For anyone about to embark on their SQE preparation this is probably one of the first questions!

The SRA standardised exams for SQE1 are made up entirely of what are known as single-best-answer questions, or SBAQs. When tackling the exam, each of the 360 questions that candidates will be asked will have five options, of which they must choose one.

‘Is this not just a multiple-choice question??!’

Well, confusingly, sometimes it is, but a true SBAQ will have the following difference:

• The ‘correct’ option will not be the only answer that is technically correct, but it will be the best answer when you consider the additional factors set out in the question

These questions may take several forms, and the SRA have published some sample questions on their website, so you can check these out to see some examples:

• Question 3 from the FLK2 sample questions is in the context of trusts, and has candidates decide whether it is necessary to appoint a replacement trustee on the given facts. Even without viewing the question, it is obvious that the answers will fall into one of two categories: it either will be necessary or it won’t. So the best answer is determined by which one gives the right reason for the answer.

• Question 12 from the FLK2 sample questions is in the context of land law, and has candidates advise whether a seller is entitled to remove an item from a property.  Here candidates have to access which is the most likely application of the relevant tests. The answers aren’t right or wrong as such, as only a court could make that decision, but the ‘correct’ answer will be the most likely outcome.

• Question 5 from the FLK2 sample questions is in the context of wills and administration of estates, and is actually just an MCQ, as candidates are asked who has the best right to apply for a grant, and there is only one correct answer.

You can see from these examples that in reality the exams are made up of a mixture of MCQs and SBAQs, and that the SBAQs can take a number of forms.