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

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

Emily holds a PhD in neuroscience and previously worked in research labs across the UK and Germany. She pursued law as a new professional challenge, completing the PGDL before tackling the SQE. She passed SQE1 in January 2025 on her first attempt and recently completed SQE2.

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

Her approach combined multiple techniques: reviewing course notes and textbooks, creating large visual posters for retention, and using question banks including Law Drills. She completed 40 MCQs each morning to track progress. For SQE2, she incorporated daily practice papers and utilized short-form questions to develop different recall methods.

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

The breadth of SQE1 material felt overwhelming. She addressed this by developing a comprehensive revision schedule months beforehand that distributed every syllabus component across separate sessions, ensuring complete coverage.

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

Minimal adjustments needed. She advises against being intimidated early on, emphasizing that exam preparation requires sustained effort over months rather than rushed study.

Final advice

“However difficult you may be finding these exams, know that you are not alone and you absolutely can get through them.”

Trust the process; preparation demands consistent, paced effort over extended periods rather than overnight mastery.