SQE1 Exam Guide 2026: Format, Topics & Pass Rate

Quick Answer

SQE1 exam guide 2026: two MCQ papers, each with 180 questions over 5 hours, covering Functioning Legal Knowledge across 11 practice areas (SRA SQE Information, 2026). Fee is £1,798 per attempt. Candidates have 3 attempts within 3 years. The exam runs twice a year (January and July windows). Pass mark is set by the SRA through standard-setting; both papers must be passed independently.

Data last verified September 2026 from the SRA's SQE portal (SRA, 2026).

SQE1 exam format

SQE1 is computer-based, held at Pearson VUE centres globally (SRA SQE Information, 2026).

SQE1 topics — Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK)

SQE1 covers FLK across 11 practice areas (SRA SQE Information, 2026):

• Business Law & Practice
• Dispute Resolution
• Contract
• Tort
• Property (Land Law + Conveyancing)
• Wills & Administration of Estates
• Solicitors Accounts
• Criminal Law & Practice
• Constitutional & Administrative Law
• EU Law
• Ethics & Professional Conduct

SQE1 pass mark

The SQE1 pass mark is set by the SRA through a standard-setting process; the actual score is a scaled number, not a percentage (SRA SQE Information, 2026). Historically the pass mark is around 60% of available marks. Each paper must be passed independently — failing one fails the attempt; you cannot pass by averaging.

SQE1 attempt limits

SQE1 candidates have 3 attempts within a 3-year window from the first attempt (SRA SQE Information, 2026). After 3 failed attempts:

• The candidate must reapply.
• May need to wait for the next SQE1 booking cycle.
• There is no fee cap — each attempt is paid at the standard fee.

SQE1 fee and timing

Source: SRA SQE Information, 2026.

SQE1 preparation — what to expect

SQE1 preparation typically takes 4-9 months of focused study for non-law graduates, 2-4 months for law graduates (SRA SQE Information, 2026). The prep courses (BPP, University of Law, Barbri, Kaplan) provide structured materials, mocks, and tutor support. Self-study is possible but harder without the structured framework.

Prep options:

• Full-time prep course — 8-12 weeks intensive (Kaplan, BPP, ULaw, Barbri)
• Part-time / online prep — 6-9 months alongside work
• Self-study — SRA's free sample questions + official SQE1 specification PDF + third-party question banks

SQE1 vs the old LPC

SQE replaced the LPC (Legal Practice Course) as the route to qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales from September 2021 (SRA SQE Information, 2026). Key differences:

• SQE is a single unified assessment (SQE1 + SQE2); no specific qualifying law degree required.
• LPC required a qualifying law degree (or GDL conversion); course-based assessment.
• Both routes also require 2 years of qualifying work experience (QWE).

Resources & next steps

For the official SQE1 specification, attempt registration, and result, go to sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe. Prep providers (BPP, ULaw, Kaplan, Barbri) carry structured courses with mocks and tutor support.

Verify current SQE1 fees, dates, and pass mark on the official source: sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe (SRA, 2026).

Reference + further reading

For the official sources cited in this guide:

• Press releases: Official company / regulator newsrooms (Apple Newsroom, OpenAI blog, Anthropic news, Xpeng IRON press kit, EU Commission briefings, NBE / GMC / SRA portals, Settlement Administrator sites).
• Standards bodies: NICE (clinical guidelines), TrendForce (memory market reports), BenchCAD project (AI CAD benchmark), Alignment Forum (AGI debate research).
• Regulators: EU AI Office, US FTC, UK ICO, Norwegian Datatilsynet, NHS / GMC, AICPA / NASBA, SRA / NMC.

For breaking-news AI coverage, follow OpenAI / Anthropic / Google DeepMind blogs directly; for memory and component pricing, TrendForce weekly reports are the canonical source; for data breach settlements, the Settlement Administrator site (per each settlement) is the only authoritative source for current dates and eligibility.

Cross-reference any data point in this guide with at least one primary source before relying on it for a decision — news moves fast and details change week-to-week. Bookmark the source sites, set up Google Alerts for the topic keywords, and check the GSC Queries report weekly for new zero-click queries that indicate rising interest.

For Indian exam updates (NTA, SSC, UPSC, IBPS, RRB, GATE, IIM, Consortium of NLUs, RRB NTPC, NBE, CAT, IIT JAM), the official portal is the single source of truth — every notification, fee revision, and result publish goes through the portal. Recheck the portal before applying or appearing; date slips are common.

This guide was authored on September 8, 2026. Dates and figures are accurate as of that date per the cited sources; recheck the official source for any subsequent revision.

Glossary + scope notes

For each topic covered in this guide, key definitions and scope notes:

• Settlement: a legal resolution of a class action that provides cash, credit monitoring, or other relief to eligible class members without a trial.
• Class Member: a person whose data / claim is part of the class; eligible for the settlement benefit unless they opted out.
• Opt-out: the action of excluding yourself from the class; you keep your right to sue separately but get no payment.
• Pro Rata Cash Payment: a share of the net settlement fund, divided among claimants based on valid claims filed.
• Documented Losses: out-of-pocket costs tied to the breach, supported by receipts / invoices.

For Indian exam topics, additional notes:

• Percentile: the relative rank within the session; used by admissions (not raw score).
• Cut-off: the minimum score needed to qualify; varies per category and per year.
• Provisional Eligibility: final-year students may apply; admission contingent on completing the qualifying exam.

For US/UK exam topics:

• Pass Mark: a threshold set by the exam body via standard-setting; reported as a scaled score, not a percentage.
• Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK): the practical application of law across practice areas; the SQE1 syllabus.
• Good Medical Practice: the GMC ethics framework applied across clinical scenarios; the PLAB 1 anchor.

When in doubt, the official portal is the single source of truth — every notification, fee, and result publish goes through the portal first.