Updated January 2026
Students' experiences of the College's SQE prep courses: what do they really think?
There’s a lot of noise out there about the SQE isn’t there. Often it isn’t good and can add to your concerns about taking the SQE. Today, reading ‘reviews’ has become a huge part of the everyday shopping experience. After all, when was the last time you bought even a small product from Amazon without double-checking the ratings from previous purchasers? So, when it comes to a financial and time investment as significant as solicitor qualification, it’s more important than ever to look at real student experiences to decide if the SQE and its prep course are right for you.
That’s why, here at The College of Legal Practice, we have pulled together for you honest reviews from a selection of our students all about the College’s SQE prep courses, their experiences with the College, and how prepared they felt for their all-important assessments. Ready for some home truths? Let’s dive in.
How important is the flexibility of the prep course?
Our students said that the flexibility of the College’s remote, online, part-time courses enables you to balance study with your personal commitments. There are no obligations or commutes—for much of the SQE1 course, for instance, you can come back home after a long day at work, get into your pyjamas, open up your book or portal, and learn at your own pace.
“One of the main things I considered when I looked to start the SQE course was its flexibility, as this is very important when you’re working full-time. Fortunately, The College of Legal Practice allows you to fit your studies around your schedule. Most of the work can be completed on evenings and weekends, but it depends on whatever works best for you. The College also provides you with a structure and a calendar, so you remain on track.” Ben, LLM graduate and passed SQE1 & 2
"The flexibility offered by the College, was something that I found invaluable. It was really important that the course outline wasn’t excessively rigid due to my work commitments, and the College really accommodated that.” Courtney Wilbor, Solicitor, Acuity Law, passed SQE1 & 2
However, it’s important to remember that while students enjoy a lot of freedom on the College’s prep courses, they still need to remain organised and committed. The courses are demanding learning experiences designed to prepare you for both the intensity of the assessments and life as a solicitor. You have to stay up to date with the course and not fall behind. The breadth of material that students need to learn means that the SQE courses are not programmes that you can cram—you need to work systematically from the beginning.
“The SQE1 is a tough exam but the College's course built me up well to be able to pass it. By having a day one focus on MCQ questions plus lots of additional resources I felt I was progressing week by week with the College ” Matt Cleary, LLM graduate and passed SQE1 & 2
How did you find the live, supervision support?
Our students told us that, unlike many other learning material providers they considered, The College of Legal Practice offers personal supervisor support at a very low cost. This way, you enjoy individual guidance and help from legal experts, tailored to how you prefer to learn, work, and study. Importantly they will help advise you along the way on whether you are ready to take the SQE. Plus, the supervisors are there to support you as a person and help you navigate any work or family commitments, too.
“I had regular conversations with my personal tutor which were always helpful. Those check-ins, keeping you on top of things, giving feedback, it’s all great external validation that you’re on the right track and as ready for the exam as you should be.” Anthony Fairclough, Solicitor, Capsticks, passed SQE1 & 2
“As someone who was this close to not doing a prep course, the College made such a massive difference because I would have gone down a completely different route. I am really, really grateful for the pastoral support!” Ruth Ekong, Solicitor, LPC graduate and passed SQE2
Alongside sessions with your supervisor, students on our SQE prep courses attend live seminars and information sessions. Information sessions are structured a bit like virtual university seminars, and help you with exam technique and how to orientate yourself for the week of study ahead. They also act as yard sticks, where students can see their peers’ progress—an extra incentive to work hard in your own time. Within practice area seminars you can ask for advice on areas of law or particular skills that you are finding hard, and how to navigate any tricky course content.
“The information sessions help set apart the College. Even though it’s online, you feel like you’re in a classroom with other students, and you can benchmark your progress against theirs and see where you can improve. The information sessions begin with a hello, and a summary of the week ahead and current the assessment stage. You’re reminded of your weekly SQE objectives, and you can see how everyone in the class has recently performed.” Lucas, student at The College of Legal Practice
What learning materials are provided, and did you find them useful?
The College’s online portal serves a variety of learning styles, with videos, podcasts, materials like flashcards, drag-and-drop activities, live seminars, discussion boards, and more. This means you have the freedom to study and revise in the ways in which you prefer—from visual to auditory to reading and writing—helping to boost your individual chances of exam success.
“Having access to physical materials, PDFs, videos, transcripts, and more really helped me. I'm neurodivergent and I learn a lot auditorily rather than by reading, so I recorded the audio of all the videos for each of the modules back-to-back, and then I would listen to them on repeat. So, you can take the materials and find ways to make them work for you.” Erin, LLM graduate, passed SQE1 & 2
However, perhaps the most important learning material is the range of practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) available for SQE1 and for revision in SQE2. This is due to the highly complex and unfamiliar nature of the SQE assessments.
“For the SQE1 assessment in particular, the structure of the exam questions was different to anything else I’d previously worked on. The questions are multiple-choice but marked by the best answer. So, every possible answer can theoretically be right, and you have to try and pick the best answer for each scenario. This is the trickiest part. It’s not just about learning content and regurgitating it in the exam, but also applying it. I felt very prepared for this thanks to the College’s range of practice MCQs.” Ben, LLM graduate and passed SQE1 & 2
The College of Legal Practice has crafted thousands of practice MCQs for its students, which accurately reflect up-to-date SQE1 exam conditions and contents. When it comes to pre-exam revision, this is the activity that our supervisors recommend prioritising, rather than heavy reading. After all, it so closely mimics the real exam that not only does it bolster your knowledge, but your confidence and belief, too.
How did the learning materials impact your success in the SQE assessments?
The College’s learning materials are laser-focused on helping students to pass the exam. The prep course puts lessons and learnings in a real-life context and makes sure that students are aligned with what the SRA is looking for when they test incoming qualified solicitors which, ultimately, is what the SQE is all about.
“By the time I reached the assessments I felt really calm, like I’d practised so many MCQs that whatever the exam would throw at us, I’d know what to do. I felt prepared and ready.” Emma, passed SQE1 & 2
Overall, the College provides you with everything you should need to learn, study, and pass. As the course goes on, you practice more and more assessments, and you grow more comfortable with the work, achieving your ultimate goal feels tangibly closer.
“It is official! I am over the moon to be admitted as a solicitor after qualifying under the SQE route. I am very grateful for all the support I received at the College of Legal Practice and for their brilliant preparation for both SQE1 and SQE2.” Dan Abel, LLM graduate, passed SQE1 & 2
Starting your own SQE journey
Studying on a preparation course is not mandatory before taking the SQE exams. But it’s important to remember that even with a law degree, the SQE is an extremely difficult assessment, requiring both new, comprehensive legal knowledge and the ability to identify and apply it to real-life scenarios.
Our students all agree that the completion of SQE prep courses is a fundamental step on the journey towards becoming a solicitor. So, if qualification is your aim, why not join our students in accessing expert support tailored to helping you achieve a career in law? To explore The College of Legal Practice’s range of part-time and full-time prep courses, and discover the course that’s perfect for you, visit our SQE hub today.
Overall, the College provides you with everything you should need to learn, study, and pass. As the course goes on, you practice more and more assessments, and you grow more comfortable with the work, achieving your ultimate goal feels tangibly closer.
Additional resources
Our Secrets to Success guide provides you with all the relevant SQE information and first-hand experiences of our students who have taken one or both SQE assessments. It'll help you make the most of your prep course and be best prepared for the SQE assessments. Hear from our students as they share their experiences of studying with The College of Legal Practice, our courses, the material and their experiences with the assessment. Want to find out more or ready to apply to one of our SQE prep courses?