Exam preparation and online reasonable adjustments resources

Mark, Solicitor

Tell us about your background when you took the SQE and why you took the SQE.

I took the SQE as I very much enjoy law and wanted to qualify to practice. I am now a solicitor working in a City firm.

Is there any advice you would give new or current students signed up to complete their SQE on what to expect or prepare in advance?

I would give two key pieces of advice to new and current students: (1) split up the work into small, manageable chunks and (2) complete a number of practice tests. I worked alongside my studies and chose a 40-week course to prepare for SQE1. This seemed like an unnecessarily long period initially, but proved to be helpful because it allowed me to miss a day of study for work reasons or to take time off and recharge.

Equally, this meant that the course material was split up effectively to ensure that I did not have to revise a significant amount of information in a short space of time. Combined with regular practice tests, the course allowed me to learn and revise the materials effectively whilst learning the skills for multiple choice tests. It is important not to underestimate how key multiple choice test skills are for SQE1. This initial course meant that I managed to retain most of the key subject knowledge from SQE1 for SQE2. Here again, I advise taking a course that allows students to get feedback on their performance.

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

I would have liked to have been more relaxed about the preparation. Given that I was in the first cohort for both exams (SQE1 and SQE2), it was impossible to know how difficult the exam would be or how good the course would be. This involved a significant element of trust in the course provider as well as my own capabilities. I feel with some success stories, I would have been more relaxed about it.

Forming study groups can help with this as well. Preparing my own study materials to break down the material even further would have been helpful as well. I did not do this and ended up having to go through more material than was necessary for my last few weeks of revision.

How did you find the booking process for your SQE1 and SQE2 exams?

The booking process was straightforward although mine involved calling in to book due to my reasonable adjustments. I tried to login to the system on the booking days for SQE1 and SQE2 and ended up in a queue, I now understand is not the booking process for candidates that need a reasonable adjustments.

The Equality and Quality team will help make the booking for reasonable adjustments candidates. I felt that more clarity could have been provided on how to ensure that students are able to secure a place for their preferred sitting. The explanation of the booking process for candidates that need a reasonable adjustment is now clearer, and there is a helpful flow chart on the SQE website.

Studying for the exam while working is already quite stressful without the added stress of potentially missing out on my choice of sitting which the process hopefully removes. I know that the booking process generally has since changed, with the introduction of a seat reservation form.

In regards to the Reasonable Adjustment process, how did you find the process and is there any advice you would provide to new and current students/candidates that may be applying for reasonable adjustments?

The reasonable adjustment process was well run, especially for SQE2. I found the online resources to be particularly helpful. These allowed me to get the necessary evidence for my request in advance. I was able to easily submit the request online. For SQE2, I was particularly impressed by the support from the Equality and Quality team who contacted me in advance of the SQE1 results to ask whether I wanted to sit SQE2 at the next opportunity, which days I preferred, and where I wanted to sit the exams.

I would advise candidates to check the resources online and prepare the necessary evidence for your reasonable adjustment application. Although you can look at the Kaplan and Pearson websites to identify the best centre for you in advance of the booking, the Equality and Quality team will locate the test centre that can meet your reasonable adjustment for you. This makes for a more comfortable and smoother process. Do not hesitate to ask the Equality and Quality team questions if you are unsure. They are very approachable and happy to help.