If you’re preparing for SQE2, chances are you’re doing mocks.
Good.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
👉 Most candidates do SQE2 mocks — and still don’t improve.
Why? Because they treat mocks as a box-ticking exercise instead of a learning tool.
They finish a mock, glance at the model answer, maybe feel pleased (or discouraged), and then move straight on to the next one.
That approach wastes enormous potential.
Mocks don’t make you better.
Reviewing mocks properly does.
Let’s talk about how to turn your SQE2 mock practice into genuine progress.
⭐ Step 1: Stop Asking “Did I Pass?” — Start Asking “Why Did I Lose Marks?”
The first mistake candidates make is focusing only on the outcome.
Instead of:
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“Was this good or bad?”
Ask:
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Where exactly did I lose marks?
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Was it legal knowledge?
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Was it structure?
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Was it timing?
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Was it application?
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Was it clarity?
Every weak mock contains clues.
Your job is to extract them.
Create a simple review system after each mock and categorise every mistake into one of four buckets:
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FLK (legal knowledge)
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Structure
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Application / advice
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Timing / execution
Patterns will emerge quickly — and those patterns should drive your revision.
⭐ Step 2: Compare Your Answer to the SRA Criteria (Not Just the Model Answer)
Many students review mocks by reading the sample answer and thinking:
“Oh… I missed that.”
That’s not enough.
You need to review against the SRA marking criteria, not just content.
Ask yourself:
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Did I explain the law clearly?
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Did I apply it to the client’s facts?
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Did I give practical advice?
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Was my answer logically structured?
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Would a real client understand this?
Model answers are useful — but the criteria tell you why marks are awarded.
If you’re not writing directly to the criteria, you’re guessing.
⭐ Step 3: Rewrite Weak Sections (Don’t Just Read Them)
This is where most candidates fall down.
They read corrections instead of practising improvements.
After every mock:
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rewrite at least one weak section
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restructure one messy answer
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redo one issue properly under time
This forces your brain to build new pathways.
Passive review = no change.
Active correction = improvement.
⭐ Step 4: Track Your Mistakes (Yes, Literally Write Them Down)
High-performing candidates don’t rely on memory.
They keep a simple error log:
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forgot easement types
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rushed legal writing conclusion
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didn’t explain negligence test
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ran out of time on attendance note
Review this log weekly.
You will quickly see:
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recurring legal gaps
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structural weaknesses
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timing problems
This gives you a targeted revision plan instead of vague “do more practice”.
⭐ Step 5: Redo Old Mocks Under Timed Conditions
Don’t abandon old mocks once you’ve reviewed them.
Come back to them weeks later and redo them closed-book and timed.
If your score doesn’t improve, your revision hasn’t stuck.
This is one of the most powerful ways to measure readiness.
⭐ Step 6: Turn Mock Results into a Weekly Action Plan
Every mock should end with clear next steps, for example:
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Active recall of easement law
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Memorise advocacy structure
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Timed legal writing twice this week
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Practise summarising advice clearly
Mocks without action plans are just practice.
Mocks with action plans create progress.
Final Thoughts
Doing SQE2 mocks is not enough.
Improvement comes from:
✔ analysing mistakes
✔ understanding why marks were lost
✔ rewriting weak answers
✔ tracking patterns
✔ drilling specific skills
✔ practising under time
If your mocks aren’t making you better, it’s not because you’re incapable.
It’s because you’re reviewing them passively.
Fix the review process — and your performance will change.