Law Exam Preparation and Success

Exam revision is intense, and it takes time to consolidate a year of learning. Start early, so that when exams arrive you are calm and well prepared. This guide covers how to revise, how to tackle problem and essay questions, and how to perform on the day.

Know your exam format

Law is examined in several ways, and each needs a slightly different approach:

• Unseen closed book exams, where you answer essay and problem questions from memory, sometimes with an approved statute book.
• Open book and online exams, often taken over a fixed window with a word limit. You can consult materials, but there is no time to learn the law during the exam, and referencing and academic integrity rules apply.
• Multiple choice exams, such as SQE1, which tests functioning legal knowledge through single best answer questions in two exams, FLK1 and FLK2. See our SQE page.
• Bar course centralised assessments in civil and criminal litigation, also set as single best answer questions. See our Bar course page.

A revision plan that works

1. Eight or more weeks before. Check the syllabus and exam format, choose your topics and draw up a revision timetable.
2. Four to eight weeks before. Condense your notes, learn key cases and statutes, and start answering past questions.
3. The last month. Practise full past papers under timed conditions and get feedback on your answers.
4. The final days. Review your condensed notes, rest well and confirm exam arrangements.

Much time can be spent learning cases, academic commentary and legislation, but without understanding the underlying concepts you will not achieve the results you want. For more on revision timetables, notes and active revision, see our Law Library study guide.

Answering problem questions

Problem questions test whether you can apply the law to a set of facts. A clear structure, often called IRAC, keeps your answer focused:

• Issue: identify each legal issue raised by the facts.
• Rule: state the relevant law, with authority from cases and statute.
• Application: apply the law to the facts, considering arguments on both sides.
• Conclusion: reach a clear conclusion on each issue, and on remedies where relevant.

Deal with each party and each issue in turn, use the facts you are given, and do not invent facts. Where the facts are unclear, say what further information you would need and how it would change your answer.

Answering essay questions

Essay questions test your critical understanding. Take a clear position in your introduction, build your argument paragraph by paragraph with authority and academic commentary, deal with counterarguments, and finish with a conclusion that answers the question. See our step by step guide to writing law essays.

On the day

• Read the whole paper before you start and choose your questions carefully.
• Divide your time according to the marks available, and stick to it.
• Spend a few minutes planning each answer before you write.
• Answer the question asked, using the instruction words as your guide.
• Leave a few minutes at the end to check your answers.
• In online exams, keep to the word limit and submission instructions, and save your work regularly.

Test yourself with past papers

The best way to test your revision is a serious, strictly timed attempt at a full past paper. It shows you what you know, what you do not and whether your timing works. Once you have answered a past paper, our tutors can mark it and give you detailed feedback, which can make a real difference to your confidence and your marks.

How we can help

Frequently asked questions

Want one to one help? Our tutors offer revision tutoring, mock exams and detailed feedback on your practice answers. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp to get started.