Inside the TOLES Higher Exam: 10 Questions Explained
What does the TOLES Higher exam actually look like? In this lesson, I take you inside the official Higher demo and work through one question from each of its ten sections. Try each question before opening the answer. I then explain the vocabulary, grammar, preposition or contract-language point being tested. Remember if you want to take the full demo exam, you can do so here.
What is the TOLES Higher exam?
TOLES means Test of Legal English Skills. Higher is intended for learners who have progressed beyond Foundation Legal English and who have at least an intermediate level of general English. The exam tests Legal English reading and writing through vocabulary, grammar, collocations, prepositions, professional communication and contract language.
| Feature | TOLES Higher exam |
|---|---|
| Suggested general English foundation | B1+ |
| Sections | 10 |
| Questions | 95 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Marks | 100 marks: questions are worth one mark each, except the five questions in Section 10, which are worth two marks each |
| Main skills | Legal vocabulary, intermediate and upper-intermediate grammar, collocations, prepositions, reading comprehension, professional emails and contract language |
The timing challenge
You have 90 minutes to answer 95 questions. This gives you an average of approximately 57 seconds per question. Several sections contain reading texts, so you need to complete shorter vocabulary and preposition questions efficiently and protect enough time for the longer passages.
The ten sections at a glance
| Section | Task | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a missing word to complete a sentence | 10 | 1 each |
| 2 | Complete a lawyer–client conversation using words from a list | 15 | 1 each |
| 3 | Complete a seminar presentation using words and phrases from a list | 10 | 1 each |
| 4 | Choose the correct preposition to complete a sentence | 10 | 1 each |
| 5 | Complete a professional email accurately | 10 | 1 each |
| 6 | Read a lawyer–client conversation and answer true-or-false questions | 10 | 1 each |
| 7 | Choose missing words to complete a contract clause | 10 | 1 each |
| 8 | Choose missing prepositions in a contract clause | 5 | 1 each |
| 9 | Choose missing contract words from a list | 10 | 1 each |
| 10 | Choose phrases to complete a contract clause | 5 | 2 each |
Section 1
Choose the correct word:
My client’s defence is that the strike action taken by long-haul lorry drivers constituted a ______ event that prevented him from performing his obligations.
Options: dominant · intervening · supervening · supreme
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: supervening.
A supervening event is an event that occurs after an obligation or legal relationship has arisen and affects what follows. In contract law, it may be relevant when an event prevents or fundamentally changes performance.
An intervening act or event is commonly discussed in the law of tort when considering whether something has broken the chain of causation. The two expressions therefore belong to different common legal contexts.
| Expression | Common context |
|---|---|
| supervening event | An event arising later that affects contractual performance or legal obligations |
| intervening act/event | An event that may break the chain of causation in tort |
Section 2
You read a text first and then answer this question. Complete the client’s sentence:
I’ve been dealing with Helen Stevenson in your ______ department. I was in the process of buying a house, and then I found out that the sellers hadn’t been quite honest with me.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: conveyancing.
In England and Wales, conveyancing is the legal work involved in transferring ownership of land or property from one person or entity to another. A conveyancing department commonly deals with residential or commercial property transactions.
The later dispute might become a litigation matter, but the client initially dealt with the firm while buying a house. This context points to the conveyancing department.
Section 3
There is a text to read first. Complete the seminar introduction:
Our subject today is relevant to all of you as local businesses, ______ will frequently enter into contracts with consumers or with other businesses.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: as you.
The complete sentence is:
Our subject today is relevant to all of you as local businesses, as you will frequently enter into contracts with consumers or with other businesses.
Here, as means because or since. It introduces the reason why the subject is relevant. You supplies the subject of the following clause.
Section 4
Choose the correct preposition:
Ownership of the goods and the obligation to insure them passed to the buyer once the goods were loaded ______ the ship.
Options: onto · on · in · into
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: onto.
The verb pattern is load goods onto a ship, aircraft, train or truck. Onto describes movement to a position on the vehicle or vessel.
The sentence resembles language associated with an FOB sale. However, an Incoterm governs delivery, risk and specified costs and obligations; it does not by itself determine when ownership or title passes. The sale contract should address ownership separately.
Section 5
There is a text to read first. Choose the correct phrase:
I’m afraid that I have received notification from the High Court this morning that ______ 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 27 October and will not now take place on the original date.
Relevant options include: our hearing had been adjourned until · our hearing has been adjourned until · our hearing has been adjourned by
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: our hearing has been adjourned until.
To adjourn a hearing means to postpone it or suspend it until a later time or date. We use until before the new time.
The writer has received current news with a present result, so the present perfect passive—has been adjourned—is appropriate.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| adjourn a hearing until Friday | Postpone the hearing so that it will resume or take place on Friday |
| adjourn a hearing for two weeks | Postpone it for a period of two weeks |
Section 6
There is a text to read first. Decide whether the statement is true or false:
The Wilsons’ case has already been delayed with very little advance warning.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: true.
The conversation says that the parties were prepared for the case to come to court in October, but it was adjourned “on such short notice”.
The question paraphrases the conversation:
| Conversation | Question |
|---|---|
| adjournment | delay |
| on such short notice | with very little advance warning |
Reading questions often test whether you recognise meaning expressed through different words rather than repeated exactly.
Section 7
There is a text to read first. Complete the clause:
In relation to the ______ information provided by you to the Lender or the valuer of your property …
Options include: omitted · confidential · adverse · misleading
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: confidential.
Confidential information is information that is private or protected from unauthorised use or disclosure. It is a standard Legal English collocation.
Grammar helps you eliminate some choices: the gap comes before the noun information, so it requires a word that can function as an adjective. Context and collocation then help you select the best option.
Section 8
Choose the correct preposition:
Where the Supplier fails to deliver the Goods, or the Goods do not comply ______ the provisions of clause 4 …
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: with.
The fixed expression is comply with a law, regulation, requirement, standard or contractual provision.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| comply with — verb | The Goods must comply with the specification. |
| compliance with — noun | The Supplier must provide evidence of compliance with the regulations. |
Section 9
Choose the correct word:
During the ______ and for a period of one year afterwards, the Employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit any employee of the Company.
Options include: time · duration · term
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: term.
The term of a contract is the period for which it remains in force. The standard expression is during the term.
- during the term of the agreement
- for the duration of the agreement
Both expressions can communicate a similar idea, but they use different prepositions and sentence patterns.
Section 10
Choose the phrase that completes the clause:
If payment is not made on the due date, the Hirer shall be liable to pay interest to the Owner from the due date for payment at the annual rate of 5% ______ of Meridian Bank plc, accruing on a daily basis until payment is made.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: above the base lending rate from time to time.
The completed expression is:
at the annual rate of 5% above the base lending rate from time to time of Meridian Bank plc
From time to time indicates that the bank’s base rate may change during the relevant period. The contractual interest rate changes with it.
Important drafting point: “5% above the base lending rate” would normally be understood as five percentage points above the base rate, not five per cent of the base rate. For example, if the base rate were 4%, the stated rate would ordinarily be 9% per year. Clear drafting should remove any possible ambiguity.
Answer summary
| Section | Answer | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | supervening | supervening event |
| 2 | conveyancing | Legal work connected with transferring property |
| 3 | as you | As introduces a reason |
| 4 | onto | load goods onto a ship |
| 5 | has been adjourned until | Present perfect passive and time preposition |
| 6 | true | adjournment = delay; short notice = little warning |
| 7 | confidential | confidential information |
| 8 | with | comply with |
| 9 | term | during the term |
| 10 | above the base lending rate from time to time | Contractual interest calculation |
How to prepare for TOLES Higher
- Learn complete collocations. Record expressions such as supervening event, short notice, confidential information and comply with.
- Review intermediate and upper-intermediate grammar. The exam can test tense, passive forms, connecting words and prepositions inside Legal English tasks.
- Practise paraphrase recognition. Reading questions may express the same meaning using different words.
- Identify the required word class. Decide whether a gap requires a noun, adjective, verb, preposition or connecting phrase.
- Read real professional emails and contracts. Familiarity makes long clauses less intimidating.
- Practise under time pressure. You have less than one minute per question on average.
- Use the official TOLES book to prepare: ‘The LELC: Higher Level’ (B1/B2)
Useful TOLES resources
- See the official TOLES Higher exam demo
- Compare the official TOLES exam demos
- Read the official information for TOLES candidates
- Read my guide to the TOLES Legal English exams
- Learn how to test your Legal English level
- Watch my Legal English Level Testing playlist
Ways to learn Legal English
- Take a Legal English class
- Take a self-paced Legal English course
- Buy my book, Practical English Language Skills for Lawyers
- Watch my free Legal English video lessons
- Subscribe to my newsletter
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
How did you do? How many of the ten questions did you answer correctly? Which section did you find most challenging?
