What is the SQE?
Who is the SQE for?
Costs and fees
Case studies
Dates and locations
Assessment information
The assessment day
Results and resits
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The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single, rigorous assessment for all aspiring solicitors. The SQE will mean that everyone who becomes a solicitor will meet the same high standards in a consistent way.
July 2025 SQE1 assessment dates have been published.
Seat reservation forms for the October 2024 SQE2 have been emailed to candidates. Please see the SQE news for more information and if you want to access the form.
The SQE is provided by Kaplan SQE Ltd., working with, and on behalf of, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). All information provided has been written in conjunction with, and adhering to, the SRA’s guidelines.
We have worked with solicitors, employers, education training providers, careers advisers and aspiring solicitors to develop information to help you understand and prepare for the SQE.
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single, rigorous assessment that all aspiring solicitors will take before qualifying. To qualify you need to:
have a degree in any subject or a qualification or experience that is equivalent to a degree, such as a solicitor apprenticeship which combines on-the-job experience and training.
Complete two years' full-time (or equivalent) Qualifying Work Experience.
Pass both stages of the SQE assessment - SQE1 focuses on practical legal knowledge and SQE2 on practical legal skills.
Meet our character and suitability requirements.
Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.
Find out what happens after passing the SQE and admission to the roll of solicitors.
Booking for the January 2024 SQE1 will open at 10am (UK time) on Wednesday 4 October.
On Wednesday 4 October, candidates will not be able to gain access to their candidate accounts from approximately 9am (UK time) until the booking window opens at 10am (UK time).
Should a large number of candidates want to book an assessment at the same time, a queuing system will be in place to allow for fair access to the booking process.
If this facility is used, the waiting page will indicate your estimated waiting time and as soon as you reach the front of the queue, you will be redirected to that page.
The booking process is the same as previous SQE1 booking, but with more testing dates available. The dates are on the website and are as follows:
In summary, when you make your booking, you should select a date to sit FLK1 in the first week of the assessment window and a date to sit FLK2 in the second week of the assessment window. You will have flexibility to select the day that suits you for each FLK, but subject to availability. For example, you may prefer to sit FLK1 on Tuesday 16 January and FLK2 on Wednesday 24 January, if spaces are available. Please note that you will see the available test centres for each day when you are booking. Not all test centres will be available on every day of the assessment window.
There will also be more flexibility than previous sittings on the start time of assessments, subject to availability at the time you make your booking. You will see the start time of your assessment when booking. Some may be in the morning and some may be in the afternoon. Please ensure you are happy with your start time before you book. Please note that SQE does not have exclusive occupancy of Pearson VUE centres. Therefore testing rooms may be occupied by candidates who are sitting an assessment of a different length and so may arrive before or after your assessment has started.
We recommend that you do not use Safari web browser to make your booking as we are experiencing issues at the point of payment. Please use a different web browser.
In order to book for SQE1, you MUST have completed the pre-booking steps, as usual for any assessment. If you do not complete these steps, you risk delaying being able to book.
The Candidate Services Team will only be able to help you with queries relating to booking if you are logged in to your candidate account. Booking closing and next SQE1 sitting
Booking for the January SQE1 will close at 5pm (UK time) on 15 November. A further sitting of SQE1 will take place in July 2024.
Bookings are subject to availability.
Learn more: Booking and paying for assessments
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