Don’t miss this #1 piece of advice for anyone taking the SQE

“The answer is on the paper.” This simple reminder helped Annabel manage exam anxiety and stay focused during challenging moments.

What’s your background, and why did you decide to do the SQE?

History degree from University of Kent, law conversion at King’s College London. Chose SQE after a 2-week legal placement sparked interest in solicitor work. Was working as a paralegal at a national law firm when sitting the exam to progress her training contract.

How did you prepare, and what made the biggest difference in your success?

Part-time prep course while working full-time - roughly 1 hour evening study plus 5 weekend hours weekly. Critical success factor: maintained one completely free day weekly for recovery. Strong peer support network studying together made the isolated process manageable. Flexible app-based materials (like Law Drills) enabled studying during commutes.

What was the hardest part, and how did you push through it?

Maintaining motivation throughout, particularly early on. Solution: establishing and consistently protecting a study routine, even when rejecting social plans. She notes this discipline eventually became easier.

If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?

“I would do more mocks.” She completed only 2-3 full 180-question exams before the real test, discovering stamina was the biggest struggle. Recommends starting full-length mocks 4+ months prior rather than just one month before.

Final advice

During exam moments of doubt, remember the answer exists within the material. This reframing reduced overwhelm substantially.