This guide is written for solicitors, trainees and law students in England and Wales.
SQE1 is the first of the two Solicitors Qualifying Examinations. It tests whether a candidate has the functional legal knowledge required to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is sat by all candidates on all qualification routes — SQE standalone, Level 7 apprentices, Graduate Solicitor Apprentices and overseas lawyers seeking to requalify.
Structure
SQE1 consists of 360 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs), split across two papers — FLK1 and FLK2. Each paper contains 180 questions and is sat across two 90-question half-day sessions. All questions are based on scenarios — a factual situation followed by a question requiring the candidate to identify the correct legal position.
There are no written answers. Every question has five options and one correct answer. There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
FLK1 — What it covers
FLK1 tests the following subject areas:
Business Law and Practice. Dispute Resolution. Contract Law. Tort. The Legal System of England and Wales. Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services.
FLK2 — What it covers
FLK2 tests: Property Practice. Wills and the Administration of Estates. Solicitors Accounts. Land Law. Trusts. Criminal Law and Practice.
Ethics and professional conduct
Ethics and professional conduct is embedded throughout both papers rather than tested as a standalone subject. It accounts for approximately 10 to 20 per cent of questions in each paper and is integrated into scenario-based questions across all subject areas.
When SQE1 is sat
SQE1 is assessed by Kaplan twice a year, in January and July. Results are published approximately eight weeks after the assessment.
Pass rates
First-time pass rates for SQE1 have ranged from 41 to 60 per cent across sittings since the examination launched in 2021. The variation partly reflects the composition of each cohort — the proportion of resitters, transitional LPC candidates, and apprentices varies between sittings.
Apprentices consistently outperform other candidate groups. The SRA’s SQE: Four Years On report (January 2026) confirmed that solicitor apprentices have been the strongest-performing cohort across all sittings.
Preparation course providers publish their own pass rates, but these are self-reported and reflect engaged-cohort selection. The SRA does not publish provider-level league tables. Treat provider claims with appropriate scepticism.
A first-time pass rate of around 50% sounds alarming, but it reflects the fact that many candidates sit with limited preparation. Well-prepared candidates at reputable providers consistently outperform the cohort average. Focus on your own preparation rather than aggregate statistics.
How SQE1 is marked
Kaplan uses a standard-setting process to determine the pass mark for each sitting. The pass mark is not fixed — it is set by a panel of solicitors who review the papers and establish the minimum standard expected of a day-one solicitor. This means the pass mark can vary between sittings, though it typically falls in the range of 56 to 65 per cent of questions answered correctly.
Candidates who pass both FLK1 and FLK2 in the same sitting pass SQE1. Results show a Competent or Not Yet Competent outcome with a numerical score. Scores are not published to employers.
Resitting SQE1
There is no limit on the number of times a candidate can resit SQE1. From 13 June 2024, the SRA introduced a rule that candidates who fail an SQE assessment cannot obtain an exemption from that assessment based on a subsequent qualification. This means the only route to passing SQE1 is to sit and pass it.
How to prepare
Preparation courses
Most candidates use a preparation course, though there is no requirement to do so. Major providers include BPP, University of Law (ULaw), BARBRI, The College of Legal Practice, Brigitte’s FLK and Datalaw. Courses range from intensive taught programmes to online self-study resources.
Preparation timeline
Most full-time candidates spend four to six months preparing for SQE1. Part-time candidates typically take longer. Apprentices study for SQE1 as part of their programme over a longer period.
The SRA sample questions
The SRA publishes free sample questions and a practice assessment on its website. These are the closest available guide to the actual examination format and difficulty. Every candidate should work through these before sitting.
Costs
From September 2026 the SQE1 fee is £2,006. This is charged per sitting — resits incur the full fee again. The SRA’s SQE Access and Reinvestment Fund provides financial support for eligible candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating SQE1 as a knowledge test only — it tests application of law to facts, not recall of rules. Candidates who focus exclusively on learning rules without practising MCQ technique are poorly prepared.
Underestimating ethics questions — professional conduct is embedded throughout and catches many candidates off guard.
Assuming a first-time pass is guaranteed with any course — no provider can guarantee a pass. Preparation quality matters, but so does practice volume and exam technique.
Sitting without doing the SRA sample assessment — it is free and gives the most accurate indication of what to expect.