SQE1 exams Nov 2021

I’ve heard so many students who sat the SQE1 saying the same thing! But from what I’m hearing from the Kaplan/SRA contact it’s in our imagination and that the exam questions are reflective of the sample questions but those who sat the exam know it’s not the case. There is definitely a gulf between the sample and real questions - I was in two minds about sitting the exam in November but after completing the sample questions (and scoring quite high considering I hadn’t finished my revision properly at that stage) I enrolled for the exam but got a real shock on the day when the exam questions were so different to the exam questions.
It’s not fair on current and future students because we are wasting our efforts and it costs a lot of money to sit (and then have to re-sit!) the exams.

Are you serious? The sample questions were different from the exam questions. The exam questions were so much harder and confusing. We should all complain on the focus group calls.

I think the SQE1 exam does put students through the wringer, it’s expensive, no chance of student funding, no precedence so students have no idea what is expected, discrepancy between sample and real questions and then the very tight timeframes (if I’ve done my calculations correctly there’s only about 12 weeks to study for the SQE2 once learning if you’ve passed SQE1).
Kaplan/SRA word their emails in a certain way but they have told students that there isn’t any difference between the sample questions and the real questions, that the sample questions were randomly pulled from the bank of questions that they have on file but I honestly believe there was a difference, they’ve also said that students should expect exams to be difficult but students haven’t been arguing that the exams are difficult they have been complaining about the discrepancies.

There was a definite difference in challenge between the sample questions and those on the SQE1. 4 days to go now, feels like it has been an eternity. SQE2 is a competely different kettle of fish - I'm thinking of taking time to defer (which Barbri let you do) and taking the second cohort of tasks. I'm not sure you can revise for the SQE2, because there are basically an infinite number of scenarios across the whole of law, which considering most people focus in one or a few areas, is not necessarily representative of real life.

Good luck for Thursday.

I had my focus group call with SRA/Kaplan on Monday. I don't think a single person said anything positive! They basically said thanks for your feedback and we will take it all into account going forward. I think we should have all done the July 2022 SQE1 exam as we wouldn't have been the first test takers. I think SQE1 and SQE2 in October 2022 will be easier.

I also got an email from Kaplan saying that April 2022 SQE2 oral assessments might be postponed due to high COVID-19 cases. I have a disability and when I applied for reasonable adjustments, they said I will get it but just so I am aware, there is a possibility that the April SQE2 is moved for all test takers due to recent COVID cases. This will cause more stress so I might just postpone my BPP course to do the SQE2 in October.

I didn’t get an email it would be postponed the April 2022 when was this now I am worried about my results 😭

Good luck too Alenamai.
Even if I pass I am not going to sit the SQE2 in April - I’ve had my fingers burnt already taking the SQE1 in the first cohort of students and I am happy to let somebody else be the guinea pig. I do feel very disheartened at the way that students have been treated - obviously I have mentioned on here a few times that the discrepancy between the sample and real questions made a big difference on the day but even down to having to wait the full 10 weeks before we get our results back so impacting our timeframe to pay for and start learning the SQE2 materials is unhelpful (at the time we were told results would be between 6-10 weeks and of course it’s 10 weeks to the day before we get our results). Not many students, without funding, can afford to pay for SQE2 (in the hope of making a head start on studying) to then find out they’ve failed the SQE1 and pay £1500 for the resit. And to think the SRA argued, when implementing the SQE exams, that the new exams would be affordable and become more accessible to students. The SRA must know they’ve screwed up but they are closing ranks and not admitting it.
I just want Thursday over and done with now so I know what path to choose next.

Good luck too Alenamai.
Even if I pass I am not going to sit the SQE2 in April - I’ve had my fingers burnt already taking the SQE1 in the first cohort of students and I am happy to let somebody else be the guinea pig. I do feel very disheartened at the way that students have been treated - obviously I have mentioned on here a few times that the discrepancy between the sample and real questions made a big difference on the day but even down to having to wait the full 10 weeks before we get our results back so impacting our timeframe to pay for and start learning the SQE2 materials is unhelpful (at the time we were told results would be between 6-10 weeks and of course it’s 10 weeks to the day before we get our results). Not many students, without funding, can afford to pay for SQE2 (in the hope of making a head start on studying) to then find out they’ve failed the SQE1 and pay £1500 for the resit. And to think the SRA argued, when implementing the SQE exams, that the new exams would be affordable and become more accessible to students. The SRA must know they’ve screwed up but they are closing ranks and not admitting it.
I just want Thursday over and done with now so I know what path to choose next.

I didn’t get an email it would be postponed the April 2022 when was this now I am worried about my results 😭

It would be interesting to compared SQE2 with the LPC in terms of subjects covered (which is fairly wide such as civil litigation, criminal litigation, business law including company law, partnership law, tax etc, solicitors' accounts, professional conduct, advocacy, interviewing, property/real estate law, wills and trusts,legal writing, drafting (those last two are separate), interviewing and then the last term of your chosen three electives eg employment law, IP/commercial law and private acquisitions so exams in about 14 subjects on the LPC. Anyway good luck to anyone doing SQE2.

Having started the SQE2 course, I can honestly say that 12 weeks will not be enough time for me. The prep course I am doing is good but I will need time to embed the skills and develop answers to the scenarios. I am wondering what time tomorrow the results will be released?

In the email it’s says by 3pm we will get an email before apparently- probably will be at 3pm I am getting nervous now- can’t sleep ☹️

I have not had an email that says by 3pm. I am stupidly thinking of setting my alarm for midnight just to see if they are released at one minute past midnight - I have literally been unable to sleep for the last 3 nights - this is torture!

Anyone received the email?