My first tutoring season (EQE 2022)

Reflecting on the last few months… 🤔

In September 2021, without making any serious plans, I posted on LinkedIn that I would start a study group and would offer tutoring for a few EQE candidates. My initial idea was to create a study program for a small group (4-5 candidates) preparing for the 4 main exams. However, after reading a number of inquiries, I realised that the majority of the candidates interested in my tutoring services were not planning to take all 4 exams.

So, I quickly came up with a slightly different plan and in the first week of September I started a D1 study group.

D1 study group

Before starting, I created a study plan. I divided the legal topics so that they would fill the available weeks until the end of December. (We started with PCT so that we don’t leave this important topic to the end.)

From January, I planned doing D1 exams from previous years to refresh all topics and practice under time pressure.

We discussed about 6-8 legal questions every Saturday, the meetings were about 75 minutes long. I always recorded the meetings so that anyone who could not join would be able to watch our discussion later.

There are a few things I would do differently, for example planning a break for Christmas.😅 However, the structure seemed to work really well and starting in September proved to be very important!

Intensive D1 study group

In December, I also started an intensive D1 study group for 5 people. We covered 100 D1 questions in 3 months, going topic by topic, starting with PCT.

I loved helping these two D1 study groups! The candidates were actively supporting each other and keeping the motivation high.

For EQE 2023, I will start two D1 groups similarly to EQE 2022, but improving a number of things. (More details in a few months.)

1:1 tutoring

For the other exams (A, B, C and D2), I offered 1:1 tutoring sessions for candidates that contacted me.

I am not yet fully sure if this kind of tutoring will continue for EQE 2023.

Real-time exams - sharing my e-EQE methodology

In January and February I organised several online group sessions. During these sessions, I was doing previous exams live, while commenting on what I was doing and why. I used a simple text editor similar to WISEflow.

I did 2015 and 2021 Paper D2, 2015 and 2021 Paper C, 2019 and 2021 Paper A and 2018 Paper B in order to show my e-EQE methodology.

After finishing the exam, candidates could ask about my methodology.

I have no idea how this idea came to my mind, but the feedback I received from you was really good. You said that this was the most practical and useful course for the e-EQE.🤩

I am planning on organising more live exams, and I will start earlier, probably already in September.

Some interesting statistics

A very small number of candidates were surprised that these study groups were not free. I think that the above infographic clearly shows how much time tutoring requires. It is basically a full time job, but pays less, because one cannot really charge for preparation. I also have a lot of associated costs, such as paying for the domain, website and Zoom, just to mention a few. Furthermore, money motivates me to provide the best service I can, and it also makes candidates appreciate my time more. (Weirdly enough, people don’t appreciate free things so much.)

My EQE blog and downloadable materials will stay free, I promise!

Other

In December, I posted daily Paper D tips and random legal facts on LinkedIn as an Advent Calendar. Not as fun as chocolate, but the daily posts seemed to be appreciated.

In February, I organised a virtual AMA session where candidates could ask 3 freshly qualified EPAs and a free PCT refresher course with the help of Cees Mulder.

These meetings were free and quite popular.

EQE Blog

The blog posts were less frequent, but I also updated many previous articles and managed to share a few new articles.

My EQE blog became known among candidates, in February there were several days with over 1000 visits. The blog hit a record of more than 2500 visits on 7th February. Not that I check this daily, but I checked in the middle of March and was really surprised.

Thank you everyone! A huge thank you for your every single comment, message, email, and donation! I definitely couldn't have done this without you. (I mean it!)

I am aware that the blog could be more user friendly (it is not that simple to search). I will try to update my website in the upcoming months.

Feedback

If you attended any of my real-time exam sessions or were a regular reader of my blog, please send me feedback so that I can improve. If you have any positive feedback, I would love to publish it!