SQE Exam Format: What to Expect on the Exam Day
If you are preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what to expect on the exam day. Being well-informed about the exam format will help you feel more confident and perform better during the test. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the SQE exam format, including the structure, time allocation, and types of questions. So, let’s dive in!
Structure of the SQE Exam
The SQE exam consists of two stages: SQE 1 and SQE 2.
SQE 1
SQE 1 focuses on testing your functioning legal knowledge and comprises two parts: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and practical legal skills (PLS).
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
The MCQ section tests your understanding of legal principles, rules, and topics related to key areas of law. This part of the exam is computer-based and is divided into two sessions of 90 minutes each. Each session contains 180 MCQs, totaling 360 MCQs for the entire SQE 1 exam.
If you want to familiarize yourself with the format of the MCQs, consider trying out SQE 1 Practice Exam Questions.
Practical Legal Skills (PLS)
The PLS section assesses your practical application of legal skills through simulated practical tasks. It consists of six written tasks, covering various legal areas. It is crucial to demonstrate your ability to analyze legal problems, apply legal principles, and provide solutions within a given time limit.
For a thorough preparation for the practical legal skills section, you may try out the SQE 1 Practice Mocks FLK1 FLK2.
SQE 2
SQE 2 is designed to test your ability to apply legal knowledge and skills in a realistic context. It comprises two days of assessments, covering practical legal skills required to be a competent solicitor.
The SQE 2 exam includes several types of assessments:
- Oral skills assessments: These evaluate your ability to conduct an interview and communicate effectively with clients, witnesses, or colleagues.
- Written skills assessments: These assess your written communication skills through tasks such as writing legal documents, opinion letters, or advocacy papers.
- Legal research and written advice: This assessment requires you to gather legal information, analyze cases, and provide written advice to clients.
- Legal drafting: In this assessment, you will be asked to draft legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, or pleadings.
- Advocacy and case analysis: This assessment evaluates your ability to analyze a case, identify key issues, and advocate your position in oral and written form.
To excel in the SQE 2 exam, it is crucial to enroll in dedicated SQE 2 Preparation Courses that provide comprehensive training and guidance.
Time Allocation
Managing your time effectively during the SQE exams is crucial for success. Here is a breakdown of the time allocation for each part of the exam:
SQE 1
- MCQs: Each session consists of 90 minutes, giving you a total of 180 minutes to complete all the MCQs.
- Practical Legal Skills: The time allocated for each written task varies, ranging from 45 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the task. You will have a total of 360 minutes to complete all the PLS tasks.
SQE 2
- Oral skills assessments: Each assessment lasts between 20 to 60 minutes.
- Written skills assessments: The time allocated for each written task varies, but it is typically between 60 to 90 minutes.
- Legal research and written advice: The time allocated for this assessment is usually 180 minutes.
- Legal drafting: The time allocated for this assessment is typically between 60 to 120 minutes.
- Advocacy and case analysis: The combined time allocated for these assessments is usually around 120 minutes.
Types of Questions
The SQE exams consist of various question formats, including multiple-choice questions, practical tasks, oral assessments, and written assessments. The types of questions you can expect to encounter include:
- MCQs with four options, where you need to select the correct answer.
- Simulated practical tasks that require you to analyze legal problems, apply legal principles, and provide solutions.
- Interview-style oral assessments where you interact with role-playing clients, witnesses, or colleagues.
- Legal document drafting tasks, where you need to prepare legal documents such as contracts or agreements.
- Legal research tasks that require you to gather information, analyze cases, and provide written advice.
- Advocacy tasks, where you present a case orally or in written form, analyze the case, and argue your position.
Now that you have a better understanding of what to expect on the SQE exam day, it is essential to start your preparation well in advance. Enrolling in dedicated SQE 1 Preparation Courses and SQE 2 Preparation Courses will provide you with the necessary knowledge, exam techniques, and practice to excel in the exams.
Stay tuned for our upcoming articles, where we will provide you with valuable insights and tips to help you succeed in the SQE exams.
For more information about the SQE exam dates and registration process, please refer to the SRA SQE Exam Dates page.