SQE1: Managing Yourself at the Test Centre
With SQE1 beginning on Monday, many candidates are turning their attention to the practical realities of exam day itself. In practice, how you manage yourself at the test centre can have a significant impact on performance, quite apart from your underlying legal knowledge.
Test centres can feel very different from familiar study or work environments. They are often less comfortable, more distracting, and less predictable. Combined with the fact that SQE1 requires sustained concentration over more than five hours, it is common for candidates to experience fatigue, loss of focus, or rising anxiety during the assessment.
The following points may help candidates manage themselves more effectively on the day:
1. Reframe the importance of the day
While SQE1 is undoubtedly important, repeatedly telling yourself that everything depends on this single sitting is unlikely to be calming or helpful. Instead, it can be more constructive to remind yourself that you are prepared, that you have a plan, and that your task on the day is simply to execute that plan as effectively as possible.
2. Minimise focus on the test centre environment
Try to defocus from the surroundings as much as you can. The conditions may not be ideal, but they are largely outside your control. From a practical perspective, all you need is a functioning computer and the ability to read and answer the questions in front of you. Shifting attention away from the environment can help preserve mental energy for the exam itself.
3. Plan in advance for moments of anxiety
It can be helpful to visualise in advance what it feels like to remain calm and composed during the exam. Some candidates also find it useful to prepare a short phrase, mantra, or mental image they can return to if they begin to feel overwhelmed. This should be personal to you—something familiar and grounding that helps you regain perspective and reminds you that you are in control of your response.
Final thoughts
Managing yourself at the SQE1 test centre is as much about preparation and mindset as it is about legal knowledge. By anticipating the challenges of the environment and planning how you will respond to them, you can reduce the risk of anxiety undermining your performance and give yourself the best chance of staying focused throughout the assessment.