SQE Revision Timetable
Generator
Most SQE1 candidates run out of time. This fixes that.
Your Revision Timetable
July 2026 - SQE1
SQE1 July 2026 - sitting starts 13 July 2026. Registration closes 22 May 2026. All exam dates →
Which exam are you preparing for?
Select your target exam and sitting date
SQE1 has two separate papers. If you're resitting only one, select it here so your timetable only covers the relevant topics. Ethics & Professional Conduct is pervasive across both and will always be included.
How the SQE Revision Timetable Works
The timetable generator takes three inputs - your target exam date, your available study hours, and your legal background - and produces a structured day-by-day revision schedule that covers every SQE1 or SQE2 topic in proportion to its exam weighting.
Your study period is divided into four phases, each with a distinct focus:
Systematic coverage of all topics, building core knowledge from scratch. No prior knowledge assumed.
Applying knowledge to problem questions. Moving from "I know the rule" to "I can apply it under pressure".
Mixed practice, past paper questions, and intensive revision of weak areas identified during Development.
Light revision of key rules and high-frequency MCQs. Confidence-building, not new material.
Topic weighting follows the SRA's published exam specifications and is adjusted using historical SQE1 pass rate data. Solicitors Accounts receives enhanced weight in the Foundation phase because it produces the lowest first-attempt pass rates of any SQE1 topic - and because it requires regular reinforcement rather than last-minute cramming.
SQE1 Topics and How They're Weighted
SQE1 covers 12 areas of Functioning Legal Knowledge across two papers: FLK1 and FLK2. Your timetable distributes study time across all 12 topics proportionally, with harder topics (based on pass rate data) receiving slightly more Foundation phase time.
| Topic | Paper | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Business Law & Practice | FLK1 | 15% |
| Property Practice | FLK1 | 12% |
| Contract Law | FLK1 | 10% |
| Criminal Law & Practice | FLK1 | 10% |
| Dispute Resolution | FLK1 | 10% |
| Tort Law | FLK1 | 8% |
| Wills & Administration of Estates | FLK2 | 8% |
| Trusts | FLK2 | 8% |
| Land Law | FLK2 | 7% |
| Solicitors Accounts | FLK2 | 6%* |
| Legal Ethics & Conduct | FLK1 | 4% |
| Constitutional & Administrative Law | FLK1 | 2% |
* Solicitors Accounts receives additional daily practice in the Foundation phase due to its consistently low pass rate across all SQE1 sittings.
How Many Hours Do You Need to Study for SQE1?
The honest answer depends on your background, your preparation method, and how efficiently you study. The following are realistic estimates based on candidate outcomes, not provider marketing:
Covering 12 areas of law from scratch, including Land Law, Trusts, and Wills which legal non-specialists rarely encounter in daily life.
Existing doctrinal knowledge reduces Foundation phase time, but SQE1's MCQ format and Accounts Rules still require dedicated preparation.
Practice area depth helps, but the breadth of SQE1 means topic areas outside your specialism still need full preparation.
One factor most guides ignore: January sittings have historically outperformed July - 53% in January 2026 and 56% in January 2025, versus 41% in July 2025. This may partly reflect candidate mix rather than exam difficulty, but if you have flexibility on timing it's worth factoring in.
These estimates assume structured preparation with quality practice questions - not passive reading. The SQE1 pass rate (53% in January 2026, 41% in July 2025, per SRA data) makes clear that raw legal intelligence is not sufficient without deliberate preparation.
Self-study candidates typically need the higher end of these ranges. Candidates studying with a structured course provider generally achieve the lower end - though this varies significantly by provider quality and individual study habits.
Why Solicitors Accounts Needs Daily Practice
Solicitors Accounts is the most frequently underestimated topic in SQE1 preparation. It appears in FLK2 and consistently produces the lowest topic-level pass rates across all sittings. Candidates who work in litigation, corporate, or property often have limited exposure to the SRA Accounts Rules in daily practice - and those who do work in accounts departments sometimes focus narrowly on their firm's specific processes rather than the rules in their regulatory form.
⚡ What this means for your timetable
Your generated timetable includes Solicitors Accounts practice in the Foundation phase more frequently than its 6% exam weight would otherwise suggest. It also returns throughout Development and Consolidation phases. This mirrors what high-performing candidates do: they treat Accounts as a daily habit rather than a revision topic to return to before the exam.
The mechanics of Accounts (client money rules, the three-way split, prohibited uses, interest obligations) are learnable - but they require repetition. A candidate who practices Accounts ledger entries for 10 minutes every study day for six months is substantially better placed than one who does a 20-hour intensive the week before.
Getting the Most From Your Revision Timetable
A timetable is a structure, not a guarantee. The candidates who pass SQE1 on their first attempt are overwhelmingly those who maintain consistent preparation over months - not those who start with the best intentions and then let life intervene.
Treat study hours as non-negotiable
Block them in your calendar the same way you would a work commitment. The single biggest difference between candidates who complete their timetable and those who don't is treating study as a fixed appointment rather than something you do with leftover time.
Use active recall, not passive re-reading
The SQE1 activities suggested in your timetable are deliberate: MCQ practice, ledger entries, problem questions. Not reading notes. Active recall is the mechanism by which knowledge becomes retrievable under exam pressure.
Track what you don't know, not what you do
Keep a running list of topics and rules that you get wrong in practice questions. Consolidation phase time should be weighted towards these - not evenly distributed across topics you've already mastered.
Don't abandon the timetable when life disrupts it
Missed days are inevitable over a 12–18 month preparation. The timetable is a framework, not a rigid script. If you miss a week, adjust and continue - don't restart from scratch.
Verify your QWE is being documented in parallel
If you're studying for SQE1 while working as a paralegal or in a legal role, confirm that your qualifying work experience is being properly recorded. The exam and the QWE run in parallel - use our QWE Tracker to stay on top of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit the timetable after generating it?
Is the timetable different for part-time vs full-time candidates?
Should I do SQE1 and SQE2 back to back?
How does this compare to a course provider's study schedule?
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