Attempting practice questions in timed conditions will be a massive help

Bhavin, Trainee Solicitor Apprentice

Tell us about your path to qualification

I am a Trainee Solicitor Apprentice at an international law firm, based in Manchester. I joined the firm straight from college, and have been part of the firm’s apprenticeship scheme for almost seven years. Upon completing the degree element of my apprenticeship in 2023, I was able to sit SQE1 in January 2024 and SQE2 in April/May 2024. I was working at the time I sat the SQE and attended a preparation course with a training provider. I passed SQE1 and SQE2 both on my first attempt.

Did you look at the assessment specifications for SQE1 and SQE2 as part of your preparation? If so, how did you use them?

I did look at the assessment specifications. I used them as a checklist to make sure I had covered the topic areas on the assessment. I found it was a helpful guide to focus my revision. I also used materials from my training provider to keep my revision on track and in line with the specification.

Did you use the sample questions to prepare?

I did use the sample questions on the SQE website. I used the SQE1 sample questions later on in my revision to test my knowledge against what was likely to come up in the exam. I sat these in exam conditions (i.e. timed conditions and no use of notes). I also used practice questions from my training provider. They had a large bank of practice questions, which I used after I had finished revising each topic and I didn’t do these in exam conditions, but more to help build my confidence and pick up on areas where my knowledge was lacking. They also had sample question papers or practice exams, which I used in exam conditions. A further set of materials I used were SQE specific practice assessment books for FLK1 and FLK2. I found these were the most helpful, and had questions which were very much like the exams themselves. I also used those in exam conditions. I found that attempting as many practice questions as possible, from a diverse range of sources, helped me to be well prepared for the SQE1 exams.

For SQE2, I used the sample questions on the SQE website and also attempted these in exam conditions. I then utilised the ‘Discussion of Assessment’ papers in the SQE2 sample questions to see where I did well and where I needed to improve. My training provider also provided a lot of mock papers for SQE2. Some of these I did with my notes, just to build confidence and get used to the style of assessment. The remainder I attempted in exam conditions. Again, I found doing as many of the sample questions and mock assessments as possible helped stand me in good stead for the SQE2 exams.

Did you look at the Pearson VUE exam platform online (e.g. SQE2 exam functionality on Pearson VUE)?

I did. I used it somewhat briefly just to understand the functionality etc. of the platform. I found this was helpful but I did not spend too much time on it.

Do you have any other tips for preparation?

From my experience, time is the big concern when sitting SQE. If you can make the most of your time, both before and during the exam, you will be in a good place. For example, I started my revision some five months before I sat SQE1. This gave me a good amount of time to prepare myself, and it also meant I had time to go through my revision notes several times and attempt a lot of practice questions. Also making sure you attempt practice questions in timed conditions will be a massive help. I was concerned I would run out of time in the SQE1 exams, but found that because I had honed my exam technique quite well, I had some time at the end of FLK1 and FLK2 to look back at some of the more challenging questions and consider if I had put the correct answer.

With SQE2, the preparation time is somewhat shorter, but the knowledge is already with you having sat and passed SQE1. It is more focusing that knowledge into a skills based framework, and applying what you know to the facts presented to you. Using the sample questions from the SQE website and mock questions from training providers were really helpful. I found trying them myself first with access to my notes helped to build my confidence. I then took away the notes and sat the mock papers in exam conditions, so I had experience of the time constraints in the actual exams for SQE2. The ‘Discussion of Assessment’ documents for the SQE2 sample questions are also very helpful when it comes to understanding what the assessor is looking for in terms of the standard, as well as how best to set out your answers.

Is there anything you would have done differently in terms of your preparation?

If I could have given myself even more time for both SQE1 and SQE2, then I would have done. For SQE1, I think if I had started a few months earlier, I would have been in an even better position than I was. I would have also invested in some additional resources (e.g. more manuals with practice questions) to help with my revision. For SQE2, I gave myself a bit of a break following SQE1 and didn’t really get fully into the swing of things again until after I received my SQE1 results. If I were to do it again, I would have continued to revise in this period, perhaps not as intensely, just to keep that knowledge ticking over.

How difficult did you find SQE1 and SQE2?

SQE1 as a whole was very challenging. The amount of knowledge required and the amount of questions to contend with make it one of the hardest exams I have sat. FLK1 and FLK2 were both difficult, but I would say FLK2 was the most difficult.

I found SQE2 to be the most challenging exam. I think having to pick yourself back up after the pressure of SQE1 and to get yourself going again takes a lot of effort, as well as to then focus your revision in a different way. The questions are also a lot harder, as well as what is asked of you - twelve written exam stations in three days, and then four oral exam stations in two days.

How to you manage this challenge?

The SQE is the most challenging and mentally draining set of exams I have ever done, there is no sugar coating that. I tried to not be too hard on myself throughout the whole process, and not ‘over-revise’ if you can call it that. I made sure to give myself plenty of breaks and I built in ‘down time’ to spend with my family and friends. I found keeping active was a good release, as well as finding something easy to dip in and out of on the TV, just to give your mind a bit of a rest.

How would you describe the assessment days for SQE1 and SQE2?

The assessment days are very tiring. FLK1 and FLK2 leave you feeling extremely drained. After FLK1, I gave myself the rest of that day and the following day away from revision, just to let my mind reset. It was helpful to have a week in between each exam, as it meant I could afford a little break. After FLK2, I booked a holiday which was definitely well deserved and needed.

For SQE2, the days are tiring, but not as much as for SQE1. I found that after each of the SQE2 written days, I went back to my hotel and did some light reading of my notes for the next day and then took the evening to rest. After the SQE2 oral days, I was very tired, but again did some light reading over my notes and then got myself ready for the next day.

Is there anything you would have done differently to be better prepared for the assessment experience now that you have been through it?

As mentioned above, I think I would have given myself even more time to prepare for both exams. I did not feel underprepared for either of the exams, in fact I know I put in a lot of hard work and effort to prepare myself. I just think that extra time might have helped calm some nerves and helped with my confidence.