Beat the Clock: Dominating SQE 1's Hardest Topics Before the January Take

DT Writers Team
3 days ago
4 min read

The countdown to the January 2026 SQE 1 assessment is on! For prospective solicitors, this period isn’t just about covering the vast expanse of Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK); it’s about mastering efficiency.

Every SQE candidate faces the same enemy: the "Time Thief." To be on the safe side (attempt all 180 questions per exam), you have to dedicate not more than 1.5 minutes to each question.

Remember, there are the challenging, intricate topics that devour hours of study time without yielding commensurate results, threatening to derail your entire preparation schedule.

The key to passing—and excelling—in the SQE 1 is not to study harder on these difficult areas, but to study smarter and more strategically. This article outlines the common Time Thieves and provides actionable, evergreen strategies to conquer them well ahead of your January 2026 sitting.

Identifying the Usual Suspects (The Time Thieves)

The SQE 1 syllabus is demanding, but three areas consistently prove to be the most fertile ground for Time Thieves, simply due to their sheer complexity and the level of detail required for application:

Land Law and its Formalities: While the core concepts of property ownership are straightforward, the nuances of land registration, the creation and enforceability of various proprietary rights (especially leases, easements, and mortgages), and the requirements for overriding interests can quickly become overwhelming. The interconnected rules and exceptions often lead to confusion when applied in multiple-choice scenarios.
Professional Conduct and Regulation (PCR): PCR is a Time Thief because it demands precise application of ethical rules to hypothetical facts. It’s not enough to know the SRA principles; you must understand the subtle differences between acting for two clients with a potential conflict of interest, the obligations around confidentiality, and the rules governing client money. These rules require judgement, not just recall.
Civil and Criminal Procedure: These subjects are highly procedural, demanding memorization of intricate time limits, specific forms, and the stages of litigation. For example, knowing the exact steps for summary judgment, Part 36 offers, or when a defendant must give notice of their defence in a criminal trial can be exhausting to master.

These topics become Time Thieves because they force you into a cycle of reading, confusion, and rereading. You need a dedicated strategy to break this cycle.

The January 2026 Deadline: Clarity is Key

To keep your study plan focused, mark your calendar with the official assessment window. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed that the SQE 1 FLK1 is scheduled for January 12th–16th, 2026, and FLK2 for January 19th–23rd, 2026 [1].

While these dates anchor your final preparation phases, successful study starts now. It is crucial to check the official SRA pages for specific booking windows and locations to manage the administrative side of your exam [2].

Additionally, external providers also track these key milestones, confirming the timing of the assessments [3]. Use the remaining time wisely—it’s precious and finite.

Three Strategies to Decimate the Thieves

A targeted approach can reclaim those lost study hours and turn your weaknesses into strengths.

1. Conceptual Frameworks (Stop Reading, Start Mapping)

For topics like Land Law or Procedure, the problem isn't the individual rule; it's the structure. Instead of simply highlighting textbooks, create visual mind maps or flowcharts.

Flowcharts for Procedure: Map out a linear legal process (e.g., commencing a civil claim, from pre-action protocol to trial). Include decision points (e.g., "Is the claim over £10,000?" or "Has the limitation period expired?") and attach the relevant Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) to the corresponding arrow.
Hierarchical Charts for Property: Structure Land Law from the top down: distinguish between personal and proprietary rights, then registered vs. unregistered title, and finally, the methods of creation. This turns a block of text into a navigable legal structure.

2. Practice-Led Learning (The Application Test)

The SQE 1 tests Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK), meaning you must apply the law, not just recite it. For highly fact-sensitive topics like Professional Conduct, purely passive reading is useless.

Integrate MCQs Immediately: As soon as you finish reading a section on a difficult topic, spend 30 minutes attempting related Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Reverse Engineering: When you get an answer wrong, don’t just look at the correct letter. Reverse-engineer the question:
1. Why was your chosen answer plausible but wrong?
2. Which specific rule from the SRA Code of Conduct made the correct answer the only choice? This active process embeds the application of the rule, turning abstract knowledge into functioning knowledge.

3. The Triage Method (Prioritise by Weakness and Weighting)

Some Time Thieves are unavoidable, but you don't need 100% mastery to pass. Adopt a triage method for allocating time:

Triage Your Weaknesses: Continuously track which areas you consistently score low on in mock exams. Spend 70% of your dedicated "Thief Time" on your most critical weaknesses, 20% on the next, and 10% on reviewing core strengths.
Prioritise by Weighting: Remember that subjects like Wills & Administration of Estates and Trusts are often tested together in FLK2. If you find one topic exceptionally difficult but it has a lower overall weighting compared to, say, Contract Law, allocate time proportional to its impact on your final score.
Aim for competence in difficult, high-weight areas and secure passes in the challenging but low-weight ones. Don't let the pursuit of perfection in one small area sacrifice broader competence.

Conclusion

By adopting these strategic approaches, you can disarm the SQE 1 Time Thieves.

Remember, the SQE 1 is a marathon of knowledge application. Start early, study smart, and you will walk into the January 2026 exam prepared, focused, and confident.