Our Reddit Roundup is dedicated to answering the most frequently asked questions on the platform. This month, we’re sharing advice on how to manage stress, as well as offering helpful SQE advice.
Written by April Baniqued. Published 28 April 2025.
Here are the questions:
- How do you manage exam stress?
- What are some memorisation tips for the SQE?
- How is SQE2 marked?
- When should I schedule my SQE resit?
How do you manage exam stress?
Stress can manifest itself in different ways, so it’s important to be mindful of both your mental and physical wellbeing during exam season. Here are a few quick and easy ways to help you regulate:
Set a plan
This may sound obvious, but it is very necessary. It’s easy to dive straight into studying without properly setting a plan but creating a schedule allows you to set a realistic time frame and monitor your progress.
Take breaks
It might be tempting to just power through your revision, but taking breaks can actually help you be more productive. Stepping away allows your brain to recharge and refocus, improving your recall and information processing. Try setting regular alarms throughout your day or have someone come in to remind you to take those well-deserved breaks.
Our Wellbeing Advisors recently shared some of the things they like to do in their free time to improve their happiness – head to our Instagram to watch the video.
Physical activity
Tight muscles, low energy, headaches and sleeping problems can all be symptoms of stress. Exercise can help you release all those built-up tensions and reset your mood entirely. It doesn’t have to take up too much of your time either; going for a short walk, stretching in your room or dancing to your favourite playlist are all great ways to get your body moving.
ur Wellbeing team via email, our Wellbeing app or the MyULaw app. You can also speak to your Student Journey Advisor or Academic Coach.
Our blog shares more useful mental health tips for exam season.
What are some memorisation tips for the SQE?
Whilst there’s a lot of legal knowledge and theory to remember in SQE1, these helpful tactics can be used for revising any subject:
Active recall
This method includes testing your knowledge without looking at your notes. For instance, instead of repeatedly writing down your notes, try turning them into flashcard questions and testing yourself using these. This way you can also visually separate the questions you struggle with and the ones you’re more confident in, allowing you to focus on what truly needs more attention.
Teach someone else
Albert Einstein once said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough” – so grab a friend and try to explain the theory in simple, basic terms. Not only will it deepen your understanding, but it will also help you highlight the areas that need more attention - plus it’s more fun to study with a friend.
Visual notes
Some people are visual learners and thrive with graphic cues. Try transforming your notes into a mind map, diagram or flowchart. This could be particularly beneficial if you are studying something that follows a process, as you can try to memorise the visual image in preparation for your exam.
Chunking information
Having a large amount of information in front of you can be overwhelming. Try turning it into small ‘chunks’, by grouping ideas or facts that relate to each other the most. This will make it easier for your brain to process and understand them. Over time, these small chunks of information can become mental shortcuts for recall during the exam.
Spaced repetition
As tempting as it is to cram all the information in one sitting, try reviewing your notes repeatedly in timed intervals. For instance, review your notes today, then tomorrow, then three days later, a week later, and so on. This spaced repetition exercises your brain. Like a muscle, the more you work your brain, the stronger it gets and easier it is to remember.
Need more advice? Here are a few more study tips you may want to try.
How is SQE2 marked?
The SQE2 consists of 16 assessment stations (12 written and 4 oral). In each assessment, you’ll be tested on your legal skills, as well as your application of legal knowledge. Both are important and worth the same amount.
Each assessment is graded, from A (superior performance) to F (poor performance). These grades are then translated into numbers, where A is worth five and F is worth zero. These are then calculated into an average, which is your final SQE2 score.
Overall, there is one pass mark, which can change depending on the difficulty of the exam questions. To pass, your average score must meet or exceed this mark.
The SRA describes its SQE marking criteria in more detail on its website.
When should I schedule my SQE resit?
Assess how ready you are
Before diving straight into the exam again, it’s important to observe how you did the previous time. Jot down the areas you struggled with so you can focus on these more thoroughly. Remember to be honest when evaluating how much revision you actually need. This will help you create a more realistic estimate of when you’ll be ready to sit the exam again.
Look at the exam windows
Look at the official SQE assessment dates and see which sitting you think you’ll feel the most prepared for. Spaces are first-come, first-serve, so make sure to book early, especially if there’s a specific test centre you’re interested in.
Here are the SQE1 and SQE2 assessment dates.
Create a schedule
Schedule your study time with your other priorities, whether that’s your full-time job, parenting and even beloved hobby. This way, you’re creating protected space to revise without feeling burned out or rushing.
Need help scheduling? Download our free printable weekly calendar.
Plan strategically
Do you have a specific timeline you need to follow? This could be because of your visa requirements, the start date of a training contract or a personal deadline you’ve set yourself. If the timeline isn’t flexible, keep these dates in mind when booking your resit.
Consider our SQE Prep courses
An SQE course keeps your learning on track in the lead up to the exam. You get academic support from our expert lecturers, which is especially helpful if you have struggled with topics previously and you receive access to extra resources, such as our SQE revision app and study manuals.
Take a look at the SQE courses we offer on our website.
