How Long to Study for SQE1: Realistic Study Timelines

Introduction

One of the most common questions from aspiring solicitors is: "How long do I need to study for SQE1?" The answer depends on your starting point, but the question itself reveals something important — candidates who plan their study time carefully tend to perform better than those who study without a clear timeline.

This guide provides realistic estimates for different candidate profiles, explains what factors affect study duration, and offers practical advice on building a study plan that works for your circumstances.

Typical Study Hours for SQE1

As a general benchmark, most SQE1 preparation providers recommend between 300 and 500 hours of total study time. This includes reading and learning the substantive law, practising questions, reviewing mistakes, and revising.

However, this range is broad because candidates come from very different starting points. A law graduate who completed their degree eighteen months ago will need significantly less time than a career changer with no legal background.

Law Graduates (LLB or Equivalent)

Estimated study time: 300 to 400 hours

If you have a qualifying law degree and graduated relatively recently, you will already have a foundation in many of the SQE1 subject areas. Contract, tort, land law, trusts, criminal law, constitutional law, and the legal system will be familiar territory, even if your knowledge has faded somewhat.

Your main study tasks will be:

• Refreshing and updating your knowledge of subjects you covered at university, particularly where the law has changed since you graduated
• Learning new subjects that were not part of your degree, including Business Law and Practice, Property Practice, Wills and Administration of Estates, Solicitors Accounts, Dispute Resolution, and Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Adapting your knowledge to the SQE1 format — the exam tests application to practical scenarios rather than academic analysis
• Extensive question practice to build exam technique and identify gaps

A realistic timeline is three to six months of study, depending on whether you are studying full-time or part-time alongside work.

GDL or SQE Preparation Course Completers

Estimated study time: 300 to 400 hours

If you completed the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or a dedicated SQE preparation course, your position is similar to a law graduate. The GDL covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge (contract, tort, criminal law, equity and trusts, land law, constitutional and administrative law, and EU law), which overlap significantly with the SQE1 syllabus.

Your main study tasks will be:

• Consolidating your GDL or course knowledge and ensuring it extends to the depth required by SQE1
• Learning practice-focused subjects such as Business Law and Practice, Property Practice, Dispute Resolution, and Solicitors Accounts, which the GDL typically does not cover in detail
• Building exam technique through extensive practice with single best answer questions

A realistic timeline is three to six months, similar to law graduates.

Non-Law Graduates and Career Changers

Estimated study time: 400 to 600 hours

If you do not have a legal background, your study timeline will be longer because you need to learn the substantive law from scratch as well as develop the ability to apply it in an exam setting. This is entirely achievable — the SQE was specifically designed to be accessible to candidates from any background — but it requires honest planning.

Your main study tasks will be:

• Learning all thirteen subject areas from the ground up, building a solid understanding of legal principles before moving to application
• Becoming familiar with legal reasoning and the structure of the English legal system
• Extensive question practice to develop both knowledge and exam technique simultaneously

A realistic timeline is six to twelve months, depending on whether you are studying full-time or alongside other commitments.

International Law Graduates

Estimated study time: 350 to 500 hours

If you studied law in another jurisdiction, you will have transferable skills in legal reasoning and analysis, but you need to learn the specific rules, case law, and statutes of England and Wales. The degree of overlap depends on your jurisdiction — common law jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, India, Hong Kong) share more with English law than civil law jurisdictions.

Your main study tasks will be:

• Learning the English law position on every topic, even where the principles are broadly similar to your home jurisdiction
• Understanding the procedural aspects of English litigation, conveyancing, and criminal procedure
• Practising with English law questions to ensure you apply the correct rules

A realistic timeline is four to eight months.

Factors That Affect Study Duration

How Recently You Studied

Knowledge fades over time. A law graduate who finished their degree five years ago will need more refresher time than one who graduated last year. Be honest about what you remember and what you need to relearn.

Your Available Study Hours

The total calendar time you need depends on how many hours per week you can dedicate to study.

• Full-time study (30-40 hours per week): 2 to 4 months
• Part-time alongside full-time work (10-15 hours per week): 5 to 10 months
• Part-time alongside part-time work (15-25 hours per week): 3 to 6 months

These are estimates. The important thing is consistency — studying fewer hours regularly is more effective than studying many hours sporadically.

The Quality of Your Study

Not all study hours are equal. An hour spent answering practice questions and reviewing your mistakes is worth more than an hour spent passively rereading notes. Research across seven meta-analyses and 48,000+ learners confirms that practice testing produces dramatically better retention than passive study. Prioritise active learning methods.

Your Exam Technique

Some candidates grasp the single best answer format quickly; others need more practice. If you have experience with MCQ exams, you may need less time to develop your technique. If the format is new to you, allocate additional time for timed practice sessions.

Building Your Study Plan

Step 1: Determine Your Start Date and Exam Date

Work backwards from your chosen exam date. SQE1 sittings are available at set points throughout the year. Choose a date that gives you enough time based on the estimates above, with a buffer for unexpected disruptions.

Step 2: Calculate Your Available Hours

Be realistic about how many hours per week you can genuinely commit to study. Account for work, family, social commitments, holidays, and rest days. It is better to underestimate than overestimate.

Step 3: Divide Your Time into Phases

A three-phase approach works well for most candidates:

Phase 1 — Foundation (approximately 40% of total time)

Work through each of the thirteen subject areas systematically. Use a good SQE1 preparation manual. Take notes on key principles, rules, and cases. Begin answering practice questions on each subject as you complete it, even if you are still learning.

Phase 2 — Application (approximately 35% of total time)

Shift the balance towards practice questions. For every hour of reading, spend two hours answering and reviewing questions. Identify weak subjects through your scores and allocate additional reading time to those areas. Start connecting knowledge across subjects — for example, recognising the overlap between land law and property practice, or between ethics and every other subject.

Phase 3 — Revision and consolidation (approximately 25% of total time)

Focus almost entirely on practice questions under timed conditions. Complete at least two full mock exams (180 questions each, timed). Review every incorrect answer and revise the relevant law. Focus intensively on your weakest subjects. In the final week, do lighter revision to stay fresh without burning out.

Step 4: Schedule Weekly Reviews

At the end of each week, review your progress. Are you on track? Are there subjects you need to spend more time on? Adjust your plan as needed. A study plan is a living document, not a fixed contract.

Step 5: Build in Rest Days

You need rest days to process and retain information, and to prevent burnout. Most candidates should take at least one full day off from study each week, even in the final weeks of preparation.

Common Planning Mistakes

Underestimating the Time Required

The most common mistake is starting too late. SQE1 covers thirteen subject areas, and the breadth is genuinely daunting. If you find yourself rushing through subjects in the final weeks, you are unlikely to reach the depth of understanding needed to pass.

Spending Too Long on Foundation Phase

Some candidates spend months reading textbooks without ever practising a question. Start practising early. Question practice is where the real learning happens, and it reveals gaps in your knowledge that passive reading does not.

Ignoring Weak Subjects

It is natural to spend time on subjects you enjoy, but your overall score depends on adequate performance across all thirteen areas. Use practice question data to identify weak areas and force yourself to address them.

Not Practising Under Timed Conditions

Answering questions at your own pace is useful in the early stages, but eventually you must practise under exam conditions. 180 questions in five hours and twenty minutes requires discipline and pace that only timed practice can develop.

Start Planning Today

The amount of time you need to study for SQE1 depends on your background and circumstances, but the principle is the same for everyone: start early, study consistently, and practise relentlessly.

Sign up for free access to our SQE1 practice question bank and begin building the knowledge and exam technique you need to qualify as a solicitor.