As well as identifying your own knowledge gaps to guide revision, it can also be very useful to examine how gaps are distributed across the wider cohort of SQE candidates. 

Analysis of candidate performance in past SQE1 assessments reveals significant variation across different subject areas, highlighting which topics from the SQE syllabus consistently trip candidates up on exam day.

This data, published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), provides extra insight into where additional focus might pay off the most.

FLK1 Subject Performance

In Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 (FLK1), mean scaled scores ranged from a low of 278 (Dispute Resolution) to a high of 362 (Ethics), highlighting substantial differences in difficulty levels.

The most challenging FLK1 subjects, scoring below the pass mark of 300, were:

• Dispute Resolution (278)
• Business Law and Practice (279)
• Tort (289)
• Legal System of England & Wales (295)

These consistently lower scores suggest these subjects require more intensive preparation. If you find these areas difficult, you're not alone – allocate additional time for deeper conceptual understanding and focused SQE practice questions.

The stronger FLK1 subjects, scoring above 300, were:

• Ethics (362)
• Contract Law (335)
• Legal Services (302)

While these areas generally see better performance, they shouldn't be neglected. Ethics in particular shows the highest score, suggesting its principles might be more consistently applied or more predictably tested.

FLK2 Subject Performance

Functioning Legal Knowledge 2 (FLK2) subjects generally saw lower scores than FLK1. Scores ranged from 265 (Wills & Intestacy) to 354 (Ethics), with most subjects falling below the 300 threshold.

The most challenging FLK2 subjects were:

• Wills and Intestacy (265)
• Property Practice (278)
• Trust Law (285)
• Solicitors' Accounts (290)

These topics aren't inherently more difficult than those in Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 (FLK1), but students often dedicate less time to them, as they usually begin with FLK1 and run out of time later. Effective time management and clear prioritisation are therefore essential to ensure these areas receive adequate attention.

The stronger FLK2 subjects were:

• Ethics (354)
• Criminal Liability (317)
• Land Law (303)

Again, Ethics emerged as the highest-scoring area, reinforcing its status as a relatively more approachable subject.

The Difference Between Passing and Failing Candidates

An important pattern emerges when comparing passing and failing candidates: both groups follow similar performance patterns across subjects, with everyone generally doing better in the same "easier" subjects and struggling with the same difficult ones. 

However, the magnitude of the difference between passing and failing candidates varies significantly by subject.

The largest performance gaps between passing and failing candidates appeared in:

• FLK1: Tort and Business Law and Practice
• FLK2: Land Law, Trust Law, and Criminal Liability

These areas represent the subjects where extra effort could most significantly impact your overall results. If you're currently struggling with these topics, focused improvement here could make the difference between passing and failing.

Retaking Candidates

For candidates retaking the exam, certain subjects deserve particular attention. The data shows that the largest score drops between first and second attempts occurred in:

• Tort (FLK1, 36 points lower)
• Trust Law (FLK2, 33 points lower)
• Business Law and Practice (FLK1, 30 points lower)

If you're preparing for a resit, these subjects clearly require renewed approaches and extra effort.

Interestingly, third-attempt candidates sometimes performed better than second-attempt candidates in certain areas (notably Ethics in FLK2), suggesting that persistence and adjusted study techniques can indeed lead to improvements. 

A second failure doesn't predict an inevitable third failure – learning from past mistakes can lead to eventual success.