Mark Thomas SQE1 Practice Questions: Honest Review 2026

If you have spent any time in SQE1 revision forums, one recommendation appears more consistently than any other: the practice question books by Mark Thomas, sold on Amazon. They are cheap, unglamorous, and quietly regarded by many candidates as the single best predictor of real exam performance.

This review covers what the books are, when to use them, what actual candidates report, and how they compare to other practice question sources.

What Are the Mark Thomas SQE1 Books?

Mark Thomas is a solicitor and legal educator who has published a series of SQE1 multiple-choice practice question books through Amazon (Kindle and paperback). There are separate volumes covering the Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) topics tested in SQE1, including:

• Business Law and Practice
• Dispute Resolution
• Contract Law
• Tort Law
• Land Law and Trusts
• Criminal Law and Practice
• Constitutional and Administrative Law, EU Law, and Legal Services

Each book contains multiple-choice questions written to mirror the SRA's format: scenario-based, often with closely worded answer options, and pitched at the difficulty level candidates actually encounter in the exam.

Price: typically £8–£18 per book on Amazon (Kindle editions are cheaper). There is no subscription, no platform, no upsell.

What Candidates Actually Say

The community consensus around these books on r/SQE1 and similar forums is unusually consistent for a study resource. Across multiple threads, candidates report two things reliably:

First, the books feel representative. Candidates who use them in the final few weeks typically describe the difficulty and style as closely matching what they encounter in the real exam — more so than many course-provider mock papers, which candidates often find slightly easier than the actual SQE1.

Second, candidates tend to score higher in the real exam than in these mocks. Reports vary, but a gap of roughly 3–10 percentage points above the Mark Thomas score is commonly described. Some attribute this to the additional revision done in the final weeks after completing the books. Others suggest the books may be calibrated slightly harder than the real thing. Either way, the predictive direction is consistently positive — no one reports the books significantly overstated their readiness.

One pattern worth noting: candidates who scored around 60–70% on these mocks frequently report passing comfortably, which broadly aligns with the SQE1 pass threshold. If you are consistently hitting that range under timed conditions, you are likely in a solid position.

That said, individual results vary considerably. These are self-reported anecdotes, not controlled data. Treat the books as a useful calibration signal, not a guaranteed score predictor.

When to Use Them

This is the most important thing to get right. The consensus is clear: do not open these books until you have covered all the content.

They are not a learning tool. They are a calibration tool.

Using them too early wastes the predictive value — your score will reflect gaps in knowledge, not your exam readiness, and you will not have a reliable signal. Use them when you have done the following:

1. Completed your course materials for all FLK topics
2. Worked through your provider's practice questions or mock papers
3. Done at least one timed full mock under exam conditions

At that point — typically 1–3 weeks before your sitting — use the Mark Thomas books as your final calibration. Do them under exam conditions (timed, no notes) on consecutive days, the same way you will sit FLK1 and FLK2.

If you score 65%+ on both, you are in a strong position. If you score below 55%, you have identified a problem with enough time to address it.

How They Compare to Other Practice Question Sources

There is no shortage of SQE1 practice questions. Here is how the main sources stack up:

The SRA past papers are now essential and free. The SRA started publishing real past exam questions in 2024 — these are more accurate than any third-party resource, because they are the actual questions. Use those alongside the Mark Thomas books.

The Revise SQE series (a different set of revision books) is also mentioned positively by many candidates, but with a caveat: the books are too abbreviated to rely on alone. They work well for topic summaries, not as a substitute for full practice question sets.

The Case for Buying Them

At under £20 per book, the Mark Thomas questions are almost certainly the highest return-on-investment purchase in your SQE1 preparation. Consider the alternative: SQE1 registration costs £1,934. A resit costs £967 per paper. If one £12 book gives you an accurate prediction of whether you are ready — and helps you make the decision to sit or defer — it is paying for itself many times over.

The books do not replace your prep course, your provider's mocks, or the SRA's past papers. They supplement them, as a final-stage pressure test.

Practical Recommendations

Buy: FLK1 and FLK2 books covering your weaker subjects first. If you are weak across the board, get the full set.

When to start: No earlier than 3 weeks before your sitting. Ideally 1–2 weeks out.

How to use: Timed, under exam conditions. FLK1 on day one, FLK2 on day two. Mark blind, then review every wrong answer before moving on.

What to do with the result: If you are within 5% of your target pass mark, revise targeted topics and sit as planned. If you are more than 10% below your target, that is a meaningful signal — consider whether deferral is the right call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there Mark Thomas books for SQE2? The main series focuses on SQE1 MCQs. For SQE2, the practice landscape is different — oral skills and written exercises are harder to replicate in book format. BARBRI and QLTS School have stronger SQE2 mock offerings. See our guide to the best SQE2 mock providers →.

Do I need to buy all the books? No. Prioritise the subjects where you are weakest. If you are short on time, two or three books covering your gap areas are more valuable than all of them read superficially.

Are Kindle editions as good as paperback? Yes. The question format translates well to Kindle. Paperback is better for annotation if you want to mark and review answers on paper.

How many questions are in each book? Varies by volume, but typically 60–120 questions per book — enough for a realistic timed practice session.

Where can I find them? Search "SQE1 practice questions Mark Thomas" on Amazon UK. The books appear under various edition names — check the publication date and look for 2024 or 2025 editions to ensure the content is current.