SQE1 Essential Tips
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1. Don’t make unnecessary assumptions.
You will often be tempted to make unnecessary assumptions. Don’t fall into this trap. You should select the answer based on the information given in the question. Making unnecessary assumptions out of context will almost always result in selecting a wrong answer.
2. Make necessary assumptions.
You should make necessary assumptions as some obvious information may not be given. For example, unless specified otherwise, you should always assume that the law of England and Wales will apply to the situation in the question because the SQE is the centralised assessment for anyone who wishes to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Another example is that if the person in the question is a man or a woman, you should assume that he or she is an adult. If the person in the question is a boy or girl, you should assume that he or she is a minor under 18.
3. It is good to know the legal history but focus on the current law
There is no requirement for you to be familiar with the evolution of the law. For example, you are not expected to know about the transition from objective to subjective recklessness in criminal law. SQE1 focuses solely on testing knowledge of the current law as it stands, up to four months prior to the date of the first assessment in an assessment window. When you answer SQE1 questions, you should focus on the current state of the law rather than its historical context. However, learning about legal history is beneficial because it helps you retain information and enhances your understanding of legal concepts.
4. It is good to be aware of academic opinions or proposed reforms though they are not tested
You are not required to consider academic opinions or critical evaluations of the law, nor do you need to know any proposed legal reforms. The assessment tests practical legal knowledge and application as it currently stands, without covering the theoretical or evaluative aspects of law, unlike what is required in law school. However, you are recommended to explore those aspects as part of active learning. Understanding the academic opinions or critical evaluations and proposed legal reforms will help you better retain information and apply legal concepts in real-life scenarios.
5. Remember some key information
Although the SRA claims that you will ‘normally’ be given the figures, rates, and percentages for calculation, you should memorise some obvious and factual information such as tax rates, thresholds, reliefs and exemptions. There are some sample questions offered by the SRA asking you to calculate how much tax is payable without giving you the tax rates because these are long-standing figures that rarely change. In this case, you should assume that the current tax rates will apply.
6. Be aware of differences between England and Welsh laws
You should be aware that the laws that apply in England may be different from the laws that apply in Wales. For example, SDLT is the stamp duty land tax in England and Northern Ireland, while LTT is the land transaction tax in Wales. In Wales, the Welsh language has official status and can be used in proceedings in Wales. These factors have consequences for how the law operates in Wales.
7. Developing areas of law are not tested
Unlike your law school which often asks you to discuss controversial topics, issues subject to ongoing debate will not be examined. For example, whether actual knowledge or constructive knowledge is necessary to establish a knowing receipt, whether promissory estoppel requires detrimental reliance, and whether a remedial constructive trusts exists in English law are issues without definitive answers.
8. Memorise some legal terms
You should remember certain case names, statutory provisions, regulatory authorities, and what they mean because they can be the terms directly used in the questions. These terms are normally used to describe a legal principle or an area of law or a rule or procedural step. If you don’t remember them, you will not be able to select the correct answers. Examples include Rylands v Fletcher, Saunders v Vautier, Section 25 notice, Section 8 notice, Section 21 notice, Part 36 offer, Part 20 claim, Part 8 claim, and Jervis v Harris clause.
9. Watch out for misleading options
There are several possible answers to each question, but only one is the best option. The other answers are carefully designed to mislead you. However, if you are careful enough, you should easily identify one or two options that are clearly incorrect. Very often, you will be able to narrow it down to two or three options that seem like the best answers, with one of these options most likely being the correct answer.
10. You don't need a perfect score
Don’t aim to answer all the questions correctly. This is impossible and unrealistic even for the brightest candidates. In fact, you don’t need to answer all the questions correctly to pass. Previous statistics show that you need to answer 99–103 questions correctly out of 180 questions to pass the FLK1 or FLK2. This means you only need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly to pass the assessment. This also means it is perfectly ok to let go of some questions.
11. Time management is crucial
You have less than 2 minutes to answer a question. You only have on average 1 minute and 42 seconds to answer a question, so don’t spend too much time on any single question. For some questions, the situations are more complex and will require you to spend more time. If you spend more time on a question, you need to work faster on another question to make up for the lost time. Alternatively, you can simply make your best guess and move on because you just need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly to pass.
12. Study at least 90% of the syllabus
Although you only need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly, this does not mean that you can study only 55%–57% of the SQE1 syllabus. The 360 questions you are going to answer cover the entire or almost the entire SQE1 syllabus. Therefore, you are advised to study the whole syllabus, but if this is not possible or you think you are hopeless in some topics, you should make sure that you have covered at least 90% of the syllabus.
13. Some questions are easy but some are difficult
There are four types of questions in terms of difficulty. Out of the 180 questions in each FLK, approximately 25% are straightforward factual questions in familiar scenarios, such as misrepresentation, statutory interpretation, and court hierarchy. Another 25% involve less familiar fact scenarios requiring the application of relevant laws. A further 25% are advanced questions where 2-3 options state correct legal principles, but only one correctly applies to the specific facts. The remaining 25% cover uncommon or specialised topics that most candidates would find challenging, such as professional indemnity insurance, commercial rent arrears recovery, and the Code for Leasing Business Premises.
14. Scores impact employability
Aim to answer as many questions correctly as possible because your marks will be expressed as a scaled score out of 500. Individual marks will also be given for each practice area. Additionally, you will be assigned to one of five quintiles to indicate how your performance compares with that of other candidates in the assessment. This allows potential employers to compare your ability with other job applicants, and will therefore affect your employability.
15. Review commonly tested areas thoroughly
Focus extra attention on topics that are frequently tested in the SQE. While the exam covers a wide range of subjects, certain areas tend to appear more often, such as property practice, criminal practice, and dispute resolution. Mastering these high-yield areas will give you an advantage and increase your chances of scoring well.
You will often be tempted to make unnecessary assumptions. Don’t fall into this trap. You should select the answer based on the information given in the question. Making unnecessary assumptions out of context will almost always result in selecting a wrong answer.
2. Make necessary assumptions.
You should make necessary assumptions as some obvious information may not be given. For example, unless specified otherwise, you should always assume that the law of England and Wales will apply to the situation in the question because the SQE is the centralised assessment for anyone who wishes to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Another example is that if the person in the question is a man or a woman, you should assume that he or she is an adult. If the person in the question is a boy or girl, you should assume that he or she is a minor under 18.
3. It is good to know the legal history but focus on the current law
There is no requirement for you to be familiar with the evolution of the law. For example, you are not expected to know about the transition from objective to subjective recklessness in criminal law. SQE1 focuses solely on testing knowledge of the current law as it stands, up to four months prior to the date of the first assessment in an assessment window. When you answer SQE1 questions, you should focus on the current state of the law rather than its historical context. However, learning about legal history is beneficial because it helps you retain information and enhances your understanding of legal concepts.
4. It is good to be aware of academic opinions or proposed reforms though they are not tested
You are not required to consider academic opinions or critical evaluations of the law, nor do you need to know any proposed legal reforms. The assessment tests practical legal knowledge and application as it currently stands, without covering the theoretical or evaluative aspects of law, unlike what is required in law school. However, you are recommended to explore those aspects as part of active learning. Understanding the academic opinions or critical evaluations and proposed legal reforms will help you better retain information and apply legal concepts in real-life scenarios.
5. Remember some key information
Although the SRA claims that you will ‘normally’ be given the figures, rates, and percentages for calculation, you should memorise some obvious and factual information such as tax rates, thresholds, reliefs and exemptions. There are some sample questions offered by the SRA asking you to calculate how much tax is payable without giving you the tax rates because these are long-standing figures that rarely change. In this case, you should assume that the current tax rates will apply.
6. Be aware of differences between England and Welsh laws
You should be aware that the laws that apply in England may be different from the laws that apply in Wales. For example, SDLT is the stamp duty land tax in England and Northern Ireland, while LTT is the land transaction tax in Wales. In Wales, the Welsh language has official status and can be used in proceedings in Wales. These factors have consequences for how the law operates in Wales.
7. Developing areas of law are not tested
Unlike your law school which often asks you to discuss controversial topics, issues subject to ongoing debate will not be examined. For example, whether actual knowledge or constructive knowledge is necessary to establish a knowing receipt, whether promissory estoppel requires detrimental reliance, and whether a remedial constructive trusts exists in English law are issues without definitive answers.
8. Memorise some legal terms
You should remember certain case names, statutory provisions, regulatory authorities, and what they mean because they can be the terms directly used in the questions. These terms are normally used to describe a legal principle or an area of law or a rule or procedural step. If you don’t remember them, you will not be able to select the correct answers. Examples include Rylands v Fletcher, Saunders v Vautier, Section 25 notice, Section 8 notice, Section 21 notice, Part 36 offer, Part 20 claim, Part 8 claim, and Jervis v Harris clause.
9. Watch out for misleading options
There are several possible answers to each question, but only one is the best option. The other answers are carefully designed to mislead you. However, if you are careful enough, you should easily identify one or two options that are clearly incorrect. Very often, you will be able to narrow it down to two or three options that seem like the best answers, with one of these options most likely being the correct answer.
10. You don't need a perfect score
Don’t aim to answer all the questions correctly. This is impossible and unrealistic even for the brightest candidates. In fact, you don’t need to answer all the questions correctly to pass. Previous statistics show that you need to answer 99–103 questions correctly out of 180 questions to pass the FLK1 or FLK2. This means you only need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly to pass the assessment. This also means it is perfectly ok to let go of some questions.
11. Time management is crucial
You have less than 2 minutes to answer a question. You only have on average 1 minute and 42 seconds to answer a question, so don’t spend too much time on any single question. For some questions, the situations are more complex and will require you to spend more time. If you spend more time on a question, you need to work faster on another question to make up for the lost time. Alternatively, you can simply make your best guess and move on because you just need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly to pass.
12. Study at least 90% of the syllabus
Although you only need to answer 55%–57% of the questions correctly, this does not mean that you can study only 55%–57% of the SQE1 syllabus. The 360 questions you are going to answer cover the entire or almost the entire SQE1 syllabus. Therefore, you are advised to study the whole syllabus, but if this is not possible or you think you are hopeless in some topics, you should make sure that you have covered at least 90% of the syllabus.
13. Some questions are easy but some are difficult
There are four types of questions in terms of difficulty. Out of the 180 questions in each FLK, approximately 25% are straightforward factual questions in familiar scenarios, such as misrepresentation, statutory interpretation, and court hierarchy. Another 25% involve less familiar fact scenarios requiring the application of relevant laws. A further 25% are advanced questions where 2-3 options state correct legal principles, but only one correctly applies to the specific facts. The remaining 25% cover uncommon or specialised topics that most candidates would find challenging, such as professional indemnity insurance, commercial rent arrears recovery, and the Code for Leasing Business Premises.
14. Scores impact employability
Aim to answer as many questions correctly as possible because your marks will be expressed as a scaled score out of 500. Individual marks will also be given for each practice area. Additionally, you will be assigned to one of five quintiles to indicate how your performance compares with that of other candidates in the assessment. This allows potential employers to compare your ability with other job applicants, and will therefore affect your employability.
15. Review commonly tested areas thoroughly
Focus extra attention on topics that are frequently tested in the SQE. While the exam covers a wide range of subjects, certain areas tend to appear more often, such as property practice, criminal practice, and dispute resolution. Mastering these high-yield areas will give you an advantage and increase your chances of scoring well.
