Introduction: Approaching the SQE1 Assessment

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the central assessment for qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. Divided into SQE1 (functioning legal knowledge) and SQE2 (practical legal skills), it’s designed to test both what you know and how you apply it. 

This guide focuses on how to approach SQE1 effectively through strategic revision, smart time management, and evidence-based learning techniques.

Is the SQE Hard?

To pass SQE1, you need to master a massive syllabus and apply fundamental legal principles under pressure, without notes and with the clock ticking. Tough? Definitely.

In January 2025, the pass rate was just 56%, up from 44% in the previous sitting.

That shift isn’t an accident. The SQE pass mark isn’t fixed. It’s set after each sitting using the Modified Angoff method, where a panel of solicitors estimates how many out of ten minimally competent candidates would answer each question correctly. Their scores are averaged, adjusted for difficulty and consistency, and scaled so that 300 on a 0–500 scale is always the pass mark.

There’s no set fail rate, but the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has said that if everyone passed, the test would be too easy, so the bar stays high.

Bottom line? This exam is guaranteed to be tough. You can’t bluff your way through. But with the right preparation, you can pass the SQE and achieve your goal of becoming a solicitor.

This guide will show you how: smart study strategies, targeted memorisation, common pitfalls to avoid, and effectively managing your time.

What is the SRA Syllabus? What are the SRA Standards?

The first step in tackling the SQE1 is knowing exactly what you’re up against. While plenty of details about the exam can be opaque, the syllabus itself is clear. The SRA website provides a full breakdown of the topics in its detailed assessment specification. 

If you’re not already using the SRA specification as your main reference, you should be. This syllabus is what Kaplan's question writers will be looking at when deciding what questions to set. Your study plan should follow it closely.

The Solicitor's Qualifying Exam is not designed to test ultra-niche legal points that a junior solicitor would realistically look up. It's called 'functioning legal knowledge' for a reason: it targets central legal rules and concepts you’re expected to have at your fingertips. 

That said, the exams do sometimes throw in curveballs—questions on less familiar or rarely tested areas of legal practice. If you come across something obscure, it may be low priority, but don’t ignore it completely.

One detail many candidates miss: SQE1 is based on the law as it stood four months before the exam. If a legal change happens within that window—even a major one—you’re expected to apply the previous version.

This can catch you out if your materials auto-update, so always check whether recent legal changes fall after the cut-off (you can find the cut-off dates for different assessment windows here).

What is the SQE1 Exam Format?

The next step in tackling the SQE1 is to prepare for the format in which you’ll be tested on the syllabus. 

The exam tests 'Functioning Legal Knowledge' (FLK) via two papers, known as FLK1 and FLK2, each covering a mix of legal topics—from criminal law to business law and administrative law. Both papers follow the same format: 180 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions. In total, each exam is 5 hours 6 minutes (split into two sessions of 2 hours 33 minutes). That gives you just under 1 minute 42 seconds per question. 

Overwhelmingly, all the candidates we interviewed post-exam wished they had focused on SQE practice questions far earlier. 

In fact, this was the single most common piece of advice from successful candidates. SQE practice questions hold the key to passing SQE1, and we’ll come back to this point again and again in this guide. 

Additionally, the SRA website has a timed sample test that lets you practice with the real exam format as it will appear on the Pearson Vue Test Centre computers. You can try out useful features like flagging tricky questions to come back to later. 

It’s important to stress: practising MCQs and taking mock exams isn't something to leave until the last minute. Getting familiar with the structure and format early on will make a huge difference when you’re under pressure.

How Can I Find SQE Resources?

So, you’re beginning to prepare. Where do you start? What resources should you use?

We’ll get into the full complement of study materials in this section—from commercial SQE prep courses and flashcard apps to condensed notes and online communities. 

But before anything else, we’re going to repeat our core piece of advice (and yes, we know we sound like a broken record): start doing SQE practice questions—right now. Not after you’ve read through everything. Not once you 'feel ready.' Now. 

Why? Because doing practice questions early fundamentally changes how you study. It shifts how you read legal materials—whether textbooks, lecture slides, or notes—by showing you what kinds of details actually matter. 

Instead of trying to memorise everything equally, you begin to notice what’s testable, spot recurring structures, and focus your attention on the way rules are framed, applied, and questioned. In short, it teaches you how to read with the exam in mind.

Comprehensive SQE Preparation Courses

Candidates come to the SQE assessments with varied backgrounds. Some hold law degrees, graduate diplomas, or have completed conversion courses, while many are non-law graduates. Others may have vocational legal training and experience, for example, through work as paralegals or training contracts with law firms. Study approaches vary depending on a candidate’s background, but most rely on a combination of SRA materials, commercial resources, and content from SQE course providers.

These courses are designed to help candidates navigate the SQE route effectively, providing the necessary knowledge and skills for exam success.

There is no shortage of SQE1 preparation options, but their quality, transparency, and pricing vary considerably.

At the more expensive end, ULaw, BPP, and BARBRI offer comprehensive, tutor-led courses with structured teaching, internal mocks, and access to extensive resources.

ULaw’s SQE1 course is priced at £6,450 in London (and less outside the capital). While expensive, it includes high-quality materials and the widely respected ULaw textbooks. ULaw claim a 78% SQE pass rate.

BPP offers two tracks: the 'Flexible' course at £3,200, commonly used by trainees at City firms, and a more in-depth 'Comprehensive' course at £11,100, which also awards a Master’s qualification. BPP claim a 74% SQE pass rate.

BARBRI offers a more intensive 10-week, online-only course for £2,999. It is well-reviewed and known for its focused approach to exam preparation. Barbri claim a 72% SQE pass rate.

QLTS School offers a slightly different model, focused on content volume. For £1,990, candidates receive 18 textbooks written specifically for the SQE, over 5,000 flashcards, 2,500+ practice questions, 200 video tutorials, and 30 mock tests—among the most extensive content offerings on the market. It is generally well regarded and seen as good value for self-guided learners.

Subscription-based SQE Tools

Subscription-based tools present another route. 

Devil’s Advocate (£22/month) offers a range of revision materials including flashcards, mindmaps, animations, and live sessions. 

FQPS, another subscription service, offers AI tutors and mentorship, though it has attracted some recent criticism online.

SQE Practice Question Banks

We’ve already emphasised how doing MCQ questions early helps you read and study in a more targeted, exam-aware way. It trains your brain to look for structure, anticipate how SQE questions are framed, and distinguish the core rule from the illustrative example.

Later in your prep, question banks also help you to:

• Test your understanding in context
• Familiarise yourself with the question format (scenario-based, best-of-five MCQs)
• Identify knowledge gaps early, so you don’t revise in the dark

Available options include:

• The Kinnu Law app (£55/month) provides access to over 1,500 multiple-choice questions, unlimited practice and exam sessions, purpose-trained AI for support, performance analysis, and offline functionality.
• The ULaw SQE Revision App is a valuable (and free) source of practice MCQs. While the app's functionality is limited for non-ULaw users, the content is high quality.
• QLTS School (with packages starting from £1,990) has a large bank of sample SQE questions, as well as digital flashcards and mock tests
• Law Drills (£100/month) focuses on MCQ practice using spaced repetition and provides a user experience that closely resembles a drill-based learning platform, although it lacks integrated teaching. 
• My Question Banks (£49.99/month) provides a more basic MCQ service. 

SQE Community Resources

Alongside many quality paid resources available for SQE preparation, there are several sources of high-quality resources that are completely free.

Online forums and study groups can also be invaluable resources. Communities such as the Reddit r/SQE_Prep forum, the SQE Success Hub WhatsApp community, or the Corporate Law Academy’s SQE forum host discussions where candidates share tips, clarify tricky topics, and recommend study resources.

Engaging with peers on these platforms can help you discover new revision tools (like flashcards or summary charts) and stay motivated by seeing others going through the same process.You will also find on forums such as the above, user-created SQE notes and materials, such as these publicly available outlines: https://www.reddit.com/r/SQE_Prep/comments/1jb2c5k/free_SQE1_condensed_outlines/