SQE2 sample questions

SQE2 assesses practical legal skills and functioning legal knowledge through 16 assessments: 12 written and four oral. The overall pass mark is set at the level of a newly qualified solicitor.

What the sample questions cover

The SQE2 sample questions are designed to give you an understanding of:

  • The format, content, and level of the assessment
  • The range of tasks that may be set
  • How your performance is assessed

Each sample includes:

  • A full question and any supporting documents
  • A sample candidate answer
  • Commentary on the key legal points
  • Analysis of the answer using the SQE2 assessment criteria

Oral assessments (advocacy and interviewing) also include short video recordings of sample performances.

Note: The samples do not represent every possible task or style of question that may appear in the real assessment.


Professional conduct and ethics

Ethics and professional conduct are embedded throughout SQE2. You must be able to identify and address ethical issues independently — they will not be flagged in the assessments.


Performance indicators

Performance Indicators show what competent and non-competent performance looks like against each assessment criterion. These are used by assessors and can help guide your preparation.

You can download them in English and Welsh:


Access the sample questions

Each link below provides a summary of the question and answer, plus a downloadable PDF with additional materials.

Note: All written samples are available in both English and Welsh. The oral assessment recordings are in English, but translations of answer commentary are available or will be published shortly.


Practise sample questions online

You can attempt the sample written questions using the Pearson VUE practice platform. This simulates the real assessment environment and includes tools such as the legal research search function.

Practise sample questions online (Pearson VUE)


Assessment functionality: what to expect

Copy and paste: The functionality in the real exam differs slightly from the practice platform. See how it works with screenshots.

Spell check and formatting: There is no spell check function or a highlighting tool for the SQE2 written assessment. Spelling errors are not penalised unless they affect clarity or precision.

The assessment criteria for the SQE2 written assessments refer to clear, precise, concise and acceptable language rather than correct spelling. Guidance on this is provided in the SQE2 assessment specification. Minor spelling mistakes are not penalised and the focus is on the assessment criteria mentioned and how spelling mistakes impact that. Performance in each of the assessment criteria is assessed by trained assessors making professional judgments related to the required standard for the assessment.

Please note, however, that if you are viewing the SQE2 sample question on your own computer or device, your own browser may add tools such as predictive text or a spell check. The assessments are undertaken on the Pearson VUE assessment platform which is a closed platform and does not permit browsers or access to the internet. This means that it is unlikely to have the same functions as those allowed by your own browser.

Formatting (e.g. paragraph spacing, bullet points, font etc.) in written exams will not be taken into consideration by markers.

Overwriting text: If typing overwrites your existing text, press the “Insert” key. If it doesn’t resolve the issue, ask the invigilator for help.

Learn more: SQE2 exam functionality on Pearson VUE

Dysgu mwy: Ymarferoldeb arholiad SQE2 ar Pearson VUE

Learn more: SQE2 written assessments copy and paste functionality

 

Ready to register for the SQE?

Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

Register for SQE 

Have you passed the SQE?

Find out what happens after passing the SQE and admission to the roll of solicitors.

Learn more

Ready to register for the SQE?

Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

Register for SQE 

Have you passed the SQE?

Find out what happens after passing the SQE and admission to the roll of solicitors.

Learn more about Have you passed the SQE?