SQE1 Time Management: How to Pace Yourself During the Assessment

Effective time management is a critical component of success in SQE1. Even candidates with strong functional legal knowledge can struggle if they lose control of pacing during the assessment. Understanding how time operates in the exam, and having a clear strategy in place, can make a significant difference to performance.

Understanding the SQE1 timing structure

Each SQE1 assessment runs for 153 minutes, with an on-screen timer counting down to zero. Candidates are required to answer 90 questions, meaning sustained focus and consistent pacing are essential throughout the exam.

Practical strategies for managing time in SQE1

The following points may help candidates approach SQE1 time management in a structured and realistic way:

1. Work to fixed time intervals
A commonly effective approach is to aim to complete approximately 20 questions every 30 minutes. This allows you to break the assessment into manageable segments rather than viewing it as a single, extended block of time.

It can be helpful to familiarise yourself in advance with your 30-minute timing points (for example, 123 minutes remaining, then 93 minutes remaining, and so on). At each point, briefly check how many questions you have answered and adjust your pace if necessary.

2. Avoid over-investing time in individual questions
If you are uncertain about a particular question, it is often more time-efficient to select the best answer you can at that stage and flag the question for review. Spending excessive time on one question can disrupt your overall pacing, particularly as you will often need to revisit the question from scratch later in the assessment.

3. Use flagged questions strategically
Flagging questions allows you to return to them at the end, once you have completed the rest of the paper and have a clearer sense of how much time remains. This helps preserve momentum and reduces the risk of running out of time with unanswered questions.

4. Practise your timing strategy in advance
Time management strategies are most effective when they are familiar. Practising pacing during mock assessments helps ensure that checking the timer, monitoring progress, and adjusting speed become second nature on exam day.

Final thoughts

SQE1 rewards not only legal knowledge, but also disciplined execution under time pressure. A clear, practised approach to time management can help candidates stay calm, focused, and in control throughout the assessment.