What Is the SQE?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the centralised assessment that all aspiring solicitors in England and Wales must pass to qualify and be admitted to the roll of solicitors. Introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in September 2021, it replaced the former Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract route with a single, standardised pathway open to graduates of any discipline.
The SQE consists of two stages: SQE1 tests Functioning Legal Knowledge through 360 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, while SQE2 assesses practical legal skills through 16 oral and written tasks. Candidates must also complete 2 years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) — which can be done before, during, or after the assessments — and pass a character and suitability test before admission.
The exam is administered by Kaplan on behalf of the SRA. Unlike the old route, the SQE is designed to be a consistent, fair, and accessible single standard regardless of where or how candidates studied. Law graduates, non-law graduates with a conversion course (SQE prep), CILEx lawyers, and international lawyers can all take the same assessment.
Key Facts
Official Site
- Provider: Kaplan (on behalf of SRA)
- Replaced: LPC (from September 2021)
- Work exp: 2 years QWE required
- Eligibility: Law + non-law graduates
- Attempts: Unlimited
- Order: Flexible — any sequence
- Result: Pass/Fail only (no grades)
- Sittings: Multiple per year
- Results: 6–8 weeks after sitting
- Parts: SQE1 (MCQ) + SQE2 (practical)
- Purpose: Qualify as solicitor in England & Wales
Source: SRA Official
Key Facts & Statistics
SQE by the Numbers:
- SQE1 format: 360 single-best-answer MCQs across 2 assessments (180 each), 10 hours total exam time
- SQE2 format: 16 oral and written tasks across 5 assessments, testing practical legal skills
- QWE requirement: 2 years (full-time equivalent) of legal work in up to 4 different organisations
- SQE1 pass rate: ~53% (Assessment 1) and ~56% (Assessment 2) — first cohorts 2022-2024
- SQE2 pass rate: ~68–72% overall
- Annual candidates: ~12,000–15,000 across both stages
- Cost: SQE1 ~£1,622 + SQE2 ~£2,493 = ~£4,115 (exam fees only, prep courses extra)
- Prep course costs: £3,000–£15,000+ depending on provider and format
- Attempts: Unlimited (no cap on retakes)
- Exam sittings: SQE1 offered 4 times/year; SQE2 offered 3 times/year
- Results timeline: 6–8 weeks after assessment window closes
- International candidates: ~30% of takers are international/overseas-qualified lawyers
- Transitional arrangements: LPC route fully closed — all new entrants must use SQE from 2022 onwards
The SQE Pathway
SQE Qualification Pathway
flowchart TD
A["Degree
Any discipline — law or non-law"] --> B["SQE Preparation
SQE prep course or self-study"]
B --> C["SQE1: Functioning Legal Knowledge
360 MCQs across 2 assessments
10 hours total"]
C -->|Pass| D["SQE2: Practical Legal Skills
16 oral & written tasks
5 assessments"]
D -->|Pass| E["2 Years QWE
Qualifying Work Experience
Up to 4 organisations"]
E --> F["Character & Suitability Check
SRA assessment"]
F --> G["Admitted to the Roll
Practising Solicitor in England & Wales"]
H["QWE can be done
before, during, or
after SQE1/SQE2"] -.-> C
H -.-> D
H -.-> E
style A fill:#132440,color:#fff
style C fill:#3B9797,color:#fff
style D fill:#BF092F,color:#fff
style E fill:#16476A,color:#fff
style G fill:#132440,color:#fff
Flexible Pathway: Unlike the old training contract model, the SQE pathway is highly flexible. You can complete QWE in any order relative to SQE1 and SQE2. You could work for 2 years first, then sit the exams — or take the exams while accumulating experience. QWE can also be split across up to 4 different organisations (law firms, in-house legal teams, charities, government bodies, etc.).
SQE1: Functioning Legal Knowledge
Assessment Structure
SQE1 tests your ability to apply legal knowledge to realistic client scenarios through 360 single-best-answer (SBA) multiple-choice questions. The questions are scenario-based — you're given a factual situation and must identify the best legal answer from 5 options.
| Assessment | Questions | Duration | Subject Areas Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLK1 (Assessment 1) | 180 SBA MCQs | 5 hours (2 × 2.5 hr sessions) | Business Law & Practice, Dispute Resolution, Contract, Tort, Legal System, Constitutional/Admin Law, EU Law, Legal Services |
| FLK2 (Assessment 2) | 180 SBA MCQs | 5 hours (2 × 2.5 hr sessions) | Property Practice, Wills & Intestacy/Probate, Solicitors Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, Criminal Law & Practice, Tax Law |
Important: FLK1 and FLK2 are sat in the same assessment window (usually across 2 consecutive days) but are independently assessed. You must pass BOTH to clear SQE1. If you fail one but pass the other, you only retake the failed assessment.
Subject Areas
| Subject | Assessment | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Business Law & Practice | FLK1 | Company formation, directors' duties, partnership law, insolvency, share capital, corporate governance |
| Dispute Resolution | FLK1 | Civil litigation procedure (CPR), pre-action protocols, ADR, enforcement, appeals, costs |
| Contract Law | FLK1 | Formation, terms, breach, remedies, misrepresentation, frustration, privity |
| Tort | FLK1 | Negligence, occupiers' liability, nuisance, vicarious liability, defamation, damages |
| Constitutional & Admin Law | FLK1 | Parliamentary sovereignty, separation of powers, judicial review, HRA 1998, EU retained law |
| Legal Services | FLK1 | SRA Principles, Codes of Conduct, ethics, confidentiality, conflicts, undertakings, money laundering |
| Property Practice | FLK2 | Residential/commercial conveyancing, searches, title, leases, planning, completion |
| Wills & Intestacy/Probate | FLK2 | Will validity, intestacy rules, personal representatives, IHT, grants of probate, administration |
| Solicitors Accounts | FLK2 | SRA Accounts Rules, client money, office money, ledgers, interest, reconciliation |
| Land Law | FLK2 | Estates, interests, registration, co-ownership, easements, covenants, mortgages |
| Trusts | FLK2 | Express trusts, resulting/constructive trusts, trustees' duties, breach of trust, charities |
| Criminal Law & Practice | FLK2 | Offences against the person, property offences, criminal procedure, bail, sentencing, evidence |
SQE2: Practical Legal Skills
Assessment Structure
SQE2 tests practical legal skills through 16 tasks (oral and written) that simulate real solicitor work. You are assessed on your ability to perform as a newly qualified solicitor — the standard expected of a Day One solicitor.
| Skill | Tasks | Format | Duration per Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client Interviewing | 2 | Oral — role-play with trained actor | 25 min (15 min interview + 10 min writing) |
| Advocacy/Persuasive Oral Communication | 2 | Oral — structured presentation to assessor | 25 min (15 min advocacy + 10 min preparation) |
| Case & Matter Analysis | 4 | Written — scenario-based analysis | 60 min each |
| Legal Research | 4 | Written — research memo from given materials | 60 min each |
| Legal Writing & Drafting | 4 | Written — draft documents/letters | 45 min each |
Skills Tested
Each SQE2 task is set in one of the following practice contexts (matching the subjects tested in SQE1): Criminal Practice, Dispute Resolution, Property Practice, Wills & Intestacy, and Business Law & Practice. You don't choose which context appears in each task — it's assigned.
Assessment Standard: SQE2 is marked against the standard of a "competent Day One solicitor." This means you must demonstrate not just knowledge, but professional communication, client care, ethical awareness, and practical application. Grammar, tone, structure, and professionalism all count in written tasks.
Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
To qualify as a solicitor, you must complete 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) Qualifying Work Experience. This replaced the old "training contract" and is far more flexible:
QWE Requirements:
- Duration: 2 years full-time equivalent (can be part-time over a longer period)
- Organisations: Up to 4 different employers (law firms, in-house, charities, government, etc.)
- Timing: Before, during, or after SQE1/SQE2 — any combination
- Confirmation: Each placement must be confirmed by a solicitor (your supervisor doesn't have to be a solicitor, but a solicitor must sign off)
- Paid/Unpaid: Can include paid employment, pro bono work, placements, or voluntary work
- Paralegals: Previous paralegal work can count towards QWE if confirmed by a solicitor
- International experience: Work in overseas legal settings can count, provided it's confirmed by a qualified solicitor
Scoring & Pass Marks
The SQE uses a Pass/Fail system with no published grades, scores, or percentages. Pass marks are set using the Angoff method — a psychometric standard-setting technique where a panel of experts determines the minimum competence threshold for each sitting.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Score type | Pass/Fail only — no numerical score reported to candidates |
| Pass mark method | Angoff standard-setting (not a fixed percentage; varies by sitting to account for question difficulty) |
| Typical pass threshold | Estimated ~55–60% correct (varies per sitting — not officially disclosed) |
| Independent assessments | SQE1 FLK1 and FLK2 are independently passed; SQE2 each skill is independently assessed |
| Compensation | No compensation across assessments — you must pass each one |
| Retakes | Unlimited attempts for both SQE1 and SQE2 |
| Results format | Pass/Fail with performance feedback (relative to pass mark) in each subject area |
Historical Pass Rates (2022–2025): SQE1 FLK1: 49–56% | SQE1 FLK2: 52–59% | SQE2 overall: 66–74%. Pass rates are lower than the old LPC (which had ~90%+ pass rates) but this is by design — the SQE is a competence assessment, not a course completion certificate.
SQE vs Old LPC Route
| Aspect | SQE Route (2021+) | Old LPC/TC Route (pre-2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry requirement | Any degree + SQE prep | Law degree OR GDL conversion |
| Academic stage | SQE prep course (optional but recommended) | LPC (1 year, mandatory) |
| Assessment | Centralised national exam (SQE1 + SQE2) | LPC assessed by each provider (no national exam) |
| Practical training | 2 years QWE (flexible, up to 4 employers) | 2-year training contract (single firm, structured) |
| Cost | ~£4,115 exam fees + £3,000–15,000 prep | ~£12,000–18,000 LPC fees + unfunded training contract search |
| Standard | Same exam for all — consistent national standard | Varied by LPC provider — different standards |
| Flexibility | Work while studying; QWE in any order; paralegal experience counts | Must complete LPC before training contract; TC is single employer |
| International route | QLTS replaced by SQE — same exam for all | QLTS (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme) — separate assessment |
| Pass rate | ~53–56% (SQE1); ~68–72% (SQE2) | ~90%+ (LPC — course completion) |
| Employer preference | Growing acceptance; most firms now sponsor SQE | Legacy route (no longer available) |
Tips & Key Insights
Critical Tips for SQE Success:
- SQE1 is a single-best-answer test — learn to eliminate: Each question has 5 options with one correct answer. Three are usually clearly wrong, leaving two plausible choices. Practice identifying the "best" answer (most legally correct, most practical, most ethical). The SRA publishes sample questions — study the question style intensively.
- Treat SQE1 like a professional exam, not a university exam: SQE1 tests application of law to client scenarios, not abstract legal theory. You need to think like a practising solicitor: "What would I advise the client?" not "What does the textbook say?" Every question has a practical context.
- SQE2 time management is critical: In written tasks (60 min for Case & Matter Analysis, 45 min for Drafting), plan your structure in the first 5 minutes. Use headings, bullet points, and clear signposting. Assessors are looking for organised, professional communication — not academic essays.
- Practice oral tasks under exam conditions: Client Interviewing and Advocacy tasks are role-plays with actors. Practice with a study partner: maintain eye contact, use open questions, summarise back to the client, and manage time (you'll be stopped at the time limit regardless of where you are).
- Ethics permeates everything: Both SQE1 and SQE2 test professional conduct and ethics throughout — it's not a standalone topic. Know the SRA Principles (7 principles), Code of Conduct for Solicitors, and Accounts Rules inside out. Ethical issues appear in every practice context.
- QWE flexibility is an advantage — use it: Start accumulating QWE as early as possible. Paralegal work, pro bono clinics, legal internships, and even certain non-law roles with legal elements can count. Get each placement confirmed by a solicitor promptly — don't wait until the end.
- Don't underestimate Solicitors Accounts: This is the highest-fail-rate topic in SQE1 FLK2. The double-entry bookkeeping, client/office money distinction, and ledger posting rules are precise and unforgiving. Practice hundreds of accounts questions until the rules become automatic.
- Use official SRA resources: The SRA publishes the Statement of Solicitor Competence, assessment specification, and sample questions. These are your exam specification — everything tested comes from within this framework. Don't study topics outside the published spec.
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