The PasSQE blog
Strategy, key dates, data, funding, careers and the science of studying: everything around the exam, minus the noise. Free to read.
Latest · STUDY SCIENCE · 8 min read
Active recall vs rereading: why the testing effect works better than passive review for 360 MCQs, and how to build recall into everyday SQE1 study.
BARBRI vs BPP for the SQE compared on price, format and tech, so you can see which fits your budget and study style before you commit.
BPP vs University of Law for the SQE compared on price, LLM options and delivery, so you can see where the real differences sit before you commit.
Studying for the SQE with a full-time job is realistic on 10-15 hours a week over about six months, if you protect the time and plan the load. Here's the maths.
Cheapest SQE prep routes compared honestly: assessment-only self-study, low-cost question banks and short courses, with the real trade-offs spelled out.
Do you need a PGDL before the SQE? The SRA no longer requires one, but most law firms still expect it. Here's how to decide for your situation.
Does my job count as QWE? A practical eligibility guide covering the SRA's competency test, who can sign off, and which roles typically qualify.
When to book SQE1: why acting early protects your test centre choice and can beat the September 2026 fee rise, weighed against the risk of booking before you're ready.
How hard is SQE1? A look at the 2025 pass rates, the 360-question format, and the time pressure that trips up well-prepared candidates.
How hard is SQE2? Pass rates sit higher than SQE1, but the real difficulty is 16 stations across a working week and staying sharp on day 4.
How long to qualify as a solicitor via the SQE, from degree to admission. A realistic timeline covering SQE1, SQE2, QWE, and results waits.
SQE1 and SQE2 fees are rising in September 2026. Here's the full cost breakdown, the exact numbers, and why booking earlier can save you money.
SQE burnout builds slowly, not overnight. Here's how to spot the early warning signs and pace your study so you actually make it to exam day intact.
The SRA publishes a full statistical report after every sitting. Here's how to read the SQE statistical report properly, past the single headline number.
How to record your QWE properly: what to log, how mySRA works, competency mapping, and getting solicitor or COLP sign-off without a last-minute scramble.
How to review exam mistakes properly: a simple error-log method that turns wrong mock answers into a targeted revision list, backed by retrieval-practice research.
Is the SQE worth it? A clear-eyed look at cost, pass rates and career prospects, with real figures instead of hype, so you can decide with open eyes.
How SQE sponsorship actually works: which firms typically fund course and assessment fees through training contracts, and what to ask before you accept an offer.
QLTS vs SQE explained: the QLTS closed, the SQE is now the only requalification route for foreign-qualified lawyers, and old QLTS exemptions don't carry over automatically.
QWE before or after the SQE? There's no fixed order. Here's how to weigh earning while you study against focusing on exams first.
How to request SQE reasonable adjustments like extra time or rest breaks, what evidence you need, and when to apply before your sitting.
Solicitor apprenticeship vs the traditional SQE route compared: six-year timeline, employer-funded exams, no student debt, and where each path actually suits you.
Why spaced repetition and flashcards are one of the most efficient ways to cover the SRA's 300-500 hour SQE1 load, and how to actually run the system.
Getting QWE without a training contract is entirely possible under the SQE route. Here's how self-arranged paralegal and placement work adds up to qualification.
When SQE booking actually closes, why it's earlier than most candidates expect, and how to avoid losing your preferred test centre.
The most common SQE booking mistakes, from missed windows to ID name mismatches, and how to avoid paying twice for the same sitting.
A practical look at career change to law SQE routes: any degree qualifies, QWE fits around a job, and prep can be self-paced. Here's the realistic cost and time.
The SQE hidden costs that don't show up on the SRA fee page: travel, accommodation, resits, and prep materials beyond the course. Here's a realistic total.
Use this SQE cost calculator walkthrough to add assessment fees, prep, and a resit buffer, so you know your total SQE budget before you book a sitting.
SQE cost vs LPC cost compared properly: assessment fees, prep courses and conversion costs side by side, so you know what "cheaper" actually means.
How the Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme funds SQE assessment and prep costs, who's eligible, and how to put together a strong application.
SRA figures show a persistent SQE pass rate gap by ethnicity. Here's what the SRA's own reports say, without the spin, and what's still unexplained.
Do employers respect the SQE? A sober look at firm attitudes, sponsorship behaviour and what actually matters more than which route you took.
Practical ways to manage SQE exam anxiety, from the pre-exam tutorial to the 60-minute break between sessions, so nerves don't cost you marks.
A step-by-step walkthrough of SQE exam day at Pearson VUE: arrival, ID checks, security, session timings and the break, so nothing catches you off guard.
A plain guide to SQE exemptions: who can apply to skip FLK1, FLK2 or SQE2, why QLTS passes don't carry over automatically, and how to apply to the SRA.
SQE fees go up 3.7% in September 2026. Here's exactly what changes, who should book before the cutoff, and who genuinely can't.
How to write SQE flashcards that train real multiple-choice recall, not just recognition, with a spacing schedule that survives a long revision run.
A practical guide to the SQE for foreign lawyers: which exemptions actually apply, why QWE isn't required, and what's left to sit.
Can paralegal work count towards the SQE? Yes, if it's signed off correctly. Here's how paralegals turn day-to-day work into QWE and qualify.
The SRA's own four-years-on figures on SQE candidate numbers and pass rates, laid out plainly, since 2021.
SQE funding options compared: firm sponsorship, apprenticeships, loans, the Diversity Access Scheme and self-funding. A route map if you're paying your own way.
SQE acronyms explained in plain English: FLK, QWE, SRA, COLP, Pearson VUE and more. A quick glossary to get your bearings before you start.
Four routes to qualifying as a solicitor via the SQE, from self-funded graduate to apprenticeship, compared on cost, timeline and who each one suits.
Yes, always. SQE1 has no negative marking, so a guess beats a blank every time. Here is the SQE guessing strategy that actually improves your odds.
The SQE ID rules explained: which two forms of photo ID you need, why your name must match your booking exactly, and what happens at check-in if something's off.
Where you can sit SQE1 and SQE2 outside the UK, how international Pearson VUE booking works, and what foreign-qualified candidates need to plan for.
SQE1 January or July? Compare 2025 pass rates, prep-time trade-offs and QWE timing to pick the sitting that actually suits you.
A grounded, evidence-based SQE final week revision plan: why tapering beats cramming, what to review, and the sleep and logistics prep that actually help.
SQE motivation fades in predictable places. Here's how to design habits, set milestones and get through the dips over a 6-month study run.
SQE mock exams only work if you time them, space them out, and review the mistakes properly. Here's a strategy that turns mocks into a diagnostic tool.
How to run an SQE mock exam under real exam conditions at home: correct timing, no notes, full session length, so exam day feels familiar.
A calm, practical SQE exam morning routine covering sleep, food, arrival timing and the ID check-in, so logistics never cost you a single mark.
Have a degree from outside the UK? Here's how SQE degree-equivalence actually works, what the SRA checks, and whether a conversion course helps.
SQE note taking that actually helps you recall rules under pressure: dual coding, condensing, and why transcribing slides is close to wasted time.
The SQE pass mark isn't a fixed percentage. Here's how the SRA sets it each sitting, what a scaled score of 300 actually means, and why it moves.
The SQE pass rate isn't one fixed number. Here's what the 2025 SQE1 and SQE2 figures actually show, why they swing between sittings, and how to read the next report.
A neutral comparison of SQE prep course providers and price bands, so you can match budget and format to what you actually need before you pay.
What SQE study materials you actually need, question bank, notes, mocks, a planner, versus what's a nice-to-have you can skip or add later.
The SQE timeline for non-law graduates, and how much longer it really takes once you factor in a conversion course and extra prep hours.
SQE1 is 360 MCQs, so volume practice matters. Here's how a good sqe question bank fits your study plan, and why review beats raw question count.
SQE resit rules explained: three attempts per part, a six-year window from your first sitting, and what happens if you run out of chances.
What actually happens on SQE results day: when it lands, where you'll see it, and what to do next whether you pass or need to resit.
SQE1 results land five to six weeks after your sitting. SQE2 takes fourteen to eighteen weeks. Here's the timeline and how to plan around it.
The SRA has launched a technical review of the SQE after the pass-rate gap between sittings. Here's what's actually in scope, and what isn't yet.
A map of SQE scholarships and bursaries for 2026: provider awards, the Diversity Access Scheme and charity grants, plus how to verify each one before you apply.
A resitting SQE1 strategy built on diagnosis, not repetition: how to read your result, fix the real gaps, and avoid the traps that cause a second fail.
The single best answer technique for SQE1 MCQs explained: how to read the stem, eliminate distractors, and stop losing marks to close-call options.
The honest answer on SQE study groups: when studying for the SQE with others speeds up recall, when it wastes an evening, and how to structure one properly.
How many hours to study for SQE1? A commonly cited range is 300 to 500 hours. Here is what that looks like across 3-, 6- and 12-month plans.
Three ready-to-adapt SQE study plan templates for 3, 6 and 12 months, with the weekly-hours maths worked out so you can start today.
Can you claim SQE tax relief on course fees and exam costs? How HMRC treats training expenses for employees and the self-employed, in plain English.
A pacing strategy for SQE1's 90 questions in 2h33m: roughly 1m40s a question, when to flag and move on, and how to avoid the time crunch.
A step-by-step guide to your SQE study timeline, working backwards from your sitting date through the booking deadline, prep window and QWE.
SQE1 runs two full days of MCQs and SQE2 spreads across a week of stations. Here's how to train the stamina both exams actually demand.
Solicitor vs barrister compared at route, cost and career level: SQE vs the Bar course, training structures, and how to decide which path fits you.
SQE vs CILEX compared on cost, time and flexibility. Both can lead to qualifying as a solicitor. Here's how the two routes actually differ.
SQE vs LPC in plain terms: why the SQE is now the default route to qualifying as a solicitor, and who (if anyone) can still rely on the LPC.
Solicitor apprenticeship vs SQE cost compared in pounds: £0 and a salary over six years, versus £5,092 in fees plus prep if you self-fund. Full numbers here.
What to bring to your SQE exam, what Pearson VUE provides for you, and what stays in the locker. A short, practical exam-day checklist.
A ready-to-use Mon-Sun SQE study schedule for working candidates: 12-15 hours a week over six months, mapped to real evenings and weekends.
Yes, you can sit the SQE without a law degree. Here's what the SRA actually requires, and why most firms still expect a conversion course anyway.
A 3 month SQE1 study plan can work, but only at 25 to 40 hours a week. Here is who it suits, who it doesn't, and the weekly maths behind it.
A week-by-week 6-month SQE1 study plan built for working candidates: roughly 12-15 hours a week, 300-500 hours total, no burnout required.
FLK1 vs FLK2 explained structurally: what each SQE1 paper groups together, how the 180 MCQs in each are timed and marked, and how the two exam days are scheduled and spaced.
The SQE1 format explained plainly: FLK1 and FLK2, 180 MCQs each, two exam days, roughly 1m40s per question, and no negative marking.
SQE1's January 2025 pass rate was 56% overall, 60% first-time. Here's what those figures actually mean, and how to read any SQE1 results release properly.
The July 2025 SQE1 pass rate hit 41% overall, the lowest sitting on record at the time. Here's the cohort data, the first-time split, and what commentators flagged.
How to prepare for SQE2 once SQE1 is behind you, and why the flashcards-and-MCQ habits that got you through FLK1 and FLK2 won't carry you through the stations.
SQE1 vs SQE2 compared head to head: format, skills tested, 2025 pass rates, and why the "which is harder" question has a more complicated answer than it looks.
How does SQE2 work? A plain guide to the 16 skills stations, the ~5 half-days of sitting, and how marking actually works.
SQE2's first-time pass rate has sat in a 69 to 84% band since launch. Here's the sitting-by-sitting trend and why it stays above SQE1.
SQE2 runs in January, April, July and October, but which sitting you can book depends on your SQE1 results date. Here's how to work out the right window.
Can you use a student loan for the SQE? Postgraduate loans can help if your prep is packaged inside a master's like an LLM, but not for assessment fees alone.
Training contract vs QWE compared side by side: why the SQE route dropped the fixed two-year contract for flexible qualifying work experience.
Failed SQE1? Here's exactly what happens next: when you can rebook, what a resit costs, and how to diagnose what actually went wrong.
Failed SQE2? Here's what actually happens next: resit rules, how long results take, and how to plan your next sitting without losing momentum.
What is qualifying work experience? A plain-English guide to the SQE's QWE rule: two years, up to four organisations, and how sign-off actually works.
SQE dates 2027 in full: SQE1 January and July, SQE2's four windows including the earlier April sitting, booking deadlines and results days.
SQE test centres explained: how Pearson VUE locations work for SQE1 and SQE2, why SQE2's oral venues are tighter, and when to book for your nearest centre.
Foundations, consolidation, mocks, final review: the whole run, paced.
Sittings, booking windows and results days on one timeline.
The forgetting curve, spacing and why little-and-often wins.
What the SRA's numbers actually tell you, and what they don't.
Why practice under exam conditions is the highest-value hour you'll spend.
Qualifying work experience, timing, and the common myths.
The admin no one warns you about, in the right order.
Fees, prep, resits and the funding routes worth knowing.
Mnemonics, dual coding and why your notes should look like something.
A sustainable weekly rhythm that survives a full-time job.