How to prepare for SQE1 and SQE2
To prepare for the SQE, treat the two stages differently. For SQE1 build knowledge, then practise single best answer questions under time. For SQE2 practise doing the task out loud or on paper, then compare with the criteria. This page gives a plan, free resources and the facts for choosing a course.
Try a free SQE2 client interview
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Start with the specification
The SRA publishes the assessment specification for each stage. It tells you what is tested. For SQE1, FLK1 covers business law and practice, dispute resolution, contract, tort, the legal system and legal services. FLK2 covers property practice, wills and estates, solicitors accounts, land law, trusts, criminal liability and criminal practice. Ethics and professional conduct run through both papers.
Print the subject list and mark each subject as strong, medium or weak. Do this honestly before choosing how to spend your time. Start at FLK1 and FLK2.
A 24-week SQE1 plan (example)
This is an example only. Adjust it to your hours.
- Weeks 1 to 10, learn by subject. Read, make short notes, and do 20 to 30 questions per subject straight after studying it.
- Weeks 11 to 18, mixed practice. Do mixed sets so you practise spotting the topic from the stem.
- Weeks 19 to 22, timed sessions. Sit a full session at the real length. From January 2027 each session is 2 hours 33 minutes.
- Weeks 23 to 24, repair. Revisit only the topics in your error log.
Ask a single question about every wrong answer: was it knowledge, reading, or a trap in the options? Fix the cause, not the item.
How to answer a single best answer question
All five options may be partly right. Your job is to choose the single best answer.
- Read the last line first, so you know what is asked.
- Read the facts and mark who is who, and what the client wants.
- Predict the answer before reading the options.
- Remove options that are wrong in law, then compare the rest against the facts.
- Check for ethics: if a solicitor's duty is involved, the SRA Principles and Code usually decide it.
Worked example: a stem says a seller told a buyer a false fact before the contract, and the buyer entered the contract because of it. Before you look at the options, you predict "misrepresentation, so rescission or damages". Now the options are easier to test, because you are comparing them with your prediction, not letting them lead you.
An SQE2 plan: practise the task, not just the law
SQE2 marks skills and application of law equally. So read the law for the five practice contexts and also practise the six skills. The skills are client interview with attendance note, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting.
- Interview. Practise live, with another person playing the client. Aim for open questions first, then focused ones, then a clear explanation. See the client interview guide and the attendance note guide.
- Advocacy. Speak your submission aloud against a clock, and practise answering interruptions. See the advocacy guide.
- Written tasks. Write to the typical time limits, then compare your answer with the criteria: facts, structure, clear language, law and ethics. See legal research, legal writing, legal drafting and case and matter analysis.
Free resources first
The SRA publishes sample questions for the SQE on its candidate site. Use them early to see the format. They are the right place to start if you are looking for "sample questions" or "past papers". Our own practice is original; we do not offer real exam questions and you should avoid anyone who says they have them. See SQE1 practice questions and SQE2 mock practice for ours.
Choosing preparation: public prices
These are public prices we saw on 9 November 2026. They may change. We list them as facts so you can compare. They do not say how good a course is.
| Provider | What | Price seen |
|---|---|---|
| BARBRI | SQE1 mocks package (720 questions) | £999 |
| BARBRI | Full course | About £2,999 |
| QLTS School | Courses | About £1,990 |
| FQPS | Courses with human tutors | Around £189 a month |
| InHouseW | SQE2 pack (static) | £99 |
| PrepTackle | Static material | £20 |
| SQE1 Prep | Lifetime access | £69.99 |
| Devil's Advocate | Subscription | About £28 a month |
Ask four questions of any option: does it match the current specification (changes apply from 1 September 2026)? Is it live and interactive for SQE2 skills, or static text? Does it show you why an answer is wrong? What is the full cost for the time you will need? Our own pricing is on the pricing page.
Checklist
- Rate each subject strong, medium or weak.
- Choose your window: SQE dates.
- Budget the fees: SQE fees.
- Do SRA sample questions early.
- Keep an error log and review it weekly.
- Do timed full sessions before SQE1.
- Practise SQE2 interviews and advocacy out loud.
- Check your plan against the pass rates and add buffer.
Questions
How long does it take to prepare for the SQE?
It depends on your background and the hours you can study each week. Plan backwards from your chosen window. The 24-week plan above is an example, not a rule.
How do I prepare for SQE2?
Practise the six skills under time, out loud for the oral tasks, and compare your work with the published criteria. Read the law for the five practice contexts too.
Where can I find SQE sample questions?
The SRA publishes sample questions on sqe.sra.org.uk. Use them to learn the format. We do not offer real or leaked exam questions.
Can I prepare for the SQE by myself?
Yes, many candidates do. Self-study works if you use a specification, timed practice and an error log.
How much does SQE preparation cost?
From free SRA sample questions to about £2,999 for a full course. Public prices seen on 9 November 2026 are in the table above.
Related
- SQE1: format, subjects and how to prepare
- SQE2: what it tests and how to prepare
- SQE1 mock: how to time, pace and review it
- SQE2 mock: how to run one that helps
- SQE pass rates: SQE1 and SQE2
Sources: SRA: SQE candidate site; SRA: SQE2 assessment presentation; SRA: SQE1 assessment specification (from 1 September 2026); Law Society: SQE1 and SQE2 assessments. Checked 10 November 2026.