If you’re preparing for SQE1, you’ve probably already realised something unsettling: traditional revision methods don’t seem to work as well as you expected.
You can spend weeks going through textbooks, highlighting cases, memorising rules, and still sit down to a set of single best answer (SBA) questions and feel completely thrown. The issue isn’t that you don’t know enough law — it’s that the SQE1 is testing something very different from what most candidates are used to.
At its core, SQE1 is an exam about applied legal reasoning under time pressure. It’s designed to simulate the kind of thinking expected of a newly qualified solicitor. That means every question is built around a realistic scenario, often involving a client problem, a transaction, or a dispute. You’re expected to identify the legal issue quickly, apply the correct rule, and then choose the best possible answer from a set of plausible options.
This is where many candidates struggle. In most academic settings, you’re rewarded for explaining your reasoning, discussing alternative arguments, and demonstrating depth of knowledge. In SQE1, none of that matters unless it leads you to the single best answer within a strict time limit.
Understanding this shift is the first step to improving your performance.
One of the most common mistakes candidates make is leaving practice questions until the later stages of revision. It feels logical to “cover the content” first and then test yourself afterwards. But with SQE1, this approach can actually slow your progress.
The reality is that practising SBA questions is not just a way of testing knowledge — it’s a way of learning how the exam works. Each question teaches you how topics are framed, what details matter, and how examiners construct distractors. Over time, you start to recognise patterns. You see how certain legal principles are repeatedly tested, often in slightly different contexts.
For example, in contract law, questions on offer and acceptance often hinge on subtle distinctions — whether a statement is an invitation to treat or a binding offer, or whether a counter-offer has terminated the original offer. In land law, priority questions frequently turn on registration rules and notice. In criminal law, small factual differences can change the applicable offence entirely.
Without regular exposure to these patterns, even well-prepared candidates can find themselves second-guessing their answers.
Another important aspect of SQE1 preparation is learning how to deal with uncertainty. In many questions, two or even three options may appear correct at first glance. The challenge is to identify which one is the best answer in the specific context given.
This requires a disciplined approach. Instead of looking for the “right” answer immediately, strong candidates focus on eliminating clearly incorrect options first. This narrows the field and makes it easier to compare the remaining choices. Often, the distinction between the final two options will depend on a single detail in the scenario — a date, a relationship between parties, or a specific legal requirement.
Developing this elimination technique can significantly improve both accuracy and speed.
Time management is another critical factor. With an average of around 1.7 minutes per question, there is very little room for hesitation. Spending too long on a single difficult question can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the paper.
Effective candidates adopt a simple rule: answer what you can, flag what you’re unsure about, and move on. This ensures that you maximise your score across the entire exam rather than getting stuck early on.
It’s also important to recognise that the SQE1 is not designed to trick you, but it is designed to test precision. Many incorrect options are based on common misunderstandings or partial knowledge. They may reflect a rule that is generally true but does not apply in the specific circumstances described.
For instance, a question might test your understanding of limitation periods. You may know the general rule, but the correct answer could depend on when the cause of action accrued or whether an exception applies. Missing that detail can lead you to choose an answer that is technically correct in a different context, but wrong for the scenario given.
This is why careful reading is essential. A useful technique is to read the question twice — once to get a general sense of the scenario, and a second time to identify the key facts and the specific issue being tested. Only then should you look at the answer options.
Another area that candidates often overlook is the role of ethics and professional conduct. These principles are not confined to a single subject area; they are woven throughout both FLK1 and FLK2. You may encounter ethical issues in questions on business law, dispute resolution, property transactions, or criminal practice.
Understanding how these rules apply in practical situations is crucial. It’s not enough to know the Code of Conduct in abstract terms — you need to be able to recognise when a scenario raises issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, or duties to the court.
Consistency in revision is also key. Given the breadth of the syllabus, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Breaking your study into manageable daily sessions, each focused on a specific topic or set of questions, can make the process more sustainable.
Regular review is equally important. Revisiting topics helps reinforce your understanding and ensures that earlier material remains fresh in your mind. This is particularly important for SQE1, where questions can integrate multiple areas of law.
For example, a single question might involve elements of contract, tort, and professional conduct. Being able to navigate these overlaps is part of what the exam is testing.
Another effective strategy is to analyse your mistakes carefully. Simply noting that an answer was incorrect is not enough. You should aim to understand why you chose that option and what you missed in the question.
Was it a misunderstanding of the legal rule? A failure to notice a key fact? Or perhaps a misinterpretation of the question itself? Identifying these patterns can help you avoid similar errors in the future.
It’s also worth considering the psychological aspect of exam preparation. Confidence plays a significant role in performance. This doesn’t mean being certain of every answer, but rather being comfortable with making informed decisions under pressure.
Building this confidence comes from practice. The more questions you attempt, the more familiar the format becomes, and the less intimidating the exam feels.
At the same time, it’s important to maintain a balanced approach. Overloading yourself with excessive study hours can lead to burnout, which ultimately reduces efficiency. Taking regular breaks and allowing time for rest can improve focus and retention.
As the exam approaches, your focus should gradually shift from learning new content to refining your technique. This includes practising under timed conditions, reviewing key topics, and ensuring that you are comfortable with the exam format.
Mock exams can be particularly valuable at this stage. They provide an opportunity to simulate the real exam environment and identify any remaining weaknesses.
Finally, remember that the SQE1 is a pass/fail exam. Your goal is not to achieve perfection, but to perform consistently well across all areas. This means balancing your revision rather than focusing excessively on a single subject.
Candidates who pass are not necessarily those who know the most law, but those who can apply their knowledge effectively within the constraints of the exam.
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: preparation for SQE1 is as much about developing exam technique as it is about learning legal principles.
By practising regularly, focusing on application, managing your time effectively, and learning from your mistakes, you can significantly improve your chances of success.
