The SRA's specification is the boundary of the exam. Here is how to turn it into the one checklist you need.
Why the specification matters
The SRA publishes an assessment specification for SQE1. It lists what can be examined in every subject. If something is not in it, it is very unlikely to be examined. Textbooks go much wider than the specification, because they are written to explain the law, not to prepare you for this exam.
Turn it into a tracker
Make one page per subject in your notes. Copy the specification headings for that subject onto the page. Then give each line three ticks.
- Covered. You have read about it.
- Noted. You have a rule card for it, written in your own words.
- Recalled. You have answered questions on it with the book shut and got them right.
Only the third tick counts. The first two feel like progress but do not show up on exam day.
Read it like an examiner
Look at how much detail each line gives. Where the specification lists specific steps, time limits or thresholds, expect questions on that detail. Where a topic gets one line, know the core principle well and move on.
Check the version and the date
The law is examined as it stands on a cut-off date, which is four calendar months before the first assessment day in the window. The SRA has also consulted on changes that would first affect SQE1 in January 2028. Make sure the specification you use matches the sitting you are aiming at.
Try this now
Open the specification, pick the first subject you plan to study, and copy its headings onto a fresh page. That page is your first tracker.
Check yourself
Answer each one out loud before you open it.
What is the legal cut-off date for an SQE sitting?
The law as it stands four calendar months before the first assessment in the window.
Is ethics a separate SQE1 paper?
No. Ethics and professional conduct is examined throughout both FLK papers.
An original summary written for Head Start from the SRA specification and the law. Check the detail against your course materials. This is not legal advice.