actually asking, and kept being tripped up by the specific wording of the questions or the small differences between the individual answers.
However, despite all of the above, I do think it is really important to reiterate that the exam is completely manageable and you are not doomed to fail from the start (despite what the online discussion or pass rates might show). Once you understand what it is actually testing and develop a study method that works for you, it is entirely possible to do well and excel in the exams without needing to study 12+ hours a day. Rest is equally as important as studying, and in order to perform at your best, it is vital to balance the two.
Balancing study alongside working two days a week at the firm was definitely challenging at the beginning (although I’ll caveat that my commute into London didn’t help either!), but in hindsight, I think having a clear structure and routine helped me stay on track and up to date. Although SQE1 was probably the most intense academic experience I have had so far (+ likely will ever have), it also felt much less overwhelming once I broke the process down into smaller and more manageable steps.
Organisation and Preparing before the Course Began
Getting Organised Early
I see a lot of discussion online on whether it is necessary to start revising some of the underlying black-letter law (i.e. contract, tort, etc.) before beginning your prep course, and I think it is an interesting conversation. I personally did not have the opportunity to do this, so my perspective might be quite limited - I started my SQE prep course with my firm the week after receiving my TC offer!
However, I think this is something that is entirely individual to you, and I don’t think there is necessarily a right or wrong answer. By the time I had started my prep course, it had been around 4 years since I had last studied those topics at university, so my knowledge was definitely a bit rusty. Luckily, my course provider went over these subjects and had lectures on them, so I felt I could refresh my knowledge on them without the need for studying beforehand.
Based on what I’ve seen online, some course providers don’t necessarily go into as much detail on these areas of law. Therefore, if you are about to start your prep course and you feel that you don’t have as much knowledge on these areas as you’d like, it might be worth taking some time to jog your memory on them if it would make you feel more confident going into the prep course. However, I don’t think it is necessary to do so, and I definitely wouldn’t stress yourself out trying to cover all of the underlying law before your course has begun.
Study Timetable
Similar to the above, I would really reiterate that whilst it is important to create and maintain a study timetable, this should be entirely unique to you and how you study best. Throughout my preparation for SQE1, I think I definitely spent too much time comparing the amount of hours I was studying a week to those online, without necessarily taking into account things such as the fact I was on a part-time course and how much time I needed to spend on certain topics.
It is also important to have a clear study structure from the outset. As the volume of content is so large, I found that falling even slightly behind could quickly make things feel overwhelming, so I tried to approach studying as a consistent habit rather than relying on occasional intense bursts of motivation to study. I do often wish I had taken a look at the specification for SQE1 at the beginning of my course, as I think this would've given me a clearer idea from the outset of how much I needed to cover (+ ensure that I covered everything).
As I was studying part-time alongside working two days a week at Reed Smith and working at TCLA, I generally treated studying like a full-time commitment on my non-working days. What worked for me was to assign myself one complete day off in the week (from both studying and work), but not necessarily setting that on a specific day. This meant that if I woke up on Friday and just had zero motivation to study, I had the flexibility to give myself that day off, rather than forcing myself to rest on a different day. I also studied on the train when commuting into the office on my work days, as it was a good use of time that I would otherwise spend scrolling on TikTok!
When it got a bit closer to the exams, my timetable became much more practice-question focused (though I would still be doing practice questions and tests throughout the course). Earlier in the course, I spent a lot of time trying to understand and consolidate the legal knowledge, whereas in the final few weeks/months I prioritised ensuring I understood how to approach the questions, and making sure I went over my weaker subject areas. I think it is also important at some stage to appreciate that you won’t know every detail perfectly, and it is better not to spend loads of time on one specific subsection if it’ll only be one or two questions on the exam. I wouldn’t necessarily encourage people to leave out units entirely (for example, I’ve seen people online say that they didn’t study tax or solicitors accounts at all), but if it is a topic within a unit (i.e. close companies in Business Law), it is unlikely to be more than one question in the exam, so I wouldn’t spend forever trying to learn it.
I will say, however, that they tend to test all of the subjects equally - I had some time at the end of both of my SQE1 exams and tallied up how often each subject came up, and it was pretty equal! Therefore, I wouldn’t make the same mistake that I did and think some of the smaller areas won’t come up as often (e.g. Legal Services and Constitutional Law), as they often test the same subunits a few times in order to have the same amount of questions.
I definitely think consistency was far more important than trying to study each day excessively, as this meant that even if I had days where my motivation was really low, even doing something small like some practice questions or flashcards still helped to maintain momentum.
Avoiding Burnout
I think burnout is something that a lot of people (including myself) experience during SQE1, particularly because the preparation period is so long and the workload can feel relentless at times. There were definitely points where I felt mentally exhausted, especially closer to the exams, and I think one of the biggest mistakes people can make is feeling guilty for taking breaks. It is quite a long period of time (even if it goes by super quickly!), so make sure that you give yourself days off to relax and do something other than reading a textbook.
For me, one of the most important things was accepting early on that it was impossible to study at maximum intensity every single day for months. Some days were naturally more productive than others, and I found that trying to force unrealistic levels of productivity usually just made me less effective overall. There were some days where I was super motivated and could sit for hours and hours to go over a broad range of areas, but those were rare, and there were definitely more days where I could only manage a few hours. I think it is important to be kind to yourself and remember that it is a marathon, and not a sprint, and that burning yourself out too quickly will do you no good.
I also tried to maintain at least some level of balance outside studying, even if that balance looked different closer to the exams. Making time to see friends or properly switch off for a few hours helped me to study better in the long run, and I think with SQE1 there can sometimes be pressure to feel like you should be working constantly - realistically that is not sustainable for most people, and I’d avoid it if you can. You don’t need to be studying 10h+ a day, 7 days a week in order to pass, so find what works best for you.
Another thing I found helpful was avoiding comparison as much as possible. It is very easy during the SQE to become anxious about how much other people appear to be studying or how many practice questions they have completed. For example, I did quite a lot of practice questions on LawDrills during my course as it was something I could easily do on the train, and I’d often get comments from people I was studying with that I must be doing loads of work. However, I wasn’t going into anywhere near as much detail on the feedback of these questions as others were (or as much as I should've, looking back at it!), so it is easy to compare yourself to others even when you don’t necessarily see the full story. In reality, everyone studies differently, and in the end I found it much more productive to focus on whether my own revision methods were working for me rather than comparing myself to others. Looking back, I think consistency, routine, and sustainability were ultimately much more valuable than trying to revise perfectly for a full 8-hours every single day.
SQE1 Course Provider
From what you read online, picking a course provider for SQE1 (+ SQE2) can feel like half the battle, haha! I appreciate that a lot of people who sit SQE1 will be sponsored by a firm to do so, so won’t have a lot of choice over which provider to use (myself included). I thought I would share my experience with the College of Legal Practice, and what I think are the most important considerations when it comes to choosing a course provider (if you are able to do so). I haven’t had any experience studying with any of the main providers (i.e. ULaw, BPP, etc.), so I can’t share any specific information there - apologies! For what it is worth, I think all providers have their own positives and negatives, and there definitely isn’t a ‘perfect’ choice - I think when deciding, you should focus on the provider that has the majority of the things you want when it comes to a prep course.
I used the College of Legal Practice (COLP) for both SQE1 and SQE2, as this is the provider that my firm used. From what I understand, this is mainly due to the flexible nature and online element of COLP, as Reed Smith has the Professional SQE year, which means that future trainees are in two days a week at various points in the year to work in a team.
I personally really liked the fact that my course was online, and that there was flexibility when it came to structuring my study week. I don’t currently live in London, so commuting every day for lectures and seminars would have definitely been a lot for my schedule, and I enjoyed being able to work at hours that suited me (which usually involved late nights, haha!). There were still online lectures and sessions for each subject (including the underlying law), so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on that element.
My main struggles with COLP were administrative issues, although I think this is a common issue across providers. Luckily, they were responsive to feedback and any issues were usually remedied quickly, but I’d definitely keep in mind that it might not be smooth sailing at all times. Additionally, as with a few providers, I did feel that some of their questions were ‘easier’ and you could often pick out the correct answer just from the length of the answer. However, there are lots of free resources online if you want to challenge yourself with some harder questions, and I did appreciate that COLP did regular mocks in order to track your progress.
Learning Style
As I mentioned above, I preferred that my course was online as it gave me more flexibility to fit my studying around my SQE placement/TCLA. However, I appreciate that a lot of people struggle with online or distanced-learning, and I’d therefore make sure that you double check how a course is delivered when choosing a provider.
There are plenty of online-only providers (i.e. COLP and Barbri), and there are others that are mainly in-person but offer online options too (i.e. ULaw or BPP). I do think that in-person learning has lots of advantages, including increased contact hours with lecturers and the chance to interact more with your peers, so it may be worth going with one of those options if you are able to.
I’d also be realistic about what you can manage - if you do live far away from any of the course providers, it might be worth considering whether the downsides of the commute will outweigh any of the positives of in-person learning.
Materials/Resources
Another main consideration that I think is super important when deciding what provider you want to use is the materials and resources they provide as part of the course. For example, ULaw’s question bank is pretty infamous and definitely something I was jealous of when I was preparing to sit SQE1. However, other providers all offer different things, and it is important to go with the course that you feel will prepare you best for the exam.
For example, you might decide that the COLP Manuals, unit flashcards and frequent ‘Progress Tests’ would enable you to feel prepared for the exam. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, and it ultimately comes down to what you think will suit your learning style best.
Reviews
The final main thing I’d consider when choosing a provider is reviews from current and former students. I do think they can be useful, particularly when it comes to identifying common themes. For example, if lots of students praise a provider’s question bank, teaching quality or pastoral support, that is probably worth paying attention to. Equally, if multiple people raise concerns about administrative issues or a lack of support, it is worth bearing that in mind too.
However, I would also be careful about relying too heavily on individual reviews. People are often likely to post when they have had a particularly positive or negative experience, and every student’s learning style is different. A provider that works brilliantly for one person might not suit someone else at all!
I’d therefore use reviews as just one part of your decision-making process, rather than using it as the only deciding factor. It might help to reach out to current students or recent SQE candidates who have studied with the provider you are considering, as it is likely that these conversations will give you a more balanced and realistic picture than online reviews alone.
Ultimately, there is no universally “best” SQE provider, and I think one of the main worries/problems with the exams themselves is that there is very limited information online around them. This online discourse around the discussion of SQE providers can cause a lot of anxiety (and I know it did for me), but it is important to remember that everyone's experience will be different and there is no right or wrong choice.
The best provider for you will depend on factors such as your preferred learning style, the resources available, your budget, and whether you need flexibility alongside work and other commitments. As long as your course provides the support and materials you need to prepare effectively, you are putting yourself in a strong position for the exams.
SQE1 Additional Resources
When preparing for SQE1, I used a few resources outside of those available through my COLP course as I wanted to try a variety to see what worked best for me. However, it definitely isn’t necessary to be using lots and lots of resources (+ spending lots of money!) to pass SQE1 - there are also a ton of free resources online that can help you feel more confident in approaching the exam!
I’ll go through the main resources I used when preparing for SQE1, and I’ve split them into categories to share my thoughts on what I found was important when looking for each type of resource.
Practice Questions
Practice questions are a huge part of your preparation, and you should definitely take some time to familiarise yourself with how the exam is actually testing you. I think it is easy to forget that it isn’t quite as simple as being a ‘multiple-choice exam’, as it is a ‘single best answer’ exam - this means that multiple answers can be correct, but one is more correct than the others (confusing concept, I know!).
In practice, this could look like a question asking you what searches should be conducted before purchasing a property, and each answer provides a different list of searches. Whilst some of the answers might technically be right, they may miss other searches that would be relevant, making it not the “single best” answer.
I also found that questions can sometimes try to trip you up, particularly with things such as:
I appreciate that not everyone will be able to spend lots of money on various practice questions, and therefore I’d definitely encourage you to make use of the free practice questions on tests that you can find online. I’ll discuss the different practice questions that I used (both those I paid for, and any that were free) and how I found them.
1. College of Legal Practice
As the College of Legal Practice was my main provider, I likely completed these questions the most throughout my preparation course. What I found particularly helpful was that we had end of unit questions for each sub-unit, as well as progress tests every few weeks to make sure that we were on track.
In addition to ensuring that we were on track, these progress tests were really useful to get used to the style of questioning from the very beginning, particularly as the amount of questions increased with each test.
As for the questions themselves, I would say that they were relatively accurate to what I experienced in the exam (from what I can remember). Whilst there were definitely a few instances where it was quite easy to spot what the correct answer was (from the fact it was substantially longer than the rest), there were also more challenging and niche questions that helped to address any blind spots I had.
As with most course providers and practice questions, it had its positives and negatives. However, generally speaking, I’d say that the frequent progress tests and end of unit tests ensured that I was familiar with the style of questions right from the beginning of the course.
2. LawDrills
LawDrills was another practice question provider that I had access to through my firm and the College of Legal Practice, and I definitely used this resource lots from around October to December. What I really liked about it was that the questions were unlimited, so it meant I didn’t have to worry about ‘using up’ all of the questions. This was a big positive for me as the College of Legal Practice’s question bank wasn’t huge, particularly compared to things such as ULaw’s Question Bank, so it was reassuring to have it there. You can also filter it and choose which units and sub-units you want to be tested on, which was particularly useful when I was trying to go over my weaker areas.
All of that said, I do think it comes with some downsides as well. The questions are AI-generated, and there can occasionally be errors in the answers which can be difficult to spot. I tried to reframe this in a positive way and use it to test whether I was able to spot those errors, but there is always the risk that I wouldn’t spot them, and it might lead me to the wrong answer in the future. The other smaller downside was that I personally found it tested quite a few of the same topics a lot, so I was particularly strong in some areas but had barely scratched the surface in others.
Overall though, I think if you are looking for a big bank of questions and feel comfortable with the fact that it is AI-generated, it is a good resource to have. I also found the platform really convenient to use, and it allowed me to practice SBAQs whenever I had a spare 10-15 minutes (i.e. on the train, bus, tube, etc.).
3. TheOneHundred
After completing the free mock provided by TheOneHundred, I ended up buying a mock for each FLK a few weeks before the exams. In relation to the free mock, I would definitely encourage people to have a go at this at some point during your prep. Whilst I didn’t find the questions quite as hard as QLTS’ mock (although there are differing opinions on this!), it definitely felt like it was on the more challenging side, so it can be useful to highlight any blind spots or gaps.
Another element I really liked about the mocks I paid for was that you could take them at your own pace, rather than having to sit them as a full mock in one go (although this is still an option). I purchased the mocks as I didn’t have access to LawDrills in the last few weeks before my exams, so I was mainly looking for standalone questions to go through each day.
They are slightly pricey, depending on your budget - I believe it is around £30 for one mock. I personally chose to purchase these rather than renew my LawDrills subscription as it was very close to my exams, and I didn’t feel I’d make my way through loads of questions. However, other practice question resources may be more affordable if you are earlier in your prep and are looking for questions.
If you are looking for mocks and have already completed the ReviseSQE mock books, I think they are a really good resource to challenge yourself - particularly as it isn’t really possible to purchase QLTS mocks on their own.
4. ReviseSQE
For my SQE1 exams, I purchased both the ReviseSQE mock books and a few of the ReviseSQE textbooks for topics I was struggling with (although by the end of SQE1 and SQE2, I probably owned most of them!).
Among those who have taken SQE1, ReviseSQE mocks are known to be an amazing resource, and I would absolutely agree with that sentiment. The questions felt very similar to those I encountered in the exam (probably the closest out of all of the mocks I did), and the explanations given in the answers were really helpful in figuring out where you went wrong. I think they are particularly helpful with testing the ‘SBAQ’ style, as a lot of the answers are very similar, so it gets you used to tackling those kinds of questions.
I have seen one or two instances where there are some slight mistakes in the questions/answers, but this is generally very easy to spot and isn’t common throughout the mocks at all.
I genuinely could not recommend these mocks enough, and if you are only able to pay for one resource, I’d absolutely go with this one. Additionally, you’ll likely be able to buy these books second-hand online if you are looking for a more affordable option (although I believe it is around £30 for both) - whilst the older versions might be slightly outdated in some areas (e.g. tax rates), it’ll be extremely useful for the most part!
5. Other Practice Questions
There were also a few other resources that I found online that included practice questions, some of them being free. These included:
Textbooks
Similar to practice questions, textbooks are probably the most important resource in your preparation, so I’d definitely take some time figuring out which resource will work best for you (whether you are deciding on a prep course, or wanting to purchase additional materials). Often, people are looking for different things with textbooks based on their learning style, so a resource that works for one person might not work for another.
For example, if you are a visual learner, the more text-heavy textbooks might not work for you, and vice versa. Generally speaking, I would advise against relying solely on the smaller ‘revision-style’ textbooks on their own (like ReviseSQE), as the depth of knowledge required for SQE1 is high. However, these types of textbooks can still be an incredibly useful additional resource, and I personally found them helpful for solidifying and clarifying certain topics that I was weaker on. I also used these additional textbooks as my main FLK resource for SQE2, so you’ll definitely get use out of them if you are debating the investment!
1. College of Legal Practice Manuals
As the College of Legal Practice was my main provider, a lot of my preparation involved using their textbooks/manuals. From a practical perspective, I particularly liked that they came in the form of folders with removable pages, rather than traditional textbooks. This meant I could take out the sections I needed and study them elsewhere without having to carry a huge textbook around.
In terms of content, however, I found the manuals somewhat mixed. Some went into a significant amount of detail (for example, the Dispute Resolution manual) and, when I compared these with other textbooks and resources, I sometimes found it difficult to work out which information I actually needed to know for the SQE. On the other hand, some manuals were less comprehensive. Constitutional Law, for example, did not cover everything I wanted to know in sufficient detail, so I generally supplemented it with other resources to make sure I had covered the full SQE specification.
One thing I particularly liked was the combination of written explanations and diagrams. I found this especially useful in the Land and Property Practice manuals, where visual explanations made complicated concepts much easier to understand. This was particularly helpful for topics such as covenants and easements, where having a diagram alongside the written explanation made the different interests and relationships much easier to visualise.
Overall, I would recommend the COLP manuals as a starting point, particularly if you are studying with COLP. However, I found it helpful to supplement them with other sources of information to make sure that I was covering the entire specification. This helped me avoid spending too much time learning information that was more detailed than what I was likely to need for the exam.
If you are using the manuals (or other textbooks, for that matter), I do think it is helpful to check the specification as you work through each topic, rather than simply assuming that everything in the manual is examinable. Equally, if you notice that a topic in the specification is only covered briefly in the manual, make a note to supplement it with another resource rather than assuming that the manual provides everything you need.
2. ULaw Textbooks
I was fortunate enough to have access to the ULaw textbooks as a friend from university kindly gave me their copies after they had sat the exam. I mainly used them as a supplemental resource rather than my primary textbooks, but I found them incredibly useful when I wanted to go into more depth on a particular topic or check that I had covered something fully.
Of all the textbooks I used, I would say that the ULaw textbooks were probably the most comprehensive. The explanations are much more in-depth than many other textbooks I used (and often referred to case law to help illustrate a point), and I found them particularly useful for making sure I had covered the breadth of material that could potentially come up. However, there can still be gaps in any SQE resources (and, given how little information there is about exactly what will be tested, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether you have covered everything!), so I wouldn’t necessarily treat them as a guarantee that you have covered the entire specification.
I also really liked the practice questions at the end of each chapter. These were useful for checking whether I had actually understood what I had just read, rather than simply recognising the information when reading through the textbook. The explanations for the answers were also super helpful, particularly when I got a question wrong, as they allowed me to understand where I had gone wrong rather than simply seeing the correct answer.
The main downside (which is also an upside, in a way!) is that these are very long textbooks. There is a huge amount of information in them, and I think it could be difficult to work your way through all of the material in the time available, particularly if they aren’t your main resource. For me, they worked best as a supplementary resource that I could dip into when I wanted a more detailed explanation of a topic, rather than something I tried to read from cover to cover. If you have access to them and have the time to use them alongside your main materials (if ULaw is not your main provider), I think they are one of the best textbook resources for getting a really comprehensive understanding of the SQE1 content.
3. ReviseSQE Revision Books
I decided to purchase the ReviseSQE books for topics that I felt slightly weaker in, but I ended up liking them so much I had almost all of them by the end of SQE1 and SQE2. As a standalone resource, I personally do not believe they are enough on their own (although I have heard about people only using these books and still passing), but they are an amazing additional resource - especially if you are struggling with an area. For example, I really liked their explanations for topics like Business Taxes and Solicitor Accounts, as these were areas that I couldn’t quite understand from my longer textbooks.
Additionally, they also have practice questions at the end of each chapter, so it is a good way to get some more practice in and have a variety of questions. The explanations for why each answer was correct/incorrect were really helpful, and as the ReviseSQE mock books are known to be some of the best, I don’t think you can go wrong with their questions.
The only real downside for me was that I felt some of the books were better than others, but I think that comes down to personal preference more than anything. I particularly liked these books as they summarised some of the complex information in simpler terms, but I found some of the books didn’t do this as well as others.
Other Resources
1. The Devils Advocate
The main other supplemental resource I used was The Devils Advocate. This is a resource with a wide range of materials, including practice questions, notes and visual resources such as mind maps and diagrams. I mainly used it for the visual resources, which I did find particularly helpful. I am quite a visual learner, so being able to see certain topics laid out in a different way to my main textbooks made them much easier to understand and remember. I found this particularly useful for subjects such as Property, Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Practice, where the diagrams and mind maps helped me to visualise how different concepts and rules fitted together.
I also completed some of the practice questions, although I didn’t use these nearly as much as some of the other question banks I have mentioned above. From what I did use, I found them relatively useful but sometimes inconsistent in difficulty - some questions were straightforward, whereas others felt extremely difficult and tested quite niche areas. However, I did find the explanations clear and useful, and they would usually cite any relevant case law or legislation, which made it easier to understand where the answer had come from.
Overall, I would particularly recommend the Devils Advocate if you are a visual learner or find that you benefit from seeing information presented in a different format. I found the diagrams and mind maps a really useful supplement to my main study materials, rather than something I relied on as my primary resource.
Study Methods
Before starting your SQE preparation, I would really recommend taking some time to think about what study methods are actually going to work for you and, importantly, what is realistic for you to maintain throughout your preparation. What worked for you at university may not necessarily translate to the SQE. You are expected to learn a very large amount of information across a wide range of practice areas, often within a relatively short period of time, so it is worth thinking carefully about how you are going to approach this from the outset.
I would also recommend trialling a few different study methods rather than assuming that the method you have always used will be the most effective. Looking back, I wish I had done more of this at the beginning of my preparation. I initially tried to stick with the study methods I had used successfully at university or A-Level, but I realised that they weren’t necessarily the most efficient or effective way for me to learn the volume of information required for the SQE. Spending some time experimenting with different approaches at the beginning would probably have saved me a lot of time later on!
Below are some of the different methods I tried during my preparation, along with my thoughts on how realistic I found each method, what I found it useful for, and whether I would use it again.
Flashcards
I started my SQE1 preparation by making physical flashcards for each unit as I worked through them. This was the approach I had used at university for modules that involved multiple-choice exams, so I initially assumed it would work well for SQE1 too. However, I quickly realised that this was not particularly time-efficient given the sheer volume of content involved (and my hand was definitely cramping by the end of most days!). I would therefore recommend considering whether making handwritten flashcards is realistically sustainable for you before committing to this as your main study method.
I eventually switched to making online flashcards using Quizlet, which became one of the main study techniques that I used throughout my preparation. I personally used Quizlet’s Learn feature, which I found particularly helpful for identifying the areas I already knew well and those that I needed to revisit. I also found that the process of creating the flashcards itself helped me consolidate the information, rather than just relying on them as a revision tool. This was particularly useful for me as I did not make traditional notes for SQE1, which I’ll note later on!
If you are someone who benefits from active recall and enjoys using flashcards, I think they can be a really useful way of learning and retaining the large amount of information required for SQE1. However, I would emphasise the importance of being realistic about how practical this method is within the time that you have available. If you think you will struggle to create and maintain your own flashcards alongside covering the rest of the specific, they may not be the best method to rely on as your primary resource.
That being said, you do not necessarily have to make all of your own flashcards. There are plenty available online from previous SQE candidates, so these can be a useful supplementary revision tool if you want to benefit from active recall without spending significant amounts of time creating the resources yourself.
Mind Maps
I am quite a visual learner, so I really enjoyed creating mind maps and diagrams throughout my SQE1 preparation (and this is a reason why I found Devils Advocate a valuable resource too). I would then stick these all over my walls (sorry to my landlord!) so that I could see them regularly and gradually reinforce the information without necessarily having to sit down and actively revise it each time.
I found mind maps particularly useful for topics with several moving parts, where I needed to understand how different rules or concepts fitted together, or where there were different categories of the same thing. For example, I used them for the clawback of assets provisions in Business Law, as well as topics such as easements and covenants, where I found it helpful to visually map out when different rights or obligations would carry across and when they would not. I would also make posters for things like the various tax rates, so that if my mind went blank in the exam, I could try to visualise the poster on my wall!
I think this method is particularly useful if, like me, you are a visual learner and find it easier to remember information when you can see how everything connects. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend making a mindmap for every single topic, as this can be quite time-consuming. However, I found they were most valuable when I used them selectively for the topics where a visual representation genuinely helped me understand or remember the rules.
Notes
I chose not to create my own set of notes for SQE1, as I did not think this would be the most effective use of my time. I knew that I would not realistically have enough time to handwrite notes for the huge amount of content involved, and I also generally find that I do not learn particularly well from simply writing or typing out notes, even when they are a more condensed version of the textbook.
That being said, lots of people I know who sat SQE1 did create their own condensed notes, and they all passed with flying colours. I therefore don’t think there is necessarily a right or wrong approach here - it is much more about choosing the study method that you know works best for you. If you find that the process of condensing information helps you understand and retain it, then it could absolutely be worthwhile.
I did, however, end up creating my own set of notes for SQE2. As I wanted to make sure that I had covered everything on the specification, I copied the specification into an Excel spreadsheet and then added condensed notes alongside each section based on the information in my textbooks. I found this particularly helpful as it allowed me to keep track of which areas I had covered and identify anything that was still missing. It also gave me some reassurance that I had worked through the entire specification, rather than relying on my textbooks and hoping they had covered everything I needed to know.
Blurting
Blurting was a study method I used for SQE2, but I think it can definitely be applied to SQE1 as well. I would take a point from the specification and, without looking through my notes or textbooks, write down everything I could remember about it. I would then go back through the relevant materials and fill in any gaps using a different colour pen.
I found this particularly useful for SQE2 because of the active recall element, but you could absolutely use the same approach for SQE1 if active recall is a method that works well for you, either alongside or instead of flashcards. One thing I liked about blurting was that there is less temptation to ‘cheat’ than there can be with flashcards. With flashcards, it can be very easy to turn the card over, see the answer and think “oh, I knew that!” even if you didn’t actually recall it yourself. With blurting, you have to actively write down what you can remember before checking what you have missed.
I bought a small whiteboard specifically for this, which I found really useful as I could quickly wipe it clear and move on to the next topic. However, you could just as easily type your answers, write them on paper, or use a tablet - the method is essentially the same regardless of how you record it.
Approaching and Preparing for the Exam
Doing a “Dress Rehearsal”
One thing my tutor recommended to me, which I found really helpful, was doing a full “dress rehearsal” of the exam day a few weeks before the actual exam. Obviously, it is impossible to replicate the real thing perfectly (particularly as you will probably be much more nervous on the actual day!), but I think there is a lot of value in going through the motions beforehand so that you have a good idea of what to expect.
For example, I lived around a 15-minute walk from my test centre, so I picked a day a few weeks before my exam and followed roughly the same routine I would have on the actual day. I woke up at the time I would need to for my 8am exam, ate the same breakfast I planned to have on the day, and then left it around 15 minutes (to simulate the journey to the test centre). I then sat the first half of an FLK1 mock under the same time constraints I would have in the actual exam. After this, I took the full hour-long break, ate some food, and then sat the second half.
Whilst the content and the level of knowledge required are the main hurdles with SQE1, I also think it is important to remember that it is an endurance test. Answering that many questions in a row is tiring, and it can be surprisingly difficult to maintain your concentration towards the end of the exam. Doing a full practice run with the same timings and breaks means you can get used to the length of the exam and make sure your pacing is realistic.
Hopefully, this means that when you eventually get to the real exam, the process itself feels a little less unfamiliar, which may also help to calm some of your nerves.
I have also seen advice on the Forum suggesting that you leave your mock unmarked for a few days before looking at your result. The idea is that this replicates the experience of sitting the real exam and then having to wait for your results. I personally did not do this, simply because I had not seen the advice at the time, but I do think it sounds like an interesting approach if you have the self-control to leave the mock alone!
Planning your Journey to the Test Centre
It is also worth planning your journey to the test centre well in advance, especially if you haven’t been there before. I would recommend working out your route beforehand, including how long you expect the journey to take and whether you need to leave extra time for potential delays.
If possible, I would also consider doing the journey before exam day, particularly if you are travelling somewhere you have never been before. Knowing exactly where you are going means that you have one less thing to worry about on the morning of the exam.
I would also make sure that you know which test centre you are attending, and what time you need to arrive, rather than simply relying on your exam start time (as some expect you to be there earlier!). Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get there - being slightly early is much better than starting the day stressed because your journey took longer than expected (or, worse, you missed the exam overall!).
Before the exam, I would also double-check the requirements for the test centre, particularly what identification you need to bring and what you are and are not allowed to take. Make sure you have the correct form of ID with you and check any requirements around things such as food, drinks, stationery and personal belongings in advance. You do not want to arrive at the test centre on the morning of the exam and realise you have forgotten something important or brought something that you are not permitted to take in.
I would recommend checking the most recent instructions from the SQE assessment provider shortly before your exam, as these could change. It may also be worth making a small checklist of everything you need to take with you, so you can check it the night before rather than having to think about it on the morning itself.
Things I Wish I Had Done and What Worked Well
Things I Wish I Had Done
Looking back at my SQE1 preparation, there are a few things I would have approached differently. None of these were disastrous mistakes, but I think they would have made my preparation more efficient and probably saved me quite a lot of time (+ stress!).
1. Written notes alongside the specification from the beginning
One thing I wish I had done from the start was create condensed notes alongside the SQE specification, or at least use the specification in a meaningful way. I eventually did this for SQE2, where I copied the specification into an Excel spreadsheet and added notes alongside each section. I found this really helpful as I could see exactly which areas I had covered and identify anything I had missed.
For SQE1, I instead relied a bit too heavily on my textbooks and other resources, which sometimes made it difficult to keep track of everything I had covered. If I were doing it again, I would probably use the specification as a checklist from the beginning rather than waiting until later in my preparation.
2. Started with online flashcards rather than handwritten ones
I initially made physical flashcards for each unit as this was something that had worked well for me at university. However, I quickly realised that this was not particularly time-efficient given the sheer volume of SQE1 content. I eventually switched to online flashcards, which became one of my main study methods - not only were these easier to create, but I could have a look at them on the go wherever I was.
If I were doing SQE1 again, I would probably start with digital flashcards from the beginning (whether that is Quizlet, Anki, or another platform). That being said, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with handwritten flashcards if that is genuinely the method that works best for you - the main thing is making sure the method is realistic given the amount of content you need to cover.
3. Tested different study methods before committing to one
Related to the above, I wish I had spent more time at the beginning of my preparation testing different study methods before committing to one. I initially assumed that the methods that had worked for me at university and A-Level would automatically work for SQE1, but I found that wasn’t necessarily the case.
The sheer volume of information means that a method can be effective in theory but simply not be practical to maintain across the entire SQE preparation period. I would therefore recommend trying a few different approaches early on (whether that is flashcards, mind maps, notes, blurting, or something else) and then working out what gives you the best balance between actually learning the information and being able to cover everything you need to.
4. Covered my stronger areas more regularly
I also wish I had revisited the areas I felt more confident in slightly more often. It is very easy to spend most of your revision time on the topics you know you are weaker at, but this can mean that you gradually forget some of the information you initially felt comfortable with. In SQE1, I found that I sometimes did better in some of my weaker areas than my stronger areas, which I hadn’t expected - it is likely due to the fact that I focused my attention on the weaker areas in the run up to the exam and neglected the stronger areas.
However, I wouldn’t interpret this as meaning that you need to master absolutely every topic. There will probably be some areas that you find particularly difficult, or that simply do not seem to stick, and I think there comes a point where spending hours trying to perfect one small area is not the best use of your time. As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t recommend completely ignoring an entire SQE1 unit, but if there is a particularly small topic that you are struggling with, it may be more sensible to move on and spend that time consolidating other areas.
5. Compared myself to others less
One of the main things I wish I had done throughout my preparation was compare myself to other people less. This is particularly difficult with SQE as there is so much discussion online about how people are preparing, how many questions they have completed, what scores they are getting in mocks and how far through the course/specification they are.
It can also be particularly difficult if you are a sponsored student and have a cohort of other future trainees sitting the SQE alongside you. It is very easy to hear what other people are doing and start worrying that you are falling behind because someone has completed more questions, covered more of the course, or seems to be finding a particular topic easier.
Try to remember that everyone’s preparation looks different, and somebody else’s progress is not a useful measure of your own. People also tend to share their successes much more readily than their struggles, particularly online, so what you see is not necessarily representative. I definitely found that comparing myself to others sometimes created unnecessary stress without actually helping my preparation.
Ultimately, you need to work out what works for you and focus on whether you are making progress against your own plan. If you find that reading online posts or talking to others taking the exams with you is making you more anxious rather than helping you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with stepping back from those conversations for a bit.
Things That Worked Well
1. Using a broad range of practice questions
One of the things I think worked particularly well for me was using practice questions from a range of different resources (the majority of them being free resources). This helped me get used to seeing questions presented in slightly different ways and made me less worried that I was simply becoming familiar with one provider’s particular question style.
I also found that different question banks highlighted different gaps in my knowledge. Some were more useful for testing the breadth of the specification, while others were particularly helpful for getting used to the SBAQ format or more challenging questions. I think using a mixture ultimately gave me a more rounded approach to preparation, and I felt more confident going into the exam.
2. Regularly revisiting my weaker areas
I also found it really helpful to keep returning to the areas I knew I was weaker on. Once I identified a topic that I consistently got wrong in practice questions, I would go back to my textbook or another resource and revisit it before testing myself again.
However, I wouldn’t let one particularly difficult topic consume your entire revision schedule. If something genuinely isn’t sticking despite multiple attempts, and it is only a small area of the specification, there can be a point where it is more productive to move on and focus on areas where you can make bigger gains. The aim is to be as well prepared as possible across the specification, rather than spending huge amounts of time trying to achieve perfection in one small area - it is impossible to remember every single detail.
Final Thoughts
If there is one single thing I would take away from everything above, it is that there is no single “right” way to prepare for the SQE. There are so many different opinions online about how many hours you should be studying, which resources you should use, how many questions you should complete and which study methods are most effective, but I think it is much more important to work out what actually works for you.
For me, the things that ultimately made the biggest difference were consistency, regularly testing my knowledge, using the specification to keep track of what I had covered, and being willing to adapt my approach when something wasn’t working. I definitely made mistakes along the way, and there are things I would do differently if I were starting again, but I also think it is easy to overcomplicate SQE preparation by constantly looking for the “perfect” resource or study method.
I also think it is important not to lose sight of the fact that you are preparing for an exam, rather than trying to become an expert in every single area of law. The amount of content can feel enormous, but you do not need to know every detail perfectly to do well. Focus on building a strong understanding across the specification, practise applying that knowledge to SBAQs, identify your weaker areas and keep coming back to them. It can feel disheartening when you get the same topics wrong over and over again, but it is better to get them wrong now and know what you need to work on.
Most importantly, try not to compare your preparation too closely with anyone else’s. Someone else studying for more hours, completing more questions or getting higher mock scores does not mean that you are behind. Everyone’s circumstances, starting point and learning style are different, and what matters is whether your own preparation is moving in the right direction.
The SQE is undoubtedly a huge commitment, and there will probably be points where it feels overwhelming. However, I hope this guide has shown that it is manageable with a consistent and sustainable approach. You do not need to study 12 hours a day, buy every resource available or have a perfect revision strategy from day one. Find what works for you, give yourself some time to adjust, and remember to look after yourself along the way - you definitely do not want to burn out in the weeks leading up to the exam!
Wishing the best of luck to anyone preparing for SQE1 or SQE2 - you’ve got this!
I recently sat both SQE1 and SQE2 and thought it might be helpful to share my experience of the process, focusing on SQE1, including what worked well for me and what I wish I had known from the outset.
For some context, I graduated from a non-Russell Group university in 2025 with a law degree and I am a future trainee at Reed Smith.
In terms of the SQE itself:
- For SQE1, I studied part-time with the College of Legal Practice from August 2025 and sat the exams in January 2026. Alongside my studies, I worked two days a week at the firm and part-time at TCLA (with some study leave closer to the exams). I passed SQE1 in the first quintile for both FLK1 and FLK2.
- For SQE2, I studied full-time with the College of Legal Practice from February 2026 and sat the exams in April/May 2026. During March, I also worked one day a week in the office alongside TCLA. I passed SQE2 in the first quintile.
Whilst my perspective will be quite unique to my own experience and resources that I used, hopefully some of this is useful to future SQE students!
My Overall Experience of SQE1
Going into SQE1, I think I initially was quite nervous and apprehensive based on the information that you read online. I do not think I fully appreciated how vast the volume of content would be, even when I had already studied many of the subjects at an undergraduate level. I would definitely agree with the sentiment that the exams are a marathon rather than a sprint, and it is important to maintain consistency across the entire preparation time, rather than trying to cram it all in the end.
In many ways, I personally found the challenge of SQE1 was less about learning lots of difficult legal concepts, and more about retaining the knowledge for so many practice areas and balancing them all at once. It definitely felt incredibly overwhelming at first (particularly when your textbooks arrive and you get a real sense of the volume of content to go over!), but once I started making my way through the content and could see my process with practice tests and questions, it felt a lot more manageable.
At university, I had done multiple-choice exams in some of my subjects, so it wasn’t an entirely new concept for me. However, the style of SQE1 multiple-choice questions were unlike anything I had encountered before (i.e. “single best answer questions”), so I think it is really important to make sure that you take the time to learn how to best address the questions themselves, not just learning the underlying legal knowledge. Initially, I really struggled with addressing what the question was actually asking, and kept being tripped up by the specific wording of the questions or the small differences between the individual answers.
However, despite all of the above, I do think it is really important to reiterate that the exam is completely manageable and you are not doomed to fail from the start (despite what the online discussion or pass rates might show). Once you understand what it is actually testing and develop a study method that works for you, it is entirely possible to do well and excel in the exams without needing to study 12+ hours a day. Rest is equally as important as studying, and in order to perform at your best, it is vital to balance the two.
Balancing study alongside working two days a week at the firm was definitely challenging at the beginning (although I’ll caveat that my commute into London didn’t help either!), but in hindsight, I think having a clear structure and routine helped me stay on track and up to date. Although SQE1 was probably the most intense academic experience I have had so far (+ likely will ever have), it also felt much less overwhelming once I broke the process down into smaller and more manageable steps.
Organisation and Preparing before the Course Began
Getting Organised Early
I see a lot of discussion online on whether it is necessary to start revising some of the underlying black-letter law (i.e. contract, tort, etc.) before beginning your prep course, and I think it is an interesting conversation. I personally did not have the opportunity to do this, so my perspective might be quite limited - I started my SQE prep course with my firm the week after receiving my TC offer!
However, I think this is something that is entirely individual to you, and I don’t think there is necessarily a right or wrong answer. By the time I had started my prep course, it had been around 4 years since I had last studied those topics at university, so my knowledge was definitely a bit rusty. Luckily, my course provider went over these subjects and had lectures on them, so I felt I could refresh my knowledge on them without the need for studying beforehand.
Based on what I’ve seen online, some course providers don’t necessarily go into as much detail on these areas of law. Therefore, if you are about to start your prep course and you feel that you don’t have as much knowledge on these areas as you’d like, it might be worth taking some time to jog your memory on them if it would make you feel more confident going into the prep course. However, I don’t think it is necessary to do so, and I definitely wouldn’t stress yourself out trying to cover all of the underlying law before your course has begun.
Study Timetable
Similar to the above, I would really reiterate that whilst it is important to create and maintain a study timetable, this should be entirely unique to you and how you study best. Throughout my preparation for SQE1, I think I definitely spent too much time comparing the amount of hours I was studying a week to those online, without necessarily taking into account things such as the fact I was on a part-time course and how much time I needed to spend on certain topics.
It is also important to have a clear study structure from the outset. As the volume of content is so large, I found that falling even slightly behind could quickly make things feel overwhelming, so I tried to approach studying as a consistent habit rather than relying on occasional intense bursts of motivation to study. I do often wish I had taken a look at the specification for SQE1 at the beginning of my course, as I think this would've given me a clearer idea from the outset of how much I needed to cover (+ ensure that I covered everything).
As I was studying part-time alongside working two days a week at Reed Smith and working at TCLA, I generally treated studying like a full-time commitment on my non-working days. What worked for me was to assign myself one complete day off in the week (from both studying and work), but not necessarily setting that on a specific day. This meant that if I woke up on Friday and just had zero motivation to study, I had the flexibility to give myself that day off, rather than forcing myself to rest on a different day. I also studied on the train when commuting into the office on my work days, as it was a good use of time that I would otherwise spend scrolling on TikTok!
When it got a bit closer to the exams, my timetable became much more practice-question focused (though I would still be doing practice questions and tests throughout the course). Earlier in the course, I spent a lot of time trying to understand and consolidate the legal knowledge, whereas in the final few weeks/months I prioritised ensuring I understood how to approach the questions, and making sure I went over my weaker subject areas. I think it is also important at some stage to appreciate that you won’t know every detail perfectly, and it is better not to spend loads of time on one specific subsection if it’ll only be one or two questions on the exam. I wouldn’t necessarily encourage people to leave out units entirely (for example, I’ve seen people online say that they didn’t study tax or solicitors accounts at all), but if it is a topic within a unit (i.e. close companies in Business Law), it is unlikely to be more than one question in the exam, so I wouldn’t spend forever trying to learn it.
I will say, however, that they tend to test all of the subjects equally - I had some time at the end of both of my SQE1 exams and tallied up how often each subject came up, and it was pretty equal! Therefore, I wouldn’t make the same mistake that I did and think some of the smaller areas won’t come up as often (e.g. Legal Services and Constitutional Law), as they often test the same subunits a few times in order to have the same amount of questions.
I definitely think consistency was far more important than trying to study each day excessively, as this meant that even if I had days where my motivation was really low, even doing something small like some practice questions or flashcards still helped to maintain momentum.
Avoiding Burnout
I think burnout is something that a lot of people (including myself) experience during SQE1, particularly because the preparation period is so long and the workload can feel relentless at times. There were definitely points where I felt mentally exhausted, especially closer to the exams, and I think one of the biggest mistakes people can make is feeling guilty for taking breaks. It is quite a long period of time (even if it goes by super quickly!), so make sure that you give yourself days off to relax and do something other than reading a textbook.
For me, one of the most important things was accepting early on that it was impossible to study at maximum intensity every single day for months. Some days were naturally more productive than others, and I found that trying to force unrealistic levels of productivity usually just made me less effective overall. There were some days where I was super motivated and could sit for hours and hours to go over a broad range of areas, but those were rare, and there were definitely more days where I could only manage a few hours. I think it is important to be kind to yourself and remember that it is a marathon, and not a sprint, and that burning yourself out too quickly will do you no good.
I also tried to maintain at least some level of balance outside studying, even if that balance looked different closer to the exams. Making time to see friends or properly switch off for a few hours helped me to study better in the long run, and I think with SQE1 there can sometimes be pressure to feel like you should be working constantly - realistically that is not sustainable for most people, and I’d avoid it if you can. You don’t need to be studying 10h+ a day, 7 days a week in order to pass, so find what works best for you.
Another thing I found helpful was avoiding comparison as much as possible. It is very easy during the SQE to become anxious about how much other people appear to be studying or how many practice questions they have completed. For example, I did quite a lot of practice questions on LawDrills during my course as it was something I could easily do on the train, and I’d often get comments from people I was studying with that I must be doing loads of work. However, I wasn’t going into anywhere near as much detail on the feedback of these questions as others were (or as much as I should've, looking back at it!), so it is easy to compare yourself to others even when you don’t necessarily see the full story. In reality, everyone studies differently, and in the end I found it much more productive to focus on whether my own revision methods were working for me rather than comparing myself to others. Looking back, I think consistency, routine, and sustainability were ultimately much more valuable than trying to revise perfectly for a full 8-hours every single day.
SQE1 Course Provider
From what you read online, picking a course provider for SQE1 (+ SQE2) can feel like half the battle, haha! I appreciate that a lot of people who sit SQE1 will be sponsored by a firm to do so, so won’t have a lot of choice over which provider to use (myself included). I thought I would share my experience with the College of Legal Practice, and what I think are the most important considerations when it comes to choosing a course provider (if you are able to do so). I haven’t had any experience studying with any of the main providers (i.e. ULaw, BPP, etc.), so I can’t share any specific information there - apologies! For what it is worth, I think all providers have their own positives and negatives, and there definitely isn’t a ‘perfect’ choice - I think when deciding, you should focus on the provider that has the majority of the things you want when it comes to a prep course.
I used the College of Legal Practice (COLP) for both SQE1 and SQE2, as this is the provider that my firm used. From what I understand, this is mainly due to the flexible nature and online element of COLP, as Reed Smith has the Professional SQE year, which means that future trainees are in two days a week at various points in the year to work in a team.
I personally really liked the fact that my course was online, and that there was flexibility when it came to structuring my study week. I don’t currently live in London, so commuting every day for lectures and seminars would have definitely been a lot for my schedule, and I enjoyed being able to work at hours that suited me (which usually involved late nights, haha!). There were still online lectures and sessions for each subject (including the underlying law), so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on that element.
My main struggles with COLP were administrative issues, although I think this is a common issue across providers. Luckily, they were responsive to feedback and any issues were usually remedied quickly, but I’d definitely keep in mind that it might not be smooth sailing at all times. Additionally, as with a few providers, I did feel that some of their questions were ‘easier’ and you could often pick out the correct answer just from the length of the answer. However, there are lots of free resources online if you want to challenge yourself with some harder questions, and I did appreciate that COLP did regular mocks in order to track your progress.
Learning Style
As I mentioned above, I preferred that my course was online as it gave me more flexibility to fit my studying around my SQE placement/TCLA. However, I appreciate that a lot of people struggle with online or distanced-learning, and I’d therefore make sure that you double check how a course is delivered when choosing a provider.
There are plenty of online-only providers (i.e. COLP and Barbri), and there are others that are mainly in-person but offer online options too (i.e. ULaw or BPP). I do think that in-person learning has lots of advantages, including increased contact hours with lecturers and the chance to interact more with your peers, so it may be worth going with one of those options if you are able to.
I’d also be realistic about what you can manage - if you do live far away from any of the course providers, it might be worth considering whether the downsides of the commute will outweigh any of the positives of in-person learning.
Materials/Resources
Another main consideration that I think is super important when deciding what provider you want to use is the materials and resources they provide as part of the course. For example, ULaw’s question bank is pretty infamous and definitely something I was jealous of when I was preparing to sit SQE1. However, other providers all offer different things, and it is important to go with the course that you feel will prepare you best for the exam.
For example, you might decide that the COLP Manuals, unit flashcards and frequent ‘Progress Tests’ would enable you to feel prepared for the exam. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, and it ultimately comes down to what you think will suit your learning style best.
Reviews
The final main thing I’d consider when choosing a provider is reviews from current and former students. I do think they can be useful, particularly when it comes to identifying common themes. For example, if lots of students praise a provider’s question bank, teaching quality or pastoral support, that is probably worth paying attention to. Equally, if multiple people raise concerns about administrative issues or a lack of support, it is worth bearing that in mind too.
However, I would also be careful about relying too heavily on individual reviews. People are often likely to post when they have had a particularly positive or negative experience, and every student’s learning style is different. A provider that works brilliantly for one person might not suit someone else at all!
I’d therefore use reviews as just one part of your decision-making process, rather than using it as the only deciding factor. It might help to reach out to current students or recent SQE candidates who have studied with the provider you are considering, as it is likely that these conversations will give you a more balanced and realistic picture than online reviews alone.
Ultimately, there is no universally “best” SQE provider, and I think one of the main worries/problems with the exams themselves is that there is very limited information online around them. This online discourse around the discussion of SQE providers can cause a lot of anxiety (and I know it did for me), but it is important to remember that everyone's experience will be different and there is no right or wrong choice.
The best provider for you will depend on factors such as your preferred learning style, the resources available, your budget, and whether you need flexibility alongside work and other commitments. As long as your course provides the support and materials you need to prepare effectively, you are putting yourself in a strong position for the exams.
SQE1 Additional Resources
When preparing for SQE1, I used a few resources outside of those available through my COLP course as I wanted to try a variety to see what worked best for me. However, it definitely isn’t necessary to be using lots and lots of resources (+ spending lots of money!) to pass SQE1 - there are also a ton of free resources online that can help you feel more confident in approaching the exam!
I’ll go through the main resources I used when preparing for SQE1, and I’ve split them into categories to share my thoughts on what I found was important when looking for each type of resource.
Practice Questions
Practice questions are a huge part of your preparation, and you should definitely take some time to familiarise yourself with how the exam is actually testing you. I think it is easy to forget that it isn’t quite as simple as being a ‘multiple-choice exam’, as it is a ‘single best answer’ exam - this means that multiple answers can be correct, but one is more correct than the others (confusing concept, I know!).
In practice, this could look like a question asking you what searches should be conducted before purchasing a property, and each answer provides a different list of searches. Whilst some of the answers might technically be right, they may miss other searches that would be relevant, making it not the “single best” answer.
I also found that questions can sometimes try to trip you up, particularly with things such as:
- “May” vs “Must”: I found that this was particularly the case for the criminal or litigious subjects, especially Criminal Practice and Dispute Resolution. For example, with adverse inferences, the jury “may” draw adverse inferences, rather than “must” draw them.
- Mixing up how they specify the time limits: sometimes the textbook may state a time limit in weeks, and then the question has answers that are outlined in months or days. It is important to try not to get confused with what they are asking for.
- Void vs Voidable: this is mainly for contract law, but I would be careful and ensure that you remember which principles render a contract void (i.e. the contract no longer exists) versus those that render it voidable (i.e. the innocent party can void the contract if they wish to).
- And vs Or: I found this came up often in the disputes and criminal practice subject areas, but I’d make sure that you understand whether a principle has multiple requirements, or whether there are multiple options. For example, with summary judgment, this may be granted if: the claimant/defendant has no real prospect of succeeding/defending the claim, and there is no other compelling reason for a trial. On the other hand, the first appeal permission test states permission is granted only if: the appeal has a real prospect of success, or there is some other compelling reason to allow the appeal.
I appreciate that not everyone will be able to spend lots of money on various practice questions, and therefore I’d definitely encourage you to make use of the free practice questions on tests that you can find online. I’ll discuss the different practice questions that I used (both those I paid for, and any that were free) and how I found them.
1. College of Legal Practice
As the College of Legal Practice was my main provider, I likely completed these questions the most throughout my preparation course. What I found particularly helpful was that we had end of unit questions for each sub-unit, as well as progress tests every few weeks to make sure that we were on track.
In addition to ensuring that we were on track, these progress tests were really useful to get used to the style of questioning from the very beginning, particularly as the amount of questions increased with each test.
As for the questions themselves, I would say that they were relatively accurate to what I experienced in the exam (from what I can remember). Whilst there were definitely a few instances where it was quite easy to spot what the correct answer was (from the fact it was substantially longer than the rest), there were also more challenging and niche questions that helped to address any blind spots I had.
As with most course providers and practice questions, it had its positives and negatives. However, generally speaking, I’d say that the frequent progress tests and end of unit tests ensured that I was familiar with the style of questions right from the beginning of the course.
2. LawDrills
LawDrills was another practice question provider that I had access to through my firm and the College of Legal Practice, and I definitely used this resource lots from around October to December. What I really liked about it was that the questions were unlimited, so it meant I didn’t have to worry about ‘using up’ all of the questions. This was a big positive for me as the College of Legal Practice’s question bank wasn’t huge, particularly compared to things such as ULaw’s Question Bank, so it was reassuring to have it there. You can also filter it and choose which units and sub-units you want to be tested on, which was particularly useful when I was trying to go over my weaker areas.
All of that said, I do think it comes with some downsides as well. The questions are AI-generated, and there can occasionally be errors in the answers which can be difficult to spot. I tried to reframe this in a positive way and use it to test whether I was able to spot those errors, but there is always the risk that I wouldn’t spot them, and it might lead me to the wrong answer in the future. The other smaller downside was that I personally found it tested quite a few of the same topics a lot, so I was particularly strong in some areas but had barely scratched the surface in others.
Overall though, I think if you are looking for a big bank of questions and feel comfortable with the fact that it is AI-generated, it is a good resource to have. I also found the platform really convenient to use, and it allowed me to practice SBAQs whenever I had a spare 10-15 minutes (i.e. on the train, bus, tube, etc.).
3. TheOneHundred
After completing the free mock provided by TheOneHundred, I ended up buying a mock for each FLK a few weeks before the exams. In relation to the free mock, I would definitely encourage people to have a go at this at some point during your prep. Whilst I didn’t find the questions quite as hard as QLTS’ mock (although there are differing opinions on this!), it definitely felt like it was on the more challenging side, so it can be useful to highlight any blind spots or gaps.
Another element I really liked about the mocks I paid for was that you could take them at your own pace, rather than having to sit them as a full mock in one go (although this is still an option). I purchased the mocks as I didn’t have access to LawDrills in the last few weeks before my exams, so I was mainly looking for standalone questions to go through each day.
They are slightly pricey, depending on your budget - I believe it is around £30 for one mock. I personally chose to purchase these rather than renew my LawDrills subscription as it was very close to my exams, and I didn’t feel I’d make my way through loads of questions. However, other practice question resources may be more affordable if you are earlier in your prep and are looking for questions.
If you are looking for mocks and have already completed the ReviseSQE mock books, I think they are a really good resource to challenge yourself - particularly as it isn’t really possible to purchase QLTS mocks on their own.
4. ReviseSQE
For my SQE1 exams, I purchased both the ReviseSQE mock books and a few of the ReviseSQE textbooks for topics I was struggling with (although by the end of SQE1 and SQE2, I probably owned most of them!).
Among those who have taken SQE1, ReviseSQE mocks are known to be an amazing resource, and I would absolutely agree with that sentiment. The questions felt very similar to those I encountered in the exam (probably the closest out of all of the mocks I did), and the explanations given in the answers were really helpful in figuring out where you went wrong. I think they are particularly helpful with testing the ‘SBAQ’ style, as a lot of the answers are very similar, so it gets you used to tackling those kinds of questions.
I have seen one or two instances where there are some slight mistakes in the questions/answers, but this is generally very easy to spot and isn’t common throughout the mocks at all.
I genuinely could not recommend these mocks enough, and if you are only able to pay for one resource, I’d absolutely go with this one. Additionally, you’ll likely be able to buy these books second-hand online if you are looking for a more affordable option (although I believe it is around £30 for both) - whilst the older versions might be slightly outdated in some areas (e.g. tax rates), it’ll be extremely useful for the most part!
5. Other Practice Questions
There were also a few other resources that I found online that included practice questions, some of them being free. These included:
- ULaw Textbook: I had access to the ULaw textbooks as a friend had kindly gifted me their (slightly outdated!) textbooks from when they sat the exam. At the end of each chapter, there were a few practice questions that covered things discussed in the chapter, which was useful to ensure that I had understood everything. I also found that the explanations for why certain options were correct/incorrect were really useful, especially when it tested a niche area.
- Barbri: There are a few practice questions for free for each topic online if you sign up through Barbri, and I found these were super useful for pointing out any gaps I had in my knowledge. I personally found that some of the questions, particularly the crime ones, tested more niche areas which I hadn’t covered.
- QLTS: I think it is pretty well-known that QLTS questions are notoriously very hard, and I scored the lowest in their free mock test than I did in any of the others. However, I do think it is worth doing their free mock test online just to get used to the more niche and technical areas that you can be tested on, particularly as I felt the explanations given for each answer were helpful for identifying where I had gone wrong/right.
- Devils Advocate: I mainly used Devils Advocate for its mind maps and diagrams, so I actually didn’t complete many of their practice questions. However, from the ones I did complete, they were a useful resource - some of the questions felt slightly too easy, but overall I think it did a good job at challenging your knowledge and highlighting gaps.
Textbooks
Similar to practice questions, textbooks are probably the most important resource in your preparation, so I’d definitely take some time figuring out which resource will work best for you (whether you are deciding on a prep course, or wanting to purchase additional materials). Often, people are looking for different things with textbooks based on their learning style, so a resource that works for one person might not work for another.
For example, if you are a visual learner, the more text-heavy textbooks might not work for you, and vice versa. Generally speaking, I would advise against relying solely on the smaller ‘revision-style’ textbooks on their own (like ReviseSQE), as the depth of knowledge required for SQE1 is high. However, these types of textbooks can still be an incredibly useful additional resource, and I personally found them helpful for solidifying and clarifying certain topics that I was weaker on. I also used these additional textbooks as my main FLK resource for SQE2, so you’ll definitely get use out of them if you are debating the investment!
1. College of Legal Practice Manuals
As the College of Legal Practice was my main provider, a lot of my preparation involved using their textbooks/manuals. From a practical perspective, I particularly liked that they came in the form of folders with removable pages, rather than traditional textbooks. This meant I could take out the sections I needed and study them elsewhere without having to carry a huge textbook around.
In terms of content, however, I found the manuals somewhat mixed. Some went into a significant amount of detail (for example, the Dispute Resolution manual) and, when I compared these with other textbooks and resources, I sometimes found it difficult to work out which information I actually needed to know for the SQE. On the other hand, some manuals were less comprehensive. Constitutional Law, for example, did not cover everything I wanted to know in sufficient detail, so I generally supplemented it with other resources to make sure I had covered the full SQE specification.
One thing I particularly liked was the combination of written explanations and diagrams. I found this especially useful in the Land and Property Practice manuals, where visual explanations made complicated concepts much easier to understand. This was particularly helpful for topics such as covenants and easements, where having a diagram alongside the written explanation made the different interests and relationships much easier to visualise.
Overall, I would recommend the COLP manuals as a starting point, particularly if you are studying with COLP. However, I found it helpful to supplement them with other sources of information to make sure that I was covering the entire specification. This helped me avoid spending too much time learning information that was more detailed than what I was likely to need for the exam.
If you are using the manuals (or other textbooks, for that matter), I do think it is helpful to check the specification as you work through each topic, rather than simply assuming that everything in the manual is examinable. Equally, if you notice that a topic in the specification is only covered briefly in the manual, make a note to supplement it with another resource rather than assuming that the manual provides everything you need.
2. ULaw Textbooks
I was fortunate enough to have access to the ULaw textbooks as a friend from university kindly gave me their copies after they had sat the exam. I mainly used them as a supplemental resource rather than my primary textbooks, but I found them incredibly useful when I wanted to go into more depth on a particular topic or check that I had covered something fully.
Of all the textbooks I used, I would say that the ULaw textbooks were probably the most comprehensive. The explanations are much more in-depth than many other textbooks I used (and often referred to case law to help illustrate a point), and I found them particularly useful for making sure I had covered the breadth of material that could potentially come up. However, there can still be gaps in any SQE resources (and, given how little information there is about exactly what will be tested, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether you have covered everything!), so I wouldn’t necessarily treat them as a guarantee that you have covered the entire specification.
I also really liked the practice questions at the end of each chapter. These were useful for checking whether I had actually understood what I had just read, rather than simply recognising the information when reading through the textbook. The explanations for the answers were also super helpful, particularly when I got a question wrong, as they allowed me to understand where I had gone wrong rather than simply seeing the correct answer.
The main downside (which is also an upside, in a way!) is that these are very long textbooks. There is a huge amount of information in them, and I think it could be difficult to work your way through all of the material in the time available, particularly if they aren’t your main resource. For me, they worked best as a supplementary resource that I could dip into when I wanted a more detailed explanation of a topic, rather than something I tried to read from cover to cover. If you have access to them and have the time to use them alongside your main materials (if ULaw is not your main provider), I think they are one of the best textbook resources for getting a really comprehensive understanding of the SQE1 content.
3. ReviseSQE Revision Books
I decided to purchase the ReviseSQE books for topics that I felt slightly weaker in, but I ended up liking them so much I had almost all of them by the end of SQE1 and SQE2. As a standalone resource, I personally do not believe they are enough on their own (although I have heard about people only using these books and still passing), but they are an amazing additional resource - especially if you are struggling with an area. For example, I really liked their explanations for topics like Business Taxes and Solicitor Accounts, as these were areas that I couldn’t quite understand from my longer textbooks.
Additionally, they also have practice questions at the end of each chapter, so it is a good way to get some more practice in and have a variety of questions. The explanations for why each answer was correct/incorrect were really helpful, and as the ReviseSQE mock books are known to be some of the best, I don’t think you can go wrong with their questions.
The only real downside for me was that I felt some of the books were better than others, but I think that comes down to personal preference more than anything. I particularly liked these books as they summarised some of the complex information in simpler terms, but I found some of the books didn’t do this as well as others.
Other Resources
1. The Devils Advocate
The main other supplemental resource I used was The Devils Advocate. This is a resource with a wide range of materials, including practice questions, notes and visual resources such as mind maps and diagrams. I mainly used it for the visual resources, which I did find particularly helpful. I am quite a visual learner, so being able to see certain topics laid out in a different way to my main textbooks made them much easier to understand and remember. I found this particularly useful for subjects such as Property, Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Practice, where the diagrams and mind maps helped me to visualise how different concepts and rules fitted together.
I also completed some of the practice questions, although I didn’t use these nearly as much as some of the other question banks I have mentioned above. From what I did use, I found them relatively useful but sometimes inconsistent in difficulty - some questions were straightforward, whereas others felt extremely difficult and tested quite niche areas. However, I did find the explanations clear and useful, and they would usually cite any relevant case law or legislation, which made it easier to understand where the answer had come from.
Overall, I would particularly recommend the Devils Advocate if you are a visual learner or find that you benefit from seeing information presented in a different format. I found the diagrams and mind maps a really useful supplement to my main study materials, rather than something I relied on as my primary resource.
Study Methods
Before starting your SQE preparation, I would really recommend taking some time to think about what study methods are actually going to work for you and, importantly, what is realistic for you to maintain throughout your preparation. What worked for you at university may not necessarily translate to the SQE. You are expected to learn a very large amount of information across a wide range of practice areas, often within a relatively short period of time, so it is worth thinking carefully about how you are going to approach this from the outset.
I would also recommend trialling a few different study methods rather than assuming that the method you have always used will be the most effective. Looking back, I wish I had done more of this at the beginning of my preparation. I initially tried to stick with the study methods I had used successfully at university or A-Level, but I realised that they weren’t necessarily the most efficient or effective way for me to learn the volume of information required for the SQE. Spending some time experimenting with different approaches at the beginning would probably have saved me a lot of time later on!
Below are some of the different methods I tried during my preparation, along with my thoughts on how realistic I found each method, what I found it useful for, and whether I would use it again.
Flashcards
I started my SQE1 preparation by making physical flashcards for each unit as I worked through them. This was the approach I had used at university for modules that involved multiple-choice exams, so I initially assumed it would work well for SQE1 too. However, I quickly realised that this was not particularly time-efficient given the sheer volume of content involved (and my hand was definitely cramping by the end of most days!). I would therefore recommend considering whether making handwritten flashcards is realistically sustainable for you before committing to this as your main study method.
I eventually switched to making online flashcards using Quizlet, which became one of the main study techniques that I used throughout my preparation. I personally used Quizlet’s Learn feature, which I found particularly helpful for identifying the areas I already knew well and those that I needed to revisit. I also found that the process of creating the flashcards itself helped me consolidate the information, rather than just relying on them as a revision tool. This was particularly useful for me as I did not make traditional notes for SQE1, which I’ll note later on!
If you are someone who benefits from active recall and enjoys using flashcards, I think they can be a really useful way of learning and retaining the large amount of information required for SQE1. However, I would emphasise the importance of being realistic about how practical this method is within the time that you have available. If you think you will struggle to create and maintain your own flashcards alongside covering the rest of the specific, they may not be the best method to rely on as your primary resource.
That being said, you do not necessarily have to make all of your own flashcards. There are plenty available online from previous SQE candidates, so these can be a useful supplementary revision tool if you want to benefit from active recall without spending significant amounts of time creating the resources yourself.
Mind Maps
I am quite a visual learner, so I really enjoyed creating mind maps and diagrams throughout my SQE1 preparation (and this is a reason why I found Devils Advocate a valuable resource too). I would then stick these all over my walls (sorry to my landlord!) so that I could see them regularly and gradually reinforce the information without necessarily having to sit down and actively revise it each time.
I found mind maps particularly useful for topics with several moving parts, where I needed to understand how different rules or concepts fitted together, or where there were different categories of the same thing. For example, I used them for the clawback of assets provisions in Business Law, as well as topics such as easements and covenants, where I found it helpful to visually map out when different rights or obligations would carry across and when they would not. I would also make posters for things like the various tax rates, so that if my mind went blank in the exam, I could try to visualise the poster on my wall!
I think this method is particularly useful if, like me, you are a visual learner and find it easier to remember information when you can see how everything connects. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend making a mindmap for every single topic, as this can be quite time-consuming. However, I found they were most valuable when I used them selectively for the topics where a visual representation genuinely helped me understand or remember the rules.
Notes
I chose not to create my own set of notes for SQE1, as I did not think this would be the most effective use of my time. I knew that I would not realistically have enough time to handwrite notes for the huge amount of content involved, and I also generally find that I do not learn particularly well from simply writing or typing out notes, even when they are a more condensed version of the textbook.
That being said, lots of people I know who sat SQE1 did create their own condensed notes, and they all passed with flying colours. I therefore don’t think there is necessarily a right or wrong approach here - it is much more about choosing the study method that you know works best for you. If you find that the process of condensing information helps you understand and retain it, then it could absolutely be worthwhile.
I did, however, end up creating my own set of notes for SQE2. As I wanted to make sure that I had covered everything on the specification, I copied the specification into an Excel spreadsheet and then added condensed notes alongside each section based on the information in my textbooks. I found this particularly helpful as it allowed me to keep track of which areas I had covered and identify anything that was still missing. It also gave me some reassurance that I had worked through the entire specification, rather than relying on my textbooks and hoping they had covered everything I needed to know.
Blurting
Blurting was a study method I used for SQE2, but I think it can definitely be applied to SQE1 as well. I would take a point from the specification and, without looking through my notes or textbooks, write down everything I could remember about it. I would then go back through the relevant materials and fill in any gaps using a different colour pen.
I found this particularly useful for SQE2 because of the active recall element, but you could absolutely use the same approach for SQE1 if active recall is a method that works well for you, either alongside or instead of flashcards. One thing I liked about blurting was that there is less temptation to ‘cheat’ than there can be with flashcards. With flashcards, it can be very easy to turn the card over, see the answer and think “oh, I knew that!” even if you didn’t actually recall it yourself. With blurting, you have to actively write down what you can remember before checking what you have missed.
I bought a small whiteboard specifically for this, which I found really useful as I could quickly wipe it clear and move on to the next topic. However, you could just as easily type your answers, write them on paper, or use a tablet - the method is essentially the same regardless of how you record it.
Approaching and Preparing for the Exam
Doing a “Dress Rehearsal”
One thing my tutor recommended to me, which I found really helpful, was doing a full “dress rehearsal” of the exam day a few weeks before the actual exam. Obviously, it is impossible to replicate the real thing perfectly (particularly as you will probably be much more nervous on the actual day!), but I think there is a lot of value in going through the motions beforehand so that you have a good idea of what to expect.
For example, I lived around a 15-minute walk from my test centre, so I picked a day a few weeks before my exam and followed roughly the same routine I would have on the actual day. I woke up at the time I would need to for my 8am exam, ate the same breakfast I planned to have on the day, and then left it around 15 minutes (to simulate the journey to the test centre). I then sat the first half of an FLK1 mock under the same time constraints I would have in the actual exam. After this, I took the full hour-long break, ate some food, and then sat the second half.
Whilst the content and the level of knowledge required are the main hurdles with SQE1, I also think it is important to remember that it is an endurance test. Answering that many questions in a row is tiring, and it can be surprisingly difficult to maintain your concentration towards the end of the exam. Doing a full practice run with the same timings and breaks means you can get used to the length of the exam and make sure your pacing is realistic.
Hopefully, this means that when you eventually get to the real exam, the process itself feels a little less unfamiliar, which may also help to calm some of your nerves.
I have also seen advice on the Forum suggesting that you leave your mock unmarked for a few days before looking at your result. The idea is that this replicates the experience of sitting the real exam and then having to wait for your results. I personally did not do this, simply because I had not seen the advice at the time, but I do think it sounds like an interesting approach if you have the self-control to leave the mock alone!
Planning your Journey to the Test Centre
It is also worth planning your journey to the test centre well in advance, especially if you haven’t been there before. I would recommend working out your route beforehand, including how long you expect the journey to take and whether you need to leave extra time for potential delays.
If possible, I would also consider doing the journey before exam day, particularly if you are travelling somewhere you have never been before. Knowing exactly where you are going means that you have one less thing to worry about on the morning of the exam.
I would also make sure that you know which test centre you are attending, and what time you need to arrive, rather than simply relying on your exam start time (as some expect you to be there earlier!). Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get there - being slightly early is much better than starting the day stressed because your journey took longer than expected (or, worse, you missed the exam overall!).
Before the exam, I would also double-check the requirements for the test centre, particularly what identification you need to bring and what you are and are not allowed to take. Make sure you have the correct form of ID with you and check any requirements around things such as food, drinks, stationery and personal belongings in advance. You do not want to arrive at the test centre on the morning of the exam and realise you have forgotten something important or brought something that you are not permitted to take in.
I would recommend checking the most recent instructions from the SQE assessment provider shortly before your exam, as these could change. It may also be worth making a small checklist of everything you need to take with you, so you can check it the night before rather than having to think about it on the morning itself.
Things I Wish I Had Done and What Worked Well
Things I Wish I Had Done
Looking back at my SQE1 preparation, there are a few things I would have approached differently. None of these were disastrous mistakes, but I think they would have made my preparation more efficient and probably saved me quite a lot of time (+ stress!).
1. Written notes alongside the specification from the beginning
One thing I wish I had done from the start was create condensed notes alongside the SQE specification, or at least use the specification in a meaningful way. I eventually did this for SQE2, where I copied the specification into an Excel spreadsheet and added notes alongside each section. I found this really helpful as I could see exactly which areas I had covered and identify anything I had missed.
For SQE1, I instead relied a bit too heavily on my textbooks and other resources, which sometimes made it difficult to keep track of everything I had covered. If I were doing it again, I would probably use the specification as a checklist from the beginning rather than waiting until later in my preparation.
2. Started with online flashcards rather than handwritten ones
I initially made physical flashcards for each unit as this was something that had worked well for me at university. However, I quickly realised that this was not particularly time-efficient given the sheer volume of SQE1 content. I eventually switched to online flashcards, which became one of my main study methods - not only were these easier to create, but I could have a look at them on the go wherever I was.
If I were doing SQE1 again, I would probably start with digital flashcards from the beginning (whether that is Quizlet, Anki, or another platform). That being said, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with handwritten flashcards if that is genuinely the method that works best for you - the main thing is making sure the method is realistic given the amount of content you need to cover.
3. Tested different study methods before committing to one
Related to the above, I wish I had spent more time at the beginning of my preparation testing different study methods before committing to one. I initially assumed that the methods that had worked for me at university and A-Level would automatically work for SQE1, but I found that wasn’t necessarily the case.
The sheer volume of information means that a method can be effective in theory but simply not be practical to maintain across the entire SQE preparation period. I would therefore recommend trying a few different approaches early on (whether that is flashcards, mind maps, notes, blurting, or something else) and then working out what gives you the best balance between actually learning the information and being able to cover everything you need to.
4. Covered my stronger areas more regularly
I also wish I had revisited the areas I felt more confident in slightly more often. It is very easy to spend most of your revision time on the topics you know you are weaker at, but this can mean that you gradually forget some of the information you initially felt comfortable with. In SQE1, I found that I sometimes did better in some of my weaker areas than my stronger areas, which I hadn’t expected - it is likely due to the fact that I focused my attention on the weaker areas in the run up to the exam and neglected the stronger areas.
However, I wouldn’t interpret this as meaning that you need to master absolutely every topic. There will probably be some areas that you find particularly difficult, or that simply do not seem to stick, and I think there comes a point where spending hours trying to perfect one small area is not the best use of your time. As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t recommend completely ignoring an entire SQE1 unit, but if there is a particularly small topic that you are struggling with, it may be more sensible to move on and spend that time consolidating other areas.
5. Compared myself to others less
One of the main things I wish I had done throughout my preparation was compare myself to other people less. This is particularly difficult with SQE as there is so much discussion online about how people are preparing, how many questions they have completed, what scores they are getting in mocks and how far through the course/specification they are.
It can also be particularly difficult if you are a sponsored student and have a cohort of other future trainees sitting the SQE alongside you. It is very easy to hear what other people are doing and start worrying that you are falling behind because someone has completed more questions, covered more of the course, or seems to be finding a particular topic easier.
Try to remember that everyone’s preparation looks different, and somebody else’s progress is not a useful measure of your own. People also tend to share their successes much more readily than their struggles, particularly online, so what you see is not necessarily representative. I definitely found that comparing myself to others sometimes created unnecessary stress without actually helping my preparation.
Ultimately, you need to work out what works for you and focus on whether you are making progress against your own plan. If you find that reading online posts or talking to others taking the exams with you is making you more anxious rather than helping you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with stepping back from those conversations for a bit.
Things That Worked Well
1. Using a broad range of practice questions
One of the things I think worked particularly well for me was using practice questions from a range of different resources (the majority of them being free resources). This helped me get used to seeing questions presented in slightly different ways and made me less worried that I was simply becoming familiar with one provider’s particular question style.
I also found that different question banks highlighted different gaps in my knowledge. Some were more useful for testing the breadth of the specification, while others were particularly helpful for getting used to the SBAQ format or more challenging questions. I think using a mixture ultimately gave me a more rounded approach to preparation, and I felt more confident going into the exam.
2. Regularly revisiting my weaker areas
I also found it really helpful to keep returning to the areas I knew I was weaker on. Once I identified a topic that I consistently got wrong in practice questions, I would go back to my textbook or another resource and revisit it before testing myself again.
However, I wouldn’t let one particularly difficult topic consume your entire revision schedule. If something genuinely isn’t sticking despite multiple attempts, and it is only a small area of the specification, there can be a point where it is more productive to move on and focus on areas where you can make bigger gains. The aim is to be as well prepared as possible across the specification, rather than spending huge amounts of time trying to achieve perfection in one small area - it is impossible to remember every single detail.
Final Thoughts
If there is one single thing I would take away from everything above, it is that there is no single “right” way to prepare for the SQE. There are so many different opinions online about how many hours you should be studying, which resources you should use, how many questions you should complete and which study methods are most effective, but I think it is much more important to work out what actually works for you.
For me, the things that ultimately made the biggest difference were consistency, regularly testing my knowledge, using the specification to keep track of what I had covered, and being willing to adapt my approach when something wasn’t working. I definitely made mistakes along the way, and there are things I would do differently if I were starting again, but I also think it is easy to overcomplicate SQE preparation by constantly looking for the “perfect” resource or study method.
I also think it is important not to lose sight of the fact that you are preparing for an exam, rather than trying to become an expert in every single area of law. The amount of content can feel enormous, but you do not need to know every detail perfectly to do well. Focus on building a strong understanding across the specification, practise applying that knowledge to SBAQs, identify your weaker areas and keep coming back to them. It can feel disheartening when you get the same topics wrong over and over again, but it is better to get them wrong now and know what you need to work on.
Most importantly, try not to compare your preparation too closely with anyone else’s. Someone else studying for more hours, completing more questions or getting higher mock scores does not mean that you are behind. Everyone’s circumstances, starting point and learning style are different, and what matters is whether your own preparation is moving in the right direction.
The SQE is undoubtedly a huge commitment, and there will probably be points where it feels overwhelming. However, I hope this guide has shown that it is manageable with a consistent and sustainable approach. You do not need to study 12 hours a day, buy every resource available or have a perfect revision strategy from day one. Find what works for you, give yourself some time to adjust, and remember to look after yourself along the way - you definitely do not want to burn out in the weeks leading up to the exam!
Wishing the best of luck to anyone preparing for SQE1 or SQE2 - you’ve got this!
