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?

Zayn is a career changer who spent six years in human rights and public policy before transitioning to law. After completing a PGDL, he pursued the SQE1 route, which he successfully passed in January 2025 on his first attempt, achieving 1st quintile results.

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

His strategy involved completing BPP University’s PGDL and SQE1 prep courses. During the final two months, he identified weak areas through MCQs, then structured his revision accordingly. Critically, he completed “at least 50 MCQs a day” using multiple providers, emphasizing that “this meticulous approach…was the biggest contributor.”

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

Maintaining momentum during intense preparation proved challenging, especially on days when answers wouldn’t stick. He overcame this by remembering his broader goals and leaning on family support. He advocates treating preparation as “a marathon not a sprint,” incorporating scheduled micro-breaks to prevent burnout.

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

He would spend less time on anxiety-inducing forums discussing exam difficulty. Additionally, he’d purchase supplementary textbooks from various providers earlier in the process to cover all potential content bases.

Final advice

Avoid forum-driven anxiety amplification. Maintain “tunnel vision” approaching exam day. While challenging, the SQE is achievable through willpower and dedication, regardless of pass rate narratives.

Success requires meticulous MCQ-based study across multiple providers, consistent effort over extended periods, and psychological resilience against discouraging external narratives.