Solicitors Qualifying Examination 1 (SQE1)

Over het examen

SQE1 is the first of the two stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, the route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. It tests 'functioning legal knowledge' (FLK): applying core legal rules to realistic client problems at the level of a newly qualified solicitor. It is set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and run by Kaplan.

SQE1 is two separate exams, FLK1 and FLK2, sat on different days in the same window. Passing both lets you book SQE2, the practical skills stage. To qualify you also need a degree or equivalent, two years of qualifying work experience and the SRA's suitability checks.

Candidates are often surprised by how much law each day covers: FLK2 alone mixes wills, trusts, land law, property practice, criminal law and solicitors accounts, and ethics questions can appear in any subject. The exam is closed book, and there is no fixed percentage to aim for, because the pass mark is set for each exam.

Wie het moet afleggen

Anyone qualifying as a solicitor of England and Wales through the SQE route. Alongside SQE1 and SQE2 that route requires a degree in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification, two years' full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience and passing the SRA's suitability checks. Lawyers already qualified elsewhere can apply to the SRA for exemptions from parts of the SQE. You must pass SQE1, or be exempt from all of it, before you can book SQE2.

Wat er gevraagd wordt

FLK1, session 1: Business Law and Practice, Dispute Resolution, Legal Services

Setting up, running, financing and taxing a business; resolving civil disputes; and how legal services are funded and regulated. Money laundering questions appear in FLK1 only.

FLK1, session 2: Tort, Contract Law, Legal System

Liability in tort; how contracts are formed, read and enforced; and the legal system of England and Wales, constitutional and administrative law and EU law.

FLK2, session 1: Wills and the Administration of Estates, Trusts, Land Law, Solicitors Accounts

Wills, intestacy and dealing with an estate; trusts and trustees; rights and interests in land; and the accounts rules as they apply to estate work.

FLK2, session 2: Property Law and Practice, Criminal Liability, Criminal Law and Practice, Solicitors Accounts

Buying, selling and leasing property; the elements of crimes and defences; criminal procedure; and the accounts rules in property work.

Ethics and Professional Conduct (across both papers) up to 20%

Tested within every subject rather than separately, against the SRA Principles and Codes of Conduct. Together with money laundering it can make up to a fifth of the questions.

Vorm van het examen

• Two exams, FLK1 and FLK2, on two non-consecutive days. Each has 170 questions, split into two sessions of 85.
• Each session lasts 2 hours 33 minutes, with a 60-minute break between them; be back after 50 minutes to re-register.
• Single best answer questions: a short scenario and five options, one of them correct. One mark per correct answer, no negative marking, marked automatically. Within a session, questions from its subjects come in random order.
• To pass you need a scaled score of 300 out of 500 on each FLK. The number of correct answers this takes is set for each exam according to its difficulty.
• Closed book. An online calculator and an erasable whiteboard are provided; no water, watches or other personal items are allowed in the room. The clock keeps running during unscheduled breaks, and you cannot leave early.
• All SQE1 exams are on computer at Pearson VUE test centres, in the UK and many other countries.
• You can sit it in English or Welsh. Reasonable adjustments can be requested through the SRA's process.
• You are tested on the law four months before the first exam in the window: for January 2027, up to and including 11 September 2026.

Hoe u zich inschrijft

1. Register for an SQE candidate account (you can do this at any time of year) and complete the pre-booking tasks, including verifying your ID.
2. Before each sitting, candidates are sent a seat reservation form, and places are given first come, first served. For January 2027 the form went out on 22 September 2026 with a 24 September deadline; seats booked online later can be hard to find.
3. Book FLK1 and FLK2 together and pay for both in one payment (GBP 2,006 from September 2026) before booking closes, about five weeks before the sitting: 23 November 2026 for January 2027. Medical or religious declarations and adjustment requests are due by the same date.
4. On the day, report at the time given in your confirmation email; latecomers are not admitted. Expect ID checks and, at some centres, security wanding.
5. Results come out five to six weeks after the sitting: 9 March 2027 for January 2027.
6. If you fail one FLK, you resit only that one (GBP 1,003). You have up to three attempts at SQE1 and SQE2 within six years of your first SQE exam.

Kosten en data

Fee

GBP 2,006 for FLK1 and FLK2 (about EUR 2,347), for exams from September 2026 (bron 2)

Resit fee

GBP 1,003 per FLK (about EUR 1,174) (bron 2)

When

Twice a year, January and July. Next: FLK1 11–15 January 2027, FLK2 18–22 January 2027; then FLK1 12–16 July 2027, FLK2 19–23 July 2027 (bron 1)

Booking closes

23 November 2026 for the January 2027 sitting (bron 1)

Results

Five to six weeks after the sitting; 9 March 2027 for January 2027 (bron 1)

Attempts

Three attempts at SQE1 and SQE2 within six years of your first SQE exam (bron 1)

Kosten en data veranderen: elk gegeven staat hier zoals de bron het op 29 oktober 2026 vermeldde. Kijk het daar na voor u zich inschrijft.

Veelgestelde vragen

How many questions are on SQE1?

340 in total: 170 in FLK1 and 170 in FLK2, each split into two sessions of 85 questions lasting 2 hours 33 minutes. Some older material says 180 per FLK; the SRA's current pages say 170.

What is the SQE1 pass mark?

You need a scaled score of 300 out of 500 on each FLK. There is no fixed raw mark or percentage: the number of correct answers needed is set for each exam according to how hard it is.

Can I take SQE1 online or from home?

No. All SQE1 exams are taken at Pearson VUE test centres, which are available in the UK and in many other countries. The SQE is not offered in Ukraine, Belarus or Russia.

How often is SQE1 held?

Twice a year, in January and July. The SRA says it has no plans for more sittings at present.

What happens if I fail one of the FLK exams?

You only resit the one you failed, for GBP 1,003. You have up to three attempts at each stage of the SQE within six years of your first SQE exam.

Do I need a law degree to become a solicitor through the SQE?

No. You need a degree in any subject, or an equivalent level 6 qualification, along with passes in SQE1 and SQE2, two years of qualifying work experience and the SRA's suitability checks.

Can I take SQE1 in Welsh?

Yes. The SQE can be taken in English or Welsh; the SRA's booking pages explain how to arrange a Welsh sitting.

Bronnen

1. Assessment dates and booking windows — SQE, Solicitors Regulation Authority
2. How much does the SQE cost? — SQE, Solicitors Regulation Authority
3. SQE1 assessment day — SQE, Solicitors Regulation Authority
4. Preparing for the SQE assessments — SQE, Solicitors Regulation Authority
5. SQE1 Assessment Specification (from 1 September 2026) — SRA
6. Locations and test centres — SQE, Solicitors Regulation Authority
7. Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route — SRA

Nagekeken aan de hand van deze bronnen op 29 oktober 2026.