SQE Passing Tip #5: 21 Days Before SQE1: The Dos and Don’ts That Can Make the Difference

With only 21 days remaining before SQE1, you are entering the final phase of your preparation. By this point, the vast majority of your learning should already be complete. If you are still trying to learn large areas of law from scratch, you are likely focusing on the wrong priority.

The final three weeks are about sharpening exam technique, identifying and fixing weaknesses, improving recall, and building the mental stamina needed to perform consistently across both FLK1 and FLK2.

Here are the key dos and don’ts for the last 21 days before SQE1.

DO#1 - Practise Sustained Concentration Under Exam Conditions

Many candidates underestimate how mentally demanding SQE1 can be. Staying focused for 153 minutes while answering 90 multiple-choice questions is challenging, even for candidates who know the law well.

Mental fatigue can lead to careless mistakes, misreading key facts, overlooking important words, or selecting an attractive distractor answer. The issue is often not a lack of legal knowledge but a decline in concentration.

The good news is that concentration can be trained.

Rather than jumping straight into full-length mocks, build your stamina gradually. For example:

• Complete 20 MCQs within 34 minutes.

• Then complete 45 MCQs within 76 minutes.

• Progress to a full mock of 90 MCQs within 153 minutes.

As you increase the length of your practice sessions, pay attention to when your concentration starts to dip. If you find yourself becoming tired after 30 minutes or so, experiment with very short recovery techniques. For example, pause for 5 to 10 seconds, take a sip of water, and perform a few slow, controlled breaths before continuing.

When completing longer mock exams, you may find it helpful to incorporate brief micro-breaks at suitable intervals, depending on your individual concentration levels. The aim is not to interrupt the flow of the exam but to refresh your focus before fatigue begins to affect your performance.

DON’T#1 - Neglect Sleep and Recovery

As the exam approaches, many candidates try to squeeze in extra revision late into the night. While this may feel productive, it can sometimes do more harm than good.

One common mistake is studying intensively immediately before bedtime, particularly when using a computer, tablet, or phone. After spending hours answering questions, watching revision videos, or reading detailed legal materials on a screen, some candidates find that their minds remain highly active, making it difficult to fall asleep.

Instead, consider winding down during the last 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Rather than working through another set of MCQs, try reviewing your own handwritten notes, summaries, mind maps, or flashcards. This can serve as a gentle recap of key concepts while allowing your brain to transition into a more restful state.

Many candidates find that a brief review of concise handwritten notes before sleep helps reinforce important legal principles without overstimulating the mind.

Equally important is maintaining a regular sleep routine. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, including weekends. As the SQE1 assessment is scheduled for the morning, train yourself to be awake and alert during those hours well before exam day.

Remember that sleep is not time lost from revision. Sleep plays a vital role in memory consolidation, concentration, decision-making, and information recall. A well-rested candidate is more likely to spot key facts, analyse scenarios accurately, and avoid careless mistakes than a candidate who has sacrificed sleep for a few extra hours of study.

In the final three weeks, treat sleep as an essential part of your SQE1 preparation, not as an optional luxury.