In this video, we put together videos of more than 25 former QLTS School’s candidates who share their tips for success and offer advice to future candidates preparing for the QLTS assessments. Here are the highlights:

• Do not underestimate the exams and take the preparation very seriously – the syllabus is comprehensive and requires thorough preparation
• Start your preparation as early as possible – allow yourself sufficient time to study
• Do as many practice questions and mock exams as possible and use your tutor
• Try to take the OSCE shortly after completing the MCT
• Taking the QLTS assessments and becoming a dual-qualified English solicitor is a good investment which will undoubtedly benefit your legal career

Check our various course packages for the MCT and OSCE, and start your preparation for the assessments in just a few days. more

The post Tips for Success for Future QLTS Candidates appeared first on | QLTS School.

Live QLTS Webinar – Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 6.00pm – 7.00pm (GMT/UTC) 

Join Marc and the team at QLTS School and attend a free, hour-long webinar:

“How to Succeed on the QLTS Assessments” 

The webinar will cover the following topics:

• Why you should become a dual-qualified an English solicitor?

• The strcuture of the assessments – MCT and OSCE exams and eligibility criteria

• Preparation courses offered by QLTS School

• Tips for success in the assessments

• Q & A session

The presentation will show you why hundreds of lawyers have taken the QLTS and chosen QLTS School as their training provider.

The webinar is intended for anyone who is still undecided whether to take the QLTS or to sign up for a course.
Register for the webinar now >>>

We hope to see you there.

Taylor Hannon
QLTS School
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 117 6077
Email: info@qlts.co.uk
Website: www.QLTS.co.uk

The post Live Webinar – How to Succeed on the QLTS Assessments – Sunday, December 13, 2015 appeared first on | QLTS School.

You’ve probably heard that the QLTS assessments are challenging, but with proper planning and preparation, you can succeed. It all starts with a clear understanding of the exam requirements and the level of commitment you are willing to make.

To keep you on track to succeed on your first attempt, QLTS School helps you overcome potential challenges right from the beginning, with solutions that are customised especially for your needs and circumstances.

Lack of complete preparation and understanding of the SRA requirements

It’s no secret that preparing for the QLTS assessments can be intense and demanding. Comprehensive and rigorous preparation is, therefore, crucial to passing the two parts of the QLTS assessments – MCT and OSCE. Whether you are a lawyer qualified in a common law or civil law jurisdiction, the range of subjects tested on the QLTS assessments is comprehensive and covers a variety of areas that a non-UK lawyer is unlikely to be familiar with. The SRA requires you to demonstrate you possess the same level of knowledge, understanding and skills expected of a newly qualified English solicitor who followed the domestic route to qualification.

A comprehensive review and preparation programme is therefore necessary to anchor knowledge in a broad set of topics and focus your efforts on studying all the topics covered in the assessments.

Solution: A comprehensive training programme

Successful QLTS candidates must have a thorough academic knowledge and understanding of all subject areas, but also the ability to apply their practical skills in simulated environments. QLTS School’s preparation courses for the MCT and OSCE are both comprehensive and highly focused on what candidates need to pass the assessments on the first attempt. No other training provider can offer a similar level of instructional excellence and content quality.

The courses are suitable for any lawyer from any background: for those who have little or extensive legal experience; whether English is your first or second language; whether you work full-time or part-time. Whatever your circumstances are, we’ll tailor-make your preparation and help you succeed in the QLTS assessments.

And candidates who prepare with QLTS School are twice as likely to pass as non-QLTS School candidates – data validated by an independent research firm. The same research also suggests that 3 out of 4 candidates who pass the MCT assessment, study with QLTS School.

Time Management and Exam Technique

A typical QLTS School candidate spends 6-9 months in total preparing to pass the two parts of the assessments. It’s therefore important to allocate the total preparation time appropriately and devote adequate time to each part of the assessments. Both the MCT and OSCE assessments are timed exams and you have to answer the questions accurately and quickly. To do so, you will need to learn how to understand the question quickly, identify the legal issues raised, and respond instinctively.

For the MCT, you need to allow maximum 1.5 to 2 minutes per question. Task-based simulations on the OSCE require at least 1 hour for advocacy and interviewing. Allow 30 minutes for legal writing, 45 minutes for legal drafting, 1 hour for online legal research, depending on your written ability.

Solution: Practice and planning

QLTS School’s preparation courses include timed exercises that assess your strongest and weakest areas, for both the MCT and OSCE. Our course offers thousands of MCT practice questions so that you will understand the material that will be tested and become familiar with the way the questions are phrased. And with dozens of mock tests simulating the real format of the assessments, you will be able to practise under exam-like conditions in the build-up to exam day.

Depending on the course package you opt for, our expert tutors will show you how to structure time for each assessment and provide valuable timesaving tips.

The Unique Exam Environment

The QLTS assessments present a unique challenge and environments that may be uncomfortable to you without practice. If you have sat a multiple choice test like the MCT in the past, you will appreciate that practising and attempting as many exam questions as possible is the key to your success. You need to familiarise yourself with the format and type of questions the examiner uses in the actual test (check this free sample MCT test with 20 questions).

The OSCE assessment, on the other hand, requires you to demonstrate the ability to show more than academic skills alone, and apply the practical skills expected of a solicitor, e.g. to interview or advise a client orally. You must also be proficient in using the legal research databases of both LexisLibrary and Westlaw.

See below an advocacy sample exercise:

Solution: Simulation of exam conditions

The tools and materials contained within QLTS School’s preparation courses, in particular our mock tests, are specially designed to simulate the MCT and OSCE formats so that on the day of the assessment you can focus on answering the questions, not figuring out the format and requirements. With our preparation courses, QLTS School’s candidates learn to master:

1. The legal practice areas and five skills – through a suite of study tools such as comprehensive and exam-focussed textbooks, video tutorials and extensive online resources.

2. Answering MCT questions in the same format, structure and level of difficulty as the real exam, within a time limit of 2 hours and 45 minutes per exam session. Our mock tests are attempted online in a similar way to the formal MCT, which is a computer-based assessment, and can now be taken in various locations around the world.

3. Attempting OSCE mock tests with an expert tutor, receiving immediate feedback on your performance, its weaknesses and strengths, and how you could improve before exam day in order to meet the SRA requirements.

Check our free sample training material for the MCT and OSCE assessments.

Lack of Self-Discipline

It’s not uncommon for QLTS candidates to put off their actual assessment date even after they have started to prepare, whether as result of personal or work commitments. This can result in delaying your career plans, losing fees already paid to the assessment provider, as well as missing assessment dates.

To maximise your chance of success on your first attempt, commit to a date of qualification and map out a plan to:

• Complete preparation for each assessment
• Take the MCT and OSCE on schedule

Solution: Structured methodology and flexible schedule

When scheduling your preparation, take into account the amount of time you have available each week, both on weekdays and weekend, to commit to preparing for the assessment.

QLTS School offers customised study plans and initial guidance to help you stay on track and lead you to success within just a few months.

If you want the freedom to study at your own pace, while you’re still working full-time, whether you are based in the UK or elsewhere, QLTS School’s expert tutors will help you develop an individual study plan based on your personal circumstances and requirements, that will prepare you to pass the QLTS assessments.

Getting Started with the QLTS

Preparing to pass the QLTS assessments requires a considerable investment of time and energy. QLTS School can help ensure you maximise your return on investment, and pass the first time..

*QLTS School’s candidates pass at about double the rate—or more—compared to non-QLTS School candidates, based on Kaplan’s published pass rates. Data verified by ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI), an independent, third-party research firm.

The post QLTS Assessments: Challenges and Solutions appeared first on | QLTS School.

In this blog post we will focus on a tax calculation question, which is one of the areas many QLTS candidates struggle with. We will analyse a sample income tax question you may come across in the MCT assessment, asking you about the total tax liability of the taxpayer. You will be expected by the SRA to know how to make such a calculation.

Let’s now look at the fact pattern.

A person who was born in 1950 has income of £11,000 from employment, £3,000 savings (interest) and £600 dividends during the tax year. The bank deducted at source 20% of the savings income in respect of income tax. How much income tax is payable by the person, if any, based on these figures, for the 2014-2015 tax year? The figures given in the fact pattern are grossed up.

Assumptions:

Personal allowance = those born after the 6th of April 1948 – £10,000 (income limit of £100,000); those born between the 6th of April 1938 and the 5th of April 1948 – £10,500 (income limit of £27,000); those born before the 6th of April 1938 – £10,660 (income limit of £27,000).

Rates = Savings £0 – £2,880: 10%; non-savings income from £0 – £31,865: 20% (basic rate); income from £31,866 – £150,000: 40% (higher rate); income over £150,000: 45% (additional rate).

Dividends = 10% (basic); 32.5% (higher rate); 37.5% (additional rate).

You will be give five possible options in the formal MCT assessment:

A. £500

B. £72

C. £672

D. 0, and the taxpayer is entitled to a refund of £128

E. 0, and the taxpayer is entitled to a refund of £328

Suggested solution:

First, pay attention to the relevant tax year which is 2014-2015. The total income liable to income tax is £14,600 (£11,000 + £3,000 + £600). From this amount, the personal allowance of £10,000 (the person was born in 1950) is deducted and exhausted by the non-savings income, leaving taxable income of £4,600 ((£14,600 – £10,000). The basic rate (20%) applies to the taxable non-savings income after deducting the Personal Allowance (£11,000 – £10,000 = £1,000), giving £200.

After the employment income has all been accounted for, there remains £1,880 of savings income available to be taxed at the savings rate of 10% ((£10,000 + £2,880) – £11,000 = £1,880). The tax payable on this portion of the savings (interest) is £188 (£1,880 x 10%). The final £1,120 of the savings income (£3,000 – £1,880 = £1,120) is taxed at the basic rate of 20%, which comes to £224, and the tax on dividends (at 10%) is £60 (£600 x 10%).

The total income tax payable is therefore £672 (£200 + £188 + £224 +£60). However, as £600 was already deducted at source by the bank, the taxpayer has an outstanding income tax liability of £72 in 2014-2015 (£672 – £600).

Employment income:
£11,000 – £10,000 = £1,000

£1,000 x 0.2 (20%) = £200
Savings income (interest) at the rate of 10%:
£1,880 x 0.1 (10%) = £188

£1,120 x 0.2 (20%) = £224
Dividend:
£600 x 0.1 (10%) = £60
Total income tax liability:

£200 + £188 + £224 + £60 = £672
Savings income deducted at source by the bank:

£3,000 x 0.2 (20%) = £600

£672 – £600 = £72.

Hence, the correct answer is B.

Now, let’s see how the calculation will change if the relevant tax year is 2015-2016.

Assumptions:

Personal allowance = those born after the 6th of April 1938 – £10,600 (income limit of £100,000); those born before the 6th of April 1938 – £10,660 (income limit of £27,700).

Rates = Savings £0 – £5,000: a rate of zero; non-savings income from £0 – £31,785: 20% (basic rate); income from £31,786 – £150,000: 40% (higher rate); income over £150,000: 45% (additional rate).

Dividends = 10% (basic); 32.5% (higher rate); 37.5% (additional rate).
As we can see, the income limits, personal allowance, and rates for savings income in 2015-2016 are different compared to 2014-2015.

From April 2015, if the taxpayer’s total income (e.g., wages, pension, benefits and savings income) is no more than their personal allowance, plus £5,000, they will be eligible to register for tax-free savings, with their bank or building society. The basic tax-free personal allowance is £10,600.

Non-savings income is always taxed before savings income. So the tax-free £5,000 savings band only applies if the taxpayer earns less than £15,600 a year in non-savings income, or if some of their savings income falls into the £5,000 that sits on top of their personal allowance.

The person’s income from employment is £11,000. The tax free personal allowance is £10,600, so the person is taxed at 20% (the basic rate of income tax), on £400 (£11,000-£10,600) of his wages. The person is eligible for the zero rate for the remainder of the £5,000 tax free band of savings income; because his wages exceeded his personal allowance by £400, it reduced the tax free band of savings income by £400.

When you add up the person’s earnings and his savings income it comes to £14,600 (£11,000 + £3,000 + £600), which is less than £15,600 so the person is eligible to register for tax-free savings for the entire £3,000 earned which will not be taxed at all. The tax rate on the dividend will be 10%. The person’s total tax liability is, therefore:

Employment income:
£11,000 – £10,600 = £400
£400 x 0.2 (20%) = £80

Savings income (interest) at the zero rate:
£3,000 x 0 (0%) = £0

Dividend:
£600 x 0.1 (10%) = £60
Total income tax liability for the 2015-2016 tax year:

£80 + £0 + £60 = £140

Savings income deducted at source by the bank:

£3,000 x 0.2 (20%) = £600

£140 – £600 = -£460. i.e., £460 should be paid back to the person by HMRC.

This sample question shows why it’s so important to attempt as many practice questions as possible and ensure you know how to calculate tax liability when you sit the MCT assessment. Simply reading what the current tax rates are will not suffice.

The total time you should devote to answer each question on the MCT is not more than 1 minute and 50 seconds (based on a 330-minute exam with a total of 180 questions). Therefore, you must be very well-acquainted with this type of question, otherwise it may affect your prospects of success.

Our MCT Online Training System contains dozens of tax calculation questions in a format similar to the MCT assessments, in addition to thousands of questions covering other areas of law.

Check our MCT course packages and ensure you are well prepared for the assessment.

The post How to Calculate Income Tax Liability in the MCT Assessment? appeared first on | QLTS School.

We know that taking the QLTS assessments means a substantial investment in terms of your time, money and effort. We also appreciate that as part of your research you may want to pre-evaluate the course materials offered to you before you sign up for a course.

To see how we can help you succeed, we invite you to access a demo version of the MCT Online Training System – so you can discover what QLTS School will offer you when you study with us for the MCT assessment, including:

• A snapshot of the 15 MCT mock tests – the exams are in a similar format to the formal assessment (with 90 questions each, timed at 2 hours and 45 minutes). You will also have access to a free 20-question sample test

• A preview of the MCT Video Library – over 80 online tutorials with professional presentations, spanning 35+ hours of lectures, available to watch on your computer, iPad, iPhone or Android devices

• Sample questions on each of the SRA 11 Outcomes – the questions are excellent for revision purposes after you have completed reading the textbooks and before you attempt the 15 mock tests (full version of the training system includes access to over 1,000 practice questions)

• Several pages taken from each of the 11 MCT textbooks – the textbooks are provided in a hard copy format, updated regularly and will be shipped to any destination around the world within a few days after your enrolment for the MCT course (the total number of pages in all 11 textbooks is over 2,000)

• Excerpts from the revision notes – concise summaries of all the 11 practice areas you will be tested on the MCT assessment, downloadable in a PDF format (the study pack includes over 300 pages in total)

Access to the demo version of the MCT Online Training System is completely free –  no registration required and there is no obligation to sign up for a course. Simply click here to access the learning system,

We believe that once you have reviewed the content and will better understand the scope of the syllabus, you’ll appreciate why you must have an experienced and well-established training provider such as QLTS School to help you with your preparation.

If you are ready to move forward and start preparing for the MCT assessment, visit our MCT course packages page to learn more about our various offerings. We are looking forward to help you succeed in the QLTS assessments.

The post Demo Version of the MCT Online Training System appeared first on | QLTS School.

Mastering the Five Skills in Order to Achieve Success on the Practical Assessment

QLTS Skills Online is a great support tool for learning the skills required on the OSCE assessment, the second element of the QLTS.

A short book available to download online which accompanies this online resource introduces candidates to the concepts behind the skills while a series of online interactive exercises, some featuring video and audio material, offer candidates a way to practise the skills required, preparing them for the mock practice stations and formal assessment.

Covering legal writing and drafting, advocacy, interviewing, and online legal research, QLTS Skills Online complements and builds on any existing course material provided to you by QLTS School and the tutors. You are also given the chance to put the skills into practice in a realistic case study.

Key Benefits:

• More than 60 interactive exercises covering the five skills tested on the OSCE in the context of litigation, business law, and conveyancing, ensuring that you gain genuinely transferable knowledge of the skills
• Video and audio material complements the exercises to provide a varied and interesting resource that engages candidates, making it an easy tool to use to improve your legal skills
• A 100-page accompanying book ensures that you are familiar with the principles behind each skill and provides examples taken from day-to-day practice
• Videoed interviews with practitioners offer you an insight into how the skills you are learning will be used throughout your professional career

The online format of the resource ensures that you are able to practise the skills stipulated on the OSCE assessment, rather than merely reading about them, enabling you to feel more confident during mock assessments and ultimately, during the formal practical assessment.

To give you an idea of what to expect, we have created a demo version of QLTS Skills Online. The demo includes one exercise per skill area.

Start the Free Demo Now

Download s Sample from the Book

Access to QLTS Skills Online is offered as an integral part of our OSCE Advantage and Premium Course Packages .

The post QLTS Skills Online – an Innovative, Interactive and Enjoyable Online Tool to Prepare for the OSCE Assessment appeared first on | QLTS School.

An important update to the MCT course will be released next week, covering various aspects on Taxation and Business Law.

We are planning to release a major update to the MCT course in April 2017 (about 30 pages), which will cover the new tax rates and allowances for the 2017-18 tax year which have been recently announced by the UK Government and take affect this week. Among other topics, the update will also include the new tax allowances for property and trading income, and the new main residence nil rate band.

The April 2017 update will also cover the new insolvency rules which come into force this month (eg the ‘cash flow or balance sheet tests’).

The updated content will be relevant to the next MCT which is scheduled for July 2017 (and beyond), so it’s essential that you log in to your online account and carefully read through the documents once released. We will also include new practice questions in the MCT Online Training System covering these new and updated areas of law, to help you better understand the implications of the new laws. The updated content will be provided at no additional cost to all of our registered candidates.

According to the information conveyed to us by Kaplan a couple of weeks ago, candidates sitting the July 2017 and February 2018 MCT assessments would be expected to know something about the taxation rules for both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 tax years. Hence, Kaplan do not limit their testing of taxation issues to a single tax year for the QLTS assessments. The practice questions and 15 mock exams will reflect these guidelines. You are also reminded that unless otherwise stated in advance by Kaplan, candidates are assessed on the law in force at the time of the assessment.

Understating the new laws and their implications is therefore imperative and could be the difference between failure and success in the MCT assessment.

If you are not signed up yet for QLTS School MCT Course, check our MCT course packages to ensure you are well prepared for the assessment.

The post Important Updates to the MCT Course (April 2017) appeared first on | QLTS School.