SQE Revision Timetable

How the revision timetable works

The generator takes your target exam date, available study hours, and legal background — and produces a structured day-by-day revision schedule that covers every SQE1 or SQE2 topic in proportion to its exam weighting.

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What your generated timetable looks like

thequalifiedpath.co.uk/tools/sqe-revision-timetable

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84-day SQE1 plan built around your schedule — 4 weak topics front-loaded

210h

total study time

study days

17.5h

per week avg

days to exam

Solicitors Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, Wills +1 more — extra time front-loaded so you close the gap before exam day.

Foundation 84h

Development 73h

Consolidation 32h

Final Review 21h

Days to exam

SQE1 · July 2026

38% of plan complete

Your plan

Total hours210h

Study days84

Avg/week17.5h

How it works

Your study period is divided into four phases, each with a distinct focus. The length of each phase is calculated from your available time between start date and exam — so a 6-week plan looks completely different to a 6-month plan.

Topic weighting follows the SRA's published exam specifications and is adjusted using historical SQE1 pass rate data. Topics you rate as weak in the confidence step receive more sessions and are front-loaded into earlier weeks.

The four study phases

Foundation40%

Systematic coverage of all topics, building core knowledge from scratch. No prior knowledge assumed.

Development35%

Applying knowledge to problem questions. Moving from "I know the rule" to "I can apply it under pressure".

Consolidation15%

Mixed practice, past paper questions, and intensive revision of weak areas identified during Development.

Final Review10%

Light revision of key rules and high-frequency MCQs. Confidence-building, not new material.

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 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	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.

No legal background·500–700 hours·12–18 months part-time(18–24 if studying alongside full-time work with limited legal exposure)

Covering 12 areas of law from scratch, including Land Law, Trusts, and Wills which legal non-specialists rarely encounter in daily life.

Law degree or GDL·350–500 hours·12–18 months part-time

Existing doctrinal knowledge reduces Foundation phase time, but SQE1's MCQ format and Accounts Rules still require dedicated preparation.

Practising paralegal or lawyer·250–400 hours·9–15 months part-time

Practice area depth helps, but the breadth of SQE1 means topic areas outside your specialism still need full preparation.

January vs July: 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, but if you have flexibility on timing it's worth factoring in.

These estimates assume structured preparation with quality practice questions — not passive reading. Self-study candidates typically need the higher end. Candidates using a structured course generally reach the lower end.

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.

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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 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

Does the timetable work for SQE2?

Yes. SQE2 uses a completely separate algorithm — skills-based rather than topic-based. You rate confidence across the six SQE2 skills and the plan structures your practice accordingly, with oral skills boosted in Foundation and Final Review.

What if I skip the topic confidence ratings?

The plan still generates. Topics will be scheduled in a default order rather than weighted to your weak areas. The confidence step takes under a minute and meaningfully changes the output — it's worth doing.

How many hours a week do most candidates actually study?

Most candidates working full-time manage 10–15 hours per week. Weekend-heavy schedules (3–4 hours Saturday and Sunday, 1–2 hours on weekday evenings) are the most common pattern. The timetable fits whatever schedule you set — it doesn't assume a minimum.

Can I regenerate with different inputs?

Yes. Change any input and hit generate again. Your new plan replaces the old one — you don't need to re-enter your email.

Does the January vs July pass rate gap affect how I should prepare?

The timing shouldn't change how you prepare, but it's worth knowing. January 2026 passed at 53% versus July 2025's 41%. If you have flexibility on sitting window, January has historically been stronger — though candidate mix is a likely factor alongside exam difficulty.

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