In this article, Shoukat Ali, an overseas-qualified lawyer and legal researcher based in London and SQE student at The College of Legal Practice, shares practical lessons from his experience preparing for the SQE. With his SQE1 exam scheduled for January 2027, Shoukat explores how to approach the breadth of the syllabus, prepare effectively for Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs), compare SQE preparation providers and choose the right level of support while studying alongside other commitments.
First, some hard truths about the SQE
Nobody prepares you for how wide this syllabus is. It's not necessarily deep - you don't need to be a specialist in any one area but you need to know a little about a lot. And the SRA tests that breadth.
Tip 1: Don't study subjects in isolation. Ethics and Professional Conduct are assessed throughout SQE1 and SQE2. You'll get a Contract question where the real issue is whether you've breached the SRA Code of Conduct. You'll get a Property question where the trap is about money laundering reporting. Train yourself to spot ethical angles in everything.
Tip 2: Practice Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs) often. The hardest part isn't knowing the law but reading the facts, filtering out the noise, and choosing between two answers that both seem right. One will have a subtle flaw So you need to get used to that feeling of uncertainty.
Tip 3: For SQE2, don’t assume it's "just skills." I saw a lot of people treat it almost like a personality test. It's not. Half your marks come from applying the actual law correctly. If you give the wrong advice in a client interview, polished delivery alone will not make up for inaccurate legal advice, which can reduce your marks.
Tip 4: Active recall over passive reading. Reading textbooks can give you a false sense of security. You recognise the information, so it feels like you know ir but there’s a big different between recognising the rule and being able to recall and apply it. Flashcards, practice questions and explaining rules out loud all helped me much more.
Tip 5: Protect your sleep and your head. The people who burn out before the exam are making life harder for themselves. This is a marathon and not a sprint. You need proper rest, movement, and actual breaks. I learned this the hard way.
The provider landscape: what I saw
When I started looking at providers, I realised there isn’t one single “best” option. Different providers offer different things, from campus-based learning and structured teaching to self-directed study and large question banks.
For me, the biggest question was what kind of support I’d have when I got stuck. I was working alongside my studies, so I wanted flexibility, but I also knew I didn’t want to feel like I was studying completely on my own.
That’s ultimately why I went with The College of Legal Practice. I spoke to a couple of people who had studied with the College and they kept mentioning the tutor support. That mattered to me because I knew I’d hit walls along the way, and I wanted to know there would be someone I could turn to when I did.
My experience with the College: the good and the less good
Let me be honest: it wasn't perfect. No course is. But for me, the balance worked.
What I genuinely liked:
- The materials on Canvas were organised in a way that made sense to me. The modules were broken down into smaller sections, with visual flowcharts and mini-quizzes, I didn't feel like I was drowneing in text.
- The live sessions were genuinely interactive. They weren’t pre-recorded lectures where you zone out. The practitioners running them would put up real SBAQs and we'd work through them as a group. That active problem-solving helped me internalise the traps faster than any textbook could.
- The tutor support was the biggest differentiator. I had a dedicated academic supervisor, a qualified solicitor, who could see where I was struggling from my dashboard analytics. In our one-to-ones, we could focus on those areas rather than going over things I already knew.
- The wellbeing support sounds like something you might not think about much until you actually need it. I had a Student Support Officer who checked in on me regularly. When my day job became particularly busy in Month 3 and I fell behind, she helped me work out a new timeline rather than just telling me to "work harder." That kind of practical, human support made a real difference during the low points.
What I'd flag as limitations:
- The platform is digital-first, so if you're someone who needs physical textbooks and handwritten notes to learn, it might not be the right fit for you.
- It's not cheap – though it's less than the traditional universities. You have to decide whether the level of support is worth the cost for you.
- The live sessions are at set times. If you're in a different time zone or have unpredictable work hours, the schedule might not always work for you (though they do record them).
What I'd tell someone starting the SQE study journey
If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice, it would be this: treat the SQE as a test of applying knowledge, rather than simply memorising it.
The SRA doesn't want to know if you can memorise case names, they want to know whether you can read a client's problem, identify the legal issues, and apply the right rules under pressure. That requires a different kind of preparation.
Practise it deliberately with practice questions, sit mock exams, and be honest with yourself if you’re struggling.
Another tip: pick a provider that fits your lifestyle and commitments, not your ego. . If you need structure and deadlines, look for a provider that offers live classes. If you're disciplined and just want a question bank, choose an automated platform. If you need human support because you're working alongside studying, prioritise that.
For me, COLP was the right fit because of the support. But I know people who passed with BARBRI, QLTS, ULaw, and even with just the SRA's own materials and a study group. There isn’t one route that works for everyone so you need to find the option that works for you.
My final thoughts
The SQE is tough – there’s no getting around that. But it's doable with consistent, smart preparation.
Don't leave timed questions until the last minute. Don't neglect your sleep and mental and physical wellbeing. And don't be afraid to ask for help when you're stuck.
That's my experience, anyway. I hope some of it helps you avoid the mistakes I made and focus on what actually matters.
This article was originally published by SAS Legal Consultancy Ltd, where Shoukat Ali shares his experience and practical advice on SQE preparation.