If you’ve recently passed SQE1 and are gearing up for SQE2, you might be wondering: how different can it really be? After all, both exams are part of the same qualification route. The truth is, SQE2 is a completely different beast to SQE1 — not just in structure, but in the mindset and preparation it demands.
In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between SQE1 and SQE2, and most importantly, how your approach to revision needs to change if you want to pass first time.
SQE1 vs SQE2: The Core Difference
At its heart, SQE1 is about recognition. You’re tested through multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that assess your functioning legal knowledge (FLK). Success depends on how quickly and accurately you can spot the right answer from a set of options.
By contrast, SQE2 is about application. You don’t have options in front of you. You have to know the law, recall it from memory, and apply it to practical scenarios. In other words: SQE1 asks “can you recognise the right law when you see it?”, while SQE2 asks “can you explain and use the law in practice with nothing in front of you?”
The Role of Legal Skills in SQE2
Another big difference is that SQE2 doesn’t just test your legal knowledge — it tests your legal skills. You’ll need to demonstrate competence across:
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Advocacy
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Client interviewing and attendance note writing
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Legal writing
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Legal drafting
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Legal research
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Case and matter analysis
Each task is designed to mirror some form of solicitor work. This makes SQE2 less about rote learning and more about remembering the law and thinking and performing like a solicitor under time pressure.
Why SQE2 Is Challenging in a Different Way
Make no mistake: SQE1 is tough. The sheer volume of MCQs you have to answer can feel overwhelming. But SQE2 brings its own unique challenge: you need to show the examiners that you can recall the law accurately, apply it clearly, and present it through professional skills.
It’s not enough to “sort of” know the law. If, for example, you’re asked whether an easement arises, you’ll need to:
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Explain all the potential types of easement.
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Apply the law to your client’s facts.
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Advise clearly on which type might arise — and why the others don’t.
That’s a very different mindset from SQE1’s process of elimination.
How Preparation Changes Between SQE1 and SQE2
Because the exams are so different, your SQE2 prep strategy has to look different too. Here’s how:
1. Shift from Recognition to Recall
SQE1 rewards pattern recognition. SQE2 rewards active recall. You need to be able to retrieve legal principles from memory and explain them clearly. Don’t just passively read notes — test yourself daily by covering material, saying it aloud, and checking how much you got right.
2. Practice Mocks Relentlessly
In SQE2, mock practice is everything. Each skill assessment comes with marking criteria, and you only pick up marks if you cover those criteria (see criteria for each assessment here). Doing timed mocks under exam conditions helps you:
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Get comfortable with the format.
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Check that you’re consistently hitting the marking grid.
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Build the speed and clarity you’ll need on exam day.
3. Build Skills Into Your Revision
It’s tempting to treat SQE2 like SQE1 and focus mainly on memorising the law. But without practising the actual skills (advocacy, drafting, interviewing etc.), you’ll struggle. Schedule time to rehearse each skill — ideally with feedback from tutors, peers, or mentors.
4. Understand the Exam Structure
Many candidates underestimate how much the structure matters. Each assessment is tightly timed, and without a clear plan, you’ll run out of minutes fast. Part of your prep should include learning and sticking to proven structures (e.g. for advocacy: introduction, facts, law, application, conclusion).
Final Thoughts: Different Beasts, Different Battles
Both SQE1 and SQE2 are challenging — but in different ways. SQE1 is a memory marathon, testing whether you can recognise the right answers across vast amounts of content. SQE2 is more of a professional simulation, testing whether you can act like a solicitor and apply the law with skill and clarity.
To succeed, you’ll need to shift your prep strategy: move from passive learning to active recall, build your practical skills through mocks, and always keep the marking criteria front of mind.
If you approach SQE2 the same way you approached SQE1, you’ll struggle. But if you adapt — and embrace the fact it’s a different beast — you’ll give yourself the best chance of smashing it first time.
For further SQE2 materials, check out my resources here.