Time Management: How to Make Your SQE1 Revision Plan

Time Allocation and Planning

The volume of material in the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1) is significant. It’s wise to map out a study schedule as early as possible.

In this guide, we look at how to allocate your time realistically, build in review cycles, and adapt your plan as you go, so nothing falls through the cracks.

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Start Early and Plan Thoroughly

Many experts suggest at least 3-6 months of study before the exam. Cramming the SQE1 is generally not feasible given its breadth. Starting early allows time for spaced repetition and avoids last-minute panic.

Create a study plan that maps out all the subjects and topics, allocating more time to those you find difficult. The SRA’s assessment specification (syllabus) is a great roadmap – use it to ensure you’re not skipping any content areas.

Begin by breaking the SQE1 syllabus into manageable chunks. There are 12 subjects (grouped into two sets of six for FLK1 and FLK2), so make sure you block out enough time for each subject.

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Establish a Consistent Routine

Consistency beats cramming. It’s more effective to study a bit each day than to do sporadic marathon sessions.

Establish a daily or weekly routine that fits your life. For example, if you’re enrolled in a part-time course and working alongside, let's say you can spare 15 hours a week. In this scenario, you might study 2 hours each weekday evening and 5 hours on the weekend.

Find a schedule you can sustain for months – burning out early will not help. Use a planner or digital calendar to block out your study times and stick to them, but also schedule breaks and rest days to recharge.

You can also make the most of short pockets of time by reviewing flashcards or quick notes—for instance, while commuting, waiting for a train, or during lunch breaks. These mini-sessions add up and help keep the material fresh.

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Front-Load Your Studying

Whether you have six months or three, try to front-load your studying if possible, so that you complete learning the bulk of the content at least a few weeks before the exam.

This will give you time for full-length mocks and final review before the SQE exam.

Front-loading doesn’t mean burning out early, but it means being diligent with your schedule from the start so that you’re not scrambling near the end.

If you are studying part-time while working, communicate with your employer if you can about needing some flexibility or days off as the exam approaches.

One candidate who worked two days a week alongside SQE prep recommended ensuring you have '3-4 free days to study during the week' and then ramping up closer to the exam – they took the final two weeks before the exam off work entirely to focus on full-time studying.

Building in a ramp-up like this (for example, taking vacation time or study leave before the exam) can really boost your preparedness in the final stretch when you’ll be doing mocks and intensive review.

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Time-Blocking and Micro-Goals

Use time-blocking techniques to maintain focus.

For example, dedicate 90 minutes solely to one task (like 'Study Trusts – charitable trusts subtopic' or 'Do 20 tort questions and review answers'), then take a short break.

During each block, eliminate distractions and treat that time as non-negotiable study time.

It is also useful to set micro-goals for each session ('Today I will finish revising easements and do 10 practice MCQs on it').

This gives you a sense of accomplishment and progress. Weekly, set goals like 'Finish first pass of Criminal Law content' or 'Score at least 60% on a mixed-topic quiz.' Achieving these milestones can keep you motivated and on track.

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SQE Study Cycle Approaches

Incorporate Review and Practice Cycles

A good study plan isn’t linear; it should be cyclical. Plan to revisit each subject at least 3–4 times before the exam. For instance, you might do an initial learning pass for all subjects in the first two or three months, then a second pass that is more review-focused and practice-heavy, and a final pass in the last month for intensive quizzing and ironing out difficulties.

At the end of each week or each major topic, schedule a short review session.

This could be as simple as spending Sunday afternoons consolidating the material you studied that week: re-reading your summary SQE notes, reviewing flashcards, and—most importantly—re-doing the multiple choice questions you got wrong. Keep a 'mistake log' or 'review folder' of tricky MCQs and revisit them weekly until you get them right without hesitation. You might also test yourself by explaining the week’s hardest concept aloud or writing a mini-outline from memory.

Additionally, schedule periodic progress checks. Every few weeks, take a set of practice questions or a mock test under timed conditions to assess how you’re doing. The results of these practice tests should actively inform your study plan.

You should cross-reference your performance with your ongoing list of weak topics (as discussed earlier in relation to strategic prioritisation), and use that list to adjust your upcoming schedule.

This ensures you’re not only reinforcing the areas where you’re struggling, but also tracking your progress as items drop off the list.

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Regular Self-Assessment

Data from QLTS suggests that the more mock assessments you complete, 'the better prepared you’ll be and the higher your chances of success', with candidates who completed 25 or more SQE1 mock tests achieving a pass rate of 94%, by far exceeding the overall SQE1 pass rate of 53% in July 2023.

Build in time for quizzes or mini-mocks. For example, every Sunday, you might do a 30-question quiz covering everything studied that week (and a few from older topics too).

Track your scores and note which areas are weakest so you can adjust your study plan (spend more time on those areas).

Periodically, perhaps at the midpoint of your prep, take a full-length practice test to gauge your progress and stamina. The earlier you identify weak spots, the more time you have to fix them.

Remember, an important part of time management is making sure you allocate your study hours efficiently – focus more on what you don’t know rather than what’s already comfortable.

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Use SQE Mock Exams as Milestones

Mark a couple of dates in your plan for taking practice exams under timed, exam-like conditions to simulate the SQE1 assessment. For instance, schedule a mock exam halfway through your study period and another one about 3-4 weeks before the real exam.

Treat these as you would the actual SQE1: set aside a morning or afternoon, sit down in a quiet space, and attempt a large block of SQE practice questions (SQE1 is typically 180 questions per paper, often done in two 2-hour 33 min sessions on a day, so you might do 90 questions in ~2.5 hours for a realistic trial).

Doing this will not only test your knowledge but also your stamina and timing. After each mock, thoroughly review your performance.

Identify which questions you got wrong and why – was it a lack of knowledge, a misunderstanding of what was asked, or a careless error? Use these insights to adjust your study plan.

For example, if you realise you’re repeatedly missing questions about the Taxation of businesses (perhaps you forgot which taxes apply when), that’s a signal to revisit your Business Law notes on taxation. If you find you ran out of time in the mock, you may need to practice pacing (more on time management in the exam strategy section below).

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Summary: 

1. Start early and front-load your learning.
   Begin 3–6 months ahead to allow time for spaced review, mocks, and final reinforcement for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. Complete most content at least a few weeks before the exam to avoid last-minute cramming.
2. Plan realistically and consistently.
   Set a sustainable weekly routine (e.g. 15 hours split across evenings and weekends). Use planners to block time and schedule both work and rest to avoid burnout.
3. Use micro-goals and time blocks.
   Break study into focused 60–90 min blocks with clear goals (e.g. 'Finish easements + 10 MCQs'). Weekly goals (e.g. 'Score 60% on mixed-topic quiz') help track progress and stay motivated.
4. Cycle through material 3–4 times.
   Build in multiple passes: first for learning, second for review + practice, third for consolidation. Review each subject weekly and adjust the plan based on quiz results or mock scores.
5. Use self-assessment to steer revision.
   QLTS data shows completing 25+ mocks correlates with a 94% pass rate. Regular mini-quizzes and full mocks help identify weaknesses early and guide where to focus next.
6. Schedule mock exams as key checkpoints.
   Sit timed mocks midway and ~3–4 weeks before the real exam. Use them to test stamina, pacing, and accuracy. Analyse errors in detail to target revision where it matters most.