Exam study help - how to answer the exams

Hi all, I'm booking the SQE2 exams for April/May.

I took the exams last April/May but unfortunately didnt pass (was 20 points off passing).

I work in a law firm and am specialising in Private Client (Wills and Probate), took the LPC at uni in 2018-19 and been out of education ever since, and i feel really lost.

I used QLTS last year for studying but didnt find them all that useful (they used AI to assess my practice answers and it wasn't clear what the AI was suggesting I change). This time I dont have anyone because im paying for the exams myself and cant afford any providers as well.

So im juggling private exam studying around a full time job, with commuting and home life (cooking, cleaning, existing, etc) on the side.

Anyone got any tips or explanations as to how to answer the exams? My grades for the skills were good, but for the law lacked and is where I failed.

Problem is, in practice we DONT use legislation or case law in letters, memos to colleagues, file notes, etc and that is how I answered the questions, but ive seen that you are supposed to use them in the answers, so now I feel like I have to reference Acts and cases in my legal writing, drafting, etc.

What would you all suggest? Do I use legislation and case law? If so, how do I incorporate it? Like if its a memo to a colleague/partner, do i give full case name/ Acts name and section? If its a letter to a client, do I give case name/legislation, or just say "the courts decided x" "the law requires y"?

I know the law, I have the FLK and ive been studying since my exam results came out last August. I just dont know how the examiners want their questions answered or how they want the FLK incorporated into their answers to get those points on the law side.

Please, any help would be so much appreciated! My stress levels are through the roof.

Posted Jan 25, 2026, 12:31 PM UTC

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