Preparing for SQE1 can feel overwhelming at the start. With 360 SBAQs to face and so many practice areas to cover, students often ask: How long do I really need to prepare?
The truth is, there’s no single right answer. Your ideal study plan depends on your starting point, your other commitments, and the way you learn best. But whether you have 3, 6, or 9 months before the exam, you can create a structured plan that builds knowledge, develops exam technique, and avoids burnout.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Understand the exam
SQE1 is split into two Functioning Legal Knowledge assessments:
- FLK1 (Business Law, Dispute Resolution, Contract, Tort, Constitutional & Administrative Law, Legal Services)
- FLK2 (Property, Wills & Administration, Solicitors Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, Criminal Law, Criminal Litigation)
You’ll face 180 SBAQs in each, across two exams taken a few days apart – on each of the two exam days, you will sit 90 questions in the morning, take a lunch break, then sit 90 questions in the afternoon. Passing requires both legal knowledge and the ability to apply it under time pressure.
Note that each of FLK1 and FLK2 are split into Law areas and Practice areas, as follows:
- Law areas: Contract, Tort, Constitutional & Administrative Law, Legal System of Egland and Wales (FLK1); Land, Trusts, Criminal Law (FLK2)
- Practice areas: Business Law & Practice, Dispute Resolution, Legal Services (FLK1); Property Practice, Wills and Administration of Estates, Criminal Practice, Solicitors Accounts (FLK2)
Don’t forget that ethics questions will also be spread between FLK1 and FLK2.
Step 2: Decide your timeline
Think about how much time you realistically have each week.
- Full-time prep (30+ hours/week): You may be ready in 3 months.
- Part-time alongside work/study (15–20 hours/week): A 6-month plan is more realistic.
- Gradual build (10 hours/week or less): Aim for 9 months to spread the load and keep consistent.
Step 3: Build your schedule
3-Month Plan (intensive)
- Weeks 1–4: Cover all FLK1 topics, making notes and testing understanding.
- Weeks 5–8: Cover all FLK2 topics, with the same approach.
- Weeks 9–10: Full mixed-topic question practice, alternating FLK1/FLK2.
- Weeks 11–12: Mock exams under timed conditions, focus on weak areas.
6-Month Plan (balanced)
When studying over a longer period in this way, we would recommend a change in approach from the above 12-week model. This is to avoid getting to the revision point and finding it has been almost five months since you thought about some parts of FLK1.
- Months 1–2: Work through FLK1 Law areas and FLK2 Law areas – alternating with practice questions.
- Months 3–5: Work through FLK1 Practice areas and FLK2 Practice areas (whilst at the same time, consolidating the related Law areas) – alternating with practice questions.
- Month 6: Consolidation, question banks, timed mocks.
9-Month Plan (steady)
- Months 1–4: Cover FLK1 Law areas and FLK2 Law areas at a slower pace, building a strong foundation.
- Months 5–8: Cover FLK1 Practice areas and FLK2 Practice areas (whilst at the same time, consolidating the related Law areas) the same way.
- Month 9: Consolidation, practice, mocks, and exam-day strategy.
Step 4: Include the essentials
Whatever your timeline, make sure to:
✅ Read actively – after each small section summarise rules, test yourself, explain concepts out loud
✅ Practise SBAQs little and often (10–20 at a time)
✅ Track your scores and note patterns in mistakes
✅ Review your feedback carefully to learn from wrong answers – and go back to the reading
✅ Schedule in proper breaks — consistency beats burnout
Final Thoughts
Whether you take 3, 6, or 9 months to prepare, the key is structure and consistency. The SQE is not about cramming hundreds of rules but about applying knowledge under exam pressure. The earlier you start planning, the more confident and in control you’ll feel.
If you’d like tailored study planning advice, a bespoke schedule, advice on reading actively, or info about our SBAQ practice packs (to be released soon), check out the resources on our Total Law Tuition website or get in touch to arrange a free call.